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Point Douglas
Community News |
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Front Page: Volunteers - The Heart of a Community |
Editor's Corner | North Point Douglas Seniors Association | Volunteerism by SISTARS | Mount Carmel Clinic Volunteer Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Point Powerline | The Welcome Home | The Point in Transition | Norquay School Volunteer Opportunities | The Flatlanders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wind From the South | Norquay Community Centre Update |
Letters to the Editor
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North Point Douglas Women's Centre Volunteerism | Point Douglas Residents Committee Update | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcements | Our Advertisers | Community Contact/ Information List | Publication & Funding Credits | About The Point | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Archives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Volunteers - The Heart of a Community |
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When I first came to work in the North Point Douglas community I was unprepared to feel so at home here. I have lived on the same street for ten years in St. James and only know three of my neighbours by name. Not so, around here. I was surprised by how helpful and friendly the residents are in this neighbourhood. I have been telling my friends that being in Point Douglas is like living in a small town in the middle of a big city! Small towns are the kind of places that look after each other. They have an independent spirit, a willing generosity, and a casual way of helping each other out. Cooking for church dinners, coaching hockey teams, cleaning up the park, holding a bake sale, or babysitting the neighbours’ kids are just part of what it means to live on the same street. For most people in Point Douglas this kind of helping is just common sense. For those of us working in the world of non-profit organizations this kind of helping is called Volunteering. And our work depends on it. The time shared and skills offered by volunteers often accounts for as much, if not more, than funding dollars in many non-profit budgets. Volunteering is all about meeting needs in a direct, creative and flexible way. It is about seeing something that needs to be done and then jumping in to help. Whether that is a big issue like Point Douglas residents addressing violence on the streets and coordinating a neighbourhood reporting system such as Powerline, or realizing that many people in the area don't have vehicles and lending out your truck, as Barry Hammond does, for people when they need to move. I have personally been most moved by the way residents of this neighbourhood try to feed each other. Having enough food for ourselves and our families has to be one of the most basic needs we have and can be a huge source of stress when there is just simply not enough. At the Women's Centre where I work it is a great source of relief for me to be able to point folks in the direction of this help. The churches in this neighbourhood really stand out in this regard but are often pretty camera shy. They don't want a lot of attention for what they do, preferring to be known by word of mouth. But folks can be seen walking down Lusted or Euclid or Austin with bags of food, or making their way home after a filling lunch or supper. The community supper at Welcome Home is a perfect example. Like its name suggests, it is indeed a welcoming place where residents of Point Douglas are invited every Thursday night at 5:00pm to a community supper prepared by volunteers of the Ukrainian Church. Sharing our time, our talents, even our food, these are the basics of what it means to be a good neighbour and a good volunteer. This issue of The Point will do a little tour of the neighbourhood to show you just how YOU are involved making this community healthy, vibrant, and strong. We also hope you'll pick up a few ideas of how you might become more involved. ♦
by Heather Geddie, Editor The Point has always been run by volunteers. I was there in the beginning nine years ago, and I find myself once again taking on the roles of editor and layout person for The Point. Mary Mathias and Val Himkowski have carried the editorial torch and many other tasks for most of these years, working tirelessly with Cliff and Alex Stornel, who brought their layout and graphics talents to this labour of love. The four of them have passed the torch at last, and The Point has reached a crossroad in its life. The Point needs you, the community, to step up now, to become board members, fund raisers, writers, photographers, and reporters. We all know how important this newspaper is to our community. It brings us all together and helps us get to know each other. It informs and advises us and strengthens our bonds. If you believe that your community would be diminished with the loss of The Point, then don’t let it happen! In this issue you will find out how you can help keep The Point alive. Otherwise, 2011 will be the final year that your newspaper will be published. It’s up to you now. ♦
By Heather Geddie
Tracy Jorgensen, Rob Forbes, and For a bunch of old-timers, the North Point Douglas Seniors Association (NPDSA) is moving pretty fast these days. I've had the opportunity and the pleasure of working with this volunteer-run organization's Dynamic Duo, Chris and Sel Burrows, on a number of their projects. I'm currently canvassing door-to-door in the community, finding seniors, doing a short questionnaire with them, and making them aware of the NPDSA and all it has to offer. I've discovered 70 additional seniors outside of those living at 817 Main and I’ve only covered 2/3 of the area. The Barber House, site of the new seniors centre, is nearing completion, and excitement is growing daily as seniors look forward eagerly to having a place to call their own, to meet others, socialize, become involved with the community, and find the resources they need. The 'Food On Wheels' program, which delivers free food to seniors at their homes each Sunday, is currently serving 26 seniors in the community. Each week Rob Forbes and Margaret Chaboyer, two long-time volunteers in the neighbourhood, pick up food from a donating grocery store, bring it to Norquay Community Centre where they sort and bag it with other volunteers, and deliver it to each household. It's hard, demanding work, especially when it's -30°, but that never stops our faithful delivery team. And it's all worthwhile, when we see the happiness and gratitude on the faces of the seniors who receive the food. Rob is a senior himself and has been volunteering in Point Douglas for 26 years. He's brought food deliveries to the community all that time, on his own, and is now volunteering with the NPDSA. Rob believes that volunteering must come from the heart, and is not something that anyone should expect to be paid for. ♦
By Angel Peterson
Barber House, January 2011 Six years. Six very long years it’s been since SISTARS (Sisters Initiating Steps Toward A Renewed Society) began its work in North Point Douglas. This group of volunteers began with a dream to empower the people of Point Douglas and surrounding areas by working together with the local people, agencies and bureaucracy to open up opportunities for an improved life through education, training and local support. At the beginning, things seemed to be happening record fast. A childcare centre was opened and a career in Early Childhood Education was made available. The dreams for a proper building for the children and the seniors came a lot slower. Meetings with neighbours, government bureaucrats, etc. brought a lot of promises to help, but with many strings attached, and hoops to jump through before any actual money was released. Volunteers have spent many hours running around to meetings and banks, writing proposals for money, keeping track of money received and spent, keeping records of meetings and many other things that eat up time and energy. There have been discouraging times and exciting times, as I guess will happen whenever anyone tries to improve their lot in life, or goes against the status quo. Some of the challenges have had to do with overseeing the running of the current childcare and all of the issues of staffing it, and being able to follow childcare regulations in a less than ideal environment. Not all volunteers found they had the time and energy to commit to the end, but a few hard-core stubborn ones have held on and are finally seeing the fruit of our labour. Finding contaminants, such as lead in the ground where the new building was to be, caused delays in the transfer of the land. Fixing this problem necessitated another round of meetings and more applications for money, but it’s been done. The tragedy of the latest fire in Barber House was a blessing in disguise, as it got the attention of those assisting in funding. It became an urgent issue, and with the daycare building finally becoming a reality, people finally were convinced that renovating Barber House would become a reality, too. Excitement is pretty high right now. It began with the actual ground breaking, and has been growing through the work on the Barber House, which will be primarily a place for our seniors to meet, to seeing the Eagle Wing Early Education Centre building development. Bi-weekly visits are a time to meet to discuss updates and issues and to view the progress, which is documented with photographs. At this writing, the cabinetry is in and looking wonderful. The flooring is going in, and then we’ll be ready for appliances and any other finishing touches. After fire safety checks and a few other inspections, we’ll be able to move in! Unfortunately, the stucco didn’t make it on before snowfall, so will have to wait until the spring, but we can’t wait to have an open house and show the neighbourhood the beautiful, sunlit, spacious and airy rooms. ♦
by Craig Ross, Director of Community Services, and Kristi Havens, Coordinator of Volunteers Mount Carmel Clinic was built on a foundation of a strong and vibrant volunteer spirit. In its early years, the Clinic employed only a few paid administrative staff. In fact, up until the beginning of universal public health care, medical staff at the Clinic was mainly volunteer. Today, Mount Carmel’s volunteer department offers many kinds of opportunities for people looking for volunteer experience in the health and social services. These positions not only help the Clinic to meet its goals, but also are valuable and meaningful for the volunteers themselves. We come up with volunteer positions in two ways. First, like at other organizations, we look for specific needs or gaps at the Clinic that could benefit from the services of a volunteer position. Second, we sometimes start with a specific individual community member in mind, looking for a position that would best suit that person’s skills and interests. So what’s currently available at Mount Carmel? Right now, we’re especially looking for Footwear Assistants, to help match shoes to community members who need them (more information on our website, in the ‘Employment Opportunities’ section). We’re also working on a ‘Clinic Greeter’ position, so stay tuned for more information about that. At Mount Carmel, it is our goal to provide meaningful opportunities that foster growth and promote capacity in the community we serve. We hope to see you soon! ♦
By Chris Burrows
Point Douglas has a whole herd of volunteers I can’t praise our herd enough; in three years these amazing volunteers have helped turn our neighbourhood around. They have changed Point Douglas from a tough neighbourhood into a very pleasant and much safer place to live. In three years these volunteers have helped close crack houses, they have encouraged street dealers and gangsters to move out, and some kids have even gone back to school. Our wonderful invisible COWs are the volunteer herd; they are the Citizens On Watch, individuals who shared their concerns with the Point Powerline. The COWs live all over Point Douglas. They contact the Powerline by e-mail, by phone and by casual conversations on the street. The COWs have recognized that they and their children have the right to live in safety, the area around their home is their turf. COWs watch out of their windows and make sure their part of the street and the people who are their neighbours are safe for their family. Some of my COWs point out to me that they are actually bulls and we do have some good little calves that let me know if they have a problem with bullies or bike thieves. In fact one of my frequent callers is a charming older bull who makes my day by calling me Sunshine. He has been responsible for taking several gangsters out of circulation; we are also delighted that we have so many smart COWs that are claiming back our beautiful old Austin Street . How do you join the herd? You simply call the Powerline (956-4090) with your concerns or e-mail point.powerline@yahoo.com . If you e-mail we will be able to send you warnings or provide you with interesting things happening around The Point and the city. You will always be anonymous. The COWs are invisible; we don’t have any meetings, nor do we have t-shirts, badges or a secret hoof shake. I am super proud of our many invisible COWs, many of whom are not only invisible but now increasingly independent, calling the authorities directly to voice their concerns. Real visible cows are very good parents and so are the invisible COWs who work hard and without reward except to make their community safe for all. The Powerline is operated by a couple of volunteers, using their home phone and their own computers; so not only have we had fantastic success, we are extremely economical. Chris Burrows: COW coordinator Point Powerline ♦
By Sophia Nahachewsky A Community of Contributors
A group of volunteers from St. Mary's Academy who were helping out at Family Night If you ask Elsie why she volunteers at The Welcome Home, she will tell you that she does it for the money. She lies. The Welcome Home is many things. It is a big white duplex in North Point Douglas. It is an inner-city mission with various programs. It’s a spiritual home. It’s a dynamic community. The Ukrainian Redemptorist priests contribute the most to this Mission, infusing it with their spirit and taking care of the practical necessities. Along with a couple of full-time Welcome Home Redemptorists, there are young adults who have accepted the invitation to be live-in volunteers for a year or so. That is what I am doing this year and I am getting way more than I am giving. The highest volunteer honour goes to the ladies who, in their free time, are here three to ten hours every week for years on end. These women have mastered the behind-the-scenes work, know everyone by name, and never hesitate to respond to real need. When I grow up I want to be just like them. Then there are the volunteers who help out with a specific program like ‘Kids Are Creative’ or piano lessons. Plus we have a far-reaching network of people that support us with donations, visits, and prayers. Thank you all! Best and last is each person from the neighbourhood who walks through our doors. These people share their stories, their struggles, their humour, example, faith, and time with us and one another. What more could you ask for? The Welcome Home is a place where everyone gives whatever they have to offer, and the result is inspiring. ♦
By Mary Mathias Have you ever stopped to think about how this newsletter gets produced? For each issue, ten to 20 people put in many hours meeting, interviewing, writing articles, editing, taking photographs, laying out print and website versions, stuffing inserts, counting out copies for delivery, walking around the neighbourhood to deliver The Point to each home, taking copies to agencies and businesses. In between issues, there are other jobs: banking and bookkeeping, selling ads, sending invoices, writing funding proposals, reporting on grant money received, attending community meetings, updating the mailing list.
Mary Mathias and Val Himkowski,
co-editors, with Much of this work is done on a volunteer basis. Our editor, layout staff, website manager, and distribution crew receive modest compensation, and small honorariums are available for community writers, but the hours worked far exceed the level of compensation. In the past eight years, hundreds of volunteer hours have been dedicated to this little publication. This issue marks the 9th anniversary of The Point newsletter, and the organization is set for some major changes in the coming months. Four of us who have put in considerable time and effort over the years are moving on or changing our involvement. Alex and Cliff Stornel have resigned from the layout position, a job they have done since November 2003.
Alex and Cliff Stornel
did the layout for The Point Both Alex and Cliff have contributed much-appreciated feature articles in past issues. Valerie Himkowski started doing photography for the newsletter in November 2003 and became co-editor in May, 2004. She has also contributed the updates on Norquay Community Centre for many years and has written several lively features on her family’s history in North Point Douglas. This is Valerie’s last issue as co-editor. I want to thank Alex, Cliff, and Valerie for their commitment and hard work and for the support they have given me in so many ways. I announced several months ago that 2011 would be my final year as coordinating editor. I have been involved since the founding meeting in January 2003. As I approach my 65th birthday, it’s time for another retirement! I plan to remain involved with the organization as I transition out of my roles as coordinator, editor, archivist, banker and bookkeeper, writer of grant proposals, and more. I hope to work alongside others as they learn to do these jobs. Beginning with this issue, Heather Geddie assumes the editor role and will lay out the print edition. She will continue to maintain the website and to create the on-line version of the newsletter. Years ago Heather envisioned a community newsletter called The Point. She was the first editor and has also done layout in the past. More recently she gave The Point a presence online, and she is bursting with ideas for the future of the newsletter—but that future is by no means secure. Will The Point survive? That depends on whether others in the community will step up and make a commitment. Please consider volunteering! Our biggest need is to schedule an annual general meeting and elect a board of directors to steer the organization into the future. Refer to the boxed item accompanying this article for more information on becoming a board member. The second box describes other current volunteer needs. In addition The Point always welcomes new writers, photographers, or interested individuals with ideas. We meet prior to every issue to discuss content ideas and issues of significance to the community. Please consider joining The Point team so that the newsletter has a future! ♦
Volunteer Opportunities at Norquay School Norquay School could not do the wonderful work that it does without the help of many volunteers. Following are numerous opportunities for you to help as well, whether or not you have children attending school there. Some are a one-time event, some more long-term, all are important. Volunteers who are willing to come on a regular basis will be offered training to work with kids. A criminal records and child abuse registry check will be required and we will assist with getting those. How you can help: People who will come on a regular basis will be offered training to work with kids.
To volunteer or for further information please contact
Marlene Wood
in the
Family Room
by Brendan Dvorak Since this is the first time I’ve contributed to the Point newsletter, it’s likely helpful to say a bit about Flatlanders Inn. We’re a community that offers transitional housing to friends who are at risk of homelessness. The community is made up of families, singles, couples, grown ups and kids. We live on the 2nd and 3rd floor above the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard at Sutherland and Main. My own family moved into Flatlanders in 2009. Being a husband, father of two teens, and full-time university student leaves very little time for volunteerism. Thankfully, living at Flatlanders provides many opportunities to interact with the larger community. Built into our regular weekly rhythm are Tuesday and Thursday drop-in, a weekly potluck, and Sunday morning worship service. These, and frequent spontaneous gatherings, all provide the chance to meet new people and to grow relationships with those I already know. Residents of Flatlanders were recently invited to participate in setting up the library at the Manitoba Housing apartment building at 817 Main Street. My family and I decided to go over and help out. Several times a day I look out my window and see the cold concrete and glass of the building exterior, but it wasn’t until I had the chance to be part of the library project that I realized how active the community there was. During the short few hours we spent helping out, there was a Winnipeg Harvest delivery (along with the ensuing distribution), we were invited to a community turkey dinner, we met lots of the residents taking advantage of the newly renovated lounge, and we met other community residents from all over Point Douglas. Spending that morning at 817 reminded me that there is so much going on in our great neighborhood, and it reminded me that I want to continue carving out time to stay in touch and be involved – it helped me remember why I live here. ♦
By Jordan Van Sewell
Jordan describes this picture: "I was visiting a pal up in Barrows, Manitoba in the Porcupine Mountains. We went out in his boat and floated down this river that was very much like the delta leading to the Gulf of Mexico. We were equally surprised when we emerged on a Manitobge lake and not somewhere down on the bijou. definitely one of those magical days." ♦ It looks like the face of volunteering has changed. Didn’t it used to be handled under the banner of community or town or something like that? That’s the way it appeared to me. If I came home from school and there was no one there, the neighbor lady would let me in when I knocked on her door. I suppose she was volunteering. I like to volunteer. I’ll do pretty much anything except push cars out of snow banks. Fear of popping a vein prevents me from doing that. Pretty much everything else, OK. I don’t like the idea of changing bedpans and I’m somewhat fearful of the sick and dying. Fortunately for all of us there are those people , the salt of the earth who will help regardless. They may do it for love. For sure they may do it because it just needs to be done. However in these modern times you’d think that the people would have changed. They haven’t changed. The way they now conduct themselves as volunteers has changed. It had to. It seems (and again this is just me saying) everything has been agencified. There’s a page in the newspaper that people can respond to and help agencies achieve goals. I think that those people, the volunteers are ensuring our survival as humans, as a civilization. These selfless acts instill faith. Sometimes faith is all you’ve got. That’s something. It’s not all roses. I have found myself at meetings, say, where I’ll look around the table and realize that me and maybe one other sap are the only ones not being paid to attend. We are there on our own dime. It can be especially annoying when the other attendees give indication that they’re volunteering; they’re not! No. They are being well paid. Admittedly there might be some nice “wraps”, maybe pastrami or turkey, perhaps some of those delicious Costco cookies and a cup of coffee. That’s always nice. However it’s better when everyone’s on the same level, the same playing field. Then the passion for the project seems more genuine with a better chance of success even though I present an impossible situation; a world with nothing but volunteers. Naw. The hope remains with those people who are driven to volunteer. Their care and compassion are really the clay foundation that everything that we have come to expect is built on. It’s a pay it forward situation. Instead of gouging or hoodwinking your fellow man you just help them with no expectations. It always tastes good to drink from the cup of human kindness. It’s even better to hold it. ♦
By Valerie Himkowski For this issue of The Point all organizations were asked about volunteers and the roles they play. At the community centre first and most important are those people who sit on the board of the Centre. Without these people, the community centre would not be able to keep its doors open, as almost all Centres in the city are run by volunteer boards. Secondly, all those who wish to spend some of their spare time here are welcomed gladly. There are many activities where help is needed. Special events, skating and sports programs always need more supervision. Community members are welcome to drop by and see if there is anything they would like to get involved in. City of Winnipeg Youth Drop In, Monday to Friday 5pm to 9pm, activities include sports, games, Wii, and crafts. “Action Jackson Basketball” will be taking place every Thursday at 6 p.m. Please call 943-6897 for more information on programs and times/dates or come down to the Centre and pick up a monthly schedule. Programs and times subject to change. ♦
We welcome your letters and opinions at any time. You may contact us by email at info@pointdouglas.net , by telephone at 801-3086, by writing to us at The Point Community News, c/o #1 - 116 Grove St. Wpg MB, R2W 3K8, or by dropping a letter into our mailbox at that address. ♦
By Christie Paul
Local youth planting the gardens outside the women's Centre this summer with help from the Urban Green Team. The North Point Douglas Women's Centre is rooted in the spirit of volunteering and community engagement. The vision of building a centre began in 2000 when local women identified the need for greater access to resources and services in the area and the necessity of addressing poverty and poverty-related conditions. The Centre is envisioned by neighbourhood women to be a hub where women and their families can gather and work to create a safe, healthy community for themselves and their families. Resident involvement is central to the development of all programs run by the Women's Centre, whether that is with drop in arts and crafts projects, community gardening, bike rodeos, the Austin Street Festival, Youth Council, The Point Douglas Dream Catchers: Walking for a Strong Community, or the Crime Reduction Network meetings. Without volunteer time from local residents these programs would not exist. One of our long time volunteers is Wendy, simply known as “the shopping lady”. She is our go-to lady whenever we need something at the Centre. We email her a list that includes anything from milk to toilet paper, and it magically appears on our doorstep within a day or two. The safe walk program known as the “Point Douglas Dream Catchers” is an exciting new initiative. Parents and children are invited to join us for walks in the area with other residents, community agencies and the business sector. It is a great way to get to know your neighbourhood. The Women's Centre and Graffiti Art Gallery are working together on the Aboriginal Youth Advisory Council (GAPAYAC) to develop a youth's rights project. Our group of about 15 youth from Point Douglas is organizing and planning a World Café Conference on "Youth's Right to the City" which will focus on inequities that inner city youth face in Winnipeg. The project will incorporate art (such as murals, photography and videos), social justice, and cultural awareness components, and is scheduled for late March 2011. Youth council members will be facilitating discussions with government agencies and community groups. If you would like to get involved, contact Arron at the Women's Centre or Jillian at the Graffiti Art Gallery. At the Women's Centre we believe volunteering is an excellent way to exercise your voice, develop skills and gain experience. It is also a strong addition to any resumé. We encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering their time or sharing their ideas for new projects to stop by and talk to Christie, our Neighbourhood Resource & Volunteer Coordinator. She will be happy to discuss ways that you can become involved. ♦
By Chris McCarville Residents Committee looking for new board members
Community members use stickers to vote for their most important activities for PDRC at a Strategic Planning session held on February 5. Come to our annual General Meeting on May 15 to find out what the people said. Our new 3-Year Strategic Plan and 5-Year Housing Plan will be presented. Would you like to join the board of Point Douglas Residents Committee (PDRC) and make a difference in the neighbourhood? The Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 15 at 2 pm at Norquay Community Centre. Each year new board members join us and begin working to improve the community. All it takes is a commitment to learning, and acting in the best interests of the Point Douglas residents. The board meets once a month and board meetings last about two hours. We also have committees of the board that work on specific issues like housing or environment/safety. Our goal is to have a board that reflects the neighbourhood. That means having people from all nations, all parts of the neighbourhood, all ages, homeowners, renters – you name it. Please call the PDRC office at 927-3827 and find out more about joining our board. You don't have to be a board member to join the Housing or Environment/Safety Committees. The Housing Committee works on the Exterior Fix-up Grant program, Tenant/Landlord Cooperation program and helps developers decide where to put new apartments and houses. The Environment/Safety Community organizes community cleanups, all the gardens and garden boxes and hosts summer events. If you would like to volunteer for one of these committees, please call the PDRC office at 927-3827. ♦
The Point would like to thank our advertisers, past and present, for their support of this vital community service. We urge our readers to support our advertisers at every opportunity. We are a community. The Point strives to be a non-partisan organization, and as such, we welcome campaign advertising from all candidates in our civic elections. Please contact our Advertising Sales Manager for further information.
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The Point Community
News is a non-profit community paper produced by and for the
residents of North and South Point Douglas. This issue of The
Point is
funded by grants from Neighbourhoods Alive!, and Assiniboine Credit Union. Thanks to NECRC, NPD Women’s Centre for their administrative assistance and to
all our donors and supporters.