(Left) Kim Kirkley, manager of the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. (Right) Bruce Barber, Weekend morning host.
The Native Child and Family Services of Toronto will be celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day with a virtual grand opening of the new Mount Dennis Aboriginal Child and Family Center.
Located at 1290 Weston Road in York, this new centre will serve as a place for children, parents and caregivers to participate in cultural programs and services in an inclusive and welcoming space and will aim to enrich their cultural knowledge and strengthen relationships.
Our Weekend Mornings host Bruce Barber headed over to the new site ahead of the grand opening for an advanced preview and to chat with Kim Kirkley, long-term employee and manager of the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto.
In appreciation of the grand opening, ELMNT FM, in partnership with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, decided to give away Paddle Painting Workshop Kits. These will be distributed to Indigenous youth in need so they can participate in a fun and creative workshop with Claire Brascoupe being held by the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival this year. 
The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is going virtual this year, widening their reach to audiences beyond the nations capital. Their programming is a repository of interactive family activities, arts and crafts, culinary and cultural workshops, artist performances and more. There’s still time to participate in the festival. Visit their website to learn more.
You will also be able to Livestream the grand opening of the new Mount Dennis Aboriginal Child and Family Center on Monday, June 21st. The virtual event will include statements from MPP Faisal Hassan, Katherine Bambrick, CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation as well as live speeches from Mayor John Tory and Dr. Jeffery Schiffer, Executive Director of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. You will also get to experience a walk-through of the new site! Visit their website to register for the event.