Edmonton Briefs - September

Dr. Brian Wong worked hard on Aug. 20 providing free dental services. There was already a line-up at his office on Whyte Avenue when he arrived in the morning.

Second annual free dental services provided

Dr. Brian Wong provided health care and smiles — both free — to those less fortunate through the program Dentistry From The Heart. Over 50 people were helped, including a handful of Aboriginal Edmontonians, on Aug. 20 when Wong and staff opened the doors of Twin Dental Clinic on Whyte Avenue. Over the past six years, Twin Dental Clinic has helped many patients in need. This is the second year the clinic has hosted the Dentistry from the Heart event. DFTH is a national non-profit organization with a simple mission — making people smile. Founded in 2001, DFTH was created to aid those in need, including the growing population of under-insured. Over 29 per cent of adults have untreated cavities. Without events like DFTH, dental care simply isn’t an option for many. This year, DFTH will help more than 12,000 patients and provide millions in dental care.

Alexander First Nation signs health care MOU

A new health care agreement with Alberta Health Services will extend funding for 21 continuing care beds at the Kipohtakawkamik Elders’ Lodge in Alexander. “This agreement continues to support the Alexander First Nation to determine how best to deliver services to our Elders,” said health director Marlene Arcand in a news release. “Elders are revered in First Nation tradition and culture, and being empowered to age in place keeps our relatives as part of our community, which is beneficial to our Elders and to our youth.” Caroline Clark, executive director of Seniors Health in the Edmonton zone, said, “We’re very proud of our relationship with the Alexander First Nation. The agreement allows for a culturally-appropriate solution and the outcomes have been nothing short of fantastic.”

Downtown church site of global Indigenous celebration

McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton hosted a benefit concert last month featuring a global array of Indigenous and other performers. The concert was a fundraiser for Tunisia’s Global Rise of Indigenous Languages conference in late October. Ancient Voices, New Song was a concert that celebrated the vibrancy and resiliency of Indigenous cultures and languages. Lewis Cardinal was one of the co-ordinators of the event.

Exploration of oil and gas practices

Partnering with Yukon First Nations will be one of the topics discussed at the upcoming Aboriginal Oil and Gas forum Nov. 21-22. Also on the agenda are Aboriginal policies to promote resource development; Aboriginal rights and title west of the Rockies and the sustainable economy in the Great Bear Rainforest; dealing with culturally sensitive areas in project design; and, the role of tribunals and administrative bodies in assessing the duty to consult oil and gas economic due diligence — to reach the best deal for Aboriginal communities. The forum is an annual event that pulls together Aboriginal leaders and industry operators to share best practices, lessons learned and creative solutions to pressing development issues.

Youth leadership developed through sports

Boyle Street Community Services has partnered with ATCO Gas and the provincial government to offer youth in the Edmonton area the opportunity to develop leadership skills through sport, recreation and arts in the Alberta’s Future Leaders program this summer. The program will receive support from the partners into 2012. The program successfully involved participation from more than 6,000 young people in eight communities in the last year.  “(The program) enables young people to learn valuable skills and take on leadership roles that strengthen not only their personal development, but to discover that they can make a difference in building strong, active and healthy communities,” said Cindy Ady, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, in a news release. The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and other program sponsors invested more than $320,000 in 2010 to deliver the program provincially.

Compiled by Shari Narine