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TORONTO HOSTEL - OPENING SOON

Waasagamik, a patient hostel which means "dwelling that radiates light" will be opening its doors this fall to accommodate Aboriginal people who come to Toronto for medical care and need a place to stay.

Waasagamik will be providing services to people accessing health services. Besides a place to stay they will offer supportive/advocacy counselling; language translation (Cree, Ojibwa, Oji-Cree, Inuktitut and Iroquois); special diets; access to medical prescriptions; access to traditional healers; and social and cultural activities.

"Waasagamik will not be directly providing health care," says Joe Hester, Director of Programs and Services at Anishnawbe Health Toronto. "Rather, we will be assisting Aboriginal patients to access health services such as traditional healers, physicians, nurses, lab services, prescriptions, etc." says Joe Hester.

Access to services is a strategic direction in the Aboriginal Health Policy. In implementing this objective Waasagamik will play an integral role by ensuring that patients will gain access to treatment and/or rehabilitative services.

"Waasagamik will fill a serious gap in the health services sector in Toronto and will be of benefit to all members of the Native community in Ontario," says Hester.

To prepare for start-up, Waasagamik has hired a Manager and an Intake/Supportive Counsellor and plans to hire two cooks. The hostel will provide its clients with a comfortable, quiet and secure boarding home facility for patients, families and escorts. Other special features include:

• 2 bedrooms, each with 2 double beds, and ensuite washrooms to accommodate parents and children;
• 13 single rooms with shared washroom facilities for individual patients;
• a quiet and comfortable lounge and eating area for recuperating patients as well as their guests;
• eating and play area for families with children; and
• nutritious and special diet meals as required.

The final renovations are being done. Waasagamik�s services will be delivered on a 24 hour basis from 179 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario. The site is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Gerrard and Pembroke Streets. The nearest main intersection is Gerrard and Sherbourne Street, one block to the east.

Information on rates for accommodation and meals is not yet public. A brochure with this information will be available soon.

There are many hospitals within a 2.75 kilometre radius of the hostel. Some include: Wellesley Hospital; St. Michael�s Hospital,Toronto General Hospital, Sick Kids, Mount Sinai/Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto Grace Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Orthopaedic and Arthritic Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and Women�s College Hospital.

Transportation will be available at arrival and departure points, e.g., airport, railway and bus stations. Transportation will also be available for patients to and from medical appointments.

For more information contact Waasagamik�s Manager, Shirley Kendall at 1-800-531-0066.

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A NEW SIOUX LOOKOUT HOSPITAL - YEARS IN THE MAKING

On April 11th, four years of negotiations culminated in the signing of an agreement between Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN), Ontario, Canada and the Town of Sioux Lookout.

The agreement will amalgamate the existing federal and provincial hospitals in Sioux Lookout and provide funding for a new $30 million hospital facility. Construction of the hospital is expected to begin in two years.

"We will have the first Aboriginal-controlled provincial hospital because representatives of NAN, Canada and the Town of Sioux Lookout dedicated themselves to this process and had a vision of better health services for Aboriginal people and the entire zone," said Charles Bigenwald, Assistant Deputy Minister, representing the Ministry of Health at the signing ceremony.