The following statement was issued today by Thomas G. Rideout, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly

I rise in this honourable house today to inform you of truly inspiring events that speak to the generosity of spirit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that is so important as we move into the Christmas season.

As my honourable colleagues are aware, this past September there was a fire at Amos Comenius Memorial School in Hopedale, Labrador. There was considerable damage to the gym and surrounding areas, including the home economics room and industrial arts room. The lobby, administration suite and faculty room received smoke and water damage, and the classroom wing received some smoke damage. This represented a great and tragic loss for the community as it was not just a school but was very much the community centre in Hopedale.

However, following the fire, the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland, recognizing what a great loss this was for the community, established a Sharing Hope with Hopedale Campaign, in October of this year. The purpose of the campaign was to provide support for the K-12 school community within Hopedale.

The Education Society, a mostly undergraduate organization within the Faculty of Education, participated actively in the project, raising funds through various initiatives and collecting donations.

Drop off locations for the initiative were established in the Office of the Dean of Education and the Curriculum Materials Centre, in the G.A. Hickman Building at the St. John�s campus of the university.

Throughout the campaign, individuals from many university and community organizations donated both school related materials and cash contributions. The list of participants included:

• Queen Elizabeth II Library
• Curriculum Materials Centre
• School of Nursing
• Faculty of Education
• Ascension Collegiate, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, and
• 99.1Hits FM

In total, the Faculty of Education collected 27 boxes of school materials. The donated items included science books, encyclopedias, children�s books, novels, geography books, nature books, geometry sets, calculators, pens, pencils, crayons and colouring books, puzzles, games, flash cards, glue, paper, and scissors.

Cash donations were collected to the amount of $510. Of this, $350 was collected during a bake sale held by the Education Society.

Memorial University�s Facilities Management Department assisted with the transportation of the boxes from the Faculty of Education to Provincial Airlines. Provincial Airlines then shipped the 27 boxes (weighing approximately 350 kg) free of charge.

I am also pleased to report that the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs provided $2,500 to the school to assist with the purchase of emergency school supplies. In doing so, we were matching an earlier contribution made by the Department of Education, for the same amount.

As a former school teacher and vice-principal myself, I know very well how important a school is to its students and its community. Having visited Hopedale this past August, as Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, I know how important this school was to this community.

I would like to take this opportunity today, to thank and congratulate Memorial University of Newfoundland�s Faculty of Education, Education Society and all of those who contributed to the success of the Sharing Hope with Hopedale Campaign. Once again, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have exemplified what a generous and giving people we truly are.

2004 12 08                            2:25 p.m.