How men’s centres are, or aren’t, weathering the times
Men’s centres in Nanaimo and Cowichan have experiences to share as 2010 gets underway. From funding crises to start-up challenges, organizers continue to agree on the importance of offering men’s counseling and support services from men’s organizations.
What do men’s centres do? Why are they important? What are some of the issues facing men these days? (more…)
Group opposes Salvation Army lunch fee and is asking questions about shelters
A Nanaimo-based advocacy group, the Creative Awareness Collective, is challenging a recent fee attached to the lunches served at The Salvation Army’s New Hope Centre. The Pennies from Heaven campaign aims to stop the fee. The group is also speaking up about practices at Nanaimo’s emergency shelters.
We speak with Wallace Malay and Mary Ellen Bruce of the Creative Awareness Collective and with Rob Anderson from The Salvation Army. (more…)
A food bank takes to the streets to raise awareness in a new way
Some organizations seem to “sparkle with life” while others feel “dull and mechanical.” The art of engagement is about creating environments in which people thrive—even when times are tough.*
The NDG Food Depot in Montreal is putting engagement into practice. A dozen staff and board members took to the streets on Hallowe’en night, dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller [opens to the YouTube video], and have since raised significantly both the profile of their food bank and levels of community involvement. (more…)
Community co-operative gets ready for the future
The Harewood Community Centre Cooperative met recently for its annual general meeting and to hear a talk about the changing face of Harewood. The HC3 cooperative says its close to bringing much-needed health and social services to the neighbourhood, though they won’t be as centralized as previously hoped.
We speak with Ian Gartshore, the Harewood cooperative’s past chair, and with City of Nanaimo social planner John Horn. (more…)
Statistics show a large increase in the use of food banks by Canadians
National statistics released last month show the largest year-over-year increase in food bank use on record—but some provinces have been harder hit than others by the recession and surging food bank need.
We speak with George Minosky from Campbell River Food Bank Society and Mike Counsell from Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. (more…)
British Columbia has the highest child poverty in Canada…again…or as usual?
British Columbia had the highest child poverty rate in Canada for the sixth year in a row in 2007, according to a child poverty report card released this week. The provincial report, released along with a national study, marks the 20th anniversary of the Canadian parliament’s unanimous vote to end child poverty by the year 2000.
“Both the federal and BC governments are guilty of ignoring the research evidence, the public desire for action and the proven solutions” in dealing with child and family poverty, the report card states. The result is that in future, society will experience rising costs in health care, criminal justice, and education services. (more…)
