Health & Safety of Participants & Families is Paramount
March 12, 2020 – At 9:30 a.m. today, a conference call was held between the Little NHL Executive and host committee members from Nipissing First Nation to discuss the rapidly changing circumstances related to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in urban centres.
The health and safety of LNHL participants and their families is paramount to the tournament organizers. We have been relying on daily information from various public health officials, including the World Health Organization, Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health, who continue to assess the risk as low in the Region of Peel. Having said that, we realize that Health Canada and other health authorities do not always base their health risk assessments with First Nation conditions in mind.
The situation changed drastically overnight and we have no reason to believe that it will get better or be less concerning over the coming days and weeks. Serious concerns about the health and safety of LNHL participants and families, coupled with the cancellation of other major events, including the remainder of the NBA season, prompted the decision by Nipissing First Nation and the Little NHL Executive Committee to cancel the 2020 Little NHL tournament.
“This
decision is regrettable, but unavoidable in light of the serious health risks
associated with large public gatherings and the speed at which the coronavirus
is spreading,” said Chief Scott McLeod.
“The last thing we want is to see this virus spread to any First Nation
communities, especially those that have limited access to health facilities and
already face pre-existing socio-economic challenges.”
We will provide further updates in the near future.
Click here to download the release.
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Contacts:
Marian Jacko, President
Little Native Hockey League
[email protected]
Chief Scott McLeod
Nipissing First Nation
(705) 753-2050
NIPISSING FIRST NATION – Host Committee Members
Contact our Administration office at 705-753-2050 or reach out to our sub-committee leads via email.
Freda Martel, Tournament Coordinator – [email protected]
Gen Couchie, Sponsorship & Communications Coordinator – [email protected]
Tammy Saulis, Finance Coordinator – [email protected]
Sarah Fisher, Vendor Coordinator – [email protected]
Patrick Stevens, Design Coordinator – [email protected]
Melissa Penasse, LNHL Assistant – [email protected]
Melvin McLeod, Committee Member
Meriza George, Committee Member
Christina Beaucage, Committee Member
Samantha Goulais, Committee Member
Rick Stevens, Council Member
