Convoy of partners working together to deliver books to northern First Nations
Lieutenant Governor and Arm Forces press releases ...
Northward Ho! First Convoy of Books Departs Queen's Park for Isolated Native Communities
TORONTO, Feb. 16 - The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will host a large outdoor event on Sunday, February 18, to officially send-off the first shipment of books collected from his current book drive. The collection phase of the Lieutenant Governor's 2007 Book Drive, which ended on January 31st, exceeded all expectations with more than 700,000 books gathered.
Escorted by Military, OPP and Toronto Police Cruisers, military trucks packed with 100,000 books will be given a ceremonial send off. Together with representatives from the Canadian Forces, the Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Services, and a performance by the Morningstar River Group, the Lieutenant Governor will be joined by children from the First Nation School in Toronto to pack the last boxes of books on to the trucks and to wave goodbye to military personnel who will be delivering the first shipment of books to 15 fly-in First Nation communities in the far north.
The childrens' books have, once again, poured in from generous and enthusiastic Ontarians from all walks of life. The Canadian Forces will be rushing the books into the north to access winter ice roads that occur only at this time of year.
Media and the public are encouraged to join this celebration, to greet some key participants, to partake in ceremonial native drumming and an aboriginal blessing. Photo and interview opportunities will be available.
Who:
- The Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- Brigadier-General G. R. Thibault, Commander, Land Forces Central Area
- Deputy Commissioner Chris Lewis, Ontario Provincial Police
- Chief William Blair, Toronto Police Services
- Morningstar River Group & Students from First Nation School
What: The Launch of the Military Convoy to Deliver Books from the 2007 Book Drive
Where: Queen's Park, Legislative Building, South parking lot
When: Sunday, February 18, 2007, at 12:00 p.m.
For further information: Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, (416) 909-7552
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Military Convoy Carries Books North for Aboriginal Children
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Feb. 16, 2007) - A Canadian Forces convoy will leave Queen's Park on Sunday carrying 100,000 books from the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario's Book Drive to deliver them to Aboriginal children in Ontario's Far North.
The Lieutenant-Governor's Book Drive has collected more than 500,000 "gently used" books donated by Ontarians for Aboriginal children living in isolated communities in Ontario, Quebec, Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
The Canadian Forces, which provided Moss Park Armoury as a central collection and sorting facility, have volunteered to deliver the books to remote communities in Ontario's Far North as part of a military re-supply mission.
The media are invited to witness the convoy's departure as it heads north with an escort of Military Police, Toronto Police and Ontario Provincial Police cruisers.
Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman will speak to the convoy crews. Aboriginal drummers will sing an honour song for them and an Aboriginal elder will offer a prayer for a safe journey.
A group of children will deliver a last few boxes of books to be taken to the Aboriginal children of Northern Ontario.
The trucks will carry the books as part of Operation Wawatay Express, in which military supplies are taken over winter ice roads to Canadian Ranger patrols in 15 First Nation communities. Wawatay is the Cree word for the Northern Lights. Canadian Rangers are part-time reserve soldiers.
Some of the trucks will travel more than 6,000 kilometres, driving in challenging conditions over frozen tundra, rivers and lakes. Blizzards can block roads and temperatures can plunge to -50C. All crews must have completed winter survival training.
The departure will provide excellent photo opportunies for both still and video photographers. The Lieutenant-Governor, convoy crews and Brigadier-General Guy Thibault, commander of Land Force Central Area, the army in Ontario, will be available for interviews.
Representatives from the Toronto Police and Ontario Provincial Police, who provided police stations and detachments as drop-off points for the books, will also be present.
The event begins at noon on Sunday, February 18, in front of the main entrance to the Legislature at Queen's Park.
Military and police escort vehicles will occupy the area in front of the Legislature. Media parking will be available at the east side of the building.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Land Force Central Area
Lieutenant (Navy) Joe Frey
(416) 633-6200 extension 5501
Cell: (647) 221-3373
or
Canadian Rangers
Sergeant Peter Moon
(416) 364-0376