WHO preparations heating up

Planning committees have been struck for Rainy River and Atikokan areas as preparations for the district to host the World Health Organization’s 11th International Conference on Safe Communities in 2002 gathers momentum.
With the initial outline for the conference set by the program committee, the next step for organizers has been to establish planning committees for the east and west ends of the district.
“We’re getting the planning committees ready in Rainy River and Atikokan,” noted WHO co-ordinator Jeannette Cawston, who said workshops and tours will be offered in both ends of the district as well as in Fort Frances and the First Nations’ communities.
“This is how we hope to actually get those delegates to see our community from Atikokan to Rainy River,” she said.
Two other committees–transportation and logistics–have been activated in preparation for the conference, slated May 7-9, 2002, which is expected to attract about 500 delegates, including 120 from overseas.
Sponsorship, technical, and decoration committees also are in the works.
“It’s going to be a huge, huge event . . . it’s going to be exciting,” said Cawston. “The newest development is the talk of getting a WHO office [here].”
As well, about 16 potential speakers from around the world have been sent requests to attend the conference and more volunteers have come on board from across the district to join sub-committees.
Conference organizers held a public session in Stratton earlier this month, which was attended by a number of municipal leaders. “The mood from the community partners was fabulous. All the municipalities were represented,” noted Cawston.
The district also will host the annual travelling seminars, which begin three weeks before the WHO conference along with three Alberta communities, as well as the Canadian Safe Community Foundation’s fifth-annual conference.
“And they are planning some big announcements during our conference,” said Cawston. “It gives us an opportunity to showcase our community and the district.
“This is going to be a really colossal undertaking but it is my experience that this community is up for it. I think it will be a huge success,” she added.