Conway Kootenay is an entertainer and workshop facilitator. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

healing

Men’s Conference features well-known comedian, actor

Apr 11, 2024 | 3:01 PM

Piwapan Wellness Centre has two busy days planned as part of its inaugural Men’s Conference.

The event is being held at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre and it features guest speakers such as entertainer and workshop facilitator Conway Kootenay, actor Justin Rain, as well as Iron Eagle, Duane Johnson, Matthew Maurer and Dustin Vermette. Much of the presentations revolve around addictions awareness, but other topics include positive peer support, mentoring and cyber safety.

Piwapan executive director Karen Sanderson explained it is the first time the centre has hosted such an event solely for men.

“Holistically in healing, you need the whole family, so we want to bring that forward that domestic violence and gender-based violence, all participants within, need that healing,” she said. “The men, the women, the children and youth. It’s a balance.”

Sanderson noted there were more than 50 attendees with some coming from Senator Myles Venne School, Sucker River and as far away as Ile-a-la Crosse. She added having attendees travel so far just to participate in the conference goes to show the need for awareness that men struggle and need a place to gather and heal too.

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“It’s pretty amazing,” Sanderson said about Kootenay and Rain agreeing to be part of the event.

“I was surprised we got responses from them so quickly, and they are a great bunch of guys who are really wanting to share their stories and really want to help communities heal, so I think that was a major part of them accepting the invitation.”

Kootenay’s presentation is called Breaking the Cycle and he said it was mainly about addictions and awareness.

“All of us as First Nations people, we all have a story and it’s really good to see a lot of successful men here sharing their story and hopefully inspiring people,” he said.

“I do a lot of events all over Canada and the United States. Mainly comedy shows, though. This is a little bit different, but I really love it. I love it because I rarely get to share my story with people and it is just a really good opportunity for me to do that.”

This marks Kootenay’s third visit to La Ronge, and aside from his presentation, he will be hosting a free comedy show Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for those 18 and over.

“Just a lot of laughs, a lot of rez humour. If you have seen any of my videos on social media, it’s along the lines of all of that stuff,” he mentioned.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com