A group of volunteers is trying to drum up support from the community to help restore Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services.

The group held an event at the Whitehorse Public Library on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s not a formally-established group, and is not acting on behalf of Many Rivers. It has approximately half a dozen members, and did not take monetary donations Wednesday.

The goal was to gather names of people who would be willing to become members of the society.

The group is unable to do a membership drive because there is a moratorium on recruitment.

That ensued after it was revealed that the organization is not in compliance with the Societies Act.

This is due to it not filing annual reports and financial statements with the Registrar of Societies since July 31, 2018. The society had to provide these reports and statements four months after the end of its fiscal year.

With this preventing Many Rivers from operating, 12 to 14 unionized workers were given layoff notices earlier this week, with the first ones taking effect tomorrow.

This happened after staff had just returned to work after having been on strike since early November 2018.

Lois Moorcroft, one of the volunteers, said Wednesday citizens are concerned that the Many Rivers Society is not being in line with the act.

The former NDP Justice minister hopes that when an annual general meeting is called by the Many Rivers board, all the people who filled out forms Wednesday would attend.

She was unable to say when this meeting will occur.

Moorcroft said she wants to see the Many Rivers board bring itself into compliance with its own bylaws.

She also wants to know if the board has enough members as prescribed in the bylaws. She said there needs to be a minimum of six to a maximum of 12.

Moorcroft called the layoffs “extremely disappointing.” She would like to know if the board had assurances that the Yukon government was funding Many Rivers services before it signed a five-year contract.

She said these services are needed to the various people using them across the territory.

“There are a number of people in need of counselling,” Moorcroft pointed out.

She found it troubling that the layoffs took place in winter, which can be a difficult time for people.

She is concerned for the Many Rivers clients who were told that counsellors were returning to work after three months off the job, only to learn that the staff will now be laid off.

“Our primary concern is to see this service being offered in a responsible manner,” Moorcroft said.

She wants to see people show both the government and the board that they’re interested in the Many Rivers services.

Kristy Wells, a tattoo artist and co-owner of Molotov and Bricks, filled out a form.

She said she did so because she uses the service. She feels everyone should be fighting to keep the service alive, and does not understand why the board does not appear to be doing that.

Wells said she suffers from chronic depression, and takes both counselling and therapy to deal with her issues.

Her treatment began in September 2018. She indicated that she knows how to deal with her chronic depression but still needs help.

Wells wonders how people with more severe mental health conditions are dealing with their issues. She can’t imagine the free help not being available to assist more vulnerable people.

She said she would like to ask the board why it’s not doing its job.

“You’re getting paid to take care of people; where are you?” she asked.

(Board members, former executive director Brent Ramsay and his new successor, Marina Bailey, have consistently ignored media requests for interviews about Many Rivers’ months of turmoil. A statement, however, was published in Wednesday’s Star.)

Wells would like to ask the government where it is, as well. Like Moorcroft, she wonders why it has not stepped up, since the Many Rivers services are heavily government-funded – an estimated $2 million annually.

Dan Bushnell and Wells will hold a support event for Many Rivers from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will take place at the tattoo parlour at 307 Wood St. She plans to create a support poster with photos of individuals.

The goal is to show people supporting the counsellors’ services, she added. She wants to see as many faces as possible there.

“It’s an essential service, especially at this time of year,” Wells said.

She explained that she will fight for the Many Rivers services to be resurrected because none of their clients are being taken care of.

If the services don’t return, she added, she will know she tried.

Wells hopes a new board will be put in place and will do its job properly. She is willing to sit on this new board herself if needed.

Jacob Zimmer, who also signed a form, believes the lack of mental health services is a major issue in the territory.

“Many Rivers is a key element in providing what support services there is,” Zimmer said.

He said more services are required, not fewer. The board, to him, seems removed from this goal.

Zimmer is not a member of the society. He has been in the territory for two years and has considered using Many Rivers’ services, but has not.

He wants to see a public annual general meeting where people can come together and make decisions for the community.

Like Steve Geick, the president of the Yukon Employees’ Union, which represents the workers, Zimmer wants to see a new board voted in.

He is not sure what needs to be done to get the society in line with the act, but he hopes compliance is achieved.

He wants to tell the board to be open and honest, and to listen to the staff.

He said these actions could go a long way to improving the situation.

If the board members are not willing to do this, Zimmer said, they should simply resign.

“If they are not interested in leading that thing (Many Rivers), they can step aside and let those that are step in,” Zimmer said.