THUNDER BAY – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy together with Her Honour Mrs. Ruth Ann Onley, wife of The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and representatives from Frontier College today welcomed the newest group of approximately 90 youth counsellors who will be embarking on this year’s Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal Summer Reading Camps (LGASRC) program.
“We are very pleased once again to be part of this incredible program and look forward to seeing the positive impacts it will have on the youth in our communities,” said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “Investments in education and literacy are key components in the early stages of a child’s development. Programming such as the Summer Reading Camps helps to provide greater possibility for our youth in attaining their goals in the future.”
“Since my installation in 2007, I have supported this program that has made reading and learning in a fun, activity-based environment an annual rite of passage in the summer months,” said The Honourable David C. Onley. “Over the past year, I have worked with the Grand Chief to raise funds and grow the program so that it can continue for another five years.”
The LGASRC program, managed by Frontier College on behalf of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, began as a pilot project in 2005 by the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and included the involvement of 5 remote communities. By 2006, the program expanded to encompass 30 NAN First Nations benefitting more than 22 hundred children annually. Through interactive programming, the Camps focus on strengthening reading, writing and math skills and offer a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, sports, reading and games.
“These camps work to keep kids motivated and improve literacy skills by preventing reading loss that often occurs over the summer months,” said Sherry Campbell, President of Frontier College. “We are proud to be part of that success.”