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Lead by Grand Chief Gary Merasty, seven members of the Prince Albert Grand Council along with two people from the Keewatin Career Development Corp in La Ronge are meeting with the Keewaytinook Okimakanak team in Balmertown for two days. The visitors included:

• PAGC Grand Chief Gary Merasty
• Darrell Haysom – PAGC Special Projects Coordinator
• Larry Goldade – PAGC Director of Education
• Ernie Sauve – PAGC Director of Health
• Philip Bear – Director of Education – Stanley Mission
• Vincent Hill – Special Projects Coordinator – PAGC Education
• Don Dorè – Technology Consultant – PAGC Education
• Randy Johns – Manager, KCDC
• Ted Green – e-Learning Coordinator, Northern Lights / KCDC

Click here to see some pictures from the visit

The opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned between the two councils is building a relationship that will support the development of complementary efforts in a number of different fields. Three main streams, e-health, e-learning and network development were examined on the first day of the meetings. Demonstrations and discussions were conducted with different partner First Nations and team members. Acting Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic of Nishnawbe Aski Nation joined the group for the evening banquet.

On Thursday, both teams will gather to continue the sharing of information and experiences. A meeting between the PAGC group and the RICTA group that will be visiting Deer Lake First Nation is planned for the afternoon.

These meetings and exchanges are being supported in part by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program as a means to support the development of broadband solutions for the schools across Northern Saskatchewan.

The George Jeffrey Children's Centre has launched a $4.5 million Capital Fundraising Campaign for the construction of a new treatment centre in Thunder Bay. First Nation representatives for the Foundation committee are being sought.

Thunder Bay, ON — The George Jeffrey Children’s Centre in Thunder Bay officially launched its Foundation’s Capital Fundraising Campaign on Tuesday, March 1, 2005. At the same time, the Centre unveiled its new branding and website, as well as a list of program events scheduled for 2005 such as the famous Soap Box Derby.

The George Jeffrey Children’s Centre, which provides vital treatment services to children with physical and developmental disabilities, revealed its new image at the media conference. The re-branding and new website has been developed by local firm, Korkola Design Communications, in order to better represent and communicate the mission of the Centre.

Following the unveiling ceremony, Tom Jackson of the newly formed George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation, also be officially kicked off the Centre’s four years, $4.5million Capital Fundraising Campaign for the construction and equipping of a much needed new Centre. The proposed new Centre will be able to serve over 1000 children annually from across Northwestern Ontario.

Over 50 members of the regional community from both the business and public sectors attended the event and guest speakers included; Thunder Bay Mayor Lynne Peterson, Margie Bettiol from the Ministry of Children & Youth Services, representatives from the Federal and Provincial Members of Parliament and representatives from Matawa First Nations Management. The kick off agenda items included; presentations, guest speakers, cheque presentation, the launch of the 2005 Soap Box Derby, facility tours, and a luncheon. 

Says Eiji Tsubouchi, Executive Director of The George Jeffrey Children’s Centre; “March 1st will mark an exciting and long awaited day for all of us at the Centre, including the children. We have a dual purpose with the unveiling of our new branding and the kick off of our Foundation and its Capital Fundraising Campaign, yet they are both complementary initiatives. The results of our recent feasibility study indicated that the public did not fully understand what we do at the Centre and that our branding was not representative of the children in our care. With a great new image, we hope to better connect our Centre with the public and help them to understand the vital roles that both the Centre and these children play in our community. By the same token, this approach will allow us to demonstrate why our capital fundraising campaign is so desperately needed. Without the public’s understanding and support, we cannot hope to achieve our $4.5 million fundraising goal.”

The George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation is hoping to recruit representatives and individuals from all sectors for its committees and hopes that the regional First Nations will also participate in the campaign. Children from the communities of Bearskin Lake,  Big Trout Lake,  Cat Lake,  Deer Lake,  Fort Hope,  Fort William, Gull Bay,  Heron Bay,  Kingfisher Lake,  Neskantaga,  MacDiarmid,  Mishkeegoogemang,  North Spirit Lake,  Pikangikum,  Sandy Lake,  Wapekeka,  Webequie and  Wunnimun Lake currently attend the Centre.

Individuals who are interested in participating in the fundraising drive or serving as a committee member may contact the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre Fundraising Coordinator at: 807 767 4443.