Left to right, Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man [MGBHLM] First Nation Coun. Tristan Bird, MGBHLM First Nation Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman, MGBHLM Economic Development Corp. CEO Grant Beaudry, Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie, Elder Jenny Spyglass, North Battleford Coun. Bill Ironstand, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN ) Second Vice Chief David Pratt. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

COVID-19 support

The Ridge Wellness Centre enjoys official grand opening

May 31, 2021 | 7:21 PM

Located south of Battleford, The Ridge Wellness Centre officially opened for the first phase of the project on May 31.

The centre will be available to individuals or families from anywhere in the North West region of Saskatchewan. The facility offers a safe, culturally supportive place for people to stay when they need to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 requirements.

Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man [MGBHLM] Economic Development Corp. is the lead on the project, in partnership with MGBHLM First Nation.

MGBHLM Economic Development Corp. CEO Grant Beaudry said he is excited the see the project become a reality.

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“We will take in referrals from Sask. Health. People can come and isolate here with COVID-19,” he said.

Beaudry said the operations manager has been hired, as well as two intake workers, two healthcare workers, a custodian and maintenance workers.

So far, five single rooms and one family suite are currently available. There will be a total of 24 rooms as well as a commercial kitchen offered when the whole project is completed by October 2021.

The Wellness Centre proposal was originally submitted to Indigenous Services Canada by the Corporation.

The Ridge Wellness Centre is one of the three non-profit organizations under MGBHLM Economic Development Corp., along with its four other companies.

This display offers a view of some of the rooms inside the Ridge. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

The Ridge is located on property purchased by the First Nation last year, at the former Oblates residence site. The property is also next to the site of the former Battleford Industrial School so it also has significance as a step towards Reconciliation.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is a chief funding partner and already provided $1.7 million for renovations so far for the building, now owned by MGBHLM, to develop the wellness centre. ISC is also providing funding for the operational costs. First Nations And Inuit Health is also a funding partner. MGBHLM is offering the cultural component and use of the facility.

“It’s great to see that committment for such a high need within the area,” MGBHLM First Nation Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman said.

The idea for the facility came about in November 2020 when MGBHLM had a COVID-19 outbreak with about 10 positive cases. At the same time, there was a large power outage in the area that also impacted the First Nation. As a result, members and leadership came together to start looking for a strategy for the future to help keep the vulnerable safe.

“The first phase is actually opened today,” Aguilar-Antiman said. “It’s incredible the amount of organizations, government, leadership, community membership, staff, economic development, chief and council [involved]. It’s a huge undertaking. It happened quickly and everybody has seen a need for such a facility in the area.”

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie is thrilled to see the Ridge Wellness Centre develop.

“We are very excited to have Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man as a partner,” he said. “And as that partner, to retain the history and property up here. There are some great ideas coming forward of what this [property] is going to evolve into in the future. But first and foremost this wellness centre is going to meet a need of all nations within the region. I congratulate them for the hard work and how quickly they brought this together. The town will continue to support whatever need they [have] to push this forward.”

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow