The president of Wasaya Group Inc. hopes a new living centre at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School will prevent future tragedies.
Hundreds packed into the Valhalla Inn Wednesday for a benefit dinner. The dinner was to kick off a fundraising campaign to build a live in centre as well as a youth centre at DFC. The cost to build the two centres will cost an estimated $14 to $15 million.
Tom Kamenawatamin, president of Wasaya Group Inc., said given the numerous tragedies involving youth coming from First Nation communities he hopes the centres will be enough to stop future deaths from happening.
“We’re talking about the safety of the students,” Kamenawatamin said. “Over the last 10 years we have lost seven of our students. This has been going on for years and no one seems to know how to move forward. If we can save the life of a youth, that means a great deal.”
Wasaya had been talking with DFC for over a year and took the suggestions from its students on how they could improve the school. Kamenawatamin said it’s important to show that the youth are being listened to.
The centre would have flexible hours for students and would be open after school, counseling or extracurricular activities.
Kamenawatamin said the dinner was meant to raise awareness more than act as a fundraiser and added they plan to announce more events in the future.
