NAFC announces Urban Partnerships Recipients in Atlantic Canada

Press Releases

(Ottawa, ON) – March 2, 2015 – Today, the National Associations of Friendship Centres, in conjunction with Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced support for seven organizations in Atlantic Canada through the Urban Partnerships program.

“This announcement is the result of our renewed partnership with the Government of Canada. For over half a century, Friendship Centres have been addressing the needs of urban Aboriginal people through our unique wrap-around service delivery model and we welcome these organizations into the network of service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy,” said Nelson Mayer, President of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Government of Canada is making strategic community investments designed to enhance the participation of urban Aboriginal people in their local economies.

A number of organizations across Canada are receiving support for projects that aim to promote skills and training, entrepreneurship, and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families.

Minister Valcourt congratulates the organizations’ efforts to target the $800,000 of combined funding to help increase the number of trained, skilled urban Aboriginal people. This funding will help the organizations improve partnerships address the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations, while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce.

“Our Government is delivering results for Canadians and supporting measures that will help create jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people. Aboriginal participation in the economy is key to a more prosperous and vibrant Canada,” said Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The organizations receiving funding include:

• Aboriginal Women’s Association of PEI
• Labrador Friendship Centre
• St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
• Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
• New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council
• NunatuKavut Community Council
• Nunatsiavut Government

The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy results in more funding being available to support community organizations and projects. This new approach recognizes the important role Friendship Centres and urban Aboriginal organizations play, and further helps to promote community engagement, planning and partnerships with the goal of increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy.

The Urban Partnerships program is delivered by each Provincial/Territorial Association (PTA), regional affiliates of the National Association of Friendship Centres. For more information on the Atlantic Canada Urban Partnerships recipients, visit the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre

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For more information contact:

Alysha Akoodie
Communications and Social Media Officer
National Association of Friendship Centres
613-563-4844

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