Mr. Patrick Brazeau
National Chief
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
867 St. Laurent Boulevard
Ottawa, Ontario
K1K 3B1
June 27, 2007
Aboriginal
Early Childhood Development and Health Care
Research Chairs Receive Funding
Dear Mr. Brazeau,
It is a pleasure to inform you that with your support and the support of Aboriginal organizations across the country, Malaspina University College (MUC) and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) have successfully secured the funding needed to establish B.C. Regional Innovation Chairs in Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (MUC) and Aboriginal Prenatal and Perinatal Health (TRU).
The practical research and training initiatives developed by the two chair-holders in cooperation with our Aboriginal partners on and off reserve will improve early learning and health care for Aboriginal children in British Columbia, enrich post-secondary training for our Aboriginal students and contribute to the knowledge-base underpinning national efforts to redress the legacy of residential schools.
In awarding us the initial funding for these projects, the B.C. Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) recognized the success of our institutions in working with Aboriginal communities, delivering generative applied research and training programs and graduating Aboriginal students who secure employment in their field. Matching support from one-time federal funding, arising out of the former Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreement, strengthens our position as leaders in Aboriginal post-secondary education in British Columbia. We are proud to have more Aboriginal students than any other post-secondary institutions in the province.
We thank you for your help in advancing these projects and look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to realize their full potential for Aboriginal children in Canada.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Thomas
Vice-President Academic
Malaspina University College
thomas@mala.bc.ca
For further information, please contact:
Al Fleming
Director
Public Affairs
613-747-6022 (office)
613-867-8696 (mobile)
al@abo-peoples.org
