Positively Parenting to revive summer program

A positive partnership indeed.

As a part of their Community Investment Program, Tolko Industries – the company that owns the Meadow Lake OSB – is contributing $10,000 to Positively Parenting. This will help the organization resuscitate the once-popular summer program, formerly run by the Northwest School Division.

Program Manager Thyra Berg said the employees at Positively Parenting were delighted to learn of this donation in early April.

“Our executive director, Alicia [Lehoux] was interviewed by Tolko about what we have to offer,” she said. “It was honour to even considered as a prospective candidate, but then to be chosen as a recipient shows a real investment in our community, and we really appreciate the fact that they value the youth of Meadow Lake.”

Positively Parenting was established in 1995 in Meadow Lake, and has various program and supports for families and parents, ranging from playgroups and workshops, to classes and even a lending library.

Writing Group

Writers group host inaugural May 2 at Meadow Lake Library

May 01, 2024

Ekweskeet Healing Lodge

Province announces new detox spaces at Onion Lake Cree Nation

May 01, 2024

Leaving a Legacy

Remembering Ray Mitsuing: A CPCA legend on and off the track

May 01, 2024

Berg mentioned that Positively Parenting prides itself on being able to adapt with the needs of the community. “We’re lucky to be to tailor our programming,” she said. “We’re not stuck to a certain mandate. I think that’s why our organization has been so successful.”

To that end, Berg said the organization saw a need to revive summer recreation program after it was cancelled in 2012. “When that happened, there was quite an outcry from parents,” she noted. “So when this money came through, we thought even if it’s just for this year, we’d like to start it up again.”

Positively Parenting is hoping to run the program every weekday from July 3 to 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. this coming summer.

“We’ve applied for other supplemental funding as well, and are still waiting to hear, but that is our goal,” said Berg. “It will be be for kids entering grades one to six. Another thing that we’re excited about is the fact that we will be able to give older students leadership roles. We will be hiring a post-secondary student who will be program coordinator, and a senior leader who will be a high school student. We’ll also have mentors in the junior high range. It will help capacity with these youth and networks within the community.”

Under the supervision of the Positively Parenting staff, the summer program coordinator will plan sports, education, literacy, craft and arts and culture workshops. Berg added that the staff are hoping to arrange field trip within walking distance of the program. “We’re very much in the planning stages,” she said. “We are hoping to go to the Humane Society, the library and the pool, as some preliminary ideas.”

In a media release from Tolko Industries, Tolko’s president and CEO Brad Thorlakson said “the organizations we are partnering with do excellent work… and we are very happy to support their efforts and the programs they provide to assist children and families.”

Email: kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca     

On Twitter @meadowlakeNOW