Marcel Netemegesic Donio and Gary Ferguson named to board’s governance committee in January.
THUNDER BAY — A retired Ontario justice of the peace and the present head of the Thunder Bay Salvation Military’s Journey to Life Centre say they each have the mandatory and different expertise that may assist them of their new roles on the Thunder Bay’s Police Service Board’s governance committee.
Marcel Netemegesic Donio and Gary Ferguson had been named group appointees to the board’s governance committee in late January. In an interview with Dougall Media, Donio mentioned he’s all the time been fascinated with police evaluation and oversight, having served separate phrases on oversight our bodies for the Anishinabek Police Service and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.
“I think they provide a vital service to the public for protection, services, they’re there when help is needed,” he mentioned. “It’s something that by virtue of the work that I had been doing in employment equity and human rights and justice of the peace work — it’s similar to the kinds of things you do, although from a different perspective.”
“When the opportunity came up, I thought ‘this is my opportunity to give something back to the community that I’ve been part of for so long.’”
Donio is a member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Level First Nation), however the group was forcibly moved and he grew up in Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation), earlier than shifting to Thunder Bay and attending Confederation School and Lakehead College.
“I think I’ve got experience in dealing with members — community members — who are wanting and desirous of police services, some are happy with the service and some are not so happy,” he mentioned.
“I think I have years of experience of dealing with those kinds of situations, dealing with people — not always happy people — but just dealing with people, and I think it’s something that I do well.”
For Ferguson, who has a spread of expertise in social service-related fields like psychological well being and addictions, he mentioned the police do have an effect in a number of methods.
“I thought it was important that I could have a voice of the community but I’m able to talk a bit about the population that I represent and actually some of the concerns that are in the community,” he mentioned. “To have that voice is very important.”
Ferguson mentioned he’s “honoured” to have obtained the appointment.
“I’m happy to be a voice for the people in the community that we serve,” he mentioned. “It’s very important that we work towards the trust and transformation of police services.”
