HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
STILL ON THE MOVE AFTER 40 YEARS
The Friendship Centre has been using innovative approaches and strategies since its creation in 1974. Four main development phases have marked the Centre’s history: 
1. Start-up phase
(1974 to 1980): a first drop-in centre is opened to foster encounter of Aboriginal individuals and families living in or transiting through Val-d’Or for various reasons (health care, education, business, access to public services) 
2. Consolidation phase
(1980 to 1995): the Centre moves into new facilities, provides hostel and other services to an increasing clientele; there is a first consolidation of the activities. 
3. Reinforcement phase
(1995 to 2010): a restructuring of the activities fosters the implementation of a new sector-based management system and generates a significant increase in the development initiatives and local/regional partnerships. The Centre focuses on staff capacity-building and initiates new bridge-building activities (between Aboriginal and Québécois citizens) at the local and regional level. 
4. Affirmation and autonomy phase (since 2011):
Building upon its experience, success stories and the relations developed over the years, the Centre now plays a key role in the development of an increasingly active and diversified urban Aboriginal community. Its influential and mediatory role is recognised beyond the urban area. The Centre has evolved into a social change agent not only because it is a major service delivery organisation for the Aboriginal population, but also because it is positioned at the crossroads of all Aboriginal organisations and decision-making bodies at the local and regional level. |
HighlightsAcknowledgementsVal-d'Or Native Friendship Centre
1995 The Friendship Centre receives the “Non-profitable organization of the year” award by the Chamber of Commerce of Val-d’Or. 1996 The Friendship Centre receives the Évènement culturel de l’année (Cultural Event of the Year) prize, awarded by the Office du tourisme et des congrès de Val-d’Or. 1997 The Friendship Centre receives the “Community Organization of the Year” award from the City of Val-d’Or; 2000 Culture Award, offered by the Department of Canadian Heritage on the occasion of the MISHTAPEW Excellence Gala, organized by the First Peoples’ Business Association. 2002 The Commission on Cultural Development of Val-d’Or awards the “Jeanne Lalancette-Bigué” Prize for the production of the Mural. The Anne-Greenup Prize is awarded for the “Fight Against Racism and the Promotion of Civic Participation” under the auspices of the “Prix québécois de la citoyenneté 2002”. 2004 Mention of Honour awarded for the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre as part of the Prix d’excellence du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux 2004, in the “Support to vulnerable persons or groups” category for its Eagles Nest Psychosocial Intervention Service. 2005 The Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre is honoured by the Val-d’Or Chamber of Commerce and receives the “Filon des Premières Nations” award, 2010 Val-d’Or receives the « Prix d’excellence du Réseau québécois Villes et Villages en santé » for the 10th awareness week for the elimination of the racial discrimination organized by the Native Friendship Centre. Honorable mention at the “Prix Droits et Libertés » awarded by the Commission on Human rights and youth rights in Quebec for the 10th awareness week for the elimination of the racial discrimination organized by the Native Friendship Centre. 2012 Award for the Organism that exceptionally made way and supported the youth at the «Gala des Miroirs» organized by the Territorial Youth Council. 2013 The Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre won an Award of Excellence at the Annual General Assembly of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC). Val-d'Or is in fourth place amongst the 122 existing Centres in Canada. 2014 The Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre, ranking first among the 120 Friendship Centres in Canada, received the 2014 National Award of Excellence on the occasion of the 43rd general annual assembly of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC). Édith Cloutier (Executive Director) 2004 The Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre’s Executive Director, Edith Cloutier, receives the Female Personality of the Year Filon Award from the Val-d’Or Chamber of Commerce at its annual Recognition Gala. 2005 The Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre's Executive Director, Edith Cloutier, receives the Prix d'honneur de la citoyenne 2005, prize remitted by the Société nationale des Québecoises et Québecois d'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec. «Quebec Native Women» awards the General Manager, Édith Cloutier, the title of «Woman of action and knowledge » 2006 The Executive-Director, Edith Cloutier, receives the insignia of the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec, awarded by the Quebec Premier, Mr. Jean Charest. 2009 Édith Cloutier, general manager of the Friendship Centre, is chosen as Olympic torchbearer Vancoucer 2010, when it passed through Val-d’Or on December 31st 2009 2010 Édith Cloutier receives the award of excellence in the category “Public Service” awarded by the National Aboriginal achievement Foundation 2011 Édith Cloutier was chosen as Woman of the Year 2010 by ELLE Québec magazine. 2012 Édith Cloutier was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, an honor which recognizes significant achievements and exceptional service towards citizens and the community. 2013 Édith Cloutier was made a Member of the Order of Canada for her contribution to the improvement of living conditions of urbain Aboriginal people, particularly through The Native Friendship Centre Movement. The Order of Canada is the highest award of the Canadian Honors System. Doris St-Pierre (administrateur) 2006 Doris St-Pierre, Director on the Friendship Centre's Board of Directors since 1989, receives the Prix Rita-Fortin 2006 – une reconnaissance bien méritée, awarded by the Centre de bénévolat de la Vallée-de-l'Or, as Volunteer of the Year. 2010 Doris St-Pierre receives the bénévolat-Québec 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Abitibi-Temincamingue for her 20 years as a non-native volunteer on the board of directors committee of the Friendship Centre. Janet Mark (vice-présidente) 2006 Janet Mark receives the Female Personality of the Year Filon Award from the Val-d’Or Chamber of Commerce at its annual Recognition Gala. Wanda Crépeau Etapp (administrateur) 2013 Wanda Crépeau Etapp receives the Nelson Mayer Youth Contribution Award frome the National Association of Friendship Centres |
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