Regina Friendship centre one of the first preaching self-sufficiency

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REGINA - A unique concept has risen out of the racist-ridden ashes of the city of Regina. In March of this year, the old Regina Friendship Centre1689, Toronto Street moved to a new headquarters in what used to be St. Thomas School at Park 14 Avenue east. The school was built in 1965.

What is so unique about the new building is that it is geared to becoming "self-sufficient" says its president, Tony Pelletier.

Pelletier sees the writing on the wall. He acknowledges that Secretary of State (SOS) funding for centres in Canada "won't last forever." It is for that very reason that the Regina Centre has given careful thought and planning and is effecting measures that will lead to its becoming autonomous.

"I think Regina's one of the first centres to preach self-sufficiency," says Pelletier and he acknowledged that is it not an easy thing to accomplish but he is likewise confident that it can be achieved.

He offers some criticism for those who think "we don't have to do anything, that government will cover it." That's not so claims Pelletier. He says one has to work hard at it but it is not impossible and it is his intention to prove his line of thought and, to act accordingly.

Officially acquired in January of this year from the city's Catholic School Division, the centre used to be a familiar site to neighborhood kids who used to go to school there. Purchased at a cost of $500,000, the property has already increased in value and is now worth about one million says Pelletier. This already shows that the centre made a wise move. The site also included two and one-half acres of playground which has two ball diamonds.

The spacious facilities of the centre contains meeting rooms capable of sponsoring conferences, graduations, weddings, banquets, and other social functions.

Since moving into the building bingos have been operated each and every night with one extra one on Saturday afternoon.

The centre utilizes its own staff as well as volunteers to run the bingos and, thus, avoid a lot of overhead cots. Bingo has proven to be a blessing in disguise as it generates the bulk of the Centre's incoming revenue.

Pelletier proudly boasts of the $1,700 to $3,000 profit per bingo that will likely,

by this fall, erase a remaining $137,000 that the centre owes before having clear title to the building and property. As with any other centre in Canada, the Regina one also receives an operating grant from SOS.

It is surmised, of course, that the centre will not have to go looking for operating capital in a few years. It receives additional revenue in the amount of $8,000 by renting office space to the Native Courtworkers Services plus another $9,600 per year from a community college program that offers courses from the centre.

Plans are in the works for bigger and better things. While the Centre's gymnasium is sizeable, they do intend to add on a 100 by 40 foot extension in order to have a double-size gym. Such an addition would make the centre more appealing to sports enthusiasts because the double facility would be superior for conducting tournaments such as basketball and volleyball.

Powwows can be another source for not only generating money into the centre but also to promote the use of it. They have already sponsored one on their large playground and hope to see more of them in the future.

However, the needs and desires of the urban Native population are many. The board of the centre wants to help, however they can, be better urban Native conditions and have done so in many ways. One of these has been its Drop-in Centre operation of 1817 Asler Street.

In the program there is a story in itself and will be dealt with as such.

As with other centres, the Regina one provides some counselling and referral services, have classes in aerobics, hold Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and so forth. There is an active women's group and special occasions are also addressed such as the need for Christmas food hampers and childrens' ifts in the case of destitute families.

Other activities include a courtworkers program, family workers, education liaison, sports and recreation, and a fine options program.

The Regina Friendship Centre is a fine model on which other Canadian centres

can pattern themselves. The potential for Regina to achieve all that it wishes to in terms of self-sufficiency is tremendous. It is a practical venture which can really go places. It is a first for Canada and that, in itself, is highly commendable. Perhaps, it will give way to the dawning of a chain reaction that will eventually see all friendship centres striving for and achieving self-sufficiency.