WE Winter 2013

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MAGAZINE OF UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION

Adult literacy programsbreak down barriers toemployment

Reality CheckNew program demonstratesthe struggles of poverty

WINTER/SPRING 2013

The high cost oflow wages

PLUS:

THIS ISSUE OF WEMAGAZINE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY EPCOR COMMUNITY ESSENTIALS COUNCIL AND NAIT

Speaking UpReducing the stigmaof mental illness

In PersonWorkplace youth mentoringchanges lives

PM#40020055

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EPCORs Community Essentials Council (ECEC) invests

in a wide variety of community causes everything from

outreach support programs for seniors to workforce

readiness programs for unemployed people. Learn more

about the work we do beyond wires and water.

Visit epcor.com/community

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4 MESSAGEFROM

UNITEDWAY

5 COMMUNITY

CHAMPION

Cliff Higuchi saw a need in the

community and in response

created a new event

6 THISWAYIN

United Way happenings

including National Child Day

and United Were Strongmusic video

9 MYTHBUSTERS

Working poor: A surprising

number of Edmontonians

work for low wages

36LEADINGEDGE

A not-for-prot rebrands its

image for renewed interest and

support

38BUSINESSWAY

Two Edmonton businesses

commit time, talent and funds

42MILESTONESThe City of Edmonton launches

a dedicated United Way

campaign

16 LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATIONAn Edmonton company connects with kids

through a worksite mentorship program

By Caitlin Crawshaw

29BRIDGINGBOUNDARIES

A trio of communities and their unique

relationship with United Way

By ElizaBEth ChornEy-Booth

33NOTYOURREALITY

Community members experience the decisions

people living in poverty make every day

By MiChEllE lindstroM

39LASTINGLEGACY

Barbara Poole was one of Edmontons great

philanthropists. Her devotion to the community

lives on

ONTHECOVER:

Frnk went to P.a.l.s., improved

hi itercy, found better job

nd new outook on ife.

PHOTO:a Peee / 3tEn

DEPARTMENTS

SPOTLIGHTEmployability

10 AWILLINGWORkFORCE

Employers need workers and there are still people

looking for work, how to bring both groups together

By ChEryl MahaFFy

19 SPEAkINGUPReducing the stigma of mental illness

By Cait wills

22LIFEAFTERLIFE

Finding work helps former inmates reintegrate and

contribute towards a productive community

By oMar MouallEM

26JACkETREqUIRED

Coats for Kids & Families has been providing winter

gear to the community for more than 20 years

By MiChEllE lindstroM

WINTER/SPRING 2013

FEATURES

6

36

we winter/spring 2013wemagazine.Ca 3

22

16

10

19

26

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OUR WAY

UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Nancy CritchleyASSOCIATE EDITORS: Mike Kluttig, Angela Dorval,David Odumade

EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meredith Bongers, Karina Hurtado, Sheilah Pittman,Anne Smith, Jessica Smith-Perry

SPONSORSHIP AND CORPORATE SUPPORT COMMITTEE

Meredith Bongers, Nancy Critchley, Kevin Fitzgerald,Mike Kluttig, Stephane Hache

VENTURE PUBLISHING INC.

PUBLISHER: Ruth KellyASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Joyce ByrneASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Andrew WilliamsMANAGING EDITOR: Bobbi-Sue MenardART DIRECTOR: Charles BurkeASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Andrea deBoerASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Colin SpencePRODUCTION MANAGER: Betty-Lou SmithPRODUCTION TECHNICIAN Brent FelzienCIRCULATION: Jennifer King

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Christa Broadfoot, Nancy Critchley,Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Caitlin Crawshaw, Angela Dorval,Michelle Lindstrom, Cheryl Mahaffy, Omar Mouallem,David Odumade, Cait Wills

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS:

Nancy Critchley, Christy Dean, Dustin Delfs, Buffy Goodman,David Odumade, Aaron Pedersen / 3TEN, Eugene UhuadABOUT UNITED WAY

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region inspires people tocome together to make a lasting difference in our communities.

WE is published for United Way of the Alberta Capital Regionby Venture Publishing Inc., 10259-105 StreetEdmonton, AB T5J 1E3Tel: 780-990-0839 Fax: 780-425-4921Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 [email protected]

Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Interweb

WEis printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper

Publications Agreement #40020055

ISSN 1925-8690Contents copyright 2013.

Content may not be reprinted or reproduced

without permission from United Way of the

Alberta Capital Region.

WINTER/SPRING2013 VOL 2 No. 2

Karina HurtadoCommunity Investment SpecialistUnited Way of the AlbertaCapital Region

The Worthof WorkIN THIS ISSUE, WEMAGAZINE EXAMINES THE SOCIAL

and economic implications of employment and the different ways

employability impacts diverse populations. Research shows that

most low-wage earners are women and unemployment rates forAboriginal people living off-reserve are usually higher than average.

For many low-income households, having a job is no longer a

guarantee for meeting a familys basic needs, much less a door to

long-term social and economic security. Working full-time, earning

less than $15 per hour while living in Alberta makes it difficult to

support a family. In 2010, 51.6 per cent of children experiencing

poverty lived in a household where one or more persons worked

full-time.

Significant numbers of newcomers, single mothers, Aboriginal

people, seniors and students work in industries that pay low wages

and have limited opportunities for career advancement. Therefore,

many low-income households work two or three jobs in order to

provide their families with an adequate standard of living.

We hope this edition of WEoffers insight and information into

how community agencies and United Way partners are helping

individuals realize their potential and increase their earning power.

Thanks to our co-sponsors, EPCOR Community Essentials Council

and NAIT for their contributions to making this fourth edition of WE

magazine possible.

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COMMUNITY CHAMPION

The evenT: Homeless Connect is a

one-day event, held twice a year, that

brings together necessary services in

one place for Edmontonians who are

near or experiencing homelessness.

Dental care, tax preparation, vision care,

mental health care and more are offered

in a judgement-free environment at no

cost to attendees in need. Between 1,400

and 1,700 people attend each Homeless

Connect in either the spring or fall.

The venue: The Shaw Conference

Centre draws attendees and customers

from across Alberta, and the world,

to Edmonton. The goal of the

centres employees is to be a part of

the economic growth of a city and

traditionally, the audience they want

to reach is outside the Alberta Capital

Region. Homeless Connect changes the

focus of the Shaw Conference Centre to

an inside-the-community perspective.

Cliff Higuchi is vice-president and

general manager of the Shaw Conference

Centre. He is a founding leader of

Homeless Connect and one of its biggest

champions.

We: W ad wy did yo com p

wit t ida of homlss Coct?

Cliff higci: In and around the summer

of 2007, we noticed there was a

higher than normal number of

people experiencing homelessness

using the Shaw as a drop-in centre.

In retrospect, there was quite a

bit of construction in downtown

Edmonton at that time. People were

being displaced. At that point, my

request to staff was, You believe

this is an issue, what are we going

to do? What are some potential

solutions?

We: how was homlss Connct

dvlopd?

Ch: We did an idea search and

came across Homeless Connect in

the United States. It looked like a

trade show for people experiencing

homelessness. Since trade shows

are a component of the business at

the Shaw, it was tting. We took the

idea to corporate management and

then to social service agencies.

We: Was it rally tat simpl to

gt homlss Connct startd?

Ch: At the time I was a little

abbergasted, we didnt get an

immediate response. It took us

between eight and 10 months to

really get the idea out to agencies

across the city. It was a real issue,

we were constantly asked, Why

would you want to do this? I

suppose the process was a little bit

backwards, usually the idea for an

event comes from the agencies. We

did receive a lot of initial support

from United Way, Homeward Trust

and the Edmonton Canadian Mental

Health Association. That was

enough to keep us moving forward

until others understood our goals.

We: how do staff mmbrs at

t Saw Confrnc Cntr

participat?

Ch: Homeless Connect is very

exciting for us at the Shaw. The

staff likes that Homeless Connect

is a signicant opportunity to give

back to the community. Many staff

members come out, volunteer and

lend suggestions about how to

utilize the venue. There is a feeling

of ownership amongst the staff.

There is a big sense of pride for the

Shaw Conference Centre to be the

home of Homeless Connect.

A big event requires a big venue.

Inspired by local need, Clif Higuchio Edmontons Shaw Conerence

Centre was a ounding orce behind

Homeless Connect

Change ofFocus

Learn more about Homeless Connect and a story

that inspired Cliff, atwww.wemagazine.ca

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by UNITED WAY STAFF

WE WINTER/SPRING 2013 WEMAGAZINE.CA6

ON NOVEMBER 20 OF EACH YEAR, Canada

and countries around the world celebrate National Child

Day (NCD) as a reminder of our shared commitment to

the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

(CRC). In Canada, it also marks two historic dates: the

1959 signing of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the

Child and the 1989 adoption of the UN Convention on

the Rights of the Child. The founding principles of the

CRC include acting in the best interests of all children,genuinely considering the views of children in all decision-

making that affects them and ensuring children have the

right to primary consideration in all economic, social, and

political decisions, policies, programs and expenditures

that impact them.

The CRC is the most comprehensive treaty in support

of children in existence. It is signed and ratified by more

nations than any other human rights document in history,

attesting to its global significance and the underlying

universal values it upholds. Most importantly, it serves as

a reminder that every child in our community deserves to

grow up feeling happy, healthy and loved.

Success By 6, a community initiative managed by

United Way, the City of Edmonton, YMCA of Edmonton,

Edmonton Public School Board, Edmonton Catholic

School District, Community Initiatives Against Family

Violence and the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate ,with the generous support of FIRMA Foreign Exchange

Corporation, came together in 2012 to celebrate NCD

by raising awareness of children who experience

marginalization in Edmonton and area.

Research shows that there are currently 41,000

children in the Alberta Capital Region living in poverty.

Thats enough children to fi ll Rexall Place two and a half

CHILDRENS RIGHTS RECOGNIZED IN EDMONTON

times. On NCD many people in our community came together to celebrate

childrens rights which included a free swim at 14 pools throughout the city,

courtesy of the City of Edmonton and the YMCA of Edmonton on Sunday,

November 18.

City of Edmontons Mayor Stephen Mandel and Franco Savoia, president

and CEO of the Y MCA of Edmonton, attended an event at Commonwealth

Recreation Centre, where Mayor Mandel presented students from Clara Tyner

Elementary School with a proclamation declaring November 20 as National

Child Day in Edmonton. He promised to ensure Edmontons children andyouth have the support, encouragement and respect necessary to reach their full

potential.

National Child Day is an opportunity we can not afford to miss to engage

our community as a whole about the key issues affecting children in the Alberta

Capital Region. As a city rich in children, it is important to recognize National

Child Day, as we are all able to have a positive impact on the lives of children.

For more information visit WWW.SUCCESSBY6EDMONTON.INFO/NATIONAL-CHILD-DAY/.

Mayor Stephen Mandel proclaims National Child Day in Edmonton.

WE, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of United Way of the Alberta Capital

Region, made its big-screen debut at the 2012 United Way Campaign Kick-off

on September 18, 2012, with the launch of WE TV!

WE TV brings to life the inspiring stories of people from right here in our

community people like Brittany Tyerman and Tyler Tollefson, who were

featured in the Summer/Fall 2012 issue of WE Magazine. Brittanys story is

about a teen who got her life back on track after being referred to the Da Bom

Squad, a paramilitary program that helps push youth beyond their physical and

WEMAGAZINE HITS THE BIG SCREEN emotional barriers. Brittany, along with Constable MichelleHorchuk, a former Da Bom Squad co-ordinator whom she

credits for helping change her life, tell a real-life story of

change, hope and success.

Tylers story is one of volunteerism and dedication to

community. Tyler, along with his wife and three young girls,

are active United Way supporters and are firm believers that

the only way to get what you need out of life is by giving back.

To watch Brittany and Tylers stories, or to subscribe for

future issues of WE Magazine visit WWW.WEMAGAZINE.CA.

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SINCE 2004,

the RISE Awards

has recognized

the outstanding

achievements and

contributions of

immigrants in our

community and those

who support them alongthe way. Coordinated

by the Edmonton

Mennonite Centre

for Newcomers, the

annual event brings

together individuals,

organizations,

government and

community to celebrate

local success stories.

Employers Awards

are presented to

organizations that

demonstrate excellence

in strategic leadership,

mentoring, and

recruitment practices through the development and implementation ofpolicies that break down employment barriers for Internationally Trained

Professionals. Community Awards are presented to individuals in the area s of

arts and culture, community leadership, youth, and lifetime achievement.

This years RISE Awards will be taking place on May 8th, 2013 at Northlands.

THE EMPLOYER AWARD CATEGORIES ARE:

Individual Achievement Award

Outstanding Workplace Award

Small Business Excellence Award

THE COMMUNITY AWARD CATEGORIES ARE:

Arts, Culture and Athletics Award

Community Leadership Award (Organization)

Community Initiative Award (Individual)

Youth Achievement Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

For more information on the RISE Awards or to purchase tickets v isit

HTTP://RISE.EMCN.AB.CA/.

WE WINTER/SPRING 2013 WEMAGAZINE.CA 7

ON SEPTEMBER 18, UNITED WAY OF THE

Alberta Capita l Region released its 2012 campaign

video, United Were Strong, featuring three musical

performances by local artists. The video, a musical

mash-up of three original songs that align with United

Ways focus on education, income and wellness in the

Alberta Capita l Region.

Working closely with the highly creative marketing

company PlanIt Sound, United Way brought togetherlocal artists, actors and filmmakers to create this

powerful and captivating music video that uses music

and imagery to deliver a message of hope and unity

for people in the community who may be living in

poverty. The video tells the story from three different

perspectives: a woman struggling with a mental illness,

a man who suddenly finds himself unemployed and

a young girl who gets involved with a bad crowd

after school.

Tupelo Honeys lead vocalist Dan Davidson was

joined by the charismatic 14-year-old singer Yasmeen

Najmeddine and talented rapper Maigan van der Giessen.

Each artist infuses the music video with his or her own

unique style of rock, folk and hip hop.

A sincere thank you goes to R .J. and Rowena Cui, of

PlanIt Sound, Simon Morgan and his team at Lindisfarne

Production and everyone whose talent and effort madethis project a success.

To watch United Were Strong or download the three

original songs, visit WWW.MYUNITEDWAY.CA.

UNITED WAY MAKES MUSIC

From left to right, Dan Davidson, Maigan van der Giessen

and Yasmeen Najmeddine on set of the United Were Strong

video shoot in August 2012.

A dancer at the 2012 Rise Awards

RISING TO THE OCCASION

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IT IS THE GENEROSITY of the Alberta Capital

Region that has kept the Coats for Kids & Families program

running for 21 years. Because of donations from all across

our region, and the support of our partners and sponsors,

together we continue to provide warm winter coats to

individuals and families in need.

The year 2012 marked new successes in support of the

program. The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation andGlobal Edmonton joined the program as presenting partners,

providing new opportunities to create awareness of the

program in our community.

As part of the launch event on October 23, 2012, PCL

family of companies issued a challenge to the community

to collect winter items for those in need. They unloaded a

truckload filled with more than 4,000 winter items including

coats, toques, mitts, work boots and other winter gear all

collected from the employees based here in Edmonton and

area. Mayor Stephen Mandel was on hand to accept PCLs

challenge on behalf of the City of Edmonton and its employees.

KEEPING THE CAPITAL REGION WARM

For the first time ever, the Edmonton Oil Kings ran a collection drive for Coats

for Kids & Families during the home game on October 28, 2012. The day was a great

success, helping to collect many much-needed coats, toques and other winter items.

We encourage you to get involved, too! There is a need for men, women and

childrens winter wear. To date, close to 7000 winter items have been distributed

through the program.

Coats for Kids & Families officially runs October to December of each year.

Donations can be made year-round to United Way. For additional information, visitWWW.COATSFORKIDS.CA.

DISCOVERY SPEAKERS

AT UNITED WAY, we believe that community membersand organizations will make decisions and take actions that

strengthen communities, families and individuals when they

have the opportunity to discover our work.

We also believe that it is our responsibility as a community

builder to connect people to the issues that surround us.

United Ways Discovery Speakers program provides

opportunities for people to hear first-hand the difference

that is being made in the lives of families and individuals in

our community. Our speaker group comprises people who

have benefited from a front-line program or service in our

community.

In 2012, 29 speakers made over 335 presentations to

workplace groups throughout our region on behalf of United

Ways partner agencies.

These speakers volunteered their time to thank our

community and share the difference that our collective

support has made in their lives.

There is no greater testament to United Ways community

impact than a story from someone whose life has improved

because of the work that we do.

For additional information, visit WWW.MYUNITEDWAY.CA.

To hear some of the inspiring stories of the Discovery Speakers, visit

WWW.MYUNITEDWAY.CA/DISCOVER-SPEAKERS.

2012 DISCOVERY SPEAKERS

Kris Andreychuk(NET), Elaine Comeau, Jean Cremer(Strathcona Shelter

Society), Larry Derkach (Jewish Family Services Edmonton),Jenn Dermott

(United Way of the Alberta Capital Region),Tamara Gaudet(Canadian

National Institute for the Blind), Constable Michelle Horchuk(Edmonton

Police Service), Dianne Jackson (Canadian Red Cross), Edgar Jackson

(Canadian Paraplegic Association),Nimera Kalmbach (Connect Society),

Emily Keating(Youth Empowerment & Support Services),Amanda Kokram

(*BGCBBBS), Donna Lemieux(Centre for Family Literacy), Donna Mackey,

Joshua Marshall (Bissell Centre), Brian McPherson (Canadian Paraplegic

Association),Jimmy Morrison (Operation Friendship Seniors Society),Lincoln

Nanaquawetung(Canadian National Institute for the Blind), Ross Norton

(Canadian Paraplegic Association), Luke Ross (KARA Family Resource

Centre), Gary Sampley(Edmonton Epilepsy Association), Lise Schitroth

(*BGCBBBS), Kyle Schneider(E4C),Tanaura Seon(The Support Network),

Pamela Spurvey, Jennifer Tairney(Terra Centre), Karen Unger(*BGCBBBS),

Kerry Woodland(*BGCBBBS) andJudy Yawney(Edmonton Food Bank).

*Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area.

Sponsored by:

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Edmonton has vEry low unemployment and

many working people receive excellent wages. But hidden

in the wealth is a widening gap between the richest 10

per cent and the bottom 20 per cent of wage earners. A

surprising number of working adults in Alberta earn less

than $15 per hour and struggle to make ends meet even

after a 40-hour work week. In November 2012, Edmonton

Social Planning Council released a report titled Achieving

the Promise, Ending Poverty in Alberta, which shows the

difcult reality faced by the working poor.

MYTH:A full-time job means prosperity.

There are many thousands of Edmontonians who

basically will work full-time for the full year but still livein poverty, says John Kolkman, executive director of

the Edmonton Social Planning Council. Kolkman says

that while much of the report deals with Alberta-wide

statistics, Edmonton closely mirrors the provincial reality.

Children are especially likely to experience the effects

of working poverty. The report details Statistics Canada

research showing that, In 2010, 51.6 per cent of children

who live in poverty were in a household where one or

more persons worked full-time for the full year.

and the Parkland

Institute about Albertas

reliance on food banks

compared to the rest of

Canada: Alberta has the

highest rate of food bank

use by those working

full-time, full-year.

Working in poverty

is precarious. Job loss,

reductions in hours

worked and/or pay

cuts can immediately

drive a householdbelow the poverty

line. Single parents,

especially mothers, are

vulnerable to slipping

under the poverty line

and remaining there if

they have weak links

to the labour market.

When facing uncertain

or low-paying work, it is difcult to

nd adequate child care and act as

primary caregiver to the child.

Many Edmonton residents put in long

hours for low pay

WorkingPoor

by BoBBi-SueMenard

we winter/spring 2013wemagazine.Ca 9

mYTH BUSTERS

The Ending Povertyreport shows

that income transfers only go so far

when working for low wages. Full-

time work, even when combined with

EMPLOYMENT BY ThE NuMBErs

Source: Statistis canada 2012

Albetan Eaning $15 pe o o le,by Age Gop (Apil 2011 to Mac 2012):

60%

55%

50%

45%

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

1990

Pecentage of Albeta cilden in poo

familie wee one o moe paent a afll-time, fll-yea job:

45+ yrs

23%

15-19 yrs

22%

20-24 yrs

20%25-44 yrs

35%

MYTH: If you have a job you dont needto access services.

Kolkman points out that many families struggle in

isolation and access social supports in an emergency.

Many people try to cut corners. If they really run stuck,

they might have to go to a food bank once a month to

supplement things and so they kind of struggle to get by.As the economy improves, food bank usage has dropped

slightly. But the Ending Povertyreport contains a shocking

fact uncovered by the Alberta College of Social Workers

MYTH:The governmentprovides for the workingpoor.

income transfers from governments,

is still inadequate to lift children out of

dire circumstances.

Kolkman says the good news

is that income transfers from the

government, such as the Child Tax

Benet, do help bring families above

the poverty line.The bad news is that there are very

few nancial supports for people

without children.

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WE WINTER/SPRING 201310 WEMAGAZINE.CA

PHOTO:DUSTIN

DELFS

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PLAYERS: Ed Bean, founde of Cstal Glass (L)

and Ken Fanczek, geneal manage, ave infomall

woked to ie people wit baies to emploment,

including people expeiencing omelessness.

11wemagazine.Ca we winter/spring 2013

transition from the street.

After doing well at his job for several months, the

young man disappeared. He may have fallen backward,

but he had taken two very solid steps for ward, Franczek

tells me, his white shirt and smart tie testify ing to his

own rise in the glass industry. And you dont know what

impact that one person youve helped today will have

in the future. People say you cant change the world,

but you can change a life. And its like a tree it grows

exponentially.

Franczeks story hints at some of the complexreasons unemployment and underemployment remain

stubbornly high for those at the margins of work, even

with unemployment at 4.7 per cent in Alberta and why

it makes dollars and sense to put concerted effort into

matching everyone who can work with a job that ts.

Even though the effort may, at rst, seem unrewarded.

BEYOND EXPLOITATION

The Bissell Centre in inner city Edmonton serves people

whose reasons for being unemployed range from mental

illness to addiction to physical disability to life trauma to

low literacy to criminal records to single parenting and

more. Some are escaping violent situations, and some

are aboriginal and endure pervasive prejudice, and some

might be immigrants, says CEO Mark Holmgren. All

those barriers bundled together make people start to feel

crunched and then a person says youre a lazy bum.The lineup outside the Bissell Centre every morning

testies that dozens are anything but lazy.

HALFWAY THROUGH A LUNCHEON

featuring Frank ODea, who went frombeing homeless to co-founding Second

Cup, a few puzzle pieces clicked into place for Ken

Franczek. First, ODeas life story reminded the

Crystal Glass general manager how important a

hand up was for him many years ago, when home

was no longer a welcome place and he desperately

needed work. Second, he realized that the well-

spoken young man sitting next to him wasexperiencing homelessness and in need of a job.

Before that luncheon ended, Franczek had conspired

with boss Ed Bean, the community-minded founder of

Crystal Glass and Crystal K ids, to offer the young man

a hand up a job, but equally important, mentorship

and forgiveness for the small stuff during the tough

Employ

ability

In the midst of a city-wide labourshortage, barriers to employmentstill exist. People can move fromthe margins of the labour poolto full employment all it takesis community

bChEryL MAhAffY

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PHOTO:

KENARMSTRONG


Theyre here even in deep-freeze temperatures, hoping for a days work

at $11 to $15 an hour. The Bissell Centre began running its own placementservice 20 years ago because of a need in the community for things a casual

worker might be able to do. The program also offers other services a loaner

pair of boots, a ride to the work site, or regulation gear.

Bissell will make 13,000 casual placements in 2012, bringing close to

$1 million into Edmontons economy. Seeking a win-win for both sides,

the centre avoids employers who pay rock-bottom wages and stays in close

contact with partner work sites to make sure each match works out. It also

supplies free lunches, safety equipment, socks, gloves and other gear typi-

cally donated. As Holmgren puts it, Our model is to work with the entire

community to put people to work.

Besides its casual labour pool, the centre runs pre-employment training,

an accredited daycare and a Jobs First pilot involving intensive coaching

in work and life skills. With multiple entry points to employment and staff

who build trusting relationships, Holmgren says, When a window opens,

someone can suggest a route in.

An encouraging number go on to find full-time work, including some at

the Bissell Centre. Suddenly theyre on a path where they can think of afuture, not just about basic survival, and theyre less likely to harm them-

selves and others, Holmgren says. Employment is not a panacea, but its a

bigger contributor than people often think.

A WILLING WORKFORCE

THE WORTH OF A JOB

Its nearly a decade since Jay Freeman helped turn an LRT

station into a war ming centre for people experiencing

homelessness in bitter mid-winter, but he still recalls one

group that insisted on being roused hours before sun up, sothey could be first in the temporary work line and not miss

out on a job. They were sleeping on the concrete floor of the

LRT, yet they were going to get up at 5:30 a.m. and rush off

to work.

Thats how much it means to have a job, adds Freeman,

who has since become executive director of Edmontons

Homeless Commission. And money is but the star t of it.

What we are is so tied to what we do. To have to say, Well,

I dont have a job is demoralizing. Its embarrassing. It kills

the soul.

Put positively, work enriches our lives w ith structure a nd

purpose and social networks, says Alberta Health Serv ices

clinical supervisor K atherine Hay. I truly believe if someone

took away our jobs, most of us would end up unwell.

Employing people at the margins a lso reduces health, po-

lice and social service costs. Providing services for a person

experiencing homelessness costs $130,000 a year, more thandouble the cost of a dedicated worker. A jail cell costs 10

times more than an apartment.

Hays unit offers a continuum of employment opportuni-

DOWNTOWN PROUD: The streets are no longer mean for Jerry, Glen

and Warren (L to R). They are employed members of the Downtown

Proud team, a social enterprise that provides meaningful jobs to

people looking to re-enter the workforce.

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Employ

abilityties to Edmontonians living with addiction and mental ill-

ness: pre-employment training, working in a greenhouse at

Alberta Hospital , stafng a bistro at the Northeast Health

Centre, cleaning apartments and for those ready for the

challenge marketplace jobs with supportive employers.

Her staff worked with just over 400 people last year; given

that one in ve of us wi ll experience mental illness at some

point, many more could benet, she says. When people

obtain satisfying employment that is individually matched,

I really think that is one of the keys in recovery.

GOOD FOR BUSINESS

There goes one of my Downtown Proud guys. Jim Taylor,

executive director of the Downtown Business Association,

is keeping an eye on the street as we chat by phone when

the object of our conversation swings into his view.

More than 20 downtown businesses fund Downtown

Proud, which employs ve

people with addictions, mental

health issues and other employ-

ment barriers through Boyle

Street Community Services.

Their mission: to keep Jasper

Avenue tidy.

We got them into housing and we got them support

services and we only work them enough that it wont af-

fect their government benets, Taylor says. Three of the

original ve have remained with Downtown Proud since itbegan three years ago; a fourth dropped out and the fth

launched a painting and contracting business. Instead of

suffering rude remarks for being on the street, the workers

enjoy words of thanks, he adds. It really changes a person

when they start va luing themselves because of what they re

doing rather than feeling they have no worth at all.

Downtown Proud is one of several supportive work crews

around town. Drop in on Edmontons Waste Management

Centre, Kids in the Hall, Jasper Place Health and Wellness

and elsewhere, and youll nd people hard at work who

would otherwise be jobless. A few crews operate as social

enterprises businesses whose mission is to break even by

doing good. When you dont need to make a prot or your

prots are always invested back in your company, you can

really make a d ifference, Taylor notes.

That said, the corporate world can also benet by hiring

from the margins, Taylor adds. Chains such as Tim Hortonsdo it by job carving, redening roles so that people with

particular barriers can ll certain jobs. You may have some

good employees who are being underemployed part of their

days, doing tasks that dont use their skill set. As soon as

you car ve out a job that somebody else is happy to have,

youve upped the production and lowered the cost of getting

another part of your work done.

Easy to say, harder to do, Taylor adds. People are so

busy running their business that somebody has to tell them

how. Rather than just banging on doors saying youve got

to hire the disabled or people with other barriers, we need

people who can go in and help get it done.

THE BOOM EFFECT

Theres no doubt that Albertas boom economy, coupled

with the surge of retiring baby boomers, opens doors to

applicants who wouldnt otherwise get a chance. Agencies

such as the Bissell Centre can serve as a bridge, identifying

the former inmate who holds promise despite her criminal

record and helping the man with mental illness make it

through the tough spots. We

have a lot of talented people

here, Bubel says. Employers

are telling us they have such

high turnover that they see the

value of our stepping in to help

people stick around.

While the openings created by the boom are welcome,

the pace is not always ideal for Hays mental health clients,

many of whom perform best on reduced hours of work.

Anybody who has a heartbeat gets hired part-time, butthen theyll be cal led every day saying we need you to work

more hours. This may be one of your star employees, but

youre better of f sticking with part t ime rather than losing

them entirely.

It doesnt help that the federal government denes

employment at a level that discounts the progress made

by anyone working less than 12 hours a week, Hay says.

Or that students with disabilities become ineligible for free

education at the same age as everyone else. Or that compa-

nies are recruiting overseas rather than getting the most

out of what we have in our own backyard. There are lots of

little things going on, but much more needs to happen over

time to make the workforce reective of our population.

BEYOND FEAR

Reducing unemployment at the margins depends not

only on inner city agencies and private employers, but onneighbourhoods all over the city, says Franczek, who still

wonders what pulled his proteg away from Crystal Glass.

We need to create places outside the inner city where

I truly believe if someone tookaway our jobs, most of us would

end up unwell.

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WEMAGAZINE.CA14 WE WINTER/SPRING 2013

A WILLING WORKFORCE

people can be when theyre in transition. My dad used to say Ken, if youwant to be a dentist, dont hang out w ith the garbage man. If we want people

to contribute to our community, we have to

insert them into it and allow them to learn from

their environment.

Franczek has seen the good that can come

from hanging out with the right crowd not

only in his own life but in the downtown boxing

club where he volunteered for years among kids

with rough lives, moulding negative energy

into positive. I can easily count 10 of those

young adults who have made it who have jobs, who have relationships, who

have put their lives on track, he says. Then they become positive contribu-

tors. And if you really want to take it full circle, theyre all going to need a

windshield.

A TRIO OF BARRIERS

SLEEPING ROUGH

No home, no job. No job, no home. Thats how Freeman sums up the close

link between life on the streets and unemployment. He sees first-hand how

hard it is to find and keep work without a place to call home.Edmontons 2010 homeless count found 2,421 people on

the streets, in shelters or surfing

couch to couch. With average rent

eating up 65 per cent of full-time

minimum wage and nearly half

of Albertans liv ing paycheque to

paycheque, thousands more teeter

on the edge of eviction. If you dont

have a residence or give the address

of one of our shelters on an applica-

tion form, an employer is going to at least think twice about

hiring you, Freeman says. And simple things about finding

and keeping a job become huge obstacles. Waking up on

time, showering, putting on clean clothes, getting to work in

a sprawling city every step takes an extra dose of ingenu-

ity. Not surprisingly, sleep deprivation is endemic among the

homeless, he adds. If youre not sleeping properly, youre notgoing to be very productive at work.

Edmontons Housing First program has placed more than

2,000 previously homeless Edmontonians in safe, sup-

If you dont have a residence or give

the address of one of our shelters on

an application form, an employer

is going to at least think twice about

hiring you.

PHOTO:AARON

PEDERSEN

/3T

EN

TRANSFORMING POWER: Shirley Sandul (L) executive director of P.A.L.S.

and Frank are all smiles. Improving adult literacy boosts lifetime employment

outcomes and improves individual standards of living.

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ported, permanent, affordable housing in recent years.

Some will never be able to work, but the vast majority

can and crave the companionship and sense of worth a

job can provide, Freeman says. Whats more, they need

the money. When we go and visit their apartments, their

fridges are still empty. Theyre still poor.

Easing back into the workforce after years of sleeping

rough is not easy. The concept that when you say I have

to be at work at 8:30 you really mean it theyve kind

of lost those ski lls and need a compassionate employer,

Freeman says. Yet without work, the previously homelessall too easily spiral back down. Its absolutely critical they

get reintegrated back into the workforce and frankly the

workforce needs them.

LOW-LEVEL LITERACY

Two years ago, Frank was in hiding. Barely able to read,

hed found a job in security but

worried the reports he had to

write at the end of every shift

would nd him out. At home,

he was irritable and testy.

It wasnt just that I couldnt

read, but that I didnt believe

in myself, he says.

Frank is not alone. Forty

per cent of Edmonton adults

dont have enough reading, writing, math or computerskills to meet daily living needs, says Shirley Sandul,

executive director of Project Adult Literacy Society

(P. A. L. S.), which pairs adult students with volunteer

tutors to improve those skills. With low level literacy

youre more likely in a low-paying job, more likely the rst

person red and less likely to take any further training

or even be offered it at work. And you have access to fewer

resources because you cant read and you dont want to

admit you cant.

Literacy gaps limit potential so drastically that any

change has a huge effect, Sandul says, pointing to a

35-year scan of OECD data that found a one per cent

rise in average literacy translated into a permanent 1.5

per cent increase in GDP per capita. She would love to see

a comprehensive, community-wide effort to reach every-

one with literacy needs.

Frank is proof of the potential. After two years withP. A. L. S., he re-entered the market with new condence,

landing a job in a transmission shop. Whats more, he is

taking courses at the Citizens Police Academy to become

a community support worker, aiming to give back while pursu-

ing a lifelong dream of being in police work. His family takes

pride in the new Frank, whos now setting his sights on nish-

ing Grade 12. I never thought that was a possibility before, he

says. I know now that I can do whatever it is I want.

VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE DISABILITIES

How much would it cost to t a person with a disability into

your workplace? Employers in one Bank of Montreal study

overestimated the cost by as much as $10,000. In reality, more

than half can be accommodated at no cost and others typicallyrequire adjustments costing no more than $500, according to

an employers surveyed by the Job Accommodation Network.

In return, employers retain or gain workers who more often

than not prove loyal and productive.

Yet among the 350,000 individuals with one or more dis-

abilities in Alberta, only 67 per cent are employed; for those

with mental i llness, the gure drops

below 30 per cent. According

to the Premiers Council on the

Status of Persons with Disabili-

ties, half of those with no work

want a job and believe they would

be capable of full participation if

barriers and disincentives were

permanently removed. People

with disabilities are an untapped

source of people power in a group that includes lawyers, doc-tors and engineers.

Its really important to think about people with disabilities

as potential employees and focus on their abilities, because

they have much to contribute to the workplace, says Iris

Saunders, executive director of EmployAbilities in downtown

Edmonton. Her clients have hearing or vision loss, or men-

tal illness, or developmental or physical challenges, but with

the agencys support, 75 per cent nd jobs. Truly the biggest

challenge and you would think it would be the easiest is the

myths that surround people with disabilities.

Fifty-six per cent of small businesses in Alberta (and 44

per cent across Canada) say theyve hired a person with a dis-

ability, according to a survey conducted for BMO Financial

Group. In the time-honoured tradition of seeing is believing,

one successful match often leads to more. Especially with the

shortage of workers in Alberta, recruiting people with disabili-

ties makes good business sense, Saunders says. It increasesthe size of the population you can choose from and compa-

nies with a diverse workforce are seen as more progressive

and dynamic.

Employability

With low level literacy youre more

likely in a low-paying job, more likely

the rst person red and less likely to

take any further training or even be

offered it at work.

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Brianna and mentor Nola Caleb and mentor James Mentor Lydia and Taylor

Mentor Cheryl and Alyssa Ryan and mentor Anita

Mentor Gennadi and Cassius


DONOR PROFILE

FACE TIME: Mentor Victor and Ben find there is no substitutefor spending time together. WorleyParsons employees andtheir protegs look forward to their weekly meetings.

7/29/2019 WE Winter 2013

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THREE YEARS AGO, VICTOR LIN STOOD AT THE

front door of WorleyParsons south-side

campus, welcoming a gaggle of elementary

school kids into the building for the first time: I

remember overhearing one of the kids, a little girl,

who walked in the door and said, Well, this looks

like a nice place to work! Lin still laughs at the precocious nine-year-olds evaluation of

the Edmonton engineering companys main office but admits that,

at the time, it was reassuring. After all,

before the first group of kids set foot at

WorleyParsons, no one really knew if the

pilot program would be a hit.

Months before, United Way had ap-

proached WorleyParsons about a potential

mentorship program between their staff

and kids involved with the Boys & Girls

Club Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) program in Millwoods.

The idea was to bring protgs to their mentors, allowing the

adults to squeeze volunteer time into their busy schedules.

For many years, WorleyParsons had been a keen supporter of

several United Way fundraising and volunteering initiatives, and

the pilot program seemed like a natural fit. Nevertheless, an in-

house mentorship program was unfamiliar territory. At that point,in 2009, wed never expanded into a mentorship capacity, says

Lin, a project manager with WorleyParsons who co-ordinates the

mentorship program.

WorleyParsons mentorship program bringsyouth to the workplace and changes lives

by CAITLINCRAWSHAW Photographyby BUFFY GOODMAN

The logistics were simple. Once a week, BGCBigs would bus

in two groups of kids one from Menisa Elementary School and

the other from T.D. Baker Junior High School to the companys

head office. For just one hour, mentors and protegs would spend

time together in a casual environment and focus on having fun.

When we first star ted, the caseworker brought this Tupper-

ware box full of games, says Lin, whos also a mentor with theelementary school side of the program. It was the perfect ice-

breaker and kids happily engaged with the adults over puzzles

or games of Life. Over the course of the

year, that container of treats began to

grow, mysteriously. Soon, it was over-

flowing (the treasure trove now takes up

an entire closet), and Lin discovered that

other WorleyParsons staff members were

quietly donating toys, puzzles, games and

other fun stuff that their own kids had

outgrown. The kids have been adopted by our group not just

the people mentoring, but a lot of other people, Lin explains.

The game closet continues to be popular, but oftentimes men-

tors and protegs have their own projects on the go. Lin and his

mentee, who participates in Scouts, tend to work on achieving

new badges. Other pairings do crafts, art projects, make cookies

and much more. It depends on whatever spark of interest worksfor the mentorship relationship, he says.

There are also group activities from time to time. We have the

good fortune of having a two-storey atrium area, so one day we

The kids have been adopted

by our group not just the

people mentoring, but a lot

of other people.

LOCATION,LOCATION, LOCATION

17WEMAGAZINE.CA WE WINTER/SPRING 2013

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decided to have an airplane competition, says Lin. Adults and children

designed and folded paper airplanes with specific goals in mind (such as

having the plane hit a target or fly through a hula hoop held by the men-

tor on the ground floor). To teach kids about the importance of safety,

anyone on the ground floor was required to wear a hard hat, goggles

and gloves. We were over-teaching the safety element, he laughs.

After a successful first year, the pilotprogram became a permanent initiative

between WorleyParsons and BGCBigs.

The first group of 15 volunteers has

grown to about 23, and the program now

involves the companys downtown office

and a third school, Abbott Elementary

School. Three years ago, we planted the

seed and proved it could work, says Lin.

In fact, thanks to WorleyParsons experi-

ence, several other companies in town have decided to follow suit and

host in-house mentoring programs with BGCBigs. Lin is excited at the

prospect of the program spreading throughout the city and helping more

kids: Imagine if all of the companies in Edmonton did this. We could

really cover a lot more of the mentoring need in Edmonton.

While it may seem like fun and games on the surface, Lin knows that

theres a profound benefit for the kids, who come to the program for

a variety of reasons. Some are experiencing major problems at home,while others have simply been referred by teachers who figure they could

benefit from some extra one-on-one attention from a caring adult. For

the junior high kids, quality time with a mentor can help them navigate

the challenges of teenage life: peer pressure, puberty and

self-esteem issues, among other things.

This isnt just conjecture. Lin has surveyed the kids to find

out how well the program is working. He recalls one com-

ment from a former mentee that still makes him emotional

years later: My Big Sister is someone I can look up to.

We talk about my futureand what is important to

me. When I talk to her, it

reminds me that no matter

how tough life seems right

now, everything will turn

out OK at the end. After

chatting with the girls men-

tor, he was sad to learn that

the girls family was divorc-

ing and shed been struggling personally. The mentor was

shocked to learn shed had so much influence on a young life.

Like the protegs, the mentors come to the program for

different reasons, says Lin. But, when it comes down to it,

for most of them, its a karma thing. Someones helped them

in the past, and they want to give back. While the experience

helps kids, Lin says its a personal development opportunity

that employees appreciate. And while the program takes upwork time, even the company benefits, since happy employees

tend to be more productive and engaged: When you put it all

together, theres a three-way, win-win-win that happens.

FUN AND GAMES: There is a mix of groupand one-on-one activities. The commongoal is to have fun together.

My Big Sister is someone I can look up

to. We talk about my future and what is

important to me. When I talk to her, it

reminds me that no matter how tough

life seems right now, everything will turn

out OK at the end.


DONOR PROFILE

Mentor Anita and Emma

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Employab

ility

Mental illness affects people from all walks of life.

Returning to work can be a challenge, but asunderstanding grows, stigma diminishes


byCAITWILLS

I had very low energy, she says. I remember coming

into work and, by noon, I felt like I was looking at the

world through a black cloud. I was pushing to get throughthe day and I felt drained and exhausted. I worked in

an environment where mental health is important, and

I knew something was wrong, so I spoke to my doctor.I

t started with being tired all the time.

Thats not unusual; busy professionals

often feel like they need to catch up ontheir sleep. But as the days and weeks passed

for Nancy McCalder, her fatigue didnt get

better, it got worse.

SPEAKINGUP

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Its a non-issue, she says bluntly about the health status of

her employees.

While she says the goal as a supervisor is to manage

employer-employee relations with flexibility and enoughrigour to meet operational goals, You hire someone based

on their skills and how they help you achieve your mission,

not their mental health status.

Challborn admits, though, that the employers desire to

support their staff wholeheartedly while managing opera-

tional needs, can be a challenge. You hire someone to do the

job, and because an employee may be afraid they are going

to be discriminated against, they dont say anything at the

interview stage or beyond.

If someone is employed and they have a [health concern],

they may not say something, which makes support minimized

and can negatively impact recovery. What ultimately mat-

ters, though, says Challborn, is the individuals recovery and

it is critical for employers to learn all they can about mental

illness in order to support their employee.

One in five people will suffer mental illness in their

lifetime, says Challborn, so as an employer you are going

to come across it. Its illegal to discriminate against an

employee who is suffering f rom mental illness, so it makes

sense to be very well-educated about opportunities and what

you can do.

So what can employers do to support employees

while protecting the organizations bottom line?

First and most important, says McCalder, is where thehead of the organization walks-the-talk by creating a

non-judgmental and trusting work environment. That way,

employees can instigate a conversation around their mental

health diagnosis without fear of recrimination. The individ-

uals immediate supervisor needs to know [whats going on]

so that they can support the individual, says McCalder. If

an employee has communicated to you, you need to ask what

it looks like when theyre in distress. What does it look like if,

for instance, theyve stopped taking their medication?

Second, she says, We, as supervisors, need to invite the

conversation. We need to be able to say, Im observing that

youre not doing well.

After opening that line of dialogue, McCalder says, the

supervisor should then make sure that the employee knows

that supports are in place, in the workplace and in the

community, should they want to take advantage of them.

Employee assistance programs are very important in thisscenario, she says. Theyre anonymous and have great

support systems available.

Employees should also be reminded to contact organizations

SPEAKING UP

McCalders physician promptly diagnosed her with depression andstarted her on a treatment plan to combat her symptoms and help her get

back on her feet.

I was lucky. The treatment prescribed was helpful immediately, she

says. I was given medication that was effective and took some time off

work. By the time I returned, the medication had helped a great deal.

Today, McCalder is the executive director of the Support Network,

which is the operating organization for three key assistance programs for

people in Northern Alberta in distress. While she was lucky enough to

recognize the symptoms and seek help, many individuals suffering from

mental health issues may not have the ability to reach out for help, which

can be debilitating, personally and professionally.

Ione Challborn, executive director of the Canadian Mental

Health Association (CMHA), Edmonton region, wears several hats.

She is the functional head of an organization that is one of 135 regional

offices offering support to Canadians with mental illness, but she also has

to run a business a business with bills to pay, payroll to meet and staffto support. So how does she support employees with mental il lness in the

workplace while running a successful organization with 25 staff members

and more than 100 volunteers?

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Employ

ability

like the CMHA, which has programs in place to help with

coping strategies and mechanisms for recovery from a men-

tal-health illness diagnosis. The Support Network also offers

programs, including an information directory service, 211,and a 24-hour distress line.

If you have a friend, family member or co-worker in

distress, call the distress line, urges McCalder. You can get

some advice and receive coaching on how to ask the right

questions, which she knows from experience is critical to

reaching an employee who may be suffering.

I had an employee who was suffering from postpartum

depression, and I [initially] missed the signs, says McCalder.

But, because of her personal experience with depression, she

says she was comfortable initiating a conversation.

I approached my employee and told her that I thought

I knew what was going on because of my own experiences

with depression. When she asked me what I knew about it ,

I shared my personal story with her.

McCalder believes that her personal experience helped

her assist an employee who was potentially in crisis. I recog-

nize the symptoms and, as an employer and as someone who

suffered from depression, I will do something, she says.

In order to balance supporting her employees mental

health with her organizations operational priorities,

McCalder, like Challborn, believes the solution is simple:

I will speak out.

Walk away from a vicious cycle

He is soft-spoken and hesitant in his speech but very candid

about where he is today and how he got here.

Joseph (not his real name), works part-time at a large

organization in Edmonton in an office that focuses on

supporting individuals in crisis within his workplace. He also

works part time at the Canadian Mental Health Association,

where he was formerly a client, providing practical supports

to current clients.The work is meaningful and, most important, shows him

that he is contributing. But that wasnt always the case.

I was a client at CMHA for close to two years, he says.

Suffering from a form of depression that goes back to his

time in university, there was a sense that friends were

moving on with their lives, getting good jobs, while he was

just sitting at home, unemployed.

It was a vicious cycle, and I didnt see any way out.

Becoming a client at CMHA meant trying something new.

Although he had previously had one-on-one treatment, the

group-setting dynamic was uncharted territory for him: It

was really essential to have that structure and that dynamic.

I met other people who were also struggling and I found it

really helped to know I wasnt alone. I wasnt a freak.

The long-term aspect of the group setting was important

because it provided a non-judgmental, positive environment.

The results are measurable, Joseph says. I think its been a

gradual process, but I definitely feel better about things. I

have made contacts and I have some friends.I feel like Im in a better position, although I still struggle

with work issues.

The advice he would give to employers who may be

struggling with how to support employees who are suffering

from mental illness is simple: Ive met a lot of people

who have had a hard time, and it helps that employers

understand that people dont necessarily fit into a mould of

the stereotypical employee.

Have patience and concentrate on the strengths of the

employee. Ask about their ideal working environments;

that can make a big difference. Recognize each individual.

Everybody, no matter the diagnosis, has certain strengths.

JOSEPHS STORY

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LIFE AFTER LIFE

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T

by OMAR MOUALLEM

Photographyby EUGENE UHUAD


HERE IS HOPE FOR PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY

after they have paid their debt to society in prison.Employment is the single best influence that reduces

the rate of reoffending. Paid work gives purpose, resolve and

resources to people striving to reintegrate into society. In

return, employers, neighbours and the wider community gain

a productive citizen.

Finding a job is an important steptowards reintegration into society

Employability

AFTERLIFE

LIFE

STANDING TALL: Daryl Clark in the kitchen at LendrumMennonite Brethren Church, helping prepare the food for

an annual Christmas supper for former inmates.

LIFE AFTER LIFE

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LIFE AFTER LIFE

completes it in a month, hell be granted regular temporary absences from

Stan Daniels to work.

Im fortunate because I have a friend and hes willing to find me a job,

Sean says. Hes already talked to his employer and shes willing to take me on,

first as a cleaner, but shell put me through some courses to become a weldingapprentice. If it pans out, it will be his first job ever.

But fellow lifer Robert Perrault isnt so lucky.

At 72, he doesnt have to work. He doesnt have to walk in the freezing

cold to lifers meetings either, but after 23 years in prison any unrestricted

movement matters. I want to work because I want to work, and thats what it

is, he says. But whats available is manual labour and, at his age and with his

background, hes not interested in pushing a broom.

There was a time when society trusted Robert with its lives but those days

are over for the former Air Canada pre-flight inspector. Try to get any of

these jobs when you have a criminal record, he says. Thats the first thing

they ask you: Do you have a criminal record? Exasperated, he says, They

dont want you. So for now, he volunteers 40 hours a week doing reception

and data entry at HIV Edmonton.

Steve Pellatt likens it to being a teenager again. What are the options out

there? he asks. Were all at the same stage of life as these 16-year-olds. I

relate more to my niece and her friends because Im going through the same

thing. Im 53. I should be way beyond that. I should be getting ready to retire.There is a mix of hope and hopelessness in the room tonight, but 10 blocks

south its just hope.

IF YOU DIDNT come to the Edmonton John Howard Society just for a free

cup of coffee and many do then the first thing youll probably see is the

wall with three bulletin boards under the capped labels: RESOURCES,

EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING. The middle one is the biggest.

There are more than 370,000 people in the Canadian correctionalsystem and, statistically, almost all of them will live to see the outside world

again. But to return to a productive life, they must first find meaningful

employment. And for that, they come here.

But even in Albertas strong economy that can be difficult. According to

the John Howard Society, 75 per cent of people admitted to federal prison

struggle with employment before they come in contact with the justice system

and nearly half are unemployed. When released from the system a job makes

a definite positive impact. For those who find a job only 17 per cent reoffend

in the first year. For those who do not find a job in the first year, 40 per cent

reoffend.

Every day at the John Howard Society, up to 40 people with criminal

pasts are trying to beat the odds through a number of services helping them

meet their most basic needs. They know that here they can get food bank or

housing referrals, help obtaining photo ID, clean clothes for job interviews

and, sometimes, just a Ziploc bag of Corn Flakes. Every obstacle beaten, even

hunger, is another reason to avoid returning to crime.

But its the job board that remains one of the most popular attractions.Its tacked with laminated bright blue books filled with job opportunities

in construction, mechanics and more, ranging from $12 to $30 an hour.

By most peoples definitions, Sean Munroe is a big guy.But sitting at a long meeting table, hunched in his heavy

white winter jacket and gazing down at the bent white

paperclip in his tattooed hands, he looks small.

Its the 37-year-olds first time at St. Leonards Society

of Canadas Peer Mentoring Program, and the only

person he knows in the room is John, his escort from

the nearby Stan Daniels minimum security prison. We

should open the blinds, says John. See the traffic. Its asmall luxury for his client.

As the room fills with more people, theres no

judgment of Sean. They are like him: Lifers. Men and

women who committed varying degrees of murder and

are on the road to recovery, to redemption. Even Daryl

Clark, the volunteer facilitator, is a lifer.

But then Allan, an older, confident man in a black

leather jacket enters. You. He points to a dazed Sean.

I knew Id see you again. Sean remembers him now.

His old neighbour from Drumhellers medium security

prison punches him in the shoulder. Its nice to see

people you know and theyre actually smiling, says

Allan.

Sean has a lot to smile about these days. At 22, he

was sentenced to 15 years for second-degree murder.

He worked diligently toward recovery and got therapy

however he could woodworking, arts and crafts andIn Search of Your Warrior, a rehabilitation program

for young incarcerated aboriginal Canadians. When he

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Emplo

yability

But theres another slip of paper that they come for, a

tip sheet on how to handle your criminal record on job

applications and in interviews.

Even for construction jobs, youre required to get a

criminal record check, says Claire Whittal-Williams,intake and employment counsellor, but three, four years

ago, anyone could walk on site and say, Can I get a job?

And you were usually told, Yes. Get some work boots and

work for us. But now, she says, the development market

has cooled and new hires are closely scrutinized.

Education, poverty, learning disabilities all these

factors can lead to crime, but once you have a criminal

record, the mountain of obstacles gets taller. At an

interview, the questioners quietly stewing from across

the desk wonder if they can trust you with customers and

co-workers. Will you steal inventory? Will you even show

up on time?

We tell our clients that when theyre asked to disclose

if theyve had a criminal record, be honest and say

you do, says counsellor Sara Riddle. If you lie about

your past, youll most likely be found out because your

reference mentions it or your parole ofcer visits you atwork. Or a lie could be discovered if time off is required

for a rehabilitation program.

Instead, John Howard trains its clients to emphasize

the positive things in their lives what theyve learned

and the steps theyve taken to keep the past from

repeating. And, says Whittal-Williams, if youre going

to disclose that you have a criminal record, do it in

the middle so that at the end you can say, Yes thats

happened, it was a part of my life, but Im going to AA

meetings, or Ive done skill-building programs. She

adds, Sell your skills.

And leave it to them to nd those marketable skills in

just about anything. Say you had to do janitorial work

in the institution, proposes Whittal-Williams. OK, so

you worked on schedule, you made sure you met every

requirement and you checked in with your supervisor

until you were done. So you can follow protocol.

With dramatic pauses she emphasizes her point:

There. Are. Skills. In. Everything. She laughs. And

theyre looking at you like, Are you kidding me?

Of course theyre not, because half of the battle is

restoring the clients condence. In the institution

the only decision they ever made was waking up, says

Riddle. Theyre told when they can eat, when they cango to the bathroom, when they can shower. And then

theyre released. That power of self was taken away.

Whittal-Williams points out that they cant do it alone.

Currently, employment counsellors help about 1,000 people, mostly

men. Women often choose to seek help across the street at the

Elizabeth Fry Society, which offers many of the same services as

John Howard, but exclusively for women.Executive director Toni Sinclair says the employability chal-

lenges facing women are often greater. We know that in our

society its more difcult, in general, for women to seek certain

kinds of employment than it is for men, that pay remains unequal

and advancement can often be limited for women in certain elds,

says Sinclair. For women with criminal histories, the landscape

becomes even bleaker.

Many of the women seeking the societys assistance are mothers.

Single mothers. Add to that the challenge of regaining custody

of your children and suddenly the task of nding time to write

a resum, send it out, get from interview to interview and then

hold the job down becomes more complicated, more frustrating.

But programs like Work4Women, which tailors the process for

each woman served from application to working help ease the

frustrations.

Maureen Collins is executive director of the John Howard

Society and she has seen the positive affect of meaningful

employment in the lives of people looking for a chance to start over.

Somebody has to give you a shot. You need stable housing and

you need meaningful employment where you earn a legitimate

living, says Collins of people who are moving through the process

of returning to everyday life after prison.

For Collins its the success stories that spring to her mind.

For example, Chris, who after a series of stints in prison due to

addiction-related behaviours, got clean and got on track. Chris

worked intensively on personal development and after incredibly

hard work he is now married, a father, an employee and the owner

of a seasonal landscaping business. That rst chance is huge, says

Collins.

Once the rst job is a success, Collins says anyone can see the

results. When someone who has been in prison nds meaningful

employment you can see it in their face. It is night and day. They

look like a different person. There is something in their eye, a

sparkle, and a spring in their step. People who nd work after beingin contact with the justice system are incredibly proud and simply

transformed.

There is something in their eye, a sparkle, and a

spring in their step. People who nd work after being incontact with the justice system are incredibly proud and

simply transformed.

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WEMAGAZINE.CAWE WINTER/SPRING 2013 WEMAGAZINE.CA26

MOUNTAINOUS JOB: George Seanor volunteers

his weekends to clean outerwear donated byEdmontonians.

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Employ

ability

Program brings new or gently used coatsto those who need them

27wEmagazinE.Ca wE winter/spring 2013

byMichelle Lindstrom PotograpybyBUFFY GoodmAn

more opportunities to donate new or gently used coats

to the program. Additionally, children grow so rapidly

that a winter coat usually only ts for one season,

meaning an abundance of small coats make their way

to Edmonton-and-area Page The Cleaners to be cleaned

and shipped to community depots for distr ibution on

United Ways behalf.

George Seanor is a long-standing Page The Cleaner

employee of 35 years, and United Way volunteer. For 21

years, Seanor has been dry cleaning the donated coats

that come to his location. Hes been at the main Page

The Cleaner location 11416-142 Street in Edmonton

for about 10 years and cleans donated coats after hours

or puts in full Sundays to keep up with the volume.

Roughly 11,000 coats per year are distributed to Capital

Region families through the campaign, and most

garments pass through Seanors location for cleaning.I put in a fair bit of extra time but thats OK; its not a

problem, he says.

Many United Way volunteers and supporters

are surprised to hear that donations

of mens winter coats never quite meet

the annual need in Albertas Capital Region.

[Men] are at the highest need and at the lowest

donation, so year to year were always short of

menswear, says Jenn Dermott, Discovery pro-

gram co-ordinator for United Way of the Alberta

Capital Region. The ratio of men experiencinghomelessness, or males in poverty, to women, is

currently about 60/40 in our community.

Coats for Kids & Families is a well-known United

Way initiative in par tnership w ith Page The Cleaner that

tackles the lack of warm outerwear many people face

in this cold reg ion because they dont have the means

to purchase enough for themselves or family members.

Womens coats are general ly more plentiful becausewomen tend to shop more frequently than men and also

have more than one coat in their closets therefore,

Jacket

RequiRed

JACKET REQUIRED

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Were talking certified work boots, says Christa Broadfoot,

Discovery director for United Way of the Alberta Capital

Region. Thats the difference to somebody who may havesecured work outdoors and they need the proper certified

equipment to maintain that job thats really expensive when

you dont have any money.

Those needing a coat can call 2-1-1 to find out which

community depots distribute to the public at large. With

that call, a 211 representative will let the person know where

the closest depot is to his or her current location, the times

and dates the depot distributes coats and what coats were

provided to that depot to give out.

Twice a year, theres another initiative in which United Way

takes part in order to provide people experiencing homelessness

and those on the cusp of homelessness with coats, work boots

and care kits. Homeless Connect is an event that started up in

2008 and has now been held eight times at Edmontons Shaw

Conference Centre. It isnt run by United Way but is instead a

large community collaboration between multiple partners and

service providers in Edmonton. The biannual event (spring andfall) offers attendees warm coats, haircuts, dental checkups,

a good meal and information on housing, taxes and other

resources all in one day, at one location.

United Way has been a part of the event since its beginning

and witnessed October 2012s Homeless Connect become

an even greater success than previous years because Parlee

McLaws LLP came on board as a sponsor. Parlees three-year

commitment to Homeless Connect secured United Ways

ability to provide more than 1,700 people living in poverty

with standardized kits full of personal care items including

shampoo, deodorant, and razors. Prior to that sponsorship,

everything was generated solely based on community

donations, so there wasnt the same number of every item or

some things would be dif ferent, Broadfoot says.

There are 400,000 Albertans living in poverty and

123,000 of them fall within the Capital Regions boundaries.

Coats for Kids & Families and Homeless Connect are just

two of the many initiatives United Way of the Alberta Capital

Region and its Discovery team oversee. Dermott says its

important to know that even with long-standing programs

in the community such as Coats for Kids & Families, each

year theres still a need for donations, volunteers and public

awareness.

LEARN MORE

Seehttp://coatsforkids.ca andwww.homelessconnect.ca

for more information.

JACKET REQUIRED

HIGH VOLUME: The commercial cleaning equipmentat Page The Cleaner operates extra hours to handle

the volume of donated outerwear.

Edmontons such a good community when it comes to volunteering and

for donating, Seanor says. The amount of coats we get is just incredible. He

can include himself in that good community considering he began helping

United Way with the program from the start. A nd he volunteers his time and

expertise simply for the satisfaction that people in need, like friends from his

childhood, who he recalls shivering each winter, will be better-equipped for

Albertas harsh weather.

United Ways main campaign, or peak coat donation time, runs each year

in late October to early December and has done so for over two decades. We

try to time [the campaign] when people might be going through their closets

as the weather starts to turn, Dermott says. United Way will accept jackets

year-round, though, if somebodys closet is bursting with winter wear and

they just cant wait until the fall to clear it all out.Work boots and other cold-weather gear toques, mitts and scarves

are also items United Way gladly accepts for Coats for Kids & Families.

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by ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH


BRIDGING BOUNDARIES:

in GSA communities contribute to United

Way campaigns, each community has a strong

relationship with Edmonton and the mission

of United Way is an important part of regional

health. GSAs located in Fort Saskatchewan,St. Albert and Strathcona County all run their

own Community Investment Committees(CICs), which each include various local

officials, members of the community, and a

member of United Way staff.

OST UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA

Capital Region supporters know

about the great work that the

organization does with people from all walks

of life in the city of Edmonton, but the needfor United Way funding does not stop at

the city limits. United Way funds groups inmunicipalities in the Capital Region, which it

refers to as Greater Service Areas, or GSAs. The

funding is distributed for three reasons: people

M

EDMONTON

PARKLAND COUNTY

LEDUC COUNTY

LAMONT COUNTY

STURGEON COUNTYFORT SASKATCHEWAN

ST. ALBERT

STRATHCONA COUNTY

GREATER SERVICE AREAS

BRIDGING BOUNDARIES

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United Way has a long-standing relationship with Fort Saskatchewans

Community Investment Committee, dating back to 1998. The committee

was formed after a group of local citizens became concerned that many

donations that originated in the Fort Saskatchewan area were being

funnelled into Edmonton-based projects even though there was plenty of

need in the local community. Since its inception, the Fort Saskatchewan

Committee has funded over 20 different community groups, ranging from

recreational services for kids and youth with disabilities to a restorative

justice program focusing on youth and community involvement.

Fort Saskatchewan Community Investment Committee chair April Jennings

says she appreciates that United Way allows the committee to direct

funds in ways that specifically serve the needs of the population of FortSaskatchewan, rather than trying to mimic programs that exist in Edmonton.

Smaller communities have unique needs and different needs than a larger

community, Jennings says. One example is we dont see a great deal of

homelessness in Fort Saskatchewan. Thats an issue that Edmonton is dealing

with on a huge scale. Were finding that thats not something were dealing

with, but our family violence statistics are higher than other communities.

Fort Saskatchewans CIC is allocated $50,000 from United Way each

year. The money is typically awarded through two annual grantingcycles. Jennings says the impact on the local community at large has

been huge. Even an initiative like the Next Steps Senior High Breakfast

FORT SASKATCHEWAN COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

and Lunch Program, which addresses the nutritional

needs of a select group of young people, ultimately

affects the entire Fort Saskatchewan community.

When we support groups like that, we find that the

graduation rate is increasing, Jennings says. So

were putting more citizens into our community that

have a high school diploma and are going out there

with basic nutritional information so they can keep

themselves healthy throughout their adult years. Its

hard to pinpoint, but the trickle effect is huge.

The Fort Saskatchewan CIC has chosen to

distribute its United Way funds among as manygroups as possible so as to impact a greater number

of citizens. Jennings says that the needs of the

greater community are varied, which is why the

committee tries to spread the wealth.

The money is being put towards prevention so

that later on down the line our community and our

government doesnt need to put those dollars into

intervention situations, Jennings says. We can tapin at the root problem and help before it gets into a

crisis situation.

Fort Saskatchewan

CIC: Established 1998

Funding distribution approach:

Provide funding to a broad range of

programs

FORTSASKATCHEWAN

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The St. Albert Community Investment Committee was established

in partnership with United Way in 2007, but the committees roots goback much farther. The CIC grew out of the existing St. Albert Strategy

And Mobilization (SAM) Committee, which had already been funding a

limited number of community projects. Since SAM already had programs

in place to take care of some of the communitys needs, the committee

felt it could focus United Way funding to pay for a single program year

after year.

This particular community investment only addresses one function,

which is an outreach worker that tries to work with the homeless, poverty

and at-risk individuals in the community, says Scott Rodda, director of

Family and Community Support Services in St. Albert and member of the

local CIC. The outreach worker position is funded by the money that United

Way directs to the CIC, and that individual distributes rent supplements

that are provided by the City of St. Albert. Its a great example of the GSAs

ability to partner different agencies together for the benefit of vulnerable

citizens.

The outreach person is also available to those who need extra support

and information or access to counselling, therapists or other services.Currently, approximately 30 families benefit from the efforts of the

outreach program. Rodda says that while 30 families out of a population

of over 60,000 people may not seem significant,

to those 30 families, the outreach worker makes animmeasurable difference. He also notes that at-risk

families and individuals often dont stand out in

smaller communities, making them more difficult to

identify and help.

Smaller communities might sometimes have a

harder time identifying those who are vulnerable in

parts of the community, Rodda says. They can be

pretty obvious and visible in a larger community. Its

not as obvious in some of the outlying communities.

The benefit to doing outreach work in a smaller

community, however, is that there is often better

communication between agencies and workers, which

is why the program in St. Albert is so valuable. Rodda

credits United Way with respecting the processes

of the CIC and letting local voices determine where

the funding is best spent and understanding that

funding a single outreach worker is more importantto St. Albert than spreading funds among several

competing groups.

ST. ALBERT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

St. Albert

CIC: Established 2007

Funding distribution approach: Provide

consistent funding to a specific program

Program: Outreach worker who works

with people who are experiencing

homelessness or at risk of homelessness

ST. ALBERT

BRIDGING BOUNDARIES

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32 WE WINTER/SPRING 2

WE Winter 2013

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