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Ottawa Regional and High Land Waters Métis Councils Co-hosting

Ottawa Site of 2013 MNO Annual General Meeting Ottawa will be the site of the 20th MNO Annual General Assembly

Ottawa, ON (October 15) – On October 13, the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) accepted to a proposal from the MNO Ottawa Regional and High Land Waters Métis Councils that Ottawa serve as the location for the 2013 Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Annual General Meeting (AGA). The AGA is scheduled for August 24-26, 2013 and the 2013 AGA mark the 20th anniversary of the MNO, which was formed in 1993. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the historic R v Powley Supreme Court of Canada case that affirmed Métis harvest rights.

“We are very pleased that the two Councils in Region 6 have stepped forward to provide the MNO with this opportunity,” stated MNO President Gary Lipinski, “Ottawa is a beautiful city with great venues for AGA events including several with important ties to the Métis Nation.” Among the locations of special interest to Métis are the Supreme Court of Canada building where the Powley decision was announced, the stunning Museum of Civilization in nearby Gatineau that was designed by Métis architect Douglas Cardinal, the Aboriginal Veterans Monument and Ottawa River, which was a major fur trade route.

“Ottawa has a lot to offer,” explained Dan Gilbeau, President of the MNO Ottawa Métis Regional Council, “and we are excited to invite all MNO citizens to the national capital. We plan on making sure that the MNO’s 20th anniversary AGA is an event to remember!”

Tom Thompson Jr., Region 6 PCMNO Councillor, who assisted in making the Ottawa proposal in his former role as President of the MNO High Land Waters Métis Council added: “The Métis played an important part in the history of Canada, and the duel anniversaries of the MNO and Powley, make 2013 the perfect year to bring attention to the entire country of that history.”

The MNO has already started work on securing venues for meetings and accommodations and will be making more announcements about the AGA in the coming months.