NFSC Chooses Mayor John MacEachern as President
The NSFC Celebrates another Year of Success at 2nd Annual AGM and Awards Gala
Mayors and Chiefs who attended the NFSC AGM in Chapleau.
CHAPLEAU, ON – This past year was the busiest yet for the Northeast Superior Forest Community (NSFC), and on October 6th at the Ecole Secondaire Catholique Trillium in Chapleau the organization celebrated its hard work and success during their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The Mayors of Chapleau, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, Manitouwadge, Wawa, and White River were in attendance, as were the Chiefs’ of Chapleau Cree, Michipicoten, Missanaibie, and Brunswick House First Nations. The organization also had the opportunity to share their success stories with the Federal government, as Ted VanLunen, the Director General of Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Forest Services, attended the AGM.
During the AGM the NSFC passed motions selecting their new board of directors, appointing Manitouwadge Mayor John MacEachern as the new President, Michipicoten First Nation Chief Joe Buckle as the new Vice-President, and Chapleau Mayor Earle Freeborn as the new Secretary-Treasurer.
Also included in the evening was an awards ceremony and gala which was a joint initiative between the NSFC and their partners at the Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs’ Forum (NSRCF). Both organizations presented awards to recognize the dedication of certain individuals to the Northeast Superior region. The NSFC presented the first annual Earle J Freeborn award to Chapleau Mayor Earle Freeborn, and the NSRCF presented the first annual Chief Keith ‘Keeter’ Corston Award to Chapleau Cree’s Chief Corston. Both men were recognized for their outstanding commitment to and involvement in the Northeast Superior Region.
Chief Corston of Chapleau Cree First Nation addressed attendees of the gala, stressing the importance of continuing to build the relationship that has been fostered between the Chiefs’ Forum and the Mayors’ of the communities in the region. He passed on that the cross-cultural activities the partner organizations have participated in are great stepping stones towards ensuring that they are able to better understand one another in the coming years.
Mayor Earle Freeborn of Chapleau, and member of the NSFC board of directors, reinforced Chief Corston’s message, saying “if there is one message I will take away from this journey, it’s that there is strength in numbers. The NSFC has facilitated the joining of the Mayors’ of 6 municipalities in the Northeast Superior Region, with 6 Chiefs’ of 6 First Nation Communities in the area to work towards a common vision for managing our forest resources. Tonight, the Mayors’ and Chiefs’ are given the opportunity to come together in celebration of the achievements we have made, and the bonds that we have created. The strength of our bond and the level of our partnership is unique across Canada, and has been a key factor in our ability to achieve success. ”
The NSFC thanks the Mayors’ and Chiefs’, its funding partners, stakeholders, and the residents of the Northeast Superior Region for their continued support, and looks forward to many more successful years of innovation in the forest industry.
About the Northeast Superior Forest Community
The NSFC is a partnership between six municipalities; Manitouwadge, White River, Hornepayne, Dubreuilville, Wawa, and Chapleau, as well as the Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs Forum which represents Chapleau Cree, Brunswick House, Michipicoten, Missanabie Cree, Pic Mobert, and Hornepayne First Nations. The NSFC is also one of 11 Forest Community sites funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Forest Communities Program, and part of a network of 15 sites across the country who combine to form the Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN).
