Claims helpers coming to northern communities to assist with residential school settlement applications

Assistance will be available to survivors or eligible heirs to complete the required paperwork to receive part of the $27.3 million Île-à-la Crosse Boarding School settlement. 

The community visits will give community members a chance to connect with claims helpers who are trained in trauma-informed and culturally grounded practices. They will be available to sit with people to answer questions, explain the claims process, and help complete claim forms in a supportive one-on-one setting.   

“There are two different kinds of claims helpers. First of all, class counsel came earlier in the summer to help people complete claim forms and will be back again one other time before the end of the claim period for abuse claims,” explained Margaret Weddell, who is class counsel with Sotos LLP. 

“Deloitte has also engaged a firm called Castlemain Group, who are claims helpers. They have been up once into the community to help with claims, and they are coming back again during the week of Sept. 14 to help folks complete their claims forms as well.”