The relatively new Northern Learning & Support Centre, located in the lower level of the building at 79 Selkirk Ave. in Thompson, is about to celebrate its first year of being open later this month.

The centre officially opened to the public on March 25 of last year. Six partners run and fund the facility, including the Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre, the School District of Mystery Lake, Frontier School Division, Manitoba Education, the Burntwood Regional Health Authority (BRHA) and the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities.

Lorraine Peters, resource facilitator, says the mission statement of the Northern Learning & Support Centre is to provide specialized services to children, their families and their support network who live in Northern Manitoba. The facility’s goals are to coordinate services based on the educational needs of children and their families; to facilitate communication and networking among partner organizations, staff and families; and to provide information and coordinate learning opportunities for students with exceptional needs, families and professionals.

Families and children can gain access to the resources at the support centre by going through the various partners. These resources include specialized childrens books, DVDs and teacher resources and a display of a wireless Sonic System Combo that alerts people with a hearing loss to sounds such as the doorbell, telephone and alarm clock. Families can also be introduced to a regional audiologist, who is available weekly for family or educator questions, and other specialists are available upon request.

The facility has a conference table and space that can accommodate up to a maximum of 20 people, a video conferencing system capable of connecting with similar systems throughout the country, and tele-conferencing equipment. Groups can reserve the Northern Learning & Support Centre’s facilities for professional development opportunities on site or through distance technology; professional/specialist consultations in person or via distance technology; and networking opportunities for students, parents, staff and community members. The support centre is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but groups need to book the space in advanced to use it.

Peters says she is focused on spreading the word about the support centre into the broader community.

“Right now I think it’s just the partners that are involved and aware of the centre and some of the schools,” she explains. “This is a new program, so we’re just getting it off the ground and trying to make the public more aware of it.”

Peters is planning on holding an open house at the Northern Learning & Support Centre sometime in March.