MNO representatives provided a presentation to about 50
Union Gas employees during a Lunch and Learn event in
Toronto on June 21. Pictured are Union Gas Senior
Analyst Jessica Newman, Vice-President Canada Gas and
Union Gas Tanya Mushynski, PCMNO Executive Senator
Joseph Poitras, Union Gas Associate General Counsel
Armanda Pinho, Union Gas Indigenous Affairs Consultant
John Bonin, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President
Margaret Froh and Union Gas President Steve Baker.
Click here to view a larger version of this picture.
Submitted by MNO Chief Operating Officer Joanne Meyer with information from Union Gas
Union Gas employees in the company’s Toronto office marked this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day with a lunch-and-learn session led by Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Margaret Froh.
President Froh shared a detailed and engaging presentation about the origin, culture, historical challenges and modern-day issues of the Métis people with an audience of about 50 Union Gas employees, including Union Gas President Steve Baker. Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) Executive Senator Joseph Poitras delivered an opening blessing for the session and MNO Chief Operating Officer Joanne Meyer also participated in the event.
“For National Indigenous Peoples Day, I felt it was not only important to celebrate the history, accomplishments and culture of the Métis, but to also help educate others about our people,” stated President Froh. “Union Gas has been a partner to the Métis Nation of Ontario for many years and has worked proactively to make sure we are included and consulted in its projects and campaigns. I applaud their efforts to learn about Indigenous peoples through these educational talks and events.”
The company’s Associate General Counsel Armanda Pinho, who introduced the trio of guests, said, “Union Gas has a long history of strong partnerships with Indigenous communities across Ontario. We are fortunate to have leaders from the Métis Nation of Ontario with us on this special day.”
The event was one of about a dozen held between June 18 and 22 in Union Gas offices across Ontario. The events were supported by 21 employees who volunteered as Indigenous champions in their respective offices.
The company decided to build the week-long education campaign around National Indigenous Peoples Day to help its 2,300 employees build understanding of Indigenous peoples, their nationhood and the significant contributions they make to society.
“Our relationships with Indigenous communities are built over decades and guided by a set of principles that recognizes their treaty rights, connections to the land, and the valuable role they play in our business today and into the future. Engaging our employees and increasing their awareness of the heritage, diverse cultures and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is one way we will continue to build and strengthen these partnerships,” said Lindsay Boyd, Manager of Indigenous and Municipal Affairs for Union Gas.
Posted: July 16, 2018