Submitted by MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Coordinator Amanda Pont-Shanks
MNO Thorold staff celebrating the official opening
of the new MNO office in Thorold and the launch of
the MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Program.
(Left-right) MNO Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Rebecca Vander Sanden, MNO Family Wellbeing
Coordinator Amanda Pont-Shanks, Mayor City of
Thorold Ted Luciani, President Niagara Region
Métis Council Derrick Pont, MNO Community
Relations Coordinator Glen Lipinski, MNO
Community Wellness Coordinator Terry-Lynn
Longpre and MNO Community Support Service
Coordinator Tammy Wintle.
Click here for larger picture.
On Thursday February 2,2017, the staff at the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Thorold office had their official grand opening and launched the MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Program in their community. The event was hosted by MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Coordinator Amanda Pont-Shanks with the help of her fellow MNO staff members, Glen Lipinski, Tammy Wintle, Rebecca Vander Sanden, and Terry-Lynn Longpre. The MNO Niagara Region Métis Council (NRMC) also provided support for the launch.
The event began with the official grand opening of the new MNO Thorold office. The opening was emceed by Glen Lipinski who welcomed the excited crowd. MNO NRMC Senator Gary Laframboise provided a prayer and a blessing to the new building. Welcoming remarks were provided by St. Catharines Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) Jim Bradley, Region of Niagara representing Thorold Councilor Henry D’Angela, Region of Niagara representing Welland Councilor Paul Grenier and Mayor of the City of Thorold Ted Luciani. Member of Parliament (MP) for Niagara centre, Vance Badawey was unable to attend that night, however he visited the new office and welcomed the new MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Coordinator and MNO staff to their new building the next morning.
MNO NRMC President Derrick Pont provided opening remarks and expressed how excited he was to see how much the Métis Nation has grown in the Niagara region in the past 10 years. President Pont then presented Mayor Luciani with a sash and welcomed him to the Métis family. Mayor Luciani as well as MNO staff participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new building.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Amanda Pont-Shanks greeted the crowd and provided a brief information session on her program and services. From there, the official MNO Métis Family Wellbeing launch party began.
The participants enjoyed traditional fiddle music by the Old Time Fiddlers Quartet, moose stew and bannock made by Senator Laframboise, appetizers made by local chef, Craig Shanks and homemade sugar cookies created by Amanda Pont-Shanks.
The evening also had a healing bath salt make and take where participants made their own soothing bath salts with essential oils. Children were able to explore their creativity and create their own paper canoe. Event attendees also had the opportunity to win door prizes.
Overall the event was a huge success with over 70 people in attendance. There were a lot of positive reviews from citizens, service providers, members of local government, MNO staff, and members of the MNO NRMC.
If you have any questions about the MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Program in the Niagara Region, please contact Amanda Pont-Shanks at 905-682-3487 ex. 302 or amandap@metisnation.org
Posted February 9, 2017