 |
The Newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society | |
|
||
| Volume 1, Number 3 - August 1997 | ||
|
The Newsletter of the Gwaii Trust Society | |
|
|
||
| Volume 1, Number 3 - August 1997 | ||
|
|
|
|
HEALING ARTS |
|
|
You had to be there! That's not an excuse for a confusing joke, but something that becomes self-evident after spending time at the Healing Arts Centre. For the second year, the Old Hall in Skidegate was transformed into an artist's studio. Drawings, paintings and paper maché masks were mounted on the walls and down from the ceiling swung paper moons and monster birds (all materials supplied free). Despite the calming influence of wild flowers, the buffet of fresh fruit and vegetables there for the snacking, the groovy, soulful music spilling out of a stereo, it was a very busy place. At some of the tables, or "work- stations," it was elbow-to-elbow. "We've already seen an average of 80 participants a day," said art therapist and guiding hand Peggy Clarkson on the second day of the five-day free event. "It's very intergenerational with kids helping kids and elders helping kids. It's become a very safe place for self-expression." What separates this studio from a summer camp is the range of ages that walk through the door. It is a place for all generations to mix and create. But the staff would tell you that it's not until you pick-up a paintbrush or get down and dirty with a piece of clay that you really get the connection between art and healing. Because, after all, "getting it" is more about process than product. |
Clarkson sites the example of a forty-something man who sat alone, totally engrossed in painting a cardboard canvas. After more than an hour, he mentioned that this was the first time he'd painted in 15 years when he did it for a living. Meanwhile, outside the hall, a woman lay on her back in the parking lot while her daughter traced her body with pieces of coloured chalk. "When I think about healing I think about teaching elders to sew," explained Harmonie Blaise, one of several young people hired to staff the studio. "Maybe what I'm doing is teaching them something they had missed out on earlier in life." One thing is for sure, during those five days there was a whole lot of art going on. And thanks to the Sandspit ArtSpace Society another community art studio continues the fun across the water during the first week of August.· |
|
LEGACY FUND
GOES QUARTERLY
The Legacy Fund just went quarterly. Those hoping to cover a percentage of the costs of worthwhile projects in the field of education, training, culture, arts, youth and senior programming can submit proposals to the Gwaii Trust four times a year (Sept. 15, Dec. 15, March 15, June 15). During each quarter Trust directors will allocate $50,000 ($200,000 a year) for eligible projects. Applicants must still provide 50 per cent of the funding through fundraising, donations, cash or in-kind services for the project. And, the funding ceiling for each organization, group or society is set at $15,000. Projects that fit into the goals of the Legacy Fund may include educational workshops, training courses and seminars, cultural and art related projects, youth and senior programming and all feasibility related studies. While the submission deadlines may have expanded throughout the year to allow for more flexibility in reaching funding goals, many of the same rules still apply. For instance, applicants must still demonstrate the project will succeed without further Gwaii Trust funding and other attempts at securing additional funding should be documented. In special circumstances, up to 100 per cent funding (to a maximum of $15,000) will be available for proposals that demonstrate social benefit and well-being of the communities of Haida Gwaii. |
|
|
Micro-Infrastructure Program The Micro-Infrastructure Program can also be accessed four times per year. (Submission deadlines are the same as the Legacy Fund.) This program was developed to fund small "community" infrastructure projects that would not get funding from other sources. Projects under this category could be (material) capital projects which improve the basic facilities, equipment, services and installations needed for growth and functioning of an organization, group, society or community. The maximum funding available will be 50 per cent of the total project costs to a maximum of $10,000. The program is intended to fund small capital projects. These may include renovations, construction, and equipment purchases for groups or societies. For more information on either of these two programs call the Gwaii Trust office. ·
Assistant Hired The new face at the Gwaii Trust office is Shirley Jones of Old Massett. Shirley was hired earlier this summer as the administrative assistant and she will help address any of your queries. |
|
|
|
|
|
BRIEF CASES · Ancient Murrelets are a bona fide seabird. They only leave the coastal waters for terra firma to breed in the spring. Each female lays two enormous eggs in custom-made boroughs at the base of trees. These are just a few nuggets of natural history that students packed off Limestone Island at the close of a four-day field trip in May. The Gwaii Trust awarded Laskeek Bay Conservation Society up to a maximum of $4,300 to take outdoor education students from GM Dawson and QC Secondary to Gwaii Haanas to study seabird biology. · What will the Business Incubation Centre look like exactly? A warehouse for light industry? A mall for retail outlets? Those are some of the questions that a will be answered this fall. After an exhaustive search throughout North America, a consultant was chosen to access the business needs of island entrepreneurs and develop a business plan for an incubation centre. The $10,000 cost for these studies came from the Infrastructure Program.What role does a Business Incubation Centre play? "It provides fertile ground to grow businesses," says Rod Torgerson, manager of the Community Skills Centre. · There is lots left in the kitty. The Travel Assistance Pilot Program has been extended for the second time this year, setting aside more than $18,000. |
THE DREAM IS A PLACE
Some day, tourists will be asking: Hopefully, in a few years time we'll all be able to offer directions. For now, Sea Lion Town or Qay'Llnagaay only exists on paper and in the minds and hearts of those who, since 1994, have been connected to the dream of building a heritage centre that would celebrate Haida culture. Second Beach in Skidegate was chosen as the site and 4.5 hectares was conceptually roped off for an Interpretive Centre, the "Bill Reid Teaching Centre," a canoe house, an expanded Museum and a Program Management Centre that would put Parks Canada, the Haida Gwaii Watchman Program and the economic development office of the Skidegate Band all under one roof. But it was only as recent as this summer that the first draft of the "master plan" for the centre was completed by consultants and adopted by the society's board. This now paves the way for what Amanda Reid-Stevens calls the "blueprints to guide us through raising funds into construction, completion and beyond." Reid-Stevens, a director of the Heritage Centre Society, says the next step is to hire a project coordinator and a professional fundraiser in the fall. Fundraising for the project will be crucial given the centre is expected to cost anywhere between $13-16 million. "Planning is moving ahead," Reid-Stevens adds. "Bill Reid and his wife Martine are already working on a curriculum for the teaching centre." Reid-Stevens says the most unique feature of the project so far has been the working relationships surrounding the Centre. The Haida Gwaii Museum Society, Parks Canada, the University of Northern B.C. and the Bill Reid Foundation have joined the Skidegate Band Council and the Gwaalagaa Naay Corporation in spearheading the project.· |
|
Shortfall Breached at Transition House The Transition House came up short on building its new home in Masset. "It looked like we'd be paying the mortgage out of operations. That would have meant less services for women and kids," says Laurie Aldred, past president of the Transition House board. But that $127,500 shortfall was made up through the Gwaii Trust. "It wouldn't have happened without the support of Old Massett. They really went to bat for us," she added. · |
|
|
|||
|
FROM OUR FILES
Gwaii Trust directors have fielded concerns from a number of their constituents in regard to the funding of major infrastructure programs in the past. It seems there are misconceptions surrounding how the Small Craft Harbour in Sandspit and the two visitor reception centres were funded. Was the money taken from the Gwaii Trust fund or were these projects funded separately? To avoid any further misunderstanding we are printing this letter from Western Economic Diversification. |
|||
|
Government of Canada Western Economic |
Gouvernement du Canada
Diversification de l'économie C.P. 49276 |
File No.: B 91 WD 0818 |
|
August 9, 1994 Dear Mr. Parnell, |
|||
|
I am writing to you to provide the additional clarification you requested on the obligations of the Gwaii Trust Society regarding the Sandspit Small Craft Harbour. The Government of Canada agreed to provide to an acceptable Islands organization the residual in the original Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Account, along with interest earned on the $5 million interim trust account and the funds advanced already to prepare a business plan for the new Gwaii Trust Society. The total value of this package comes to $38.8 million. The government of Canada expects that these funds will be used for the benefit of all of the citizens of the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii through this new economic development entity, the Gwaii Trust Society. In addition, the Government of Canada agreed to provide a separate contribution of up to $10 million to the community of Sandspit to allow them to build and operate a small craft harbour. These funds are to be provided through Western Economic Diversification Canada. Finally, Western Economic Diversification agreed to cover the costs of all expenses incurred to date on the REDI (except the GTIPS business plan) and Canadian Heritage agreed to build and operate the two visitor reception facilities, using their own internal resources. Under the present arrangement, it was the expectation of the federal Government that all of the Islands' participating communities would be equally entitled to receive funds from the new $38.8 million endowment. On the other hand, the federal position is that the harbour issue was addressed separately and the community of Sandspit is not entitled to access funds of the new economic development entity to cover any costs for the construction of the harbour. I hope this further clarifies the governments' offer. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call me at 666-7544 or Don Firth at 666-1309. Yours sincerely,
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Up for Gwaii Trust Portfolio |
|
|
A return of $6 million in less than a year. If only most personal bank accounts had the same performance record as the Gwaii Trust. "We reviewed the money manager's performance for this quarter," explained society vice-chair Kathy Pick. "We found that he out-performed the benchmark we had originally set. He added another 1.8 per cent to the fund." The most recent quarterly report, released in June, shows the fund sitting at a healthy $48.3-million. It should be noted that the original fund of $38.8 million remains preserved while the interest is invested back into the community each year. As for the investment strategy, while the bulk of the fund is invested in the Canadian bond market about 25 per cent is invested in stocks. The Gwaii Trust invests in 36 Canadian companies and financial institutions that are involved in products and services that range from petroleum and polystyrene to pharmaceuticals. Let's look at the list of stocks in our current portfolio: · Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (aluminum products), INCO Ltd. (nickel), Franco-Nevada Management (gold), Placer Dome Inc. (gold). · Alberta Energy Co. (oil & gas), Norcen Energy Res (oil & gas), PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. (oil & gas), Suncor Energy Inc. (oil & gas). |
· West Fraser Timber (paper & wood products) · Imasco Ltd. (tobacco & banking), MDS Inc. (medical services & pharmaceuticals) · Atco Ltd. (gas distribution), Bombardier Inc. (planes, trains, skidoos and Seadoos) · Magna International Inc. (auto parts), Northern Telecom Ltd. (telecommu nications), Nova Corp (gas distributor), Samuel Manu-Tech Inc. (steel fabrication). · IPL Energy Inc. (oil pipeline), TransCanada Pipelines (gas pipeline). BCE Inc. (telephone). · Quebecor Inc. (newspapers, publishing, forest products), Shaw Communications (cable television). · Finning International (Caterpillar dealer), Leons Furniture Ltd. (retail operation). · Bank of Montreal (bank), Bank of Nova Scotia (bank), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (bank), First Marathon Inc. (investment dealer), Investors Group Inc. (mutual funds), MacKenzie Financial (mutual funds), Royal Bank of Canada (bank), Toronto-Dominion Bank (bank), Trimark Financial Corporation (mutual funds). · Brascan Ltd. (conglomerate), Canadian Pacific Ltd. (conglomerate), Power Corporation of Canada (conglomerate). |
|
|
|
|
The Gwaii Trust is funded from the interest of a $42-million principle sum. The original amount is inflation-proofed for future generations. |
Cliff Fregin - Administrator p. 1.800.663.2388 · p. 250.626.3654 |
