Fort Simpson (Jan 19/07) - Community event planning in Fort Simpson has been taken to the next level.

A number of organizations have combined to form the Community Event Team.

The idea for the team started during organizing for Family Violence Awareness week in October, said Justin Carre, a community wellness worker with Deh Cho Health and Social Services.

The goal is to enhance existing events and create new ones, Carre said.

"It's pulling together really well," said Carre.

Organizations represented on the team include Deh Cho Health and Social Services, the Deh Cho Friendship Centre, the Open Doors Society, the recreation department, Liidlii Kue First Nation and Kids' Corner Daycare. Volunteers on the team have a shared mandate so no one group is taking the lead and there's no hierarchy, Carre said.

So far the team has been responsible for Family Violence Awareness Week, National Addictions Awareness Week, National Child Day celebrations in November and the festivities following the Christmas parade.

With a formal team in place the community will benefit, said Carre. Sometimes things fragment during an event and with all the organizations pooling their resources it makes things easier, he said.

"I think it's really healthy we're working together," said Carre.

At the recreation centre, Andrew Hillaby can already see a number of benefits the team will create.

"I think it will lessen volunteer burnout," said Hillaby, the recreation director.

With each organization taking responsibility for one particular part of an event, people aren't stressed out by the end, said Hillaby.

Also, because of all the organizations involved, the team will be able to contact more pockets of the community and get residents involved so no one feels left out, said Hillaby.

"It's working great," said Val Gendron, the co-ordinator for the Open Doors Society.

There's always been committees when events are happening, but there's never been a formal group, said Gendron.

With many hands making work lighter, the team will be able to help create more and better events, Gendron said.