Minister Aglukkaq Wraps Up Circumpolar Mental Wellness Symposium
March 27, 2015 – Iqaluit, Nunavut – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, wraps up the three-day Circumpolar Mental Wellness Symposium in Iqaluit.
“The outcomes from this symposium will increase our understanding of mental health issues and have a real potential to not only enhance awareness across the North, but also lead to improved programs and stronger Northern communities,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “We need to learn from each other. Sharing is part of our tradition.”
The engagement and participation of youth was an important focus of the symposium. Over the course of the three-day event, there was a youth panel discussion on community engagement, cultural values, and the importance of self-awareness. In addition, there was a testimonial by Aviaq Johnston, a young Iqaluit writer who received the Governor General’s History Award in 2014, about the challenges faced by Inuit youth. The symposium empowered youth to shape solutions that value traditional knowledge.
Contacts
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
NT3
