Media Advisory: Facebook and Nunavut Suicide Prevention Partners Host Iqaluit Summit on Community Safety and Suicide Prevention

IQALUIT, June 22, 2017 /CNW/ - On Monday, June 26, Facebook's Boost Your Community summit will take place in Iqaluit, Nunavut, focusing on how communities can use Facebook tools and programs to support local priorities—in particular those related to safety and suicide prevention. The event will be co-hosted by the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Partners with presenters including:  Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council President David Lawson, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk, RCMP V-Division Chief Superintendent Mike Jeffrey, and Government of Nunavut's Minister of Health George Hickes.

As a special segment of the program, the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Partners will release Inuusivut Anninaqtuq, the five-year Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy action plan and program funding available through Grants and Contributions. In support of this, and broader suicide prevention efforts across Canada, Facebook will announce the integration of Health Canada's national toll-free First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line into its wellness hub and suicide prevention strategy.

The Boost Your Community summit will also include presentations from Facebook experts on Small Business and Safety as well as from Office of the Privacy Commissioner – Canada.  Participants will explore best practices and strategies for local business success as well as enhancing community safety efforts. 

In addition to these presentations, the event will feature local Inuit leaders and community groups sharing information about local resources. There will be opportunities for informal networking and conversations amongst all participants.

WHAT: 
Free summit on how to use Facebook to support community business and safety priorities. Community members can register at: https://boostiqaluit.splashthat.com

WHO: 
Erin Elofson, Group Director, Facebook Canada
Kevin Chan, Head of Public Policy, Facebook Canada
Brent Homan, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Hon. George Hickes, Minister of Health and responsible for Suicide Prevention, Government of Nunavut
Aluki Kotierk, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President
Mike Jeffery, RCMP V-Division Chief Superintendent
David Lawson, Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council President 
Local community leaders, business owners, and community members.

A Facebook spokesperson and Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Partners will be available for interviews at the event.

Media will have the opportunity to learn about Inuusivut Anninaqtuq, the five-year Nunavut suicide prevention action plan, in a morning session before the summit begins.

WHEN AND WHERE: Iqaluit, NU – Monday, June 26, 2017
Frobisher Inn, 505 Astro Hill
9:30am – 2:30pm

*All media who wish to attend or who are interested in pre- or post- event interviews, please contact  Jessie Sitnick: [email protected]

**All media who wish to attend the Inuusivut Anninaqtuq Media Lock-In, please RSVP by 5:00p.m. CST on Friday, June 23, 2017 to: [email protected]

About Facebook Canada
Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to make the world more open and connected. More than 23 million Canadians use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. All other brand or product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Facebook® Canada

Jessie Sitnick, [email protected], 416-859-8250