The Marguerite Riel Centre is celebrating 25 years in Melfort. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

25 years

Marguerite Riel Centre commemorating 25 years in Melfort

Jun 21, 2020 | 10:00 AM

The Marguerite Riel Centre is celebrating 25 years in the city of Melfort.

Canadian Métis Heritage Corporation was incorporated in 1995 and the Marguerite Riel opened its doors in 1998.

Director Joanne Yakowec said over the past 25 years, they have been able to offer a variety of programs.

“We have programs for families, programs working with Indian residential school survivors, and the homeless,” Yakowec said.

The centre has had to make quite a few adjustments but have been able to continue with some of their programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“We have done a lot programs through distancing with Facebook and phones but we are getting back to being open to the public now,” Yakowec said. “It has been a challenge but it’s been working.”

The need for the programs continue and some have even increased during the pandemic.

“We still see an increase of people using the centre, needing support and food security has also seen an increase,” Yakowec said.

The centre is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. but staff is in the office in the morning as well to take client appointments.

Staff members are hopeful that by July 1, some groups and regular programming can begin on a smaller scale to adhere to existing COVID guidelines.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the centre, there will be a “contactless” barbecue next Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“We will be following COVID guidelines so there will be no seating and we will do things like putting condiments into bags with the hamburgers, and we will have sanitizing stations,” Yakowec said.

There will be some giveaways as well for those who attend.

“We will have the staff fill out names of each person so we aren’t sharing pens and we just will do everything we can to keep everyone safe,” Yakowec said.

Staff will also be on hand to ensure six-foot distancing is followed and limiting contact if there is a rush or a lot of people on hand at one time but the two-hour window should help control that.

“It is a great time to come and meet staff, ask questions and see what we do here,” Yakowec said. “We would love to say thanks to the community of Melfort and surrounding communities for all of their support over the years.”

All members of the community are welcome to attend the barbecue.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser