Local photographer, writer team up to

break new ground in book on the North

( OTTAWA , ON) Two Ottawa women are teaming up to publish a book that depicts the new realities of the north in photographs and stories told through the voices of a four generation Inuit family. Michelle Valberg, well-known Ottawa-based photographer and Joan Weinman, veteran writer, anticipate the release of “The Life and the Land of the Inuit: Through the Generations” in 2011.

The team heads to the heart of the Arctic on Sept. 16, 2009 for a two-week research project with Adventure Canada that will take them to a number of key communities in Greenland , Nunavut and Nunavik.

To kick-off the project, Valberg and Weinman are launching a campaign to bring much-needed sports equipment to children in Nunavut and Nunavik. “We wanted to leave something behind that is useful to children. We have chosen to bring sports equipment because of the strong agreement across the country that community sport is one of the most positive forces in the lives of young people today,” said Ms Valberg. “It is a key contributing factor to giving children a healthy start in life and equipping them with some of the skills and the social support they need to make key life transitions successfully,” Ms Weinman added.

Ottawa Police Chief Vern White is serving as honourary campaign captain and will help rally local organizations and businesses to donate new and gently used sports equipment. “At the end of the day, it is all about the children,” said Chief White. “Community sports provides youth with opportunities for leadership and socialization, as well as the development of skills for handling success and failure. I am happy to draw attention to this need and to help with a project that will have a positive impact on children in the north.”

Cedar Bradley-Swan of Adventure Canada has thrown her support behind the campaign by offering to transport and deliver the sports equipment to several northern communities. “Our love for the north grows each time we visit the area,” Ms Bradley-Swan said. “We are enriched as people by learning about the diversity and richness of Arctic communities … and we are able to do this because people share so much of themselves with us. This campaign is a small way of giving back. It’s about saying thank you and helping youth at the same time.”

"When news of this project reached the small hamlet of Kimmirut on the southern tips of Baffin Island it was like a dream come true. The local RCMP officers have been working with members of the community to try and get minor hockey started at some level. Sports have always played an important role in the life of the Inuit. Cpl Larry Sharbell who is presently station in Kimmirut states that one of the problems they face is the high cost of equipment. "We have a good rink but a lot of the kids don't play as they need the basic equipment like skates sticks and helmets. The hamlet is pursuing other areas to secure equipment but every bit helps. Cpl Larry Sharbell said that when Chief Vern White was station here when Kimmirut was called Lake Harbour there was no rink. Now that we have one the next step is to get the equipment so all the kids can start using it.. "

Co-Captains -  Chris Phillips (Ottawa Senators)

                        Jeff Hunt (Ottawa 67's Owner)

                        Jim Orban (The Ottawa Citizen publisher)

                        Rabbi Bulka (Community Leader)

                        Sandy Sharkey (Radio Personality, BOBfm)

                        Rosemarie Leclair (President of Ottawa Hydro)

Sports equipment drive for:

Hockey Equipment

            Hockey Sticks

            Hockey Pucks

            New or gently used skates

Soccer Balls

Volleyballs

Sneakers

Local drop-off destinations for Project North:

Ottawa Fire Stations

Valberg Imaging – 322 Richmond Road

Canadian Tire Store on Coventry Road and Carling Avenue

Deadline for equipment drop offs – September 11, 2009