Bridging the Gap (BTG)
Funders : Ministry of Education and OCDSB

Bridging the Gap (BTG) has four main components including, cultural presentations, referrals, education support and cultural support. Bridging the Gap aims to aid schools, staff, and students to be culturally aware so that Inuit youth and their families feel safe and included in their school environments. This year, Bridging the Gap delivered 993 cultural presentations to classrooms, teachers and other organizations that work with Inuit. These presentations reached approximately 30,575 participants. 35 of these presentations were for professionals, and school staff reaching approximately 700 professional participants. Presentations are an important tool for raising the profile of Inuit students in Eastern Ontario. Presentations help youth feel pride in their culture while ensuring that school staff can support Inuit students in a culturally safe way. BTG presentations highlight Inuit history, traditions, and values. Presentations continue to be in great demand for the new year as well.

The Education Systems Navigator is the first point of contact for anyone seeking education or cultural support from the Education Department. This year, the Education Systems Navigator supported 96 Inuit youth and their families. The Education Systems Navigator also created new consent/referral forms for the Education department and assisted youth on the education and cultural support waitlists in accessing other services while caseloads were full. Additionally, the Education Systems Navigator ensured that Education Department services were well advertised and accessible. The Bridging the Gap student support worker (SSW) supported 39 youth this year. The SSW provided support by helping students and families communicate with their respective schools. They offered education support such as reading and comprehension activities and assisting with schoolwork. The SSW also ensured that youth had access to extra curricular activities such as art clubs. Over the course of the last year the Manager of Education supported 15 children and youth. Total of 150 students supported.

Currently the Manager of Education is member of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Indigenous Education Counsel and Advisory Counsel on Equity. Member of the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Upper Canada District School Board , Renfrew Catholic School Boards Indigenous Education Counsel. The Manager is also a community support advocate on the Ottawa Education Championship Team for Children in Extended Society Care Committee, and Member of the Indigenous Employment Leadership Advisory committee. Over the course of this fiscal year the Manager was instrumental in working with OCDSB to support to have indigenous representations on Special Education Advisor Committee.
As part of ongoing support for the Inuit community , Inuuqatigiit Cendre , Education Department team members sit on Iunit Technical Table here in Ottawa with the Ministry of Education ,

Bridging the Gap had an exceptional year providing various cultural and educational supports to Inuit youth, their families, peers, and those working with the community. In total, Bridging the Gap visited schools approximately 1032 times this year to provide cultural and educational support to 298 Inuit youth. The team looks forward to continuing to support the community similarly in the new year.

Collaboration and Networking
BTG continues to build and maintain relationships with the 7 school boards in Ottawa and the Valley BTG participates in local school board committees, special events and local networking opportunities committees related to the success of Inuit students. Inuuqatigiit Centre will provide school boards with support and implementation regarding self-identification policies, intended to increase the number of Inuit parents/caregivers who self-identify their children. BTG develops and implements seven information sessions or special events each academic year, upon board request, that are intended to improve engagement/ relationships to promote the success of Inuit students.