Timmins Native Friendship Centre celebrates grand opening of 30,000 sq foot building

As a celebration of Aboriginal people and culture was taking place at Hollinger Park in Timmins on Aboriginal Day, the Timmins Native Friendship Centre (TNFC) also celebrated the opening of its new location.
More than 150 people attended the grand opening of the 30,000 square foot facility located on Kirby Street in downtown Timmins.
“It was so impressive and way beyond my expectations,” said executive director Veronica Nicholson. “It was the staff that really pulled everything off, making sure everything was in place.”
The proceedings were also attended by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Timmins Mayor Tom Laughlin, NDP MP Charlie Angus and MPP Gilles Bisson.
The new location brings the services of the organization’s services all under one roof.
The TNFC’s former location on Spruce Street offered about 8,000 square feet of space and the organization rented another space of 2,000 square feet just to be able to provide four more of its programs.
TNFC purchased the building and surrounding 2.5 acres of property – formerly an elementary school – and renovations began last September.
The organization officially moved into its new location on April 2 but Nicholson said they chose to celebrate its grand opening on Aboriginal Day.
“It’s very significant to what we do in the community,” she said. “And to let our community know who we are, and that we’re proud of what we do and why we do it.”
In 2011, TNFC served 18,000 Aboriginal clients through its 22 programs in areas such as education, employment and training, and family and youth support.
The organization also moved its daycare, Oppekehawaso Wekamik, into the new facility.
Since it moved into its location, Nicholson said people have asked if the friendship centre is going to offer more programs.
“At this point, not necessarily more programs but more integrated programs because we’re all under one roof now,” she said. “We’re not going to say no to new programs but that’s always in the works.”
Nicholson said acquiring a larger facility is phase one of the organization’s plans and the board of directors wants to do more with surrounding parcel of land.
“We’re looking at maybe other projects, possibly an affordable housing project because you can never have enough housing, or just to use it for sports and recreation use,” she said.
Nicholson said the TNFC is excited to be able to offer its services in a better location to the city’s growing Aboriginal population, where First Nations people from the James Bay area and surrounding communities move into the city seeking employment and educational opportunities.
While the 2006 Census says the Aboriginal population in Timmins is 3,200, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres puts the figure at 14,000.
“We’re the hub and we’re known as the largest service provider to Aboriginal people in Timmins,” Nicholson said. “People come to us for all sorts of things, like to upgrade or general information for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. If we can’t provide it, then we may know who else in the community can provide it.”
More information on the TNFC’s programs and services can be found on their website: www.tnfc.ca.