CFWE Radio News - July 7-2015

Tall Cree fire evacuation lifted

On July 2 residents of North Tall Cree First Nation, Alberta were evacuated due to an out of control wildfire.

Over the next several days the fire grew in size of approximately 1,661 hectares to 3,237 hectares and came within 3 km of the community.

We are pleased to announce that as of today, Tuesday, July 7th the evacuation order has been canceled and residents have started to make their way back to the community. The RCMP have departed North Tallcree and the area is now safe for
re-entry with the North Tallcree Band facilitating the re-entry.

Have a safe trip home!

TD Canada has made a 100-thousand donation in support of Aboriginal education with more than 13-hundred students to benefit.

In an ongoing partnership between One Laptop Per Child Canada, TD Bank Group and Frontier College, educational tablets have been provided for more than 9-hundred Aboriginal youth in northern Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick.

An additional 4-hundred and 50 youth will benefit from edtech donations to elementary schools in Nunavut.

One Laptop Per Child Canada tablets are designed with children and communities in mind, with pre-installed educational apps for skill development in areas such as financial literacy, health, math, science and Aboriginal languages.

Oilers prospect Ethan Bear

Ethan Bear goes through some drills

Ethan Bear performing some drills

Ethan Bear far right (kneeling) listens to instructions from the coaches

Ethan Bear is the fifth-round Edmonton Oilers’ draft pick who is attending the Oilers prospects camp held from July 3 – 6, 2015. He’s also a kid carrying the torch for other Aboriginal hockey players, growing up on the Ochapowace First Nation near Whitewood, Sask.

“There’s a great deal of pride in that,” said Bear, who turned 18 the first day of the NHL draft.

“I’m proud of who I am and where I come from and I get lots of support,” Bear said.

“Growing up we had a rink right on the reserve, so after school my buddies and I would also go there. It was always open, at any time. The rink manager also kept it open for us. I give credit to them for making me who I am,” he said.

Bear is a defenceman for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, who has played for Canada at the world under 18 championship in Switzerland this past spring.

Hope for Canada

Painting a “Hope for Canada” at the Canada festivities on 118th avenue next to the Nina Haggarty Arts Building across from the Alberta Avenue Community Centre.