Edmonton Briefs - July

Homeless Connect provides much needed services

Homeless Connect Edmonton held its sixth event in mid-May at the Shaw Conference Centre downtown. Upward of 400 volunteers provided more than 50 services to more than 1,400 people. Services ranged from career counseling to haircuts to foot care. A hot meal was also served. Homeless Connect provided clothing items such as work boots and summer coats. The event is coordinated by Homeward Trust,in collaboration with community partners such as The United Way, Shaw Conference Centre and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. It will take place again Oct. 16.

Less people served at Boyle Street

Despite heavy snow and low temperatures last winter, the numbers of people visiting the drop-in at Boyle Street Community Services dropped from the previous year. From Nov.1, 2010, to April 30, 2011, there were approximately 60,000 visits, down 18,000 over the previous year. The number of meals served was also down from 152,000 to 120,000. Of the clients who visited the drop-in 78 per cent were male and 22 per cent female. While 84 per cent were staying in shelters or other forms of accommodation, the rest were “sleeping rough.”

Community garden to benefit homeless

First year nursing students from the University of Alberta have led the way in a project which will create the first community garden for Boyle Street Community Services. The students worked with community members over a 12-week period to plan the garden and were responsible for early indoor planting and building garden boxes. A garden naming contest among Boyle Street clients and staff resulted in the garden being called From the Ground Up. This collaborative work with Boyle Street served to break down stereotypes of poverty and homelessness which was one of the goals of the clinical experience.

Talent showcased in province’s only Aboriginal arts festival

The third annual Rubaboo Arts Festival took place June 8-19. It is Alberta’s only Aboriginal arts and theatre festival. The 11-day multi-disciplinary festival showcased new Aboriginal plays, music, dance, art, food, family and youth events, artist workshops, an Aboriginal farmers’ market, and two concert nights featuring Hip Hop and Blues. Highlights included a presentation of the new play No Way Home by Calgary-based actor/playwright Telly James, an Aboriginal theatre reading of the award-winning play Where the Blood Mixes by Kevin Loring,  performances by World Champion Hoop Dancer Arik Pipestem, a new contemporary dance piece They Shoot Buffalo Don’t They? choreographed by Troy Emery Twigg and Ryan Cunningham. Alberta Aboriginal Arts was created to foster the community of Aboriginal arts and artists and to bring together Aboriginal artists from multiple disciplines and traditions.

Recreational opportunities provided for homeless

The Bissell Centre and Boyle Street Community Services are being funded by the City of Edmonton and the United Way provide recreational opportunities for people who are homeless and impoverished. Activities for clients include a dragon boat racing team made up of agency staff and clients; swimming; support in volunteer activities at Edmonton Humane Society; youth bowling; and, the Inner City Sluggers, a slow pitch team registered in one of the city leagues. Other activities include tours of Art Gallery of Alberta, Elk Island National Park, Devonian Gardens and the Royal Alberta Museum. The program is currently funded for one year, which includes the hiring of a recreation coordinator. “We believe recreation can contribute enormously to the well being of the target population and we’re very pleased indeed to be partners in this endeavour. We will be actively collaborating with all the other inner ciy agencies to ensure that their community members also access the recreation programming that will be on offer,” said Bissell Centre executive director Jane Hirst in a news release.

Compiled by Shari Narine