OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation

680 Industrial Road, London, Ontario, N5V 1V1
Phone: (519) 659-6588; Fax: (519) 659-2421; Email: osstf11@execulink.com

There was an overwhelming response at our Annual Meeting to provide support to the Lieutenant Governor’s Aboriginal Literacy Program. Immediately following AMPA, the provincial office contacted the Lieutenant Governor’s office to find out how OSSTF can start providing our support to this initiative.

The community where the Lieutenant Governor would like OSSTF to sponsor a camp is the Sachigo Lake First Nation. It is located on the site of an old fur-trading post located on the Severn River, and it is a community that has been plagued by a high youth suicide rate. The actual cost of funding the camp is actually $1,300.00 less than the $35,000.00 which was approved.

The remaining $1,300.00 will be used to sponsor some young people to participate in the Club Amick Young Reader’s Program. This amount would facilitate the sponsorship of 13 young people per year in the readers’ program.

Many members have indicated that they would like to offer their assistance with this program – at the District level, workplace level, or as individuals. Click here for information about Club Amick.

Members have also expressed an interest in volunteering at the camps. The Lieutenant Governor’s office is not really aware of how volunteers might play a role at the literacy summer camps as the camp counsellors are hired positions. However, we do have the contact name and telephone number for the camp coordinator at Frontier College: Phil Fernandez, 416-923-3591 Ext. 316.

Each District has received a copy of the DVD regarding the Aboriginal Literacy Program which can be used to garner support for this program. (Contact Laurie Lafraniere (659-6588) to arrange to borrow the DVD for you branch/workplace/bargaining unit meeting.)