Speakers give delegates tools for improvement
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Feb 23/01) - Delegates from all over the North met in Inuvik to learn how to make their community a better place to live.
The Community Animation Program (CAP) NWT Workshop took place last week at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex as a way to help people work on projects with a health or environmental focus in their community, said Theresa Ross.
"We're just giving them the tools, basically," said Ross, one of the workshop organizers and director of recreation services for the Town of Inuvik.
She pointed out good examples of the types of desired projects are the Inuvik Garden Society and the Inuvik Recycling Society.
Representatives from both groups gave talks over the weekend, and both groups have received CAP funding.
Ross said that under the CAP, groups have cleaned up rivers or launched some other environmental initiative, such as building trails.
"Basically what we're trying to do is get more people to develop projects for this funding. But it's not limited to this program," Ross said.
Delegates from Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Pelly Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven and Cambridge Bay attended the event which was put on by the Town of Inuvik, NWT Recs and Park Association, Health Canada and Environment Canada.
Ross said delegates learned how to develop a project, as well as how to successfully conduct one and get funding.
"The last step will be how to write an actual proposal. So it's very hands on, it's very 'A' to 'B,'" Ross said.
"What we hope is that people will have a project they can take and work on and bring it to their community."
Jennifer Walker-Larsen spoke on behalf of the Inuvik Recycling Society, and Brian Morrison of the Inuvik Garden Society also addressed the delegates. Other speakers included Walt Humphries of Yellowknife and Dr. Art Quinney.
