Free Carnival and family fun to welcome back to school

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — For the third consecutive year, Indigenous non-profit Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona will showcase an event to welcome the return of school.

Scheduled for mid-August, the community is invited to come and see what the family services organization is all about, according to Beverly Kettner.  

Kettner serves as the institution’s Indigenous child and youth mental health clinician.

“The awareness for the event has been growing over the years,” said Kettner. “[It] initially started where it was really just clients that were attending, but last year, there was some community engagement.”

“This year, we’re hoping to have significantly more engagement. It’s intended for the public to drop in and raise awareness for our organization.”

With that in mind, 2024’s edition features a carnival for children to participate in, including face painting, rub-on tattoos, and a bouncy castle.

“We only had a barbecue before,” explained Kettner. “But there will be games and prizes.  Extending the food from beyond a barbecue is something that is new.”

MNP, a major sponsor of the event since its inception, will donate backpacks for Nenan Dane’s clients.

The event, highlighting the services offered to Treaty 8 communities, is asking for donations for attendees, including a diaper drive.

Kettner explained that grants, which assist in providing services such as their pantry and diaper program, sometimes don’t go as far as they should when managing other resources. 

“Doing this particular drive could help children going into short-term foster care placements.  It could help families with children on extended family plans and need some financial assistance,” said Kettner.

“The drive will help support these existing programs and subsidize them.”

Nenan Dane’s carnival and barbecue will be held on August 15th at their offices, located at 10615 102nd Street in Fort St John. Admission is free.

More information is available through the group’s Facebook page, or Nenan Dane can be reached by phone at (250) 787-2151