WHO conference gets federal funds

The federal government announced Friday it’s chipping in $75,000 for the World Health Organization conference being held here next week.
Local MP Robert Nault, also the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, announced this morning that the money would be given to the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition to help fund the World Health Organization’s 11th International and 5th National Conference on Safe Communities on May 7-9.
“This conference not only gives the Rainy River District an opportunity to become a world leader in community-based safety, but also supports local tourism and economic development,” Nault said in a press release.
“This event will showcase the area to delegates from around the world.”
Local organizers were thrilled with the funding.
“We appreciate the Government of Canada’s assistance in this large undertaking,” said RRVSC chair Doug Anderson. “This is a great opportunity to feature Rainy River District to the world as a place to come and visit, do business, and live.”
The RRVSC is working with the Rainy River Future Development Corp. (RRFDC) to promote local safety initiatives to more than 300 delegates from over 30 countries around the world.
At the conference, Rainy River District also will be recognized as a “Safe Community” for the hundreds of safety programs run in the area. It would be only the third “Safe Community” in Canada after Fort McMurray, Alta. and Brockville, Ont.
“I’m extremely proud of the fact that this group of committed volunteers, from both the aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities, have been working for years to make this world conference a reality,” Nault said.
  “Given that in a national competition the Rainy River District was awarded this event shows the tremendous efforts that this committee put forward in ensuring their success,” he remarked.