Local Projects

Our intention in 2018-19 was to create a second such partnership involving different schools. It turns out that we ended up with 3 new very successful partnerships!

 

1. Ecole van Belleghem in Louis Riel School Division is partnering with Wanipigow School (Hollow Water First Nation) to learn as much as they can about land-based education. Gabriel Hall, educator in charge of these programs has visited Ecole Van B school and spoken with students and staff. The plan is for the Van B students to go to participate in land-based activities along with their fellow students from Hollow Water. Ecole van B students conducted a fund raising drive and sent a large consignment of winter apparel for Hollow Water students to use on their land-based expeditions.

 

2. Three schools from Pembina Trails School Division (Chancellor, Ralph Maybank and Ecole Tuxedo Park) are teamed up with Omishoosh School in Pauingassi situated 280 kms northeast of Winnipeg. Students from Chancellor School have connected with students from Pauingassi who attend high school at South East College. An intense winter clothing drive resulted in the shipping of a large consignment of much needed apparel to the children and youth in that community.

As well a good deal of hockey equipment has been sent. Plans are to send a large consignment of children’s books for a community book giveaway as well as to help to establish stimulating summer activities for the children in Pauingassi.

3. St. Theresa Point Visit: From May 14-17, 2019, a group of eight students and five staff from Louis Riel School Division had the privilege of visiting the community of St. Theresa Point (STP) as part of a growing partnership between the two communities. St. Theresa Point welcomed and honoured LRSD in the warmest manner possible, treating their visitors as family. The week was filled with the outdoors, community building, and fun. Many of the activities centred on land-based and traditional practices, including a school-wide fish fry, a fishing afternoon, ceremony, and the making and playing of traditional drums. The students and adults of both communities formed meaningful relationships with each other, developing renewed understandings of the challenges remote communities in Canada face. LRSD is so appreciative of St. Theresa Point’s generosity, with their gracious sharing of their gifts, community, and spirit. It marks a new chapter in the two communities’ journey of partnership and reconciliation [ trip update compiled by Nika Martinussen, President, SHOW (Students Helping Our World) JHBruns Collegiate]

 

We are currently in discussions with St Theresa Point about organizing summer enrichment opportunities for the children and youth. Six students from STP, who attend South East Collegiate in Winnipeg, have been trained to run a Rec and Read program when they go home for the summer. (follow the link “Rec and Read University of Manitoba - Indspire” for more details on the program).

 

We will be sending 20 laptops loaded with various fun learning activities for the use of the children and youth over the 2019 summer. In addition, Share the Magic Book Program has generously provided us with 1500 books for all ages. We have shipped these by air to STP. We will also be sending soccer equipment and board games before the end of June 2019. We have just shipped over 1000 books to Pauingassi for summer reading and we will be sending board games to that community as well.