Staff
Everyone is invited out to the Métis Hall here this Tuesday (Sept. 9) for a gathering and breakfast to mark International FASD Awareness Day.
“The group that founded it, what they did was on the ninth day of the ninth month at 9:09 a.m., they rang bells,” explained Ashlee Grimard, program manager at the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre.
“It’s now recognized internationally and they do activities, walks, anything to raise awareness and reduce stigma and prevent FASD,” she said, noting a gathering and “breakFASD” are being held locally.
The pancake breakfast will run from 8-11 a.m.
“We’ll be having an opening by a Métis senator and we’re going to be having a moment at 9:09 a.m.,” Grimard said.
“There will be multi-agencies setting up tables with information [and] awareness resources, and there will be door prizes,” she added.
Grimard said organizers are hoping people will stop by to see what’s going on.
“They had a really good turnout last year so we’re hoping for the same this year,” she remarked.
“And with it starting at 8 a.m., if people are able to come by with the kids before school, we’re going to have a couple activities going on,” Grimard added.
The developmental team at Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child & Family Services is going to be providing a kids’ table, for instance, and possibly the United Native Friendship Centre will be hosting activities, too.
“So there will be lots going on,” Grimard stressed.
“We’re encouraging people to come down, take a look around, and spend some time talking about what FASD is,” she noted.
“And what we really want people to do is look at how it affects this community and what we can do to prevent it.”
The event is made possible through a partnership between the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, the Métis “Healthy Babies, Healthy Children” program, the UNFC, and FASD Community Partners of the Rainy River District.
The Fort Frances District Jail, Kenora-Rainy River Child and Family Services, and the Northwestern Health Unit also are contributors.
For more information, call Christa Bruyere at the UNFC (274-8541) or Anne-Marie Armstrong at the Sunset Country Métis (274-1386).
