New scholarship for architectural school. Toronto-based LGA Architectural Partners, which designed the new School of Architecture at Laurentian University in Sudbury, has established an annual scholarship with a $10,000 endowment. Starting in 2016, the Rya and Eric Levitt Memorial Award will benefit an Aboriginal student entering first year at the architecture school. The award has been named in honour of founding principal Janna Levitt’s late parents, who both had a deep connection to Ontario’s Northern and Aboriginal arts communities.

Consultations underway for culture strategy. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport has launched a province-wide consultation to develop the first†Culture Strategy for Ontario. The province is working with an expert advisory group, members of which have expertise and diverse perspectives on the role of culture in Ontario. They will provide advice to the government on the culture strategy. Shirley Cheechoo is among the members on the expert advisory group. Cheechoo is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, director and visual artist.

Effort to provide legal guidance to tackle discrimination. The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre have partnered to deliver training to friendship centre staff across the province to promote access to legal services for Indigenous people experiencing discrimination. The training kicked off at N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury.

Wind farm begins operation. Batchewana First Nation’s Bow Lake wind farm began operating late last month. The joint operation between Batchewana, and BluEarth Renewables Inc. represents one of the largest economic partnerships between a First Nation and a wind energy developer in Canada. Located about 80 km northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, the Bow Lake wind farm features 36 wind turbines capable of generating 60 megawatts – enough clean, renewable energy to power 15,000 homes across Ontario.

Campaign for First Nations war hero. The Department of Canadian Heritage will contribute $80,000 in funding through its World War Commemorations Community Fund for a project to honour Francis Pegahmagabow, the most highly-decorated First Nations soldier in Canadian history. The money represents about half the cost of the project, which is being spearheaded by the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association. The Royal Canadian Regiment Trust Fund has also donated $10,000.†The bronze and granite monument will be located at the Charles W.

A jury has begun hearing the details surrounding the deaths of seven First Nations youth spanning an 11 year period. The youth came to Thunder Bay from their remote northern communities to continue their secondary education.

Dr. David Eden, the coroner who is presiding over the inquest, thanked the jury “for the commitment and personal sacrifices involved in your involvement in an inquest of this length and of this much importance to the community.”

The National Energy Board will hear oral traditional evidence from Aboriginal intervenors for the Energy East Project in Calgary on Nov. 12 and 13. There are six sessions (as well as remote participation sessions) currently scheduled to gather Aboriginal oral traditional evidence between Nov. 9 and Dec. 15. Aboriginal intervenors, who are not currently scheduled, will have an opportunity in 2016 to provide their oral traditional evidence.

Jingle dress dancer Vanessa Stiffarm,25, from Kainai Nation, has been crowned Calgary Stampede Treaty 7 2016 Indian Princess. She beat out Alicia Maguire and Savanna Sparvier of Siksika Nation; Jasmine Crowchief from Siksika and Piikani Nations; and Shay-Lynn Strikes With A Gun from Piikani Nation. The competitors were judged in a number of categories, including speaking, horsemanship, dancing and presentation. Stiffarm will attend numerous local, national and international events as ambassador and educator of First Nations culture during her one year reign.

Former NHL player and sexual abuse victim Sheldon Kennedy recently met with Alberta’s new mental health review board to promote the all-inclusive approach used in the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary.

The Calgary City Police Service has launched a new tool to help in emergencies. The Vulnerable Person Self-Registry allows people with a physical, mental or medical condition that may require special attention in an emergency to voluntarily submit personal information, including name, date of birth, physical description, contact information, methods of approach or communication, photo and description of any threatening medical conditions. First responders can access the data through the city’s 9-1-1 centre, when a vulnerable person is in danger or distress.