NEWS RELEASE: Vale Contributes to Research Project with Aim to Help Northern Manitoba Youth Education

posted January 16, 2012

BRANDON, MB — Today in Thompson, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University, Dr. Deborah C. Poff met Lovro Paulic, the General Manager of Vale’s Manitoba Operations to accept the company’s donation of $400,000 in support of the Vital Outcomes Indicators for Community Engagement for Children and Youth (VOICE) project.

Brandon University is supported in this project through a $1 million-dollar peer-reviewed research grant from the Government of Canada, through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Community-University Research Alliances Program (SSHRC CURA). The University College of the North will share in the award and actively participate in the research activities. The project will also include individuals from Frontier School Divisions, Kelsey School Division and the School District of Mystery Lake.  

“This generous donation from Vale will help bring researchers and community-partners closer and make a positive impact in the lives of First Nations and Métis children and youth living in Northern Manitoba,” said Dr. Poff. “We are very grateful for Vale’s interest and financial commitment to this important collaborative venture in research and capacity-building.”   

The research activities will be aimed at helping First Nations and Métis children and youth achieve educational and career success.

“The extent of our partnerships such as the contribution from Vale is evidence of the commitment that we all have to building success for our children and youth,” said Dr. Karen Rempel, one of the main investigators in this project. “Our research partnership will build local capacity for community-based skills to use research. The project will also help our Faculty of Education programs adjust to better meet the learning needs of today’s children and youth. The project is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference.” 

This project is receiving support from Vale’s top Canadian leadership. According to John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer for Vale in Canada: “Vale is very proud to support the VOICE project and to stand alongside the project’s many forward-looking sponsors. We believe that every Canadian student deserves a high-quality, inspired education so they can achieve personal and professional success, and Vale is honoured to be part of a project that will see this vision become a reality, especially for Canada’s First Nations and Métis youth.”

Vale is a global mining pioneer that discovers and transforms the minerals that are essential ingredients in the products people use every day. Vale is the world’s second largest producer of nickel, with these operations based primarily in Canada. Canadian operations also produce copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver. In Sudbury, Ontario and Thompson, Manitoba, Vale operates mine, mill, smelter and refinery operations; in Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador Vale’s assets include mine and mill operations. Vale employs about 6,000 people in Canada. 

The presentation was a special one for Sheryl Moose and her father Patrick Moose. Sheryl, who is originally from Thompson, accepted Vale’s contribution on behalf of Brandon University. Her father, a 31-year employee of Vale Mining, presented Vale’s donation to his daughter. 

“I am very excited and grateful to be part of such a wonderful study, said Sheryl Moose, a teacher who is a current graduate student at Brandon University and research assistant on the project. “The VOICE project focuses on Aboriginal student and youth success, particularly educational achievement. This success is really important for communities. The VOICE researchers are people who are dedicated to working with communities for our children and youth. Thank you so much for your donation, Vale. We know we can make a difference for all Aboriginal students and communities in the North.”

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For more information, please contact: 

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University

270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB  R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762

villeneuvej@brandonu.ca
http://www.brandonu.ca