1 (left-right): High RIsk Support Councilor Victim Services of Peel Natalie Snow, MNO Credit River Métis Council (CRMC) President Karen Derocher, MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Coordinator Catherine Corbett and MNO CRMC Treasurer Darlene Lent. 2 (left-right): MNO CRMC President Karen Derocher. 3 (left-right): Brampton Wards 3 and 4 Councilor Martin Medeiros and MNO Veterans Council President Joseph Paquette. 4 (left-right): Volunteer Michelle Pellegrino and MNO citizen Meredith Erochko and her three boys Gianpaolo, Danilo and Niccolo. 5 (left-right): MNO CRMC Outreach Coordinator Kyle Morrison, MNO CRMC Treasurer Darlene Lent, MNO CRMC President Karen Derocher, Traditional Knowledge Keeper Jim Tolles and MNO Veterans Council President Joseph Paquette. Click here for larger picture.
Submitted by MNO Métis Family Wellbeing Coordinator Catherine Corbett
The new Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) office in Brampton was officially opened on May 24, 2017. The office will serve as the headquarters of the MNO Credit River Métis Council (CRMC) and the new MNO Family Wellbeing program.
Over 60 people attended the event including MNO CRMC Councilor Jean-Marc Maheu and MNO CRMC past Senator Bill Morrison. Brampton Ward 3 and 4 Councilors Martin Medeiros and Jeff Bowman attended the event and both were gifted with Métis sashes. Honourary sashes were also presented to: MNO citizen Meredith Erochko and her three sons Gianpaolo, Danilo and Niccolo; MNO citizen Natalie Snow; Rubina Leahy from Victim Services of Peel; Ed Castro, Elizabeth Molinaro and Dieufert Bellot from the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) for their support of the Brampton MNO office. It was also great to have MNO Veterans’ Council President Joseph Paquette on hand, his spirit and stories were a treat for the other guests.
MNO staff and council members had the opportunity to connect with representatives of several local service providers including: Family Services of Peel; Habitat for Humanity; Victim Services of Peel; the Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga; Region of Peel; Child Development Resource Connection; Ecosource; Peel District School Board and Mississauga Halton LHINs. MNO Métis Family Wellbeing staff Rose Colacci-Fines and Catherine Corbett were able to meet them all and offer information on the new MFWB program as well as the existing CWC program.
Guests had the opportunity to take part in a traditional medicine pouch activity facilitated by MNO CRMC Treasurer Darlene Lent and Nycolla Buisson. The event featured light refreshments of bean salad, coleslaw and cranberry salsa prepared by Darlene and homemade bannock made by her sister, Karen Stewart. Fiddle music was played throughout the day to get everyone in the Métis mood. The day was a great success thanks in no small part to dedicated volunteers Barbara Balla, Michelle Pellegrino and Nycolla Buisson. All the guests gave positive reviews of the new office space!
Posted: July 7, 2017