CORNER BROOK — Brendan Mitchell is making good on a promise.
The Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band ward councillor is holding a town hall meeting for the Corner Brook ward on Jan. 29 at the Pepsi Centre.
“I promised people when we did this election campaign that there would be regular communication with what’s going on,” said Mitchell of the platform he ran on to represent the ward.
“One of the complaints that people had was that we needed more communication, so I said ‘OK, fine we’ll do what we can.’”
Mitchell said the town hall, the first of its kind in the province for a ward in the band, is his way of doing that.
He has the agenda planned for the meeting, and said one of the big things that will happen is the introduction of a new ward advisory committee.
Mitchell said the Corner Brook ward is a large one with some 12,000 people included in it right now and adding in the applicants awaiting approval will make it huge.
He said the committee will be able to help with planning and offering events for ward members.
“Maybe in the summer we’ll have our own powwow here like they do in Bay St. George.”
He’s already recruited some members for the committee and wants to have representation from all areas of the ward.
“I’m trying to build a good committee around me, with people who can help us get stuff done,” he said.
Mitchell also plans to have some of the resource people from the band office at the meeting to talk about the enrolment process and the current review, and about the structure of the organization in terms of the departments and the work they do.
“Because when I got involved I realized there was so much more in terms of pertinent infrastructure and organizational structure within Qalipu that can really lead us in the long-term. And I just want to tell all the members just what we are doing on their behalf.”
He said people will also be updated on the education and medical programs offered by the band.
But Mitchell said he and the band staff won’t be doing all the talking and there will be opportunities for questions from those who attend.
“To give people a chance to tell us what’s on their mind,” Mitchell said.
The town hall will run from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in meeting room two at the centre.
Mitchell said he’s also looking at holding another event on the north shore of the Bay of Islands to reach more members.
Fred, sounds like a small minded comment from a small minded person! If you don't have anything good to say then don't say anything at all. Brendan is a good man who is trying to do some good for the Qalipu people in western Newfoundland. If Brendan were to run for Mayor of CB I would support him 100%.