The telethon volunteer committee wish to thank everyone that supported this year. Your support whether buying a Star, dropping your change into one of the Fishbowls, bidding at their Online Auction, or making a donation, made a difference.

They assure you that your donations will remain in their community to support people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Leeds and Grenville.

They would like to also thank their Hourly Sponsors the many businesses, the media, those who donated auction items, and the volunteers who made this year such a success. They would like to especially thank the Carolyn Sifton Foundation, the Don and Shirley Green Family Charitable Foundation, and G.Tackerberry and Sons Construction for propelling this years campaign to a record of $500,000.

Over the past 40 years, hundreds of volunteers and donors have provided more than 5 million dollars through the 30 – hour Palliative Care Telethon to help this sustainable device.

Looking forward, Brookville General Hospital’s Palliative Care Program will continue to be a critically important program for their community and hospital. Through the dedication of it’s health care workers, this local Palliative Care Program is highly regarded across Canada.

The Brookville and District Hospital remains unwavering in their commitment to Palliative Care. They will continue with their partners, third parties, supporting events, and will reach out to to groups and individuals donors. .

On July 30, 2019, 40 km from Rigolet, Melinda Rich and Andrew Michelin lost their lives when their boat capsized while they were on their way to Michelin’s family cabin.

At the time, RCMP said rescuers found two teenage girls alive, sitting on the capsized boat.

By donating life jackets to the Labrador community of Rigolet at the start of each boating season, the two families of the two drowning victims are working to try and prevent others from drowning as well.

Geraldine Penny was Melinda Rich’s Aunt, and it inspired her to start a family project in memory of both Melinda Rich and Andrew Michelin.

Geraldine said “When I got back home, I said we need to do something, you know, we need to do something to keep Melinda and Andrew’s memory alive and to try to prevent this from happening again.”

In 2022, and this year, 2023, the late Andrew Michelin and the late Melinda Rich’s families gathered life jacket donations and organized a draw, to give to people who needed them.

The Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development in Rigolet has life jackets that people can sign out for free, and after hearing that idea, Michelin’s family was very interested in helping.

Geraldine Penny, the late Rich’s Aunt says “Not only her family was devastated, the whole community was devastated, and if we can help one family or one person not to have to go through what we went through, it’s all worth it.”

We spoke with Martina Lavallee who is the Legal Support Navigator with the journey project who is from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Martina and her coworkers Shirley White and Paula Michelin who are with the legal information association of Newfoundland and Labrador came to Nain May 17th in regards to the photovoice project and as well as the criminal law sessions.

They will be coming back possibly in January for another session.

Click here to hear more from Lavallee.

The Northern production Centre here in Nain also know as Smart Ice manage to travel to all five Nunatsiavut communities to train operators and trainees.

We spoke with Rex Holwell Jr. who is the Northern Production Lead for manager of Nunatsiavut operations.

He says they will be having their cohort in mid June until end of July, they are also partnering with the women in resource development and as well as Pinguak.

He also adds that they will be hiring next week for women and gender diverse persons.

Click here to hear more from Holwell.

First Food NL is partnering with 8 food retailers and communities across the province to create retail solutions that improve food access for newfoundland and Labrador.

They are looking for ways to do something new or different that could improve the food options available in the communities.

This meeting is a great time to come up with potential pilot projects to launch at Spruce Meadow Farms.

First Food NL will be in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Friday, May 30 from 7-9pm at Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club.

On May 18th, 1998, Patty Dicker opened the doors to the Amaguk Inn in Hopedale.

When she opened she started with 12 rooms, a restaurant and lounge. Since then she expanded to 18 rooms and then further to 22 rooms. She has added a sunroom on to the restaurant and renovated all rooms.

Today she celebrates 25 years of business in her home community of Hopedale.

They would like to thank all of their employees, past and present who have helped them get this far.

Also a huge thank you to their customers and guests throughout these 25 years; without you we couldn’t celebrate this huge accomplishment.

To celebrate they will be doing a draw that will be running until May 24th. Every order placed at the restaurant gets your name entered for a draw.

Prizes will drawn on May 25th.

Please be advised that the call for tenders – home repair program 2023 posted on the Nunatsiavut Government website on May 17, 2023 has been withdrawn until further notice.

A new call for tenders – home repair program 2023 will be posted at a later date.

Megan Hudson is the TB Public Health nurse here in Nain.

She spoke to us a little bit on women’s health.

She says there’s a birth control new to Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador. She also says it’s as small as a matchstick, but only a trained health professional can do the procedure as it’s subdermal.

Click here to hear more from Hudson.

Nunatsiavut Government’s President, Johannes Lampe came by OK’s interview room a couple of days ago.

He talked about the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau’s trip to our town, Nain last week.

Lampe says there were also other organizations came from out of town. Inuit Tapiriit kandami’s President, Natan Obed, from up northern parts, Makivik, and more.

He said it was a historic day for Nain and the residents. A community feast was set up and held at the Jens Haven Memorial School gym.

Click here to hear President Lampe give you more on that day.

The Robert C. Lyall Community Award was created by Robert’s Grandchildren to honor their late Grandfather and to acknowledge others for their dedication and generosity to their communities.

The Robert C. Lyall award will be presented to an individual in recognition of their service work, their contribution to their community, and upholding the values of our organization “to enrich the lives of the Indigenous Peoples of Labrador”, as Robert Lyall did.

Robert was active in many different organizations; President of the Lion’s Club; President & Board Member of Labrador Friendship Center; President of Labrador Legal Services. He was also involved on several boards; Melville Native Housing, involved with the creation and establishment of the Labrador Correctional Centre; LIA Vice President; & OKâlakatiget Society.

Robert is a life-time honorary member of the National Association of Friendship Centres and on June 11, 1992 the Labrador Friendship Centre building in Happy Valley-Goose Bay was named The Robert C. Lyall Building.

Robert was also proud to be a Chapel Servant at the Moravian Church for more than 60 years, a task that he enjoyed to the fullest.

For his generous contributions to these organizations and associations, he received recognition from various Provincial, National, and International associations:

– He was the proud recipient of the Queen’s Golden (2002) and Diamond (2013) Jubilee Medals
– He was the recipient of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in March of 2020.

Robert C. Lyall leaves behind some individuals life lessons:

-Help those who are in need
– Be kind to people
– Love and support one another