Timber Bay youth model their winter gear. (submitted photo/ Lorna Lavallee)

By Nigel Maxwell

Good news stories

Northern agencies team up to keep youth warm this winter

Feb 6, 2023 | 3:11 PM

Dozens of children living in a small community in northern Saskatchewan are guaranteed to have a warmer winter, thanks in large part to some recent generous donations.

Timber Bay school received about 25 winter jackets from Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC); as well as $1,000 from Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, which was used to buy winter gear.

The local mayor and council donated some additional gloves and toques. Lorna Lavallee, a secretary/ treasurer at the school told paNOW that as both a parent and community member, she is humbled by the support.

“Living in a small community such as ours, travelling to Prince Albert or La Ronge for groceries is a normal thing. Most of our income goes to gas to get there. In a hamlet as small and blended as ours we are grateful for any donations we receive,” she said.

The winter gear is spread out across a table to be sorted. (submitted photo/Lorna Lavallee)

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The population of Timber Bay is nearly 100 and about half are youth and children. Lavallee explained they come from six different bands and two Métis families.

“So you see it is hard for us to get funding specifically from one certain spot,” she said.

Lavalle expressed her gratitude to the PAGC’s Shirley Henderson and Betty Marleau; MNS Northern Region 1 Director Laura Burnouf, as well as the hamlet’s mayor and council, Bonnie and Lyndale LaVallee, principal Daryl McKen, and teachers Kelly and Amanda Camponi.

The donated items are brand new. (submitted photo/Lorna Lavallee)

“On behalf of the students at Timber Bay school I would like to say thank you. Thank you to the kind souls that have contributed to the winter donation. We shall wear them with pride and warmth,” Lavallee said.

In total over 3,000 jackets were purchased by PAGC through the Knights of a Columbus at a special rate.

While the majority of the jackets were given to the local public and Catholic school divisions for children in need, other jackets went to northern communities including Timber Bay, Black Lake, Stanley Mission, Brabant Lake and Grandmother’s Bay.

PAGC has also distributed jackets to the city’s homeless and refugees from Ukraine and Syria.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell