Media Advisory - Accreditation and Scheduling of Community Hearings in Thunder Bay, ON

VANCOUVER, Nov. 29, 2017 /CNW/ - The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls will hold Community Hearings at the Best Western Plus NorWester Hotel & Conference Centre, located at 2080 Hwy 61 in Thunder Bay from December 4-6, 2017. Media are invited to the public hearings on December 4 and December 5. The final day is all PRIVATE scheduling, therefore media WILL NOT be allowed on-site for the safety of those testifying.

Commissioners Michèle Audette and Brian Eyolfson will hear from about 50 family members and survivors through public and private hearings, sharing circle testimonies and artistic expression panels. There will also be statement gatherers on-site that can accommodate up to another 40 walk-ins who may wish to register. Scheduling runs from 9 am through 5 pm ET daily.

All media that want to participate must RSVP through our email account: [email protected]. You can download the accreditation form on our website: http://mmiwg-ffada.ca/en/media-room/media-accreditation/.

A mandatory technical briefing will take place on Sunday, December 3 @ 3:00 PM for media that would like to report on-site during two of the three days in Thunder Bay.

Location:	Best Western Plus NorWester Hotel & Conference Centre
	2080 Hwy 61, Thunder Bay, ON

The three day schedule is full in Thunder Bay so there WILL NOT be a press conference during the week. However, there will be opportunity, during the first 2 days, for journalists to speak with Commissioners, including:

• in the morning before hearings start
• during lunch break
• or after the close of each day

You will need to provide detail requests in advance with our Communications team onsite: Shaylen Smith. If the questions are more technical and process focused, we may direct your requests to staff that are designated as subject matter experts.

A reminder for those who can't attend, the Thunder Bay Community Hearings will be live streamed on our website and Facebook page:

Website: http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMIWG/

The entire process will be guided by traditional ceremonies of the Anishnaabeg and the Métis peoples of the Robinson-Superior Treaty. There will be a Sacred Fire outside the hotel that will be kept burning through the entire event. All Ceremonies are open to the public but out of respect for local protocols no photos or video will be tolerated.

Media Accreditation and Important Information
Part I: Community Hearings of the Truth Gathering Process
Thunder Bay, ON –December 4-6, 2017
LOCATION: Best Western Plus NorWester Hotel & Conference Centre
2080 Hwy 61, Thunder Bay, ON

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will have Community Hearings in Thunder Bay the first week of December 2017. There will be three days of Community Hearings (First two days are public, last day is reserved for private sessions) and will begin on Monday, December 4 and conclude on Wednesday, December 6, 2017. The hearings will start at 9 am ET and are expected to finish at 5pm ET each day.

All media attending the Community Hearings of the National Inquiry Truth Gathering Process must have an accreditation card to enter the hearings room and a colour coded lanyard will be provided to you.  It must be visible at all times. It does not provide access to private hearings rooms, to rooms where the health team or other staff are located.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO PRESS ACCREDITATION? Accreditation is granted only to journalists (critics, columnists, reporters, photographers, documentary filmmakers) who cover the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls or survivors of violence. Journalists must represent a recognized media outlet. YouTubers, bloggers or those involved with the blogosphere will not be granted accreditation. To obtain your media accreditation, please fill out the form below.

RESTRICTIONS: Accreditation does not authorize media to take photographs or images using devices such as cameras, smartphones or hand-held cameras inside the community hearing room(s). Only the official National Inquiry video cameras, the media pool camera and an on-line media camera will be permitted to film inside.

However there may be an opportunity to take photos of the Commissioners at the beginning of the hearing. Media will be seated in a specific area within the community hearing room. A buffer zone, around certain areas of the location will be reserved for families and people involved in the Inquiry. A map will be provided. Please respect those areas.

A media room equipped with desks will be made available with wifi.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION FORM
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada – December 4-6, 2017

Surname and first name: ________________________________________________________________

Name of media outlet: __________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________________ Fax: ________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Print media□ Radio□ Television□ Internet□ Photographer/Technician□ Documentary filmmaker□ Other (freelancer with proof of assignment, researcher, etc.): _________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of editor, director, supervisor: __________________________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________________

If you represent more than one media outlet, please indicate which: Address:__________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ____________________________________ Fax: _______________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Print media□ Radio□ Television□ Internet□ Photographer□ Documentary filmmaker□ Other____________________________________________________________________________________

Please return the application form BEFORE December 3, 2017 to [email protected]

SOURCE Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls

Released by: National Inquiry Communications, 250- 351- 4336, Email: [email protected], [email protected]