Legislative Electronic Publications -- Helen Betty Osborne Foundation Board Appointments And New Web Site Announced

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

January 31, 2003

HELEN BETTY OSBORNE FOUNDATION BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND NEW WEB SITE ANNOUNCED
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Fund-raiser Campaign To be Kicked off May 1

Attorney General Gord Mackintosh and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin today announced the appointment of new members to the board of trustees of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation.

"Through the efforts of the foundation, we are able to build a positive legacy out of tragedy and I am pleased to welcome these new members to the board who will continue to work toward this end," said Mackintosh.

The new board chair is Marcy Richard who currently works for Manitoba Hydro as training co-ordinator for future power projects. Richard first served as a member of the board when it was created in 2000.

New board members include:

Crystal Laborero, director, Aboriginal Employment Initiative, a joint initiative between government and business groups;

Diane Carriere, diversity co-ordinator, Manitoba Public Insurance;

Verna Kirkness, educator, facilitator, College Expansion Initiative; and

Bernard Boucher, executive vice-president, OmniTRAX Inc.

These new members join current members Dr. Gerry Friesen, author and history professor at the University of Manitoba, and Cecilia Osborne, Helen Betty Osborne's sister.

"I would like to commend the foundation board members for all their hard work to ensure the importance of Helen Betty Osborne's legacy is not forgotten," said Lathlin.

A reception was held last night in Winnipeg to welcome new members to the board. Culture Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson was also in attendance.

The new board's first priority will be to prepare for the upcoming May 1 fund-raising campaign. "All initiatives that were launched at the reception were very much the product of a team effort, with daily consultations with the Osborne family," said Richard. "I am very proud to be associated with this group of people."

Osborne's life was tragically cut short when she was murdered in 1971. The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation was established in December 2000 with the first awards being announced on National Aboriginal Day, June 21, 2001. To date, the foundation has awarded $26,000 to eight recipients across the province.

All Aboriginal residents of Manitoba--First Nation, Metis and Inuit--who are enrolled in post-secondary studies are eligible to apply for the bursary awards.

The deadline for application is May 30, 2003.

Information on the Helen Betty Osborne Foundation, application forms and procedures, and selection criteria can be found at the new foundation Web site at http://www.helenbettyosbornefdtn.ca

Lathlin noted that last year in Norway House, construction began on a new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school named after Helen Betty Osborne, which will accommodate 1,460 students.

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