Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness

Media Advisory

Yellowknife (November 27, 2012) – The Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness begins community visits on December 3 with a four-day session in Fort McPherson.

“This is part of our ongoing discussions with communities about how we can best support our residents to make healthy choices,” said Minister of Health and Social Services Tom Beaulieu. “Addictions touch every community and every family. We will talk to people all over the NWT about what has worked for them and for their loved ones. We need a flexible, made-in-the-NWT solution.”

“Communities have developed effective practices and responses to addictions and mental health issues,” said forum chair Paul Andrew. “We are looking forward to hearing their success stories. We hope to hear how different approaches to addictions could help us. I would like to thank Minister Beaulieu for hosting the forum and showing a passion for solving addictions issues.”

The members of the forum are:

Chair - Paul Andrew
North - Hazel Nerysoo, Lawrence Norbert
Tlicho/Sahtu - Marie Adele Rabesca, Paul Andrew
South - David Poitras, Wilfred Simon, Pat Martel, JoAnne Deneron
Urban - Jill Taylor, Frank Yakimchuk,Laurie Sarkadi

Enhancing addictions treatment programs using existing infrastructure is a priority of the 17th Legislative Assembly, and a complete list of community visits is available on the Department’s website. The Minister’s  Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness is an action item in the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, A Shared Path Towards Wellness.

For more information, contact:

Damien Healy
Communications Manager          
Department of Health and Social Services
Tel: (867) 920-8927
Email: damien_healy@gov.nt.ca