Looking Back and Ahead at Camp Koko'sinooniks

The gathering, known wholly as Camp Koko’sinooniks, begins every weekday morning at the Niitsitapi Learning Centre and at Bowcroft Elementary. A grass-roots culture program, the name of the camp translates as All Our Children, and was spurred by efforts at reconciliation for the horrors suffered at residential schools.

“The program runs for five weeks, with 25 children, ages 6 to 12,” says Nick Gonsalvez, a social programs services coordinator for The City’s Neighbourhood Services. To prepare for the program, City staff underwent Intergenerational Trauma and Indigenous Mental Health training, Traditional Games training, Smudge teachings, and Elder Protocol, as well as The City of Calgary’s Code 86 mandatory training. The camp’s design and delivery has been a collective effort between the Calgary Board of Education, The City of Calgary (Calgary Neighbourhoods), Pathways Community Services, Sodexo Canada, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Tummy Tamers and I Can for Kids.

With the aim to develop an understanding of the diverse First Nations, Cree, Blackfoot, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures, contributions and ways of knowing, some campers are also educating their parents as a result of the program. One mother commented that her children were taught how to build traditional drums, and they plan to pass along their newfound knowledge.

In addition to drum making, children listen to Elders who share traditional stories, participate in traditional medicine picking, set up a traditional tipi, take part in daily Smudge and create various crafts around Indigenous teachings.

Such teachings have helped build resilience in at least one of the young campers, whose history has been marked by ongoing health issues. One girl, who was too shy to speak in a group environment, and dependent on feeding tubes for most of her young life, spoke during circle at Smudge for the first time and ate solid food as part of the free lunch program -- sponsored by Sodexo.

The final day of camp is August 9, but the program will continue in September as a City of Calgary program at Niitsitapi Learning Centre and Bowcroft Elementary. For more information on The City of Calgary’s free summer or AfterSchool programs, please visit Calgary.ca/free or Calgary.ca/afterschool

Let’s celebrate Calgarians who improve life for people with disabilities

Every year, the Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA) celebrates and recognizes Calgarians who are improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities through the ACA Annual Awards program.

These awards celebrate the areas of advocacy, design, and accessible transportation. The deadline to nominate an individual or business for their contributions is Friday, December 1, 2017.

Read on to learn more about the winners of the 2016 ACA Awards, and the work they’ve done to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.

2016 ACA annual award recipients and special guests.

·                     The Access Recognition Award was awarded to Darlene Boyes of Calgary Recreation for her expertise in supporting the Recreation Accessibility Study. The study audited 45 City-operated facilities and recommended improvements to increase accessibility. Darlene’s passion, advocacy and expertise help ensure City facilities are physically accessible, welcoming and inclusive.

·                     The Advocacy Award recognized Mark Burzacott of Between Friends, an organization dedicated to creating social, recreational and self-development opportunities for people with disabilities to connect, grow and belong. Through Mark’s work, he removes barriers of isolation and participation. He recently developed a Sensory Room, a therapeutic space for members, at the Between Friends Camp Bonaventure.

·                     The Ella Anderson Accessible Transportation Award was given to Stephen Hansen for the formation of Access Calgary, now Calgary Transit Access. A visionary in accessible transportation, he was instrumental in creating Access Calgary in 2001 to ensure people with disabilities could use transit to meet their diverse needs. Today, Calgary Transit Access provides over one million trips each year to nearly 15,000 Calgarians that are unable to use Calgary Transit services due to a disability.

For more information about what The City is doing to improve accessibility, visit calgary.ca/accessibility, and don’t forget to submit your nominations by December 1, 2017.

Award-winners recognized for their commitment to education, community and Aboriginal culture

Elaine Cairns and Latasha Calf Robe love to share their passion for education, literacy and learning for their community.

Today, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee (CAUAC) and The City of Calgary recognized these two exceptional women with The Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award and Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award. Now in its 31st year, these awards honour those who build bridges of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures.

2017 Winner of Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award

Elaine Cairns, 2017 recipient of the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award

Elaine Cairns is a literacy specialist who has developed curricula and facilitator training for Indigenous learning programs. Elaine is currently the executive director of the Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA), which she co-founded in 1996.

Elaine has worked with isolated communities, and provided mentoring and facilitator training for Indigenous community workers and trainers. The curricula she has worked on embraces Aboriginal traditions and focuses on sharing of information. In the acknowledgement that community is different, she works with community members to incorporate the knowledge of Elders about how to share the traditions and culture. With these learning programs, families are then able to share, teach, and build relationships within and outside their communities.

“As a Non-Indigenous person, I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. It reaffirms for me the importance of the work I do in Indigenous communities”, says Elaine. “I have learned more from Indigenous people than they have ever learned from me. I have learned the importance of patience, to listen, be resilient, to persevere, and always have a connection to culture and traditions.”

Elaine’s efforts have opened the door to understanding the importance of working together to improve literacy in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures. She believes improved learning leads to improved lives and with passion and dedication we can bring literacy and learning to everyone. Making a difference, one learner, one community, one organization at a time.

2016 Winner of CAUAC Youth Achievement Award

Latasha Calf Robe, 2017 recipient of the CAUAC Youth Achievement Award

Latasha Calf Robe, 24, is a graduate of Mount Royal University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, and a minor in Indigenous Studies and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Latasha is a proud Blackfoot student from the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta and is being recognized for utilizing traditional community teachings. In founding the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Resiliency and Empowerment Discussion Group in 2016, Latasha created a positive space for the Mount Royal community -- a place to celebrate Indigenous resiliency and empower her peers. Her academic work and leadership has helped bring the community together to bridge generational, cultural, and ethnic differences through dialogue and storytelling. She was a featured panelist at an Access to Education, hosted by Mount Royal University, to discuss barriers Aboriginal students encounter at post-secondary institutions and how to overcome them.

This year, she also presented the student address at Mount Royal University for the visit of the Honorable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Aside from her academic achievements, Latasha’s involvement with student life demonstrate her strong desire and deep commitment to education, culture and her community.

“Winning this award allows me to represent my community, the Blood Reserve, in a positive way. I hope to empower and encourage other young Indigenous scholars and youth to iiykakimaat (try hard), and to never stop chasing their dreams,” says Latasha. “There is no goal too big. By using the resiliency and traditional ways taught to us by our elders, parents and community, anything is possible.”

Newcomers and refugees continue building their lives in Calgary

Hundreds of newcomers and refugees met new faces at “Building a Life in Calgary”, an event designed to connect them to City and community resources, services and programs.

The event, which took place on Saturday, February 4 at the BMO Centre, was hosted by the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (CLIP). “Building a Life in Calgary” is part of CLIP’s ongoing response for refugee resettlement in Calgary.

It was day of learning and family friendly activities for the attendees, most of whom arrived in Calgary in the past year or so. Attendees participated in many activities, including:

• A cultural exchange with newcomers from Vietnam, South Sudan, and Colombia who shared their experiences settling in Calgary 
• Educational workshops about volunteer opportunities, career development, English language supports, and financial literacy
• A resource fair featuring City business units and community organizations, and  
• Family-friendly activities, including cultural performances and wagon rides and crafts, courtesy of the Calgary Stampede. 

Honouring the victims of the Quebec City shooting

At  1 p.m., attendees gathered together to observe a moment of silence to honour those who were injured or killed during the Quebec City mosque attack on January 29.

“We send our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and communities of the victims,” said Jessica Pauletig, an issue strategist with Calgary Neighbourhoods who helps coordinate The City’s role in CLIP.

The moment of silence was followed by a performance by the Calgary Multicultural Orchestra (CMO), a youth program run by the International Avenue Arts & Culture Centre.

A smile means ‘welcome to Canada’

Afran Hajj Hammoud and Nour Yassin, two youths who arrived from Syria last February, helped to emcee the cultural performances. Nour, who didn’t speak English when she first arrived and is now attending high school, describes her first year as amazing.

“Our lives are getting better every day,” said Nour. “I don’t feel like I’m just a Syrian refugee – everyone has been so helpful.”

Afran, who arrived with her husband, brother-in-law and two young children, adds: “I love how everyone smiles here. That smile means ‘welcome to Canada’. It means everything to me.”

Approximately 1150 refugees arrive in Calgary each year. From November 2015 to March 2016, Calgary also received an additional 1400 Syrian refugees as part of the federal government's response to the global Syrian refugee crisis.

About the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership

The Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (CLIP) is a multi-sectoral partnership designed to help improve the integration of immigrants and strengthen the city’s ability to better integrate and address the needs of newcomers. The Government of Canada works with municipalities to establish local immigration partnerships across Canada. For more information about CLIP, visit calgary.ca/CLIP.

Calgary AfterSchool has a variety of free programs to keep kids active, creative and social

With our shorter days and freezing temperatures, it's not uncommon for the winter blues to set in. It can be a challenge to keep your child or teen active and engaged as they settle back into the school grind.

A great cure for the winter blues is to help children and youth find new and stimulating activities to keep them active, creative and sociable. An easy remedy is to have kids or teens drop into one of The City of Calgary’s free, safe and fun after school programs.

We have a variety of programs to get kids and youth thinking, creating, moving and socializing. Our unique programming is designed to help children and youth do better in school, stay productive, learn new skills and make new friends.

Best of all, parents will never hear the words, “I’m bored” again.

Held after school hours on school days, there are dozens of locations across the city.

Give Calgary AfterSchool a try. Visit Calgary.ca/AfterSchool to find a program that’s right for you.

Submitted by Eric Michalko, Calgary Neighbourhoods

City launches annual Snow Angels campaign

With more snow in the forecast, it seems winter is here to stay for a while. The snowy weather brings with it the need to keep walkways clear of ice and snow, something that is challenging and dangerous for many older adults and others with limited mobility.

Today we launched the 13th annual Snow Angels campaign asking Calgarians to help neighbours in need this winter. Being a snow angel is a great way to get out, meet your neighbours and help build community spirit.

“We can all be Snow Angels – it’s simply neighbours being neighbourly and clearing the walkways for people who may not be able to do it themselves,” says Geoff Moore, program coordinator. “Snow Angels has two parts: help shovel someone’s walk and, recognize someone who shovels walks.”

Keeping walkways free of ice and snow helps all community members move safely through neighbourhoods. For many Calgarians, this means getting out of the house and exercising, connecting with neighbours, and showing what it means to be a community.

“For most pathways it is just a few extra minutes of shovelling to help a neighbour – especially if you get to it before foot traffic packs it down,” says Moore. “You wouldn’t believe how much it means to those with limitations.”

If someone has cleared your sidewalk, we would love to know so we can recognize them as a Snow Angel. You can nominate your Snow Angel online or by calling 311.

All nominated Snow Angels are officially recognized by Mayor Nenshi and entered into a prize draw. For more information, visit: calgary.ca/SnowAngels.

In June we celebrate the special seniors in our lives

Seniors are an important part of our community and every year, from June 6 to 12 during Seniors’ Week, we celebrate their contributions to making Calgary a great place to live.

Province of Alberta recognizes Calgary as an age-friendly city

This year, Seniors’ Week kicked off in Calgary’s Municipal Building with the placement of a plaque recognizing Calgary as an age-friendly city.

Find an event near you

With a variety of events across Calgary, this week is a chance to spend some time celebrating the older adults in our lives, thanking them for the difference they make. There are dozens of events being held across the city all week long.

Some events are specifically for seniors, while others are for the whole family to enjoy. As well, there will be several conversation cafes for you to join and talk about how to address the issue of elder abuse in the lead up to the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event on June 15.

Seniors take part in staying active during Seniors' Week

This year, the Age-Friendly Calgary Steering Committee has released their first annual Report to the Community on the progress of the Seniors Age-Friendly Strategy and implementation Plan 2015-2018.

You can find the most up-to-date list of events (including conversation cafes) online. Stay informed by following the Seniors’ Week Facebook event page. Check out all the events and find your own special way to celebrate the older adults in your life.

However you chose to celebrate, please share your stories and photos with us on our Seniors' Week Facebook event page or on Twitter, using the hashtag #yycseniors.

Annual Youth Hiring Fair a hit with jobseekers

An estimated line-up of more than 1,000 youth were eager to put their best foot forward with employers this afternoon for the 18th Annual Youth Hiring Fair.

Located at the Big Four Building on Stampede Park, the annual fair was organized by The City of Calgary’s Youth Employment Centre (YEC). The event was free and open to all youth aged 15-24.

Large turnout not a surprise

In talking with City officials, they weren’t surprised by this year’s large turnout given the current economic downturn in Alberta.

While at the fair, I spoke with Jennifer Gee, a community relations liaison with YEC. Jennifer mentioned that there were some early indicators this year’s event might have a higher number of attendees. For her, one of the biggest signs was the steady stream of job seekers stopping by the YEC office for tips on how to make a positive first impression with employers.

Landing a job

Many youth who came prepared saw their efforts pay off.

Brianna Martell

One of the first individuals I met who made some initial job connections at the event was 21-year-old Brianna Martell from Windsor Park.

Brianna’s job searching strategy was to cast a wide net. She made the rounds visiting with Casino Calgary, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, 7-11, McDonald’s, Hi-Flyer Food and Denny’s. She introduced herself to the recruiters, filled out a few applications and is hoping to hear back from some of the employers in the coming weeks.

Employers impressed with quality of applicants

Despite the economic downturn it’s clear that companies are still looking to hire qualified candidates. This year’s event had more than 80 employers offering a variety of full-time, part-time and seasonal openings.

As I walked through the Big Four Building, I had an opportunity to visit with Talia Benson a numbers and culture coordinator with Fiasco Gelato.

Talia Benson

Talia was quite impressed with the experience and enthusiasm of the candidates she spoke to. She said for companies like Fiasco Gelato, it’s not every day they get to fill a large portion of their hiring needs in one afternoon.

She views it as a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Missed out on this year’s fair?

If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s fair, be sure to visit the YEC office located on the second floor of the Alberta Trade Centre building (315 - 10th Avenue S.E.).

They have a variety of employment counseling and training programs to help put you on the path towards starting your career.

Submitted by Eric Michalko, Calgary Neighbourhoods

Songs and blessings for new Calgarians

The Alsheblak family fled their Syrian hometown of Daraa (a city in southwestern Syria) in 2013.

“It wasn’t safe whatsoever to live in Daraa anymore. There was bombing everywhere, airstrikes, and random detention,” says Emad Alsheblak – the father of the family of five.

The Alsheblak family

Emad Alsheblak, his wife Walaa, and their three children -- Ghazal, 4, Ahmad, 2, and Omar, three-months-old -- are some of our newest neighbours in Calgary. Emad and his family are government-assisted refugees who came to Canada as part of the plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 29, 2016.

The Alsheblak family entered Jordan in 2013 as refugees. In December 2015, he was identified by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as eligible to come to Canada. On January 9, 2016, they left their extended families and were flown to Toronto, landing in Calgary on January 10, 2016.

Emah’s family is one of the 1,400 Syrian refugees who have come to Calgary since November 4, 2015.

Officially welcoming our new neighbours

The Turning Robe drummers

On March 12, 2016, we hosted a special event for all recent newcomers to Calgary. The Alsheblaks were among 1,300 people in attendance. Mayor Naheed Nenshi and members of the First Nations welcomed them with speeches and ceremonial blessings and songs.

Mayor Nenshi spoke of the importance of making sure they knew they were a part of the fabric of the community from the very first days and weeks in Calgary. He said he believed it was very important they be welcomed properly by the ceremonies of the Indigenous community.

“A warm welcome to our newest neighbours extends well beyond the airport. The most important thing we can do as Calgarians is welcome and support newcomers as they settle in our community,” said Mayor Nenshi.

The City provided free transit on Saturday for those attending the event.

Fair helps newcomers with resources to get settled

The event also featured an information fair with 30 booths hosted by City units as well as community organizations providing programs and services for newcomers. Participants were able to learn about public transit, English classes, fire safety, recreation programs and much more.

City staff at the Fair Entry booth

Susan Fernando is a coordinator for The City’s Property Tax Assistance Program. She was helping as a host at the booth for the Fair Entry program.

“I met a mom with two young kids who had lost her husband before she came here,” said Susan at the resource fair. “I think connecting with these people with these services might help to bring back a sense of normalcy and belonging. Maybe just help them to know care and compassion – that they are accepted amidst all the politics and attention.”

A special thank you goes out to community members who helped out at the event. As well as hosting resource booths, over 30 people volunteered to act as interpreters so event attendees could better understand the information being offered.

View more photos from the event. More information about welcoming newcomers.

Submitted by Stacey Scott, Calgary Neighbourhoods