Posts By: Sobeys Inc.

Sobeys Inc. is proud to announce Kids Help Phone as a new partner in its Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative (“Family of Support”). This new partnership will support two community-based mental health programs from Kids Help Phone, RiseUp and Finding Hope, to connect Black and Indigenous youth to real-time virtual counselling and crisis help. Each program provides 24/7 support for vulnerable youth, with the support of volunteer champions, counsellors and community advisors from Black and Indigenous communities. With Sobeys Inc.’s support, the RiseUp and Finding Hope programs have significant growth plans to help even more youth in Canada.

“Truly national, instantaneous mental health support is vital to address and support child and youth mental health challenges in critically underserved communities across the country,” said Katherine Hay, President & CEO, Kids Help Phone. “Thank you to Sobeys Inc. for this tremendous partnership, which will strengthen our programs in areas such as crisis response, community outreach, skill development, response times and more. These improvements will drive meaningful change for Black and Indigenous youth and help shift the child and youth mental health landscape in Canada.”

RiseUp, powered by Kids Help Phone in partnership with the BlackNorth initiative, is Canada’s only 24/7, bilingual e-mental health support for Black youth, which addresses their unique struggles and experiences compounded by anti-Black systemic racism. The RiseUp program, in collaboration with community partners, focuses on supporting the Black community and Afro-diaspora. RiseUp facilitated 24,000 phone and text conversations with Black youth in 2021, with a goal to grow to 60,000 conversations by 2025.

Finding Hope is a national action plan focused on creating capacity for Kids Help Phone to better connect with Indigenous youth – who face some of the most difficult mental health challenges in Canada, and significant barriers to accessing services and connection. Finding Hope is led, co-created and governed by an Indigenous Advisory Council, connecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities with Indigenous volunteers and counsellors. Finding Hope’s goal is to connect Indigenous youth to virtual counselling and crisis response programs one million times by 2025.

“We’ve partnered with Kids Help Phone for so many years and the way they stood up to support youth across Canada during the pandemic has been nothing short of amazing,” said Michael Medline, President and CEO, Empire. “We have so much confidence in the integrated program that has been

reated in partnership with both Black and Indigenous community leaders and are proud to see this programming evolve to provide a focus on supporting early intervention for Black and Indigenous youth.”

Through its Family of Support, Sobeys Inc. continues to support early intervention initiatives to support child and youth mental health at 13 children’s hospitals across Canada. Sobeys Inc.’s partnership with the Sobey Foundation and Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations was the inaugural investment for Family of Support, resulting in more than $9 million raised to date for 13 children’s hospital foundations across Canada. Like Kids Help Phone, Sobeys Inc. is also a proud partner of the BlackNorth initiative.

Port Alberni, BC – The Report of the BC Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act was released yesterday. Their main cure for all the issues with police is to establish a provincial police force for the province, make sure the ills of RCMP policing are addressed and to put in place better policing. Is this the answer, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council asks? We understand this is a starting point, the proposed Community and Safety Act is to be based on values of decolonization, anti-racism, community, and accountability. Integral to this work, and consistent with DRIPA, is ensuring Indigenous people and Nations are engaged in the drafting of the legislation. This will be critical to the success of the new act.

The Nuu-chah-nulth have been plagued for generations, and particularly in the past few years, with our members being shot and killed by police, as well as deaths in custody, MMIWG, longawaited arrests on killings/murders, lack of culturally safe procedures, and the lack of traumainformed practice. We have been calling for no more deaths by police, better training for deescalation and trauma-informed teams to deal with mental health issues. We continue to work with the RCMP to find better ways of working together, especially in relation to cultural training by our own people and finding ways to instill how valuable our people are to some officers who don’t seem to care.

President Judith Sayers said, “I have reviewed the 11 recommendations of the committee and most of them cover what we had proposed to them when we met the committee. But I question the length of time it would take to establish this police force that will address racism, better training and putting in place mental health and addictions as well as other complex social issues with a focus on prevention and community-led responses. We need changes in policing now.”

The proposed act promises the direct input into their police structure and governance, including self-administered services. President Sayers comments that, “we have not had great success to date in working collaboratively with the province on the implementation of UNDRIP and aligning laws to it, and wonder how successful this would be. But if we can change things for the better in policing, now is the time to take the chance and to do it.”

Vice-President Mariah Charleson added, “The final report issued by the BC Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act and the 11 recommendations made is only words on a paper until we see direct action to end the racism and colonization that persists through police/RCMP services. Our people are literally dying at the hands of our ‘justice’ system. This needs to end now. It is my hopes that this final report is the starting point to a long overdue transformation of an inherently racist system that has continued to negatively impact First Nations people at disproportionate levels.”

Time is of the essence for Nuu-chah-nulth. We do not want to see more shooting deaths by police, higher incarceration rates, and negative relationships and perceptions of the police. We need our Nuu-chah-nulth people protected now by police and most importantly, treated with respect, free of racism and discrimination. If a new body of police can do this, then we can support it. If not, then let us continue working with the RCMP and improving their services. We cannot wait another two years for legislation and then the putting in place of a new policing body.

SUDBURY – Adversity can often inspire great art. It is certainly the case for this year’s graduating class in Cambrian College’s Design and Visual Arts program.

The program’s annual Grad Show features incredible works of art, and the circumstances of the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped shape the work on display.

“With two years of COVID-19 restrictions, our students have overcome many challenges in their experiences and have really persevered,” says Johanna Westby, a professor in Cambrian’s Design and Visual Arts program.

“They have navigated through unusual times, and as a group have created something beautiful.” Again this year, the annual Grad Show is being presented online.

The full catalogue of work and artist bios are available at https://www.cambrianartsgradshow.ca. Several students also earned awards for their work, including Kattie Moore of the Constance Lake First Nation, near Hearst.

Kattie is this year’s recipient of the President’s Award and a Board of Governors Award “My work is heavily influenced by lived experience, my cultural heritage, and a drive for social action using art to express my voice as a Cree woman living in a colonial world,” says Moore.

This year’s Grad Show features young artists from across Ontario. For more information about Cambrian’s Design + Visual Arts program, visit www.cambriancollege.ca/programs/design-and-visual-arts. See our full list of award winners and exhibitors.

Award Winners: 2022 Cambrian College Design + Visual Arts Grad Show Emerging Artist: Angelina Jacques (Greater Sudbury) President’s Award: Kattie Moore (Constance Lake First Nation) Board of Governors Award: Kattie Moore Board of Governors Award: Ash Sokolowicz (Greater Sudbury) Board of Governors Award: Mars Petryna (Barrie) President’s Collection: Komal Zaidi (Greater Sudbury) Westby and Neufeld Collection Awards: Hannah Bellmore (Timmins), Lennan Lacasse (Espanola), Mariah Laferriere (Greater Sudbury), Ash Sokolowicz

Other exhibitors: Erika Levac (Sturgeon Falls) Evan Lovell (Ravenna) Kaya Michauville (North Bay) Kayla Potvin

Photo: Kattie Moore of Constance Lake First Nation near Hearst is the recipient of this year’s President Award for “Spirit In the Sky”, as part of the Cambrian College Design and Visual Arts year-end Grad Show.

PENTICTON, B.C., April 26, 2022 – The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) and  FortisBC teamed up once again to announce the winners of the 2022 BC Economic Development Awards  at the BCEDA’s annual awards presentation held virtually this morning. 

These awards recognize BCEDA members for outstanding work in supporting their local economies, and  making a meaningful difference in their communities. For over 30 years, the BCEDA has given these  awards to individuals and groups who have dedicated their time to community-based economic  development. BCEDA is pleased to recognize partnerships, agreements and activities that advance shared  reconciliation work with a new Economic Reconciliation award category. 

Congratulations to the following 2022 BC Economic Development Award winners: 

Economic Reconciliation Award 

The BCEDA Economic Reconciliation Award includes submissions for partnerships, agreements and  activities that advance shared reconciliation work. 

Winner (community less than 20,000 population): Neskonlith Indian Band for Chase Harper  Collaborative Community Management Plan (CCMP).  

Winner (community more than 20,000 population): National Consortium for Indigenous  Economic Dev. & TRICORP for Indigenous ACE Program.  

Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award 

The BCEDA Marketing Innovation Award recognizes achievement in marketing initiativesthat support economic development.  

Winner (community less than 20,000 population): Village of Ashcroft for Experience Ashcroft  Pocket Guide.  

Winner (community more than 20,000 population): City of Terrace for Northwest BC Workforce  and Resident Attraction Initiative.  

Community Project Award 

The BCEDA Community Project Award recognizes an organization that has implemented various  economic development initiatives that provide economic benefits to a community or region. Winner (community less than 20,000 population): Regional District Central Kootenay for  Coordinated Leadership: Community Led Economies of Scale. 

Winner (community more than 20,000 population): Chilliwack Economic Resource Network for  Workforce Connection – The Power of People.

successful  recovery initiative from natural and man-made disasters, including COVID-19, as well as submissions  that represent replicable measures undertaken to promote long term resiliency and/or sustainability  from future disasters. 

Winner (community less than 20,000 population): Regional District Central Kootenay for  Coordinated Leadership: Community Led Economies of Scale. 

Winner (community more than 20,000 population): Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce for  Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund/Farmers & Business Stream. 

Chairman’s Award 

The Chairman’s Award is presented annually to recognize a member of BCEDA who has made a  significant contribution towards the profession of economic development as well as the function,  goals and/or mandate of the BC Economic Development Association. 

The 2022 BCEDA Chairman’s Award is presented to Cheryl McLay, Regional Manager Vancouver  Island/Coast with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. Cheryl is an incredible  resource for every Economic Development Officer and community on Vancouver Island and for her  counterparts throughout the province. Through her weekly check-ins, Cheryl is readily available to 

assist with problem solving or moving an opportunity forward. 

“As economic recovery continues to be in the forefront, we couldn’t be more proud of the work done by  BC’s Economic Developers. This year, we received a number of nominations put forward by communities  and economic development professionals showcasing the creativity and smart strategies that encourage  economic recovery and resiliency in their region,” said Dale Wheeldon, president and CEO at BCEDA. 

“This year’s theme is Economic Reconciliation and Resiliency: A Future for BC, and all of the nominated  projects are great examples of the partnerships required to move BC forward. It is always very difficult  for our judges to narrow down the winners and my sincere thanks goes out to everyone who submitted  projects for consideration this year. Their efforts to build resilient communities, and thereby a resilient,  inclusive provincial economy, are to be congratulated.” 

The awards are presented and sponsored by FortisBC. 

“We’d like to congratulate all the winners and thank them for putting their energy into keeping  B.C strong and resilient as we overcome the challenges related to the pandemic,” said Vanessa  Connolly, director, community and Indigenous relations at FortisBC. “In particular,  we appreciate those of you who have continued to advance Reconciliation with Indigenous  Peoples in your economic recovery efforts.” 

Dozens of Canada’s wood bison, who live in northern Alberta and are North America’s largest land animals, have been moved to Alaska to establish conservation herds to ensure their long-term survival, the Canadian government said.

Canada has listed the wood bison as a threatened species since 2003. The population has been declining across their range and are at risk of becoming endangered, extirpated, or extinct if nothing is done to protect them, according to the Canadian government’s website.

In January 2020, Canada determined that wood bison were “facing imminent threats to their recovery.”

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced on Thursday that 40 wood bison from Elk Island National Park in Alberta were safely translocated to Alaska. Wood bison have dark brown coats with long shaggy fur on their shoulders along with large humps on their backs.

Wood bison, larger than plains bison, once ranged the boreal regions of northwestern Canada and interior Alaska. In the early 1800s, the population may have been 168,000 in Canada, according to the Canadian government.

But habitat loss and other problems took a toll. By the late 1800s, there were only a few hundred left in Canada.

The Alaska wood bison restoration project had established a wild wood bison population in western Alaska in 2015, which is currently estimated at over 100.

Within Canada, wood bison are currently found in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Bernard Orr)

Le financement soutiendra les initiatives de mobilisation communautaire pour les enquêtes sur les sépultures à l’ancien pensionnat de Shingwauk

SAULT STE. MARIE — Le gouvernement de l’Ontario accorde 200 000 $ à la Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA) pour soutenir son travail continu sur le site de l’ancien pensionnat de Shingwauk et mobiliser les communautés touchées.

En collaboration avec l’Université d’Algoma et le Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, la CSAA utilisera ces fonds pour élaborer et mettre en œuvre une stratégie de mobilisation auprès des 85 communautés autochtones touchées par les pensionnats de Shingwauk. Cela comprend la mobilisation de la Première Nation de Garden River, sur le territoire traditionnel du site de Shingwauk. Ce travail sera axé sur l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de protocoles culturels et de communication qui aideront à guider les activités continues entreprises par la CSAA.

« Notre gouvernement sait que le processus d’identification, d’enquête, de protection et de commémoration des sépultures des pensionnats autochtones, y compris sur le site de l’ancien pensionnat de Shingwauk, exigera beaucoup de temps, de soin et de sensibilité, a déclaré Greg Rickford, ministre des Affaires autochtones. Par-dessus tout, nous devons nous assurer que ces travaux sont dirigés par les Autochtones et menés conformément aux souhaits des survivants, des familles touchées et des communautés, de manière à honorer à la fois les survivants et les enfants qui ne sont pas rentrés chez eux. » 

Alors que l’Ontario continue de faire progresser une réconciliation significative et de s’attaquer aux traumatismes intergénérationnels causés par le régime des pensionnats autochtones, la province s’efforce d’aider ses partenaires et ses communautés autochtones à entreprendre l’ensemble des travaux à venir.

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« Cet appui du gouvernement de l’Ontario permet à la Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association de disposer du soutien nécessaire pour guider les travaux effectués sur l’ancien site du pensionnat de Shingwauk, conformément aux pratiques sages et aux souhaits de la communauté des survivants. Ces travaux prendront un certain temps et nous sommes impatients de travailler avec toutes les communautés touchées pour nous assurer que les travaux se déroulent correctement. »

The Ontario government is providing $200,000 to the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA) to support their ongoing work at the site of the former Shingwauk Residential School and engaging with impacted communities.

Together with Algoma University and the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, the CSAA will use the funding to develop and implement an engagement strategy with the 85 Indigenous communities impacted by the Shingwauk Residential Schools. This includes engagement with Garden River First Nation, on whose traditional territory the Shingwauk site is located. This work will focus on the development and implementation of cultural and communications protocols that will help guide the ongoing activities being undertaken by the CSAA.

“Our government knows that the process of identifying, investigating, protecting, and commemorating Indian Residential School burials, including at the site of the former Shingwauk Residential School, will take a significant amount of time, care, and sensitivity,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “Above all, we must ensure this work is Indigenous led and conducted in accordance with the wishes of Survivors, affected families and communities in a manner that honours both the Survivors and the Children that did not make it home.” 

As Ontario continues to advance meaningful reconciliation and address the intergenerational traumas caused by the Residential School system, the province is working to support Indigenous partners and communities in undertaking the full range of the work ahead.

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“This support from the Ontario government helps ensure that the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association has the necessary supports to help guide the work being done at the previous Shingwauk Residential School site in accordance with both wise practices and the wishes of the Survivor community. This work will take quite some time, and we look forward to working with all of the impacted communities to ensure the work happens in a good way.”

Honouring Canada’s legal obligations to First Nations and working collaboratively to renew relationships are fundamental to addressing historical wrongs and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Today, Chief Ken Baird and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that the Tsawwassen First Nation and the Government of Canada have concluded negotiations and reached a settlement agreement of the English Bluff Specific Claim. As part of the settlement, the Tsawwassen First Nation will receive $7.7 million in total compensation.

Submitted by Tsawwassen First Nation in July of 2013, this specific claim concerns a breach of Canada’s obligations when it failed to obtain full and fair compensation for the sale of reserve lands in the 1950s and for Canada’s failure to protect the First Nation from entering into an exploitative agreement.

This agreement between Tsawwassen First Nation and Canada represents a mutual understanding and addresses a historical wrong to the community. The successful resolution of this settlement is a key part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation – one that shows our commitment to build trust, acknowledges and respects the Treaty relationship, and helps build a better future for all Canadians.

Taking care: We recognize this news release may contain information that is difficult for many and that our efforts to honour Survivors and families may act as an unwelcome reminder for those who have suffered hardships through generations of government policies that were harmful to Indigenous Peoples.

A National Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support to Survivors who can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-Hour National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Indigenous Peoples can also access the Hope for Wellness Help Line by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or via online chat through the website at www.hopeforwellness.ca.

Ottawa, Ontario (April 22, 2022) — The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, today issued the following statement:

“Recently, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada officials were made aware of a third-party secure storage locker in the Northwest Territories that contained claimant documents from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) Independent Assessment Process. The storage locker belonged to a not-for-profit organization that provided health supports to claimants under the IRSSA. The organization was funded by the Government of Canada and is no longer in operation.

Given the confidential nature of these documents, the Government of Canada sought guidance from the IRSSA Supervising Courts. Based on direction from the Courts, the documents are now in a secure Government of Canada site and will be reviewed by the IRSSA Court Monitor. The Court Monitor will report findings to the Courts and recommend appropriate next steps to ensure that all documents containing confidential information are protected in keeping with existing direction from the Courts.

At this time, I would also like to provide an update on the internal document review announced in December 2021. In order to support this process, a formal directive was issued within the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs that requires all officials to preserve and retain all relevant documents regarding former residential schools. As part of this review, officials are also reviewing documents that were previously held in a secure storage in Vancouver. Upon initial review, these documents are believed to be hard copies of information contained in the Government’s Residential Schools Historical Database, which were shared with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by 2015. Should any new documents related to the history or operation of residential schools be identified, the Government of Canada remains committed to sharing them with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) while respecting Survivors’ wishes, legislation, court orders, settlement agreements and ongoing litigation processes, in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement signed with the NCTR on January 20, 2022.

We understand that for many, sharing the stories of what happened at residential schools is a difficult and triggering process. Our Government is taking steps to ensure that other organizations who may no longer be in operation took appropriate measures to manage confidential documents related to the Independent Assessment Process. As we support Survivors and their families in their search for the truth, we are committed to ensuring that all relevant historical documents are retained and preserved, while protecting their privacy.”

National historic designations reflect the rich and varied heritage of our country and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.

Today, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Member of Parliament for St. Boniface – St. Vital and Minister of Northern Affairs, recognized the national historic significance of the Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club. A special ceremony was held in the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame at the Sport Manitoba Centre to unveil a commemorative plaque. The announcement was made on behalf of the honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Through incredible determination and talent, the Winnipeg Falcons rose up from their Icelandic-Canadian roots in Winnipeg’s West End to win Canada’s senior amateur championship, known as the Allan Cup, in 1920. Following this achievement, the team went on to represent Canada at the 1920 Antwerp, Belgium Olympics – and on April 26^th that same year, the Winnipeg Falcons defeated Sweden in the final to become the first-ever Olympic gold medalists in ice hockey.

Named after Iceland’s national bird, the Falcons were formed in 1909 with the merging of two Icelandic-Canadian teams. The team’s early years were spent playing in an intermediate league – and despite tying for first place in their inaugural season and applying for inclusion in the city senior league, they weren’t accepted until their strong showing in the 1914/1915 Allan Cup playoffs.

By this time, the First World War was raging in Europe and the entire Falcons lineup enlisted – where six players saw active duty and two were killed. Despite losing two of their beloved players and coping with the aftermath of war, the determination, pride and strength of the team continued to shine – eventually taking them to their triumphant Olympic victory. This inspirational win provided Canadians with the opportunity to unite and celebrate as a nation. Upon their return to Canada, the Falcons were welcomed back to their hometown of Winnipeg with a grand parade and celebration in the streets, as well as accolades in parliament and from media. 

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,200 designations have been made.