New friendship centre logs in

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This will be a busy spring for the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre, thanks to a $150,000 grant from the National Association of Friendship Centres. Under the Urban Initiatives Program, the centre has been given approval to offer a log building construction course and in the process build a new friendship centre.

The goal of the program is to create sustainable employment. It is hoped that trainees will use the skills they gain in log construction to create their own businesses.

With plans only in the works since last November, staff have worked quickly to move the project ahead. The application was accepted for its full amount. "We got what we asked for and they accommodated us. There was no question we could handle the program," says Boisvert, "It's been a team approach with support of our MLA (Mike Cardinal), our board of directors, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, Tara Forest Products, Bigstone Cree Nation, agencies in the community, Tim Sissons and many others."

Tim Sissons has been hired as the project co-ordinator, and will teach the traditional skills of log craftsmanship to fourteen trainees. Sissons is known in the Athabasca area for building the Muskeg Creek Chalet, the Donatville Museum and various residential buildings.

The logs are being donated by Alberta Pacific Forest Industries and will be hand selected.

A development permit has been conditionally approved. If there is no opposition to the application, building will begin May 1.

"At the end of three months, we will have a craft store, drop-in centre, new and used store, administration office, community kitchen and boardroom," says Maxine Boisvert, Executive Director.

If additional attempts to access funds are successful, they will add a basement to the 1800 square foot building plan, and possibly a second story.

The Youth Employment Initiatives program will be also be involved with the project. They will do painting, varnishing and touch-ups.

Anyone interested in becoming a trainee can contact the centre. Preferably, people with some with some construction skills will come forward. A training allowance will be provided.

This will be the second last friendship centre in Athabasca Native Friendship Centre one step closer on the road to self sufficiency.