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Breaking Trails Family Place (Sandy Bay)

Welcome to Breaking Trails Family Place located in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan!

 

Check out our calendar of events for the month of July!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy Bay is a striking place with strong community engagement and leadership around early years initiatives.  This remote community has high incidences pf poverty, homelessness, unemployment, addictions issues, violence and suicide.  Despite this, community leaders came together to submit an application for a Demonstration Family Resource Centre in summer of 2013.  With the success of the application, the centre has launched programming in the areas of parenting education, early learning, family wellness and supports and information and referrals.

 

 

Partners for the Centre include the Northern Human Services Partnership, KidsFirst North, Mikisew Aboriginal Head Start, Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region, the Community Resource Centre, the Elder's Sub-Committee, the Good Food Box Committee, the Community Reference Panel, Northern Lights School Division - Hector Thiboutout Community School and the Sandy Bay Student/Parent Babysitting Corporation. 

 

Funding for the pilot project is provided by the Ministry of Education - Early Years Branch and the Ministry of Social Services.

 

In June of 2013, Dr. Jean Clinton, in partnership with the Northern Early Years Coalition, visited the community of Sandy Bay and spoke of the importance of all children getting a great start in life!  This, in tandem with other significant community events including the restructuring of the KidsFirst North program demonstrated a strong level of community readiness.

 

In her letter of support Dr. Clinton stated:

 

Sandy Bay is a community with a magnificent spirit in the face of much adversity.  I saw demonstrations of true collaboration as the community came together to create a week-long series of events focusing on many community initiatives, challenges, and interests including early childhood development.

 

The Mikisew Aboriginal Head Start Program is exemplary! As I did my tour, I was struck by how welcoming, evidence-based, and nurturing the program is and also how supportive it is of young families...

 

The will, respect and necessary partnerships are in place in Sandy Bay... The learning from this initiative will be very valuable to many communitites.         

What is a Family Resource Centre?

Breaking Trails Family Place provides a drop in space and free family programming for children and their families that encourages positive interactions and caregiver support.  It provides a place for families to gather in a friendly, safe and casual setting with improved access to important services. 

 

Breaking Trails Family Place is located at the Mikisew Aboriginal Head Start building in Sandy Bay and has been open since January of 2014. 

Since opening, Breaking Trails Family Place has served over 600 individuals within the community of Sandy Bay.

 

Breaking Trails Family Place has provided the following services:

 

  • Parenting Education

    • APRINTS Program (Aboriginal Parent Roles in Interacting with Teacher Support)

    • Lunch n' Learn

 

  • Early Learning

    • Nookoom (Grandmother) and I Bannock Making Night

    • Family Christmas Party

    • Candy Bouquet Craft

    • Santa Store

    • Story Bag Night

 

  • Family Wellness and Support

    • Drop-In Evenings

    • Clothing Depot

    • Good Food Box (Delivered on monthly basis)

 

  • Information and Referrals

    • Family Resource Centre Information Night(s)

    • Vision and Mission Retreat

    • Breaking Trails Radio Show

 

Upcoming Events/Training include:

  • Traditional Parenting Workshop

  • Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program

  • Triple P Parenting Program

  • READ Family Literacy and Early Education Training

  • Elder Teachings

  • Cook n' Book

 

Check out the Breaking Trails Family Place brochure!

 

 

For more information or to visit the centre, please drop in, call 306-754-1001 or contact our Facilitator by email.
Together is a wonderful place to be...
 
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