Caption: Wabaseemong service providers and community consultants came together with KCA leadership and program directors to share what services are available for their community.
Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is honoured to have hosted an important touchpoint with Wabaseemoong’s service providers and community consultants, as we continue our journeys together to improve outcomes in our communities.
Taking place at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp on November 19, service providers and community consultants, including educators, primary care nurses, staff, and more met with KCA’s leadership and program directors to share what services are available for their youth and families.
KCA staff then presented their services and programs, which included Primary Care, Mental Health, Cultural Wellness, Binesi Waziswon Youth Healing and Treatment, Niigaanning Bimaadiziwin Child & Youth Development Services (NBDS), Gambling Addictions Awareness, Indigenous Patient Relations, and more.
“It was excellent,” said Head Nurse in Wabaseemoong’s Health Centre, Marcie Einarsson. “There’s a lot of things that Kenora Chiefs Advisory has for community members that may not be known to the community or those who provide healthcare. We wanted to come today to learn more about what’s available and be able to spread the word.”
Einarsson notes she was particularly impressed with Abdel Habaka’s presentation on the Binesi Waziswon Youth Healing and Treatment Service – a Step Up, Step Down program to serve youth aged 12 to 17 with a safe, voluntary live-in stabilization treatment program – one of the few across the North.
“I’ve been in Wabaseemoong going on 8 years now,” adds Einarsson. “We’re seeing younger youth that are dealing with substance problems, addictions, and mental health issues – and it’s nice to know that there’s somewhere they can go to help. We want to be able to help share that the service is available. It was very enlightening, and we so appreciate being welcomed here.”
After the presentations, service providers and consultants were then invited for a tour of the 327-acre Youth and Family Wellness Camp, which included the Mess Hall, Binesi Waziswon home, Equine Program, the new Baseball Diamonds, and many upcoming initiatives for the space.
“We’re very grateful to get together with service providers from Wabaseemoong,” adds Chief Operating Officer for KCA, Gillian Lunny, who hosted the meeting.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with the hard-working staff in community, and to work together to find ways that we can better support them in their work and the clients they serve. We look forward to continuing our work with Wabaseemoong to improve the health and wellbeing of the community and its members,” she adds.
Ogimaawabiitong would like to send a huge Miigwetch to everyone who came out to meet and learn with one another, as well as to the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp team for lunch, and KCA’s Billy Boucher for his opening words and ceremony.
