Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - The society is one of the non-profit organizations that are currently housed in Dehcho Hall in Fort Simpson. With the government building scheduled for closure by the end of 2008, the society is looking for assistance to find a new home.

The Open Doors Society is lobbying for government help so they can stay open and continue to provide programs such as pre-school. Members of the pre-school program are seen here going on a nature walk and include, from left, front row: Warren Cli, Ryan Browning and Grace Day; middle row: Stevie-May Lacrosse and Mya Wrigley; back row: Abigail Pascua-Matte, coordinator Tina Verge and Julie Sabourin. - photo courtesy of the Open Doors Society

The society needs some help to move into a new space, said Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale, a facility consultant for the society.

The society receives funding for their programs from the federal government through the Public Health Agency of Canada and from the territorial government through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Neither funding source supplies money for facilities.

The assumption is that the society will operate in a rent-free facility, said Fabre-Dimsdale. Currently the society only pays janitorial fees at the hall.

Knowing that the hall could close, members of the society's board have been casually looking for a new location for about two years and stepped up the process to an active search in September. So far the search has not been fruitful.

"There aren't a whole lot of options in Fort Simpson," said Fabre-Dimsdale.

With their current resources there is nowhere for the society to move, she said. There are no facilities for rent that match the program's requirements and because they are non-profit the society doesn't have funds to buy and renovate a facility, said Fabre-Dimsdale.

The society is calling for assistance from the territorial government to either find the programs a home in a different government building or provide the funding needed to purchase a property.

"We're trying to get the government's attention on this matter," said Fabre-Dimsdale.

Members of the Open Doors Society argue that the territorial government has a responsibility to provide funding for the transition for a number of reasons.

The government funds the society's programs so they must think the work it does is important, said Fabre-Dimsdale. Government officials also talk about the importance of early childhood education, which is what the society provides, she said. Finally, the government is putting Open Doors Society in this position by closing the building, Fabre-Dimsdale said.

Without transitional help the program could close.

"The situation is looking pretty grim for us," she said.

Supporters of the society say that if it closes the whole community will feel the loss.

"It provides something you can't find anywhere else in the community, programs for the zero to five age group," said Fabre-Dimsdale.

The Busy Bees and Pre-school programs are the only ones of their kind in the village for three to four-year-olds, she said. Through the Toy Lending Library, the society also offers the only structured programming available in the evenings for children up to age 12, Fabre-Dimsdale said.

Open for the past 13 years, every family in the village has used the society at some point, said Val Gendron, a member of the society.

The thought of losing the society's programs upsets many people.

"It really scares me because I have used this program," said Connie McNab, a board member.

A lot of parents, including young mothers, that otherwise wouldn't meet, come to the programs to socialize, McNab said.

"It's a big resource for the community," she said.

Rosie Browning, another board member, said she challenges the government to put their money where their mouth is in terms of early childhood education.

"There is so much to lose," said Browning.

The wider community also supports the society, said Fabre-Dimsdale. A survey distributed by the society was completed by 55 households.

One hundred per cent of the respondents agreed that Open Doors provides important programming to the community and that it's important for services to continue, she said.

Kevin Menicoche, the MLA for the Nahendeh, said he supports the society in their goal of getting transitional funding from the government.

The government is closing the hall but hasn't provided transitional planning to any of the non-government groups, he said.

"It's not really fair to leave them out in the cold," said Menicoche.

"I've always said government are the ones that let the organizations in there and they shouldn't disown them outright."

Finding another government building to move the society into or giving assistance to locate grant money are some options, said Menicoche.

"I'm not sure how far we could go," he said.

Menicoche said he sent a letter of support to Jackson Lafferty, the minister of Education, Culture and Employment, lobbying on behalf of the society and the other non-government organizations.

The Open Doors Society is also sending letters to a number of ministers at both the territorial and federal government levels.

With an eviction date of fall 2008 the society needs an answer quickly so they can start to prepare their plans, Fabre-Dimsdale said.

"We need to know right away," said Fabre-Dimsdale.

Jackson Lafferty, the minister of Education, Culture and Employment was unavailable to comment on the issue.