Luke is volunteering on Frontiers project in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Luke is a professional actor who has appeared in quite a few major films, and is now applying his experience in teaching video production and other subjects to Inuvik students. He is bringing that talent and passion to the students who have begun to make their own interesting films in class.
You can see some of his photos from the last few months in Inuvik.
Inuvik students making their own films
This year has, to put it mildly, been a challenging experience for us at Frontiers Manitoba. We have had some successes and lots of challenges. We hope that through this we will grow and develop policies and practices that will allow us to be more effective in meeting the needs of communities for housing and skill development.
Highlights of 2009:
Standing Tree to Standing House Curriculum:
In past years Frontiers Foundation offered in-house certificates for trainees in the Standing Tree to Standing House Program. This year Brian worked together with curriculum developers at Red River College to produce a 5 course certificate program. Trainees will now be registered students with Red River College and will get a College Certificate upon completion. We will be piloting the new curriculum with Garden Hill. Projects in Collins, ON and Kitcisakik, QB also want to run the course this year. Thanks to Rylan Reed at CMHC for the funding to develop this program. This is a true example of partnership.
Log Cabin Building Course:
In partnership with Mary Robinson of Forintek, Frontiers Fdn. hosted our third annual Log Cabin Construction course with Master Builder Walter Keller. Graduates of this year’s program were from Garden Hill and Wasagamack. The course has created much interest with three of graduates building their own log homes, a father and son team buying a saw mill and one First Nation opening up a new development area for log homes.
A House for Erin
Erin Courchene is a single mom and the only woman participant in the Standing Tree to Standing House course at Sageeng First Nation. Erin participated in every phase of the home construction from harvesting and milling the timber, to cutting the siding. Her instructor Brian Monkman, says that she is a “crackerjack” sawyer. Thanks to the Laurie Guimond and Wendy Chevrefils, Employ-ment and Training staff at Sageeng who have gone above and beyond in providing not only the training allowances, but many of the materials as well. Funding for this project was gratefully received from the Sustainable Development Innovation Fund of Manitoba Conservation and CMHC.
Submitted by frontiers on December 22, 2009 - 9:47pm.Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Ike have left St. Michel de L’Attalaye, a remote rural community in NE Haiti with washed out roads, and extreme flooding. Our partners in this area are literally drowning in a watery hell due to extreme flooding; they need EMERGENCY help: food, water, meds, blankets and clothing. Frontiers Foundation has been supporting this region with social and economic development projects for the last three decades.
Submitted by frontiers on September 25, 2008 - 9:00am.On Thursday June 26th, 2008 at 7:30am Frontiers Foundation held its annual breakfast, at the Flora McCrea Auditorium located in the Timothy Memorial Church. The one hundred guests in attendance enjoyed the breakfast buffet including the fresh fish from Batchawana Bay cooked by Bill Lohman, Olaf & Iolene Bjornaa. A silent auction was also held with generous donations from Mary Fox, Stephen Fenech, Reza Hakim and Ursula Jacko. The silent auction raised approximately $1,100.
Submitted by frontiers on July 15, 2008 - 10:01am.Several ardent advocates for quality northern housing using local materials have worked with Frontiers Foundation to build a base of operations in Manitoba.
Frontiers Foundation in Manitoba has four key positions: The Manitoba Representative on the Frontiers Board and Chair of the Manitoba Advisory Committee is Nora Ross. She is a member of Berens River First Nation and a 43 year veteran of Frontiers Foundation. Our Projects Manager, Brian Monkman, is a Metis from Loon Straights and an experienced instructor, sawyer, builder and mechanic. Martin Strauss, is our contact with Strauss Association Management Service and comes to us with a wealth of project management and fund-raising experience. Our Regional Coordinator, Laurel Gardiner, is a teacher and a nurse specializing in Population Health Promotion.
Submitted by frontiers on July 15, 2008 - 8:24am.Frontiers Foundation is seeking volunteers to work in the north of Canada either in the schools or with the youth of the communities. These projects are scheduled to begin in early September and continue for the school year, through to the end of June. We will be looking for volunteers to work as tutors and teaching assistants in schools throughout the Northwest Territories and we expect to have education projects in the communities of Inuvik, Wrigely, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, and Fort Smith.
Submitted by frontiers on May 7, 2008 - 6:58pm.Frontiers Foundation is looking for people willing to help build / renovate, safe, warm homes in partnership with northern Ontario and Manitoba mainly aboriginal families. If you have construction experience, share it with those who want to train on site. All travel, accommodation and food expenses plus volunteer allowances are provided.
Meaningful volunteer work producing enduring good news for and with our fellow Canadians. Three month commitment preferable, but negotiable.
We are happy to report that $10,000 has been committed towards the Fitzgerald family project at Jocko Point in Northern Ontario. The Finance and Fundraising Committee of Frontiers Foundation has authorized the release of these funds. Further, so far 13 people have contributed $1,800 through the givemeaning.com site, making the total raised $11,800 and leaving $48,200 left to raise. We intend to build the Fitzgeralds a three bedroom frame house and our Regional Coordinator Lylas Polson is getting ready to start as soon as the weather allows.
We still need funds and/or in-kind donations from the public at large and in particular from our friends and supporters in order to have a realistic completion of the fundraising effort. Every dollar counts towards the dream of safe and warm housing for the Fitzgeralds.
Please ask your friends to contribute generously to this worthy endeavour, they can donate through www.givemeaning.com or through CanadaHelps.Org. Donors can also send us their cheques by regular mail and receipts for income tax purposes will be issued with thanks.
Submitted by frontiers on March 4, 2008 - 8:25pm.
Robbert HartogOn January 29th a supergreat friend and strong supporter of our Aboriginal voluntary service organization passed away. Robbert Hartog’s commitment to affordable housing prompted him and his friend to donate $100,000 towards Project AMIK housing complex in East Toronto. For this facility now occupied by 50% Canadian first citizens and 50% by others, Frontiers Foundation was awarded the “Best Affordable Housing Practices†trophy.
I am writing to bring to your attention a family in desperate need of a home. The Fitzgerald's have asked for the help of Frontiers Foundation. I have attached photos of the Fitzgerald family and their current home. We have screened this family and you can be sure that there are truly in need of help.
Submitted by frontiers on December 3, 2007 - 10:19pm.You can donate to Frontiers Foundation through CanadaHelps.org. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for every donation.
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Tel: (416) 690-3930
Fax: (416) 690-3934
