Former Star staffer takes over at Friendship Centre

Sault Ste. Marie's embattled Indian Friendship Centre has appointed former Sault Star reporter and editor Suzanne Farrell as its executive director.

Farrell was the unanimous choice of the centre's board, said William Bellerose, chairman of one of two groups claiming to be the institution's lawful directors.

She started work on Monday and was introduced at a public meeting on Tuesday night.

Farrell was most recently employed as manager of Garden River Development Corp.

She spent 23 years at the Sault Star and has also managed economic development and public relations for Zone 4 of the Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association.

Last night's meeting

Last night's public meeting was one of four called this week as part of a flurry of maneuvering by two rival boards, both claiming to have responsibility for the Friendship Centre at 122 East Street.

Earlier this month, a group of First Nations elders voted to dissolve Bellerose's board and elected an interim board to replace it.

The new group has called a meeting for 7 p.m. this Thursday night at the Friendship Centre's meeting hall at 29 Wellington Street East, for purposes of removing the board of directors.

The original board has now called a meeting for the same time and location, and for the same stated purpose.

Bellerose told SooToday News that a neutral, out-of-town chair will be sought for that meeting.

Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres

Bellerose chaired last night's meeting but played only a minor role, asking Gertie Beaucage, a senior staffer at the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, to facilitate the discussion.

The meeting was convened "for the sole purpose of discussing the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the board of directors."

Beaucage made few preliminary remarks but copies of the centre's procedural bylaw were distributed and she immediately opened the floor to questions from the 41 people in attendance.

Questions ranged from membership eligibility to youth representation to the processes for removing a board of directors or preventing unwanted takeovers.

Staff express concerns

Some Friendship Centre staff attended the meeting and concerns were expressed about stress and exhaustion resulting from the governance dispute.

"I don't think that the membership understands the effect it's having within the building," one staffer said. "It's really hard to stay neutral when you're in the middle of it."

But Beaucage said staff should follow normal policy for dealing with concerns and should not attempt to raise issues at membership meetings.

"Staff members are expected to maintain neutrality," Beaucage advised. "We encourage staff members not to involve themselves in these kinds of discussions."

Lawyer present

The Friendship Centre's lawyer, Robert Paciocco of Sault-based Laidlaw, Paciocco, Melville attended the gathering but did not contribute to the discussion.

The Indian Friendship Centre currently has 290 members. Its annual general meeting is set for Sept. 26.

Background on the dispute

To read previous SooToday coverage of the Friendship Centre dispute, please click on the following links:

Elders vote to dissolve Indian Friendship Centre board Police intervention sought in Friendship Centre dispute Rival boards meet at Friendship Centre, resolve nothing Two Friendship Centre boards plan member meetings

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