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Wasaya press release ...

WASAYA AIRWAYS LP EXPANDS FLEET TO 21 AIRCRAFT

Thunder Bay, Ontario -- Monday, October 30, 2006

Wasaya Airways LP is proud to announce the purchase of another Raytheon Beech 1900D. The aircraft will be arriving in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, November 1st at the Wasaya Airways Hangar at the Thunder Bay airport.

As part of Wasaya Airways’ ongoing commitment to provide modern, state-of-the-art aircraft, we are very pleased with this acquisition of a new Beech 1900 to be utilized in our Passenger Service routes,” said Tom Morris, President & CEO of Wasaya Airways LP

The Raytheon Beech 1900D is a modern, twin-turbine, pressurized passenger aircraft which is configured for spacious airline-line style seating, accommodating 1 to 18 passengers. The 1900D is an exceptional aircraft for business travel and is a popular choice for many of Wasaya Airways' private and public sector customers

The Beech 1900D translates from pavement to gravel easily, due to the on-board, anti-skid modifications which allows for commercial operation into areas that would not normally be served by other aircraft in its class.

Wasaya relies on this option in order to provide an economical means of air service to our diverse customer base, without compromising our high standards for safety.

Dean Woloschuk, the Director of Passenger Services explained that the addition of this aircraft will add over 600 seats weekly to Wasaya’s capacity, and will be focused on the airline’s highest demand markets - allowing the Sioux Lookout base to offer additional charter availability and service.

“This acquisition will also add to the launch of our enhanced schedule, being implemented in early November,” said Morris. “We have always listened to our customers to help serve them better, and we always try to be first in addressing the concerns of our passengers.”

Wasaya’s passenger fleet is the most modern of any air carrier in Northwestern Ontario, and all of our aircraft offer two key features: they are suited to operate in northern climates and on shorter gravel runways.

From http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=fae3f60c-a422-4860-8ebd-5d98fd199fc5&k=69213&p=1

First Nations grandparents increasingly taking charge of grandchildren

Michelle McQuigge, Canadian Press - Sunday, October 29, 2006

TORONTO -- On Feb. 12, 2005, Connie Johnson sent her husband out to cruise Ottawa's downtown streets in search of her five-year-old granddaughter.

She had just gotten word that Maggie was in the care of her drug-addicted mother, in direct violation of orders from the Children's Aid Society.

Hours later, Johnson's husband found Maggie at a Salvation Army shelter and opened a new chapter in the Inuk girl's life.

Maggie became one of thousands of First Nations children to permanently fall under the care of grandparents who had previously thought their child-rearing days were behind them.

"I had thought all this was in my past," said Johnson, a 70-year-old mother of three. "I never expected to have to do this again."

Johnson's situation is far from unique, according to research conducted at the University of Toronto.

One study states the number of Canadian grandparents raising children under the age of 18 jumped 20 per cent between 1991 and 2001.

While the trend is evident across all ethnic groups, research shows that Canada's First Nations population is most affected by the trend.

Esme Fuller-Thompson, an associate professor of social work at the University of Toronto, said 17 per cent of all caregiving grandparents are of First Nations origin.

"This was easily more than five times the numbers you'd expect to find given the population," she said.

While Fuller-Thompson said it's difficult to pinpoint why aboriginals are so over-represented in the study, she said cultural beliefs and history play a key role.

"There's certainly a strong sense that the First Nations population is very committed to passing on their cultural heritage," she said, adding that residential school experiences strengthened the desire to preserve aboriginal values.

Fuller-Thompson also cited the long-held tradition of deferring to elders for wisdom and guidance, saying that grandparents have historically cared for younger children while their parents tried to support the family.

Today, however, Fuller-Thompson and other researchers found children are usually driven into their grandparents' homes when their parents succumb to substance abuse Johnson said Maggie's mother, who grew up in an Inuit community, began using drugs when the child was only six-months-old.

Maggie lived with her father but frequently spent weekends with her grandparents when Dad did not want to watch over her.

By the age of five, Maggie had become the subject of two separate investigations by the Children's Aid Society after both her kindergarten teacher and staff at her school began to suspect abuse.

Johnson herself became concerned about the way Maggie's father was raising his only child, eventually growing to fear his violent temper, and finally deciding to report her own son to the Children's Aid Society.

"I knew if he came to the door, I wouldn't be able to let him in because of fear, which is very painful," she said.

Maggie has not seen either of her parents since last year, and among the many struggles Johnson now copes with is the emotional strain of watching her granddaughter mourn parents who have abandoned her.

"She would cry, and almost sort of wail ... for her mother and father," she said.

"She would usually go hide somewhere, and you couldn't approach her. ... It was really, really heartbreaking to hear her and know there was nothing you could do."

Another of Johnson's major challenges is coming up with enough money to raise a child.

The Ontario government provides caregiving grandparents with $221 a month plus two $50 handouts with which to buy school supplies and winter clothes.

In contrast, foster parents receive $50 a day to raise their children.

While research shows most provinces have begun to endorse kinship care, only British Columbia offers equal financial support for grandparents and foster parents.

Some provinces, such as Ontario and Alberta, are revisiting their kinship care policies and may provide additional support to struggling grandparents.

"We recognize that in many cases, the best option for the child may be to be placed with an extended family member like a grandparent, but we also realize that those options need to be viable," said Chris Carson, a spokesman from the Ontario Ministry of Children's Services.

"We have policy work underway to make sure that we provide the support that grandparents need to make those options as viable as possible."

While Johnson would welcome financial relief, she said the emotional toll that comes with raising Maggie is her most demanding problem.

She starts many days in tears fearing she is no longer up to the challenge of raising a child with serious behavioural issues, and laments the loss of quality time with her husband, children, and other grandchildren.

She fears that at age 70, her good health may give out at any time, leaving her incapable of raising a girl who needs love and stability above all else.

And she lives in dread of the day when her granddaughter will be able to fully understand the degree to which her parents rejected her.

Press Release ...

Thunder Bay, ON:  How do local businesses maintain a healthy and resilient workforce while faced with the challenges of increased economic pressures? These and other issues will be confronted at the Northwestern Ontario Work and Wellness Conference, unveiled today by Family Services Thunder Bay. The theme of the conference is “Survive and Thrive: Promoting Resiliency in your Workplace” and will feature key note speakers Nora Spinks and Dr. Louise Hartley at the Valhalla Inn on March 6th and 7th 2007.

It was also announced that Family Services Thunder Bay will unveil its own new organizational image at the conference; the result of a re-branding and marketing strategy currently being developed thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation funding.

Says Nancy Chamberlain, Executive Director of Family Services Thunder Bay: “Maintaining a high level of organizational wellness is directly linked to workplace productivity, yet is becoming less of a priority in today’s economic climate for employers. Employers and employees participating in the conference will gain practical strategies on how to reduce incidents of stress and sick leave within the workplace and how to create more healthy working environments. It is proven that healthy workplaces make for more prosperous businesses, happier families and as a result, stronger communities.” 

Areas for discussion at the 2007 Work and Wellness Conference include topics such as: substance use in the workplace, the use of workplace computers, bringing nutrition to work, leadership and management styles, managing work and balancing family time, amongst other organizational work wellness practices.   

Continues Nancy Chamberlain: “We are also excited about revealing our new Family Services brand and moving forward with an image that better represents our wide range of programs, which includes community counseling as well as corporate development services.

For more registration information contact: Family Services Thunder Bay at: 807-684-1880, email: conference@fstb.net or visit:  www.fstb.net.

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Keynote speaker Nora Spinks is President of Work-Life Harmony Enterprises, an international consulting and training firm based in Toronto.  For more than 20 years, Nora has been providing leadership to leading corporations, governments, labour and community groups on work-life issues by focusing on creating supportive work environments, strengthening families and building healthy communities.

Keynote speaker Dr. Louise Hartley is Vice President of Employee and Organizational Health at Family Services Employee Assistance Programs in Toronto.  FSEAP pioneered Employee Assistance Programming in Canada in 1975 and now provides services to more than 400,000 employees across the continent. Over the past 29 years, Dr. Hartley has developed expertise in the field of organizational development that includes both individual and team interventions designed to build healthy work environments.

Media Contact: 

Lisa Kokanie, Firedog Communications
Tel: 807-767-4443, Fax: 807-767-4479, Cell: 807-624-7868 Email: lisa@firedogpr.com