Visit to Sault Ste. Marie - Day 2

On the morning of August 30, Their Excellencies attended a community ecumenical service at St. Luke’s Cathedral. The Service of the Word included the memorial blessing and dedication of a new pipe organ, a memorial to Captain Nichola Goddard, the first female Canadian Forces member to die in combat in Afghanistan.

Her Excellency Sharon Johnston went to Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre to learn more about their programs and services and meet and speak with participants.

Her Excellency visited the Algoma Family Services Centre to learn more about the specialized mental health programming for children and youth,including the Intensive Treatment program, a unique, goal-oriented, comprehensive treatment program designed to serve multi-problem children and youth in their community. Pierrette Brown, Executive Director of Algoma Services presented the centre and its employees to Her Excellency.

At Algoma University, Her Excellency met with a group from the Victoria College (of the University of Toronto) Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP) that were taking part in an Algoma Shingwauk Pilot Project Trip. It involved 7 CTEP students from different backgrounds and levels in the Program who spent a week at the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre learning about the legacy of Canada's Indian Residential Schools system and how to address them.

Her Excellency visited the cemetery located behind Algoma University. A bench is dedicated to the former students of the Shingwauk Residential School that are buried there.

Her Excellency Sharon Johnston met former Shingwauk Residential School students at Algoma University, which is now located where the school used to be.

"I have long felt that one of the great strengths of smaller cities and institutions is their ability to bring together diverse talents in an intimate setting," said His Excellency. "The spirit of collaboration and innovation that exists in Sault Ste. Marie will only be strengthened by this centre."

In the afternoon, His Excellency attended a ceremony to officially dedicate the Algoma University’s Biosciences and Technology Convergence Centre (BTCC). Located on the Algoma University Campus, the BTCC is a mixed use facility occupied in part by Algoma University and by science and technology-based partners. The Governor General delivered remarks.

The Governor General then participated in a round-table discussion with local service providers and leaders, including United Way chairs, community organizations, the Mayor, and university representatives, to discuss collaboration and cooperation to ensure each citizen is adequately served in their community and is given the chance to serve their community.

The Governor General participated in a discussion hosted by Dr. Ron Common, President of Sault College, and Carolyn Hepburn, Director of Native Education at Sault College with Leaders of Batchewana, Garden River and M’Chigeeng First Nations, Elders, students, elementary, secondary and post-secondary school administrators, and other community members on the importance of Aboriginal education. The topics included innovative and effective programs being implemented in the local community.

After hearing various testimonies, Her Excellency addressed the participants of various programs offered at the Sault Ste. Marie Friendship Centre.