Edmonton Briefs - August 2012

Rally organizer Steven Townsend and hate victim Chevi Rabbit, in front of a sign reading “From Hate to Hope,” were pleased with the turnout for the anti-hate march.

Rally shows support for diversity

Men and women, many wearing purple, joined Chevi Rabbit to march from 110 street and 84 avenue to the Alberta Legislature on Aug. 2 as a statement against hate. Rabbit was knocked down and called “faggot” at that spot on July 19, and then knocked to the ground. People in the vicinity came to Rabbit’s aid. Rabbit, a student at the University of Alberta and from the Montana First Nation, is openly gay. On the night of the incident he was dressed as a woman. Rabbit said the march was aimed at “creating awareness about social equality.” Organizer Steven Townsend, who was impressed with the turnout, said the message is clear: “Edmonton is not the kind of place that hate crimes are tolerated in.”

North Point complex officially opened

North Point, a 27-unit apartment complex for singles and couples on low incomes, was officially opened on July 26. The Edmonton Inner City Housing Society, through Homeward Trust Edmonton, received $4.5 million to build the complex for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who may be dealing with addiction or mental health issues, or have developmental needs. Funding was split with $1.4 million for land and construction coming from the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy and $3.1 million provided by the province’s Municipal Affairs and Human Services. North Point also received support from Human Services through the Outreach and Support Services Initiative delivered by Housing First agencies funded by Homeward Trust Edmonton.

Punjabi youth group provides meal for homeless

The 5 Rivers Youth group provided food in packaged individual meals to homeless and impoverished people in the inner city on July 28. The local Punjabi organization, devoted to community development, organized the fourth annual Feed the Inner City event at Boyle Street Community Services. The project focuses on youth empowerment, engaging young individuals to work together as a community from beginning to end. Through the collective effort of its volunteers and youth members, the group fundraised and organized all stages of the event. Volunteers began the day at 6 a.m. in Mill Woods preparing the meal kits which they began delivering at noon at the downtown drop-in centre.

U of A first university to join Leadership Circle

The University of Alberta is the first university in Canada to join the Aboriginal Human Resource Council Leadership Circle. The move to partner with the national not-for-profit organization, which is dedicated to advancing the full participation of Aboriginal peoples in Canadian society, is a way for the university to promote inclusion of Aboriginal faculty, students and staff. Using its educational programs and customized training, the council will assist the university in developing strategies to advance inclusion in the areas of human resources, doing business with Aboriginal-owned companies, leadership and corporate social responsibility and communications and marketing. “Having a central program complements inclusion-related initiatives and efforts that already exist through various campus communities,” said Catherine Anley, university Employment Equity Advisor. Initiatives already undertaken by the university include the Council on Aboriginal Initiatives, the Aboriginal Employee Network, and the Aboriginal Student Services Centre as well as various academic programs offered through the faculties of Native Studies, Education, Law, Nursing and Medicine and Dentistry. “The university provides incredible support of Aboriginal inclusion initiatives and programs, and this heightens the sharing of talents and insights that Aboriginal people bring to campus, as faculty, staff and students,” said Tracy Bear, special advisor to the provost on Aboriginal matters.

Project to focus on women, girls living in violence

The Creating Hope Society has received $293,616 in federal funding for a project that targets First Nations women and girls living on reserves and within the Edmonton city limits. The project will engage five First Nations groups, service providers and women and girls in developing and implementing a community plan to meet the needs of those affected by gender-based violence. The project will provide community members with tools to help women and girls who are victims of violence and deliver support services that are currently unavailable. “This project is literally creating hope for First Nations women facing violence, on and off reserve, within city boundaries and in remote regions of the province,” said Bernadette Iahtail, executive director and co-founder of Creating Hope.

Hockey camp for young skaters

Over 100 Aboriginal skaters were in Spruce Grove early July to participate in a three-day sports camp where they received on-ice hockey coaching, swimming and dry-land instruction through former NHL player Brantt Myhres’ Greater Strides hockey program. Travis Fleury, younger brother of Calgary Flame Theoren Fleury, and Meagan Big Snake, who played hockey with the National Collegiate Athletic Association in New York, provided coaching. The hockey campers also heard from First Nations Elders and former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy. Myhres’ is in the process of establishing a hockey academy for Aboriginal youth.

Compiled by Shari Narine