OCTOBER 2020

THE FORT MCKAY WELLNESS CENTER:
~Helping kids in time of need~
FMFN LEADERSHIP TEAM
Mel Grandjamb, Chief
Raymond Powder, Councillor
David Bouchier, Councillor
Melinda Stewart, Councillor
Crystal McDonald, Councillor
Chris Johnson, CEO
Alvaro Pinto, CEO Oilsands Development
and Sustainability
Stuart Randall, Senior Manager,
Business Development
James Owl, Executive Director,
Capital Projects
Noma Mangena, Director, Human Resources
ADMINISTRATION DEPT.
Dorothy McDonald Business Centre
General Delivery
Fort McKay, AB T0P 1C0
Phone: 780-828-2430
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed daily: 12 - 1 p.m.
SUBMISSIONS
If you have any photos, stories or ideas for the
Red River Current, please contact the
Communications Department
email: communications@fortmckay.com
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from this lifeline they rely
on… this was and is their safe
haven,” said Soucie. Not only
were children affected, many
parents also needed support
which the Center provided
through daily phone calls and
assistance with specialized
activities for their children.
Now as restrictions begin to
lift, the Center is preparing
to open its doors in the next
month with the health and
safety of everyone as its
priority. With blessings to
re-open from the First Nations
community and financial aid
from the Canadian Red Cross,
the Center will safely welcome
back their young community.
“We see an average of 50 to 60
children a day so this
additional funding from the
Red Cross will help bring in
extra staff members to allow
for several small breakout
groups of children and backup
staff in case anyone gets sick,”
said Soucie.
A young boy in goggles and a
white lab coat.The additional
funding will also allow the
Center to hire a housekeeping
support staff member to sanitize
and disinfect the common
areas and equipment after each
use. “Having this
housekeeping support allows
staff to prepare and deliver
programs for the kids without
worrying about sanitizing or
cleaning the equipment.
Without this funding none of
this would be possible,” added
Soucie.
Along with added support
staff, extra equipment such
as basketballs, baseballs, and
yoga mats can now be
purchased to minimize sharing
and contact, making it easier
to sanitize and easing parents’
concerns. “The children are
incredibly excited because they
get access to their own
equipment and most
importantly, parents have
peace of mind knowing that
we’re doing everything we can
to keep their children safe.”
The re-opening can’t come
soon enough for the
community. Here’s what one
parental guardian had to say
about the importance of the
Fort McKay Wellness Center.
“They (the children) miss their
family, friends, school and the
Wellness Center. The world
today is hard for parents to
understand, I can’t imagine
how the kids feel. In the
darkness of all this gloom, you
guys are a shining light. A big
thank you… for all that you
do.” This program was
supported thanks to the
generous support of the
Government of Canada’s
Emergency Community
Support Fund.
By: Alyson Gourley-Cramer,
Communications Advisor of
the Canadian Red Cross
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