Chris Clegg
South Peace News
It is business as usual!
The High Prairie Native Friendship Centre’s board chair, Barry Sharkawi, and executive director, Carol Hanlon, attended High Prairie town council’s meeting Jan. 14 to reassure council the centre is open.
“(We) are assuring mayor and council the centre will operate,” Sharkawi told council.
The centre went through some turbulent times recently prompting temporary closure.
Sharkawi told council he attended a meeting Jan. 11 and that the centre is now operating as an independent Friendship Centre, independent from the Alberta Native Friendship Centre Association (ANFCA). The High Prairie centre has six months to appear ANFCA’s decision after separating themselves from the High Prairie organization.
Regarding funding, Sharkawi added he met with Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair and a government minister to discuss the future.
As for now, the centre is open.
“We’ll start having lunches coming up, programs happening soon,” said Sharkawi.
“The centre will continue.”