The Fort St. James Key Resource Centre opened its doors Friday as a one-year pilot project to improve access to educational opportunities for area residents.
Ann McCormick, regional supervisor for College of New Caledonia Fort St. James, said local aboriginal and non-aboriginal service providers are available at the Centre, creating an inviting, welcoming, inclusive and culturally sensitive environment. Clients can access a computer lab, ask for drop-in academic advising services or even take a course.
The centre is overseen by an advisory board made up of the District of Fort St. James, CNC Fort James, Nak'azdli Health, and Nak'azdli Alternate Justice Centre.
"This group has been together for more than a year, looking at options of how to provide resources in the downtown core of Fort St. James," said McCormick. "We want individuals to have easy access to information, and provide opportunities around education and training."
Data will be collected over the next year to determine if the centre will continue in the future.
Integris Credit Union is supporting the centre in partnership with CNC.
"CNC came to us with the pilot project concept to address needs in our community," said Joan Burdeniuk, branch manager of Integris in Fort St. James. "Accordingly, Integris has provided a one-year free lease as our contribution to the Key Resource Centre."
Funding for the centre was provided to CNC in Prince George through the community education and training fund from Northern Gateway Pipelines.
