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For Immediate Release
May 27, 2008

News Release

Improving Health and Well-Being in Pikangikum First Nation

McGuinty Government Helps Pikangikum First Nation with New Community Centre

NEWS
The residents of Pikangikum First Nation are building a new community centre with help from the Ontario government.

The new building will house a community hall, gym, bakery, general store, Prenatal Nutrition and Healthy Babies office as well as other amenities that help improve the community’s overall health and well-being.

The McGuinty government is continuing its commitment to Ontario’s aboriginal people with the investment of $750,000 through the Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program for the construction of this new community centre on Pikangikum First Nation.

QUOTES
“The construction of this community centre will mean more opportunities for Pikangikum’s young people to stay active and involved,” said Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Michael Bryant. “This centre will also allow the community to stay connected and provide important services to its members.”

“This community centre is going to make a real difference to us,” said Pikangikum First Nation Chief, Dean Owen. “It will give us a chance to really come together as a community and get more youth involved in activities that promote better health.”

QUICK FACTS

Pikangikum First Nation is an Ojibway community of over 2,000 people located on Pikangikum Lake, approximately 100 km northwest of Red Lake, Ontario.
In 2007-08, the Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program approved more than $3.2 million in projects related to the construction of community or small business centres for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Ontario.
In March of this year, the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation announced $508,000 in funding towards the construction of this community centre.

LEARN MORE
To find out what the Aboriginal Capital Grants Program is doing to help Aboriginal communities go to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs website.

Read more about the Gaming Revenue Agreement.

Learn about Ontario’s New Approach to Aboriginal Affairs.

Find the latest statistics on Canada’s Aboriginal communities.

Greg Crone, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2529
Sofia Sousa-Dias, Communications Branch, 416-326-3187

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