Inductees announced for human rights hall of fame

A pair of Inductees have been announced for a local hall of fame.
Further details are included in the following news release issued Wednesday at 10:18 a.m.:
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Two retired educators will be inducted to the Nipissing District Human Rights Hall of Fame Wednesday, March 24 at Ecole Secondaire Algonquin.

The 16th annual Evening of Applause, held in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, begins at 7 p.m. and the public is welcome.

Kathy Hallett, former superintendent of education with the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, and Sister Jeanne Castonguay of the Order of St. Joseph’s will join the hall.

Ms. Hallett has been the driving force behind many regional initiatives, was one of the first members of the International Day organizing committee in 1989 and played an organizational role for many years. She served on the board of North Bay Immigrant Support Services and many other organizations, including the Crisis Centre, Canadian Ecology Centre, YES Employment Services, Connections, Callander Bay Heritage Museum and others.

Sister Jeanne Castonguay moved to North Bay five years ago at the age of 75 to reside at the Motherhouse. Since then she has become an active part of the West Ferris Community Brunch Program for the poor, disabled or lonely, and is a friend to street people. Her teaching career spanned 30 years in North Bay, Sudbury, Killarney, Port Arthur, Sturgeon Falls and Guatemala. She spent 12 years in Guatemala at various times and helped build a school in an impoverished village.

She has worked as an advocate for First Nations’ people on their land, in urban centres and in jails. She has spent time working in prisons with the Elizabeth Fry Society and in helping prisoners establish a new life as they re-enter society.

Two organizational awards will also be presented, to the North Bay General Hospital Volunteer Association and to The Nugget. The Volunteer Association is being honoured for the services it provides to the public and patients day in and day out at the hospital, and for the huge donation to the Caring for Generation fundraising campaign for the new hospital.

The Nugget’s award is for providing free space for the weekly Niiji Circle page on Aboriginal issues, its Aboriginal Ontario Open for Business publications, its annual two pages on the Evening of Applause and its generous commitment to the Caring for Generations hospital building fund.

RBC Royal Bank is sponsoring the anti-racism poster contest this year and the winners are: Kindergarten to Grade 3, Alexandra Lavalle of St. Gregory; Grades 4 to 6, Mireille Rheault, Sacred Heart; Grades 7 to 9, Mélanie Trahan, Algonquin; Grades 10 to 12, Kara Ranger, Widdifield, and post-secondary, Meghan Epp of Nipissing University.

Cogeco Cable 12 will videotape the event and broadcast it April 2 at 6:30 p.m. and again April 3 and 4 at 1 p.m.