Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Jun 22/98) - The newly constituted Deh Cho Health and Social Services board is now officially at work.

The board, with representatives on hand from Kakisa, Fort Providence, Trout Lake, Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson and Fort Liard, held its first official meeting last Monday in Fort Simpson.

"It was really good and we felt really good to go ahead," said board chair Allan (Julian) Landry of Kakisa Lake.

"We've had four training sessions this year and it was good to get down to work."

A training workshop dealing with orientation for board members on how communities can better get results was also held a week before the meeting.

Among items on the meeting's agenda were a briefing from interim public administrator Steve Mulesku from Fort Liard, a report from board chief executive officer Kathy Tsetso, a financial report and briefs from Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Kakisa Lake and the Hay River Reserve.

After a variety of upcoming workshops and as the new board becomes more comfortable in its role, it expects to hold regular meetings four times each year, plus special meetings as necessary. Members of the public will be welcome to attend the open sessions.

"We have a good mix of board members from the various communities and they work together well," Landry said. "I see very good things coming out of this board."