Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Nov 11/02) - A situation that could have ended on a bleak note was resolved in a $50,000 fairy tale-like way last Wednesday morning.

Kugluktuk community wellness co-ordinator Rachael Horn will remain in her position until the end of the current fiscal year thanks to $50,000 provided by the Department of Health and Social Services. - photo courtesy of Alex Buchan

Wayne Govereau, an acting assistant deputy minister with the Department of Health and Social Services, said the government found money in their coffers to fund Kugluktuk's community wellness co-ordinator position.

The news was much appreciated because earlier in the week, it looked as if a shortfall in funds meant the position would be terminated.

"As of this morning, we're prepared to commit $50,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year," said Govereau.

Hamlet senior administrator Alex Buchan said when they brought wellness co-ordinator Rachael Horn on board, they used local dollars to pay her. They hoped the government would takeover the costs once she began to achieve concrete results.

Buchan said he contacted health officials several different times over the past year to ask for financial assistance, but his requests were not answered until last week.

"This is really welcome news. It allows us to keep the position in place and gives us more time," said Buchan.

"We should be able to come up with something in the long term," he said.

While there are many benefits in having a wellness co-ordinator on staff, one of the most significant advantages is the ability to be proactive on health and social issues at the community level. Buchan said he thinks the department spends so much of their energy in providing services that they fall short on proactive initiatives.

"To me, it's very clear this position is needed and will benefit the department in the long run."

Buchan said by running so many different programs and helping groups write proposals to get wellness projects up and running, the wellness co-ordinator is able to play a proactive role in averting tragedies like suicide.

"The department of health is very conscious of making sure their medevac system is working. We want to do peer counselling so youth don't attempt suicide and have to be medevaced out," said Buchan.

Horn will remain in the position at least until the end of March 2003.

She said she plans to continue co-ordinating the nine different programs she oversees while also maintaining a hamlet-wide inter-agency committee.