Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Volume 64 • Issue 10
UCN expands Early Childhood Education programs in Northern Manitoba mats starting in Fall 2024. The ECE workplace diploma program will also intake up to 20 students in the Fall of 2024. Early Learning and Childcare Certificate Program leading to an ECE III designation will be offered via distance evening classes beginning in January 2025 – March 2026. UCN is excited to offer these new programs in Northern Manitoba, providing learning opportunities to local communities while respecting diverse Indigenous and northern values. "We are thrilled to expand our Early Childhood Education programs in partnership with Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CW-ELCC) Agreement," said Dr. Doug Lauvstad, UCN President & Vice-Chancellor. "This expansion will allow us to provide great-
er access to quality early childhood education to communities across Northern Manitoba." The expansion of UCN's ECE programs is great news for many families in Northern Manitoba. Local daycare provider, Christina Hiebert, shared her excitement about the expansion, saying, "It's great to see UCN expanding their programs. It means more trained professionals in our communities to provide quality care for our children." Interested students can contact student-recruitment@ucn.ca for further information on this exciting opportunity. ~Matthias J. Johnson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Thompson Citizen. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
University College of the North (UCN) has announced the expansion of the UCN Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs across Northern Manitoba in partnership with the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CW-ELCC) Agreement. UCN will mark the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the UCN ECE The Pas campus at Mary Duncan School on March 15. The event will acknowledge UCN's five years of partnership with the Kelsey School Division. UCN's recent signage on the Mary Duncan School announces that a UCN program is housed within the building. Laura Ayres, UCN ECE
Program Coordinator, said, "Mary Duncan School has been a wonderful welcoming home for the ECE program since 2019 and through the pandemic." On-campus programs in The Pas and Thompson are taking 1st year intakes with
up to 15 seats available on each campus for the 20242025 academic year. The ECE 2-year diploma program will also be available in Norway House, Misipawistik (Grand Rapids), and Mathias Colomb (Pukatawagan) beginning in
April 2024 with preparation classes and the 2-year diploma program to begin in September 2024-May 2026. Furthermore, 40-hour evening courses for Childcare Assistants and the public will be offered both on campus and in distance for-
Assiniboine College’s legacy gala dinner to support women in public safety Academic at Assiniboine, they are settled into their acknowledged the chal- lives, I find myself able to lenges that exist for par- reach out and give a hand Assiniboine College is ents who want to return to up to someone reminiscent taking strides to encourage school. She said, “The chal- of my radio muse, assisting more women to enter the lenges of balancing financial a young single mom reach field of public safety by ofand mental stress while pur- her goals. It’s a truly excitfering financial assistance suing a career can serve as a ing time.” to those seeking to pursue barrier for those wanting to Mark Frison, the Presithe Public Safety Advanced return to school to acquire dent of Assiniboine College, Diploma program. Proceeds new skills and training to shared a personal story of from the upcoming Foundabetter support their family.” his own mother who went tion Legacy Gala Dinner, to Shannon Peters, the back to school and changed Nickel Belt photo IanHe Graham be held on March 21, 2024, herNews life and hisby life. said, donor behind the award, will be usedFoundation to support of new Addictions Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing was up, mostly in Churchill. inspired to help after “Student financial assistance student awards for women hearing an eloquent young was critical to allowing her BY IAN GRAHAM alland thepay harsh to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow wheninterviewed people say to For in the program. woman being do so her weather bills. As EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET Churchill residents and the dangers polar Mark Frison, the Presi- to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that on the radio. The woman such, I’m extremelyofmoved Though she’s nowemphawritten when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find deMeulles said it dent at Assiniboine, spoke about thesomewhere difficulties bears, by what Ms. Peters is ifdoa book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would sized the importance of proof raising a small child on ing for future Assiniboine ces growing up insupport Churchill, ‘Those people moved back to Churchviding financial for her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the her“To ownsay, while working and have students.” Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose live there. in a heartbeat. College women entering the public going toto school. PetersThey said, ill Assiniboine Manitoba northern She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should juststruck leave,’ “I miss the shoreline, safety profession bydirector saying, North - Life in Churchill for “Her story meisasquite both continues to make stridesI Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the program, is among five poing experience for guests. guests in advance for sup“Addressing the public safeheartbreaking and inspiring; in supporting women puring wasn’t something she lice “I agencies just sortinofCanada thought, “I exclusive had such a varied his- porting Another thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though to The multi-course the future of women ty needs of today means probeing willing to sacrifice suing higher education and always she would you know what, this his- tory I would tell people oninwas the same boatforinthe another area they’re dangerous and join the pledge. menuand with wine pairings at spurred pursuing aher future policing viding a thought holistic, community so much long-term careersvery in public safety. do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, Matt Wiebe, the Minister each course is designed to and public safety.” policing model, and having gain. The feeling of wanting With the upcoming Legacy “In my youth I never head, it’s and going to be gone true, is it?’guests I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t she says. “When I go of Justice Attorney Gen- ‘That’s delightnot and satisfy In honor of International appropriate representation to help someone like they that Bay,” Gala Dinner and the new felt good atinwriting,” she I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah true.’ They’d go, way the option to do that? home,&standing on the suspended operations have eral, commented that “Our while it’s supporting a worthy Women’s Day, Assiniboine of women the field is a if has stuck with me over the back Shannon Harry Peters said. “Butofwhen I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You ofannounced Gillam lastaspring. think right now they’re Hudson looking out on province’s law enforcement cause.didn’t do all that, did north College gener- Iyears.” key piece that. Reducing Hand-UpBay Renewable Burto Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an agencies need to reflect the Tamra Rapsky, the Asous donation that has creatthe financial barrier to trainThe fund established sary, women in Manitoba the school of socialpart work, it’s something al- old.’ I wasFoundation like, ‘No, actually in a the political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so communities they I’ve serve, siniboine Board thriving ed a newlarge awardcommunity to support for ing is an important of and Shannon & Harry will have more opportunities at that point women I had totowrite wanted my mom to IPresident, did all that I was and it’s just dwindled down Peters really sad for them because and you feel great.” and I am encouraged to see said,before “The Legacy a mother seeking a return encouraging pur- ways Hand-Up BursaryI small to achieve their goals and for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got Assiniboine College reduce Gala is our largest fundraisto school. The Shannon & sue this as a career.” will help cover the cost of make a difference in their ‘Holy, not pledge bad at this, an barriers artist, she’s got so ingLooking says. Re- ill one book under her belt, back, some of now,” really want to thrive. financial for women event each year, where Harry deMeulles Peters Hand-Up The I’m 30x30 is a she’s returning to school for a communities. right?’ I certainly developed stories be- those are things newable Though she’s will not cover there They’ve worlds says she mayistry gettingwonderful into public safety.” guestsexperiences have the opportunity Bursary North American initiative many mother inbuilt need.their Peters said, deMeulles ~Matthias J. Johnson a a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. The Foundation Legacy to experience a remarkable the tuition and living costs “Our own children worked Local Journalism Initiative aimed at increasing the and came out ofof there with stories at Parkshosted Canada by in evening “I did some bizarre her andallowing other family someone came to you and reporter “I havewho another Gala Dinner, whilepretty supporting of asister student, her if representation women very hard to be successful worksbook out in of a strong in my andArts, I’ve Baking always stuff like fuel hauls into ‘I’m sorry, paths you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker still a worthy endeavor. It’sthea members the Culinary to focus on herare. studies and said, in very police recruitskill classes to Churchill in their chosen while the Thompson Citizen. The writing and confi in hounded her,and ‘Please, just high Arctic at involved -35,” said “My without cousinthe owns your home community more aboutInitiative personFoundations Hospitalpleasure to be in family worrythe of leave 30% by 2030. The dence Brandon appreciating assistance from story, Local Journalism my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. ity students at Assiniboine, this event, and I want to financial burden. Police Service, a partner in their parents, grandparents, is funded by the Governclear and that’sPublic it. It’sSafety there. for because your story me until That was somewhere andthat all Maybe the next five years willyou feature a gourmet din- on thank our after. supporters anda says. Dr. Deanna Rexe, the VP you Assiniboine’s uncle, and aunt.else Now ment ofinCanada. BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”