Board of Directors

Maurice Switzer – President

Aanii/Boozhoo Niijii.

Bnesi ndizhnikaaz. Wazhashk ndoodem Anishinaabek, Okwaho Haudenosaunee..Alderville ndoonjbaa, North Bay endayaan. Greetings friends!

My priorities as a member of your board of directors are informed by what I have learned as a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission,  director of communications for the Assembly of First Nations and Union of Ontario Indians, and as a journalist for many years in the daily newspaper industry and writing for First Nations publications.

As a board member, I try to increase community awareness about Indigenous peoples, in general, and, in particular, about the excellent contributions being made by Friendship Centre staff that help make North Bay a better place for everyone who lives here.

Across Canada, some 80 percent of Indigenous people live in urban centres.  Of 70,000 people living in the North Bay area, some 9,000 are Indigenous.

This population growth means services provided by Friendship Centres are becoming increasingly important, and we want to continue to provide programs that grow our membership and benefit more participants of all ages.

It has been my privilege to help establish Reconciliation North Bay, a process that is bringing together people from all walks of life in North Bay to learn more about Indigenous peoples and issues, and that had its origins as a committee of the centre’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy.

Our board always welcomes your ideas about how to improve our programs and services, and we thank you for your support.

 

Joyce Shortt-Lavigne – Treasurer

Joyce Shortt-Lavigne, a member of Nipissing First Nation, has been a long time supporter of the urban Indigenous population of North Bay. A mother, and grandmother, Joyce has been a presence here at the NBIFC for many years, bringing her work experience as a Social Worker, as well as her past experiences at other organizations as a board member to support the financial department as best she can. Her dedication and love of volunteerism are very much appreciated, and we are so happy to have Joyce on the BoD once again.