Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Dec. 10, 2015

RCMP look for missing Lac La Biche woman

December 9, 2015. Lac La Biche RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Lynda Mountain, 46. She was last seen in Lac La Biche in the morning hours on November 30, 2015. Mountain may be in the Fort McMurray area. She is described as 5’0 to 5’3” tall, approximately 200 lbs, short brown hair, brown eyes, glasses. She was last seen wearing a black and white shirt and black leggings. Anyone with information on Mountain’s whereabouts is asked to call the Lac La Biche RCMP at 780-623-4380 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

UPDATE: Lac La Biche woman found safe

December 10, 2015. Lynda Mountain (Lavallee) was found safe a day after she was reported missing. She had been last seen in Lac La Biche in the morning hours on November 30, 2015. The RCMP is grateful to the public who showed a great interest in assisting the police in their efforts.

Project to look at impact of loneliness

December 9, 2015. A research project spearheaded by NorQuest College and the Edmonton Public Library has received a $239,296 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The “Building a Better Life” research project aims to understand how loneliness and lack of self-esteem impact people’s abilities to interact with others and take advantage of life opportunities. NorQuest College and EPL will use their research to help improve access to education and workforce opportunities for newcomers, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized communities in the Edmonton region. The study will take place over a three-year period, with three rounds of data collection in spring 2016, winter 2016-17 and fall 2017. Research will be conducted through focus groups, one-on-one interviews and case studies, with a focus on individuals who have successfully overcome various types of marginalization.