THUNDER BAY – The executive director of the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council says she is not waiting until the end of the coroner’s inquest into the death of seven students to make changes.
Norma Kejick testified at the Thunder Bay Courthouse Thursday afternoon into the inquest examining the deaths of Jethro Anderson, Curran Strang, Paul Panacheese, Robyn Harper, Reggie Bushie, Kyle Morriseau and Jordan Wabasse between 2000 and 2011.
Six of those students attended Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, the Thunder Bay high school administered by the education council. Wabasse attended the Matawa Learning Centre.
While the education council, like other parties with standing, are awaiting the jury’s recommendations Kejick said it’s going to take a collaborative effort to make change.
“It’s going to take all of us in this room, all of the different parties represented here, it’s going to take all of us to make this place safer for students coming here for education.”
Kejick said she has been paying thorough attention to the inquest throughout the proceedings, which began in October. She specifically said the education council is working on drafting a contract for boarding homes housing students that outlines legal liability.
She said a residence building for students would be a long-term solution that would help staff monitor their whereabouts.
“We would know immediately when students are not around,” Kejick said.
Other recommendations she suggested included improving communication with parents, having students engage more with elders to learn traditional teachings, strengthening the relationship with city police and having the students do more work at the community level to prepare for their arrival in Thunder Bay.
Kejick added it’s important to remember education has had a positive impact for many students over the years.
“It might seem like it’s dark and gloomy but there are a lot of good things happening and success stories at DFC,” she said.
On Thursday the inquest also heard from LCBO Northern Ontario regional director Richard Redwood, who said there is little staff at liquor stores can do to stop second-party purchases.
In a number of the cases, the students had been drinking alcohol that had been obtained by “runners,” people over the age of 19 who had been paid to buy alcohol for the underage students.
Redwood said staff are trained to look for triggers such as the passing of money or product, but if it happens at a location away from the store it’s nearly impossible for the LCBO to prevent.
