Monday July 6
Those of you who know me have probably never heard me talk about this before. I am not a religious man. Although I don't subscribe to any specific religion, I have to acknowledge its presence on this journey. I acknowledge the deep faith present in the hearts of those working the shelters and I see its power as a catalyst to recovery. To me the most effective groups operate like businesses balanced by their belief. Ramin referred to them as businesses operated by angels. I can't say I disagree.
Thanks to every one who supported the run. Special thanks to all the shelters who opened their doors to us and who hold their doors open to those in need.
Brent
Monday, July 6, 2009
Halifax
Monday July 6
Homelessness is not as visible in Halifax says local musician Brendan Fraser. A transplanted Calgarian Brendon says "you don't see the panhandlers like you do in Calgary". Maybe it’s due to the good work of the Metro Turning Point Shelter. This shelter is a focused shelter supplying basic baseline shelter and belonging. Unlike other programs, Turning Point will not refuse access to those who are under the influence. Michael Poworoznyk (Prozzz) tells me that they focus on building trust and honesty. Once they break down those barriers they can focus on the underlying issues. Without that honesty you can’t begin to work with someone. Turning point then operates as a referral service, directing people to services that can help them. It's a little like triage for the less fortunate. I like the approach. It allows different groups to specialize rather than duplication of effort. It also fits well with my approach of focusing on one problem and dealing with it in an efficient manner.
Michael tells an amazing story of when he first came to Turning Point. This guy spent some time living amongst the guests of Turning Point. Without telling the other guests Michael quietly spent a night or two literally in their shoes. As the story goes he had borrowed a pair of beat up shoes from a friend so as to look the part. Unfortunately the shoes were a little small and quickly began hurting his feet. (Street people spend an enormous amount of time on the move) Another patron of the Mission offered Michael an extra pair of shoes that he had with him. A huge gesture. To the homeless shoes are like gold. This would be the equivalent of me offering to give a stranger my car.
Pretty moving stuff.
On the plane at 8 pm tonight. Time to let Westjet take the wheel.
Brent
Homelessness is not as visible in Halifax says local musician Brendan Fraser. A transplanted Calgarian Brendon says "you don't see the panhandlers like you do in Calgary". Maybe it’s due to the good work of the Metro Turning Point Shelter. This shelter is a focused shelter supplying basic baseline shelter and belonging. Unlike other programs, Turning Point will not refuse access to those who are under the influence. Michael Poworoznyk (Prozzz) tells me that they focus on building trust and honesty. Once they break down those barriers they can focus on the underlying issues. Without that honesty you can’t begin to work with someone. Turning point then operates as a referral service, directing people to services that can help them. It's a little like triage for the less fortunate. I like the approach. It allows different groups to specialize rather than duplication of effort. It also fits well with my approach of focusing on one problem and dealing with it in an efficient manner.
Michael tells an amazing story of when he first came to Turning Point. This guy spent some time living amongst the guests of Turning Point. Without telling the other guests Michael quietly spent a night or two literally in their shoes. As the story goes he had borrowed a pair of beat up shoes from a friend so as to look the part. Unfortunately the shoes were a little small and quickly began hurting his feet. (Street people spend an enormous amount of time on the move) Another patron of the Mission offered Michael an extra pair of shoes that he had with him. A huge gesture. To the homeless shoes are like gold. This would be the equivalent of me offering to give a stranger my car.
Pretty moving stuff.
On the plane at 8 pm tonight. Time to let Westjet take the wheel.
Brent
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Stopover
Sunday July 5
We stopped along the highway to Halifax to visit and personally thank our most eastern donor. Tom and Leslie Mclean are the parents of Ryan Mclean who works with me at TENET. Lesley told us that her donation came about as her and a friend decided to make a donation this year instead of exchanging gifts. When her son told her of the drive she wanted to get involved. Two of the finest people I have ever met not surprising considering the calibre of man heir son has become.
On to Halifax!
We stopped along the highway to Halifax to visit and personally thank our most eastern donor. Tom and Leslie Mclean are the parents of Ryan Mclean who works with me at TENET. Lesley told us that her donation came about as her and a friend decided to make a donation this year instead of exchanging gifts. When her son told her of the drive she wanted to get involved. Two of the finest people I have ever met not surprising considering the calibre of man heir son has become.
On to Halifax!
Friday was huge
Friday July 3
We woke up early for a 7.30 live phone interview with a local Montreal FM station. I think I did ok but the short nights are beginning to take a toll
9.00 Tour of Ottawa Mission (OM). The Mission has an impressive kitchen that doubles as a training center for those who wish to learn culinary skills. Most unique at the Ottawa mission was their onsite hospice. They have a number of bed to care for terminally ill people who come from a street back ground and who do not have anyplace else to go. Many of them don't fit in at a standard Hospice. The staff at OM will attempt to contact family and if possible will try to reunite people in their final days. Some of the stories were really moving about parents coming to be with their children who they long thought dead.
9.30 on " A" channel Ottawa breakfast show. I managed to squeeze a recorded radio interview in the lobby with another local radio station. I also got a good plug in for one of our corporate sponsors who is local to Ottawa.
10.00 back to Ottawa mission for photo op with Member of Parliament Royal Galipeau. Ctv, CBC covered the event for local news while the Ottawa sun took some picture for their piece that I may live to regret.
Off to Montreal at 11.00 am with a tray of Chinese Food from the OM kitchen. Special thanks to Shirley Roy for the hospitality and providing the tour and media contact arrangements. Shirley comes from a medi background and her reputation in the industry is apparent.
12:00. While driving I talk to a Montreal newspaper and set up for an in studio radio bit with CBC
1.00 we hit the edge of Montreal. No problem making the 2.00 drop time right? Wrong!!! Some of the most challenging traffic I have ever experienced was in our way. What's with the no right on red lights thing an way. We managed to get lost in the myriad of one way streets in the core and arrive 15 minutes late for the event.
When we finally arrive at Mission Bon Accueil (Welcome Hall Mission)there are a number of cameras recording the Van pulling in. Now I know I'm tired as Anne Cattaruzza of Welcome Hall flashes me a signal to smile. Anne and the crew put together a very impressive and official ceremony for the drop. This was one the most organized drops to date. Latter Anne tells me that an event like this has given them an opportunity to raise their profile in the Montreal area. Good news as this was also one our goals.
I think that Welcome Hall has the biggest facility of the tour. Their factory style building fills an entire block and contains impressive facilities and amenities for those working through their addiction and reintegration programs. Gaetan Nolet performed the tour and also translated for me with French media. Gaetan has been with the mission for a number of years leaving a career as a stock broker for a career that satisfied his need to make a difference. We couldn't help talking a little bit about business.
5.00 off to CBC studios for an in studio live broadcast on the Home Run Show. Paul Rainone the Associate Executive Director of Programs at Welcome Hall will be interviewed with me. Paul is an Electrical Engineer who led a sales team at a major appliance manufacturer. Later he told me he also has a short stint as a distributor for arthroscopy equipment. It was great talking shop for a bit.
6.00 interview over
7.00 campground in site!
Later that evening we headed into Montreal to take in some of the Jazz festival. A guy has to have a little fun............Right?
Today we on the road for Halifax and the last drop Monday at noon. With luck we will return the motor home and catch an earlier flight that night. This would get us home 24 hrs earlier.
Gonna crash for a bit while Ramin drives
Brent
We woke up early for a 7.30 live phone interview with a local Montreal FM station. I think I did ok but the short nights are beginning to take a toll
9.00 Tour of Ottawa Mission (OM). The Mission has an impressive kitchen that doubles as a training center for those who wish to learn culinary skills. Most unique at the Ottawa mission was their onsite hospice. They have a number of bed to care for terminally ill people who come from a street back ground and who do not have anyplace else to go. Many of them don't fit in at a standard Hospice. The staff at OM will attempt to contact family and if possible will try to reunite people in their final days. Some of the stories were really moving about parents coming to be with their children who they long thought dead.
9.30 on " A" channel Ottawa breakfast show. I managed to squeeze a recorded radio interview in the lobby with another local radio station. I also got a good plug in for one of our corporate sponsors who is local to Ottawa.
10.00 back to Ottawa mission for photo op with Member of Parliament Royal Galipeau. Ctv, CBC covered the event for local news while the Ottawa sun took some picture for their piece that I may live to regret.
Off to Montreal at 11.00 am with a tray of Chinese Food from the OM kitchen. Special thanks to Shirley Roy for the hospitality and providing the tour and media contact arrangements. Shirley comes from a medi background and her reputation in the industry is apparent.
12:00. While driving I talk to a Montreal newspaper and set up for an in studio radio bit with CBC
1.00 we hit the edge of Montreal. No problem making the 2.00 drop time right? Wrong!!! Some of the most challenging traffic I have ever experienced was in our way. What's with the no right on red lights thing an way. We managed to get lost in the myriad of one way streets in the core and arrive 15 minutes late for the event.
When we finally arrive at Mission Bon Accueil (Welcome Hall Mission)there are a number of cameras recording the Van pulling in. Now I know I'm tired as Anne Cattaruzza of Welcome Hall flashes me a signal to smile. Anne and the crew put together a very impressive and official ceremony for the drop. This was one the most organized drops to date. Latter Anne tells me that an event like this has given them an opportunity to raise their profile in the Montreal area. Good news as this was also one our goals.
I think that Welcome Hall has the biggest facility of the tour. Their factory style building fills an entire block and contains impressive facilities and amenities for those working through their addiction and reintegration programs. Gaetan Nolet performed the tour and also translated for me with French media. Gaetan has been with the mission for a number of years leaving a career as a stock broker for a career that satisfied his need to make a difference. We couldn't help talking a little bit about business.
5.00 off to CBC studios for an in studio live broadcast on the Home Run Show. Paul Rainone the Associate Executive Director of Programs at Welcome Hall will be interviewed with me. Paul is an Electrical Engineer who led a sales team at a major appliance manufacturer. Later he told me he also has a short stint as a distributor for arthroscopy equipment. It was great talking shop for a bit.
6.00 interview over
7.00 campground in site!
Later that evening we headed into Montreal to take in some of the Jazz festival. A guy has to have a little fun............Right?
Today we on the road for Halifax and the last drop Monday at noon. With luck we will return the motor home and catch an earlier flight that night. This would get us home 24 hrs earlier.
Gonna crash for a bit while Ramin drives
Brent
Young Street Mission Toronto
Thursday July 2
We did something different at Young Stet Mission (YSM) in Toronto. The staff hosted a popsicle party in the parking lot and distributed flyers inviting the community to join them. We handed out free underwear to anyone in need and quickly burned through 500 pair. The recipients were very thankful and were not shy in showing their appreciation. YSM has a number of impressive programs much like the other missions, however two initiatives stand out as unique. YSM operates a thrift store supplying much needed affordable clothing to the neighbourhood. Unlike other thrift stores the clothes are cleaned, pressed and displayed in a professional manner. David Adcock tells us that they take pride in providing a clean attractive facility in order to emphasize dignity for its customers. The store operates at close to break even in order to keep prices as low as possible. David is quick to point out that the real product being offered here is jobs. Through their store valuable income and job experience is provided. A lack of previous job experience is a common barrier to success. Most unique and my favourite element of this group is their cheque cashing facility. YSM partnered with a major bank to provide financial services to the less fortunate. Humane service charges and special attention for those with little or no banking experience is provided. All this next door to their state of the art computer training center and across the street from one of (in my opinion) the largest barriers to homeless success. Predatory lender style cheque cashing facilities. Ray Marshall and Stephanie Lear of YSM treated us to dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant then sent us on to Ottawa once the traffic slowed down. We arrived just after midnight and went straight to bed as Friday was going to be a huge day. Brent
We did something different at Young Stet Mission (YSM) in Toronto. The staff hosted a popsicle party in the parking lot and distributed flyers inviting the community to join them. We handed out free underwear to anyone in need and quickly burned through 500 pair. The recipients were very thankful and were not shy in showing their appreciation. YSM has a number of impressive programs much like the other missions, however two initiatives stand out as unique. YSM operates a thrift store supplying much needed affordable clothing to the neighbourhood. Unlike other thrift stores the clothes are cleaned, pressed and displayed in a professional manner. David Adcock tells us that they take pride in providing a clean attractive facility in order to emphasize dignity for its customers. The store operates at close to break even in order to keep prices as low as possible. David is quick to point out that the real product being offered here is jobs. Through their store valuable income and job experience is provided. A lack of previous job experience is a common barrier to success. Most unique and my favourite element of this group is their cheque cashing facility. YSM partnered with a major bank to provide financial services to the less fortunate. Humane service charges and special attention for those with little or no banking experience is provided. All this next door to their state of the art computer training center and across the street from one of (in my opinion) the largest barriers to homeless success. Predatory lender style cheque cashing facilities. Ray Marshall and Stephanie Lear of YSM treated us to dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant then sent us on to Ottawa once the traffic slowed down. We arrived just after midnight and went straight to bed as Friday was going to be a huge day. Brent
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Regina/Winnipeg
I apologize for blending two drops into one blog but we have been running a pretty tight timeline with the Travel
Regina
On the drop date in Regina we went for breakfast with Derrick and Joe of the mission. We discussed the history of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, threw around some ideas and talked about barriers to success. It reminded me of a brain storming session at TENET when tackling a tough design problem. We got on the subject of cheque cashing places and pawn shops. Two barriers to their clientele. Derrick has a sales background and runs the P.R. department. He is also a graduate of the program. Joe hails from a manufacturing background, (my kind of guy). We met Michelle later that morning. She runs the show. Immediately we felt this group operated a little different than the others. It wasn't just Jack, the Harley riding chaplin either. This operation was run much like a business. Don't get me wrong they were focused on helping the less fortunate but they were going to cover their bills while they were doing it. The mission has about 5 buildings all fully paid for. Michelle tells us that her husband and her avoid debt in their personal lives and feel their operation should be run the same. Besides she says, when you own your building each donation is used 100 percent to help the needy and not service a mortgage. I love this woman. I hope she never decides to branch out into medical devices. TENET would not survive the competition.
We made the public drop at 9 am and had CTV, Global and the local newspaper cover the story. MLA Warren McCall joined us and helped unload.
Ramin got some excellent interviews from grads and the team. He was also so impressed with their youth center that he offered to return to help out.
In Winnipeg
We had a restless night in the Walmart parking lot but nothing we couldn't shake of with a subway coffee. At first look the Silome Mission looked a lot like a number of other groups we have visited. The outside is brick building that may have been an old factory. Inside it is bright and modern with a good feel. We arrived at lunch and it smelled great. I didn't have much breakfast and imagined the guests were hungrier than me. Beverly toured us through the facility and showed us its many facets. They have an art program targeted as therapy allowing their guests to express themselves in a different media. It was not for sale. Shame as some of the work was excellent. Most impressive was the state of the art health facility that was on site. This is the first location that we have seen provide this level of care. They have two full dental suites, chiropractic facilities, exam rooms, and a lab. The facility and equipment were supplied by a local pharmacist who donated the funds. The clinic is staffed by volunteer Dr.s and treats anyone regardless if they have a current Manitoba health care card or not. Keri, director of the Saul Sair health Center told us if she could have anything to add to their capabilities it would be a full time physician staff member who could address mental health issues. Beverly finished the tour with words to this effect. "Most Canadians live two paychecks from being homeless", loss of ones job combined with a personal disaster or addiction could find any one of us amongst the ranks of the clients at Silome Mission. If so, pack clean underwear cause from what I saw 2500 pair are not going to last long.
Best press coverage yet.
On the road for Toronto.
Brent
Regina
On the drop date in Regina we went for breakfast with Derrick and Joe of the mission. We discussed the history of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, threw around some ideas and talked about barriers to success. It reminded me of a brain storming session at TENET when tackling a tough design problem. We got on the subject of cheque cashing places and pawn shops. Two barriers to their clientele. Derrick has a sales background and runs the P.R. department. He is also a graduate of the program. Joe hails from a manufacturing background, (my kind of guy). We met Michelle later that morning. She runs the show. Immediately we felt this group operated a little different than the others. It wasn't just Jack, the Harley riding chaplin either. This operation was run much like a business. Don't get me wrong they were focused on helping the less fortunate but they were going to cover their bills while they were doing it. The mission has about 5 buildings all fully paid for. Michelle tells us that her husband and her avoid debt in their personal lives and feel their operation should be run the same. Besides she says, when you own your building each donation is used 100 percent to help the needy and not service a mortgage. I love this woman. I hope she never decides to branch out into medical devices. TENET would not survive the competition.
We made the public drop at 9 am and had CTV, Global and the local newspaper cover the story. MLA Warren McCall joined us and helped unload.
Ramin got some excellent interviews from grads and the team. He was also so impressed with their youth center that he offered to return to help out.
In Winnipeg
We had a restless night in the Walmart parking lot but nothing we couldn't shake of with a subway coffee. At first look the Silome Mission looked a lot like a number of other groups we have visited. The outside is brick building that may have been an old factory. Inside it is bright and modern with a good feel. We arrived at lunch and it smelled great. I didn't have much breakfast and imagined the guests were hungrier than me. Beverly toured us through the facility and showed us its many facets. They have an art program targeted as therapy allowing their guests to express themselves in a different media. It was not for sale. Shame as some of the work was excellent. Most impressive was the state of the art health facility that was on site. This is the first location that we have seen provide this level of care. They have two full dental suites, chiropractic facilities, exam rooms, and a lab. The facility and equipment were supplied by a local pharmacist who donated the funds. The clinic is staffed by volunteer Dr.s and treats anyone regardless if they have a current Manitoba health care card or not. Keri, director of the Saul Sair health Center told us if she could have anything to add to their capabilities it would be a full time physician staff member who could address mental health issues. Beverly finished the tour with words to this effect. "Most Canadians live two paychecks from being homeless", loss of ones job combined with a personal disaster or addiction could find any one of us amongst the ranks of the clients at Silome Mission. If so, pack clean underwear cause from what I saw 2500 pair are not going to last long.
Best press coverage yet.
On the road for Toronto.
Brent
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