Fox Lake Cree Nation, Gillam, has received the highest award, the Provincial Award of Distinction
presented by Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week (MAAW) at the annual kickoff on November 15 at the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg. Edna Spence McMaster accepted the award. The Honourable Minister Jim Rondeau, Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, and Grand Chief Ron Evans joined addictions agencies and students at the event to raise awareness of alcohol, other drugs, tobacco and gambling.
The award is presented to a group or school who shows creativity in organizing activities to promote addictions awareness. Fox Lake was chosen for an impressive week-long list of events held last year in Gillam. Consistent with the theme of “healthy choices, healthy futures,” the activities involved the entire community, reaching a wide variety of age groups from young people to seniors. It included a grandmothers’ walk, Weedless Wednesday, a community health fair, workshops and a poster contest.
“What’s it mean to you?” is this year’s theme for Addictions Awareness Week. All Manitobans are urged to talk about how alcohol, other drugs, tobacco and gambling affect you, your friends, family or community. MAAW Co-chair Nicole Laping hopes individuals and groups will respond to the theme by engaging in discussions and developing creative activities in schools, workplaces and communities to raise awareness and help prevent addictions. Such activities provide information and the tools to make healthy and informed choices.
This year the MAAW Committee has a contest to develop a new logo for Addictions Awareness Week. It is awarding an individual prize of $250 that will allow the winner to select from a list of gift certificates, as well as awarding the school or organization $250 toward a MAAW activity for 2011/12.
Three other schools and community groups in Manitoba were recognized by MAAW for their efforts last year in developing activities to promote addictions awareness and healthy choices. Merit Awards were presented at the kickoff to: General Byng School (Winnipeg), PCI High School (Portage la Prairie), and the Boissevain Addictions Awareness Week Committee.
Resource information which is tied in with the school curriculum is now available on the web at www.maaw.mb.ca. The website provides easily accessible information for schools, communities and workplaces on facts, learning activities, resources and funding support.
The MAAW Committee represents many groups in the province including AFM, CP Rail, Manitoba Education, Manitoba Healthy Living Youth and Seniors (MHLYS), MB Hydro, MLCC, MPI, Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA), RCMP, and Winnipeg Police (WPS).
