program

CATTO, Reverend Charles
From 1954 to 1957 Reverend Charles Catto was a newly ordained
United Church of Canada minister assigned to God’s Lake Narrows,
Manitoba. One of Reverend Catto’s first observations was the quality
of housing in the community and the effect housing had on all other
aspects of life.
From 1957 – 1962 Charles and his wife Barbara served as
missionaries in Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia). Barbara
became involved in a YWCA project, which built a community centre
with international volunteers recruited through the International
Work Camp program of the World Council of Churches. The success
of this small, community project in Mindolo was a testimony of the
Harambee spirit, which translates in Swahili as, “Let’s work together.”
Upon returning to Canada, Charles and Barbara Catto approached the
Canadian Council of Churches for their support in co-sponsoring an
international, volunteer work camp in a frontier Canadian community
modeled on this successful African project. This Canadian initiative
would be called “Operation Beaver”.
At the invitation from Cree Chief, Adam Mayham of Split Lake,
Manitoba, an international volunteer work crew was recruited to
build a new Anglican church to replace the old dilapidated one that
became the centre for a full range of community activities. It was
completed in 1964.
During the succeeding three years, similar Beaver projects followed,
consisting mainly of churches and community centres.
In 1968, Operation Beaver incorporated as Frontiers Foundation, a
non-profit registered Canadian Charity with a board of directors of
primarily First Nation, Métis and Inuit members. This year also marked
the change in focus from community buildings to building safe, warm
housing with and for Aboriginal Canadians.
Since then Operation Beaver has expanded, adding a Northern Arctic
Education Program, and international programs such as community
development programs in Haiti and education facility development in
Bolivia.
From 1998 to present, Reverend Catto has been the Director of
Frontiers Foundation Inc. - a private federally chartered foundation.”.
CÉRÉ, Valérie, RN, M.A.
Valérie has a Master’s Degree in Disaster Anthropology specializing
in analyzing the social constructs of disaster preparedness
within communities, resulting in the development of emergency
preparedness and locally adapted disaster resilience strategies.
Her thesis was looking into resilience and emergency management
planning at the municipal level in a small and isolated community on
the Lower Labrador.
She has several years’ of experience in outpost nursing with more
than 30 remote and isolated communities, including unique
workplaces such as mines, forest firefighters (SOPFEU) and Aboriginal
communities in Northern Ontario and Québec.
Her interest in Public Works has developed over the years through
her lead and participation in multiple Emergency Management
committees with the American Public Works Association. She is also
a member of the Aboriginal Resilience Sub-Working Group of the
National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, a UN initiative.
She currently works as a Research Analyst specializing in Resilience,
Mitigation and Recovery in the Federal Government.
CLARK, Douglas
Douglas Clark is a Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker at Capri
Insurance Services Ltd. and has been their First Nations expert since
1998. He specializes in Public Entity (Municipal) Coverage for First
Nations communities as well as For Profit Entities within organizations
and has an extensive understanding of the needs and values of First
Nations communities. Capri Insurance is the exclusive provider of AFN
Insurance program products in British Columbia, offering the most
broad program coverages to First Nations across BC. Capri Insurance
also offers a wide variety of services including Group Benefits, Wealth
Management, Mortgage Brokering services and a 24 claims service
which includes an in-house claims advocate who works on behalf of
their clients to provide solutions to claims issues.
D’AQUINO, Marc
Marc D’Aquino is the Manager of the Emergency Preparedness
and Response department, within the First Nations’ Emergency
Services Society of BC. Marc brings a comprehensive business,
security, emergency management and response background to the
organization.
For the past 11 years Marc has been highly involved with a local
volunteer Search and Rescue team as their senior trainer/SAR
Manager. His Emergency background also includes certifications in
Flood Management, Ground Search and Rescue Instructor, Rope
Rescue, Light Urban Search and Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, and
Mountain and Avalanche rescue.
In addition to his Emergency Management/Response and security
experience Marc holds credentials in Business management and has
held management positions within well recognized organizations.
February, 3–5, 2014
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