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Sharing our 2023-24 Annual Report

Chronicling the ways we continue to grow as an organization, evolve as an essential service provider, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

Last week we were excited to share the launch of our 2023-24 Annual Report.

 

READ OUR REPORT

 

The narrative it weaves is one of collective dedication, ingenuity, and accountability. It chronicles the inspiring ways we continue to grow as an organization, evolve as an essential service provider, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

 

We are immensely proud of these achievements, the impacts they’ve had on the lives of our service users, and the ways they’ve contributed to our vision of a safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all.

 

While we invite everyone to read the complete report, we wanted to share some of our favorite highlights.

Our Year in Numbers

Expanding Our Reach

Finding New Ways to Meet the Needs of our Communities

 

My Home Place – Supportive Housing in Dawson Creek

In late 2023, Connective was proud to assume operation of an existing program in Dawson Creek, BC, marking our first time offering services in the community.

 

 

When the program’s previous operator decided to step away, Connective was selected by BC Housing to fill the impending gap and avoid service disruption. Throughout the transition we worked closely with the former operator and are excited to continue building on the strong foundation they established.

 

We are grateful for the chance to leverage our expertise in service to Dawson Creek, and to continue providing this essential service at a time when housing instability is at an all-time high.

 

 

“My favorite part of working at My Home Place is the fulfilment that I have knowing that I am making a positive impact and difference in the lives of our residents. In the years that I have worked at My Home Place, I have developed meaningful connections with the residents and witnessed their progress…and this has been rewarding.”

– Tolu, Program Manager

Cornerstone – Supportive Housing in Nanaimo

In May of this year, Connective Nanaimo was so excited and proud to welcome the first residents to Cornerstone, a 51-unit supportive housing building on Prideaux Street. While this project was just over two years in the making, its completion marks the realization of a much longer-held goal for Connective Nanaimo.

 

 

“We are deeply honoured to assist in ensuring people experiencing homelessness in our community have access to safe and secure housing.”

– Susan Clift, Board Chair, Connective Nanaimo

 

Alongside a permanent place to live, residents will receive a range of 24/7 support services, including two meals per day, life and employment skills training, health and wellness support, and referrals to addiction recovery services.

Overcoming Barriers to Employment in Kamloops

Multi-Barrier Program

 

 

This past year, Connective Kamloops began offering a new opportunity to individuals facing multiple barriers to employment. Responding to an urgent, identified need, participants completed specialized training with BC Ambulance.

 

The Multi-Barrier Program supported 10 individuals through training and testing, helping them cover fees, acquire their Class 4 license (a common barrier for many), and more. Five of the trainees were hired to work as ambulance technicians, while the other five took adjacent work paths, including as medics for fire response.

 

Most trainees will be working in remote Indigenous communities, bridging a gap in existing levels of critical emergency response care.

“When people are in crisis, it’s important that they feel comfortable. That they have a trained, skilled worker supporting them. So, the emergency responder course…It’s just a beautiful thing to be able to offer for people.”

– Tammi, Director of Health, Housing and Employment

Remote Service Delivery

ACES Training in Kwadacha First Nation

“Every time we go to remote communities, I just feel so honoured to be invited…I once heard this speaker, Doctor Dustin Louie, talking about how real interactions start when you go to communities. That felt so fitting. It’s such a different experience to be a part of it…You’re building skills and teaching new things, and at the same time, you’re being taught new things.”

– Danielle, Program Manager

Lorne’s Story

Bedford Manor

 

Though art mostly took a back seat to life during his early-adult years, Lorne began to feel its pull once more. In his 40’s, Lorne tentatively began to paint. He had no formal instruction and was worried he’d “never be able to paint anything that was half decent.” Putting his reservations aside, Lorne persevered. With the help of instructional books and the sagely wisdom of TV artist Bob Ross, he quickly found his groove and has never looked back. 43 years later, now living at Bedford Manor, Lorne is still going strong.

 

Every month, Lorne contributes a painting to Bedford Manor’s monthly newsletter. The residents look forward to seeing his work, and it makes Lorne feel good, too. It’s a nice way to contribute to the place he calls home. Lorne is deeply appreciative of program staff, who “help him with anything he needs,” and of the building’s location, which provides easy access to local essentials. For Lorne, Bedford Manor is “a good fit” – staff and residents are inclined to agree.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Connective, we believe that the diverse characteristics of individuals enrich our communities, and strive to create spaces where those differences are welcomed, valued, and celebrated. We recognize this process is ongoing, and we are committed to continuously improving.

 

 

This past year, we were excited to continue our DEI journey:

 

  • Enhanced our recruitment process by updating job  postings with inclusive language to improve accessibility,  remove barriers, and add the physical requirements of each position.

 

  • Reformulated Connective’s DEI team/department leads group and worked to develop strategic goals aimed at  embedding DEI principles across the organization.

 

  • Posted regularly to Workvivo, our internal communication  platform, highlighting relevant DEI observances such as Ramadan, Pride, and Earth Day. These aimed to promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity within our workplace.

 

  • Elmbrook Supportive Housing: Secured an Indigenous Elder to visit on a bi-monthly basis. This has been a goal since the program’s opening, but one that was challenging to achieve.

 

  • Miyáqˈelhá:wetawt: Successfully completed the process to become a Section 84 destination for Indigenous service users applying for Section 84 releases. Service users also regularly attended local cultural nights and provided  donations of traditional crafts, including regalia, to families.

 

  • Tri-cities Outreach: Identified and addressed a gap in  providing a safe space for women by starting a monthly life skill and relationship building group.

 

  • Home Share: Enrolled several managers into American Sign Language classes to better understand and connect with persons served.

These are just a few partial highlights of the many different stories and updates captured in our Annual Report for 2023-24. We encourage you to read through the entire report by visiting the link below.

The Importance of Language

During Indigenous History Month, we’ve been reflecting on how we speak about Indigenous people, reconciliation, and colonialism.

At Connective, the language and words we use matter. When communicating about people in our communities, we always strive to uphold the principles of dignity, respect, compassion, and accountability.

 

During Indigenous History Month, we’ve been reflecting on how we speak about Indigenous people, reconciliation, and colonialism. Recognizing the weight and value that language holds, we are committed to demonstrating respect for Indigenous communities by understanding the terms we use and ensuring we communicate in culturally appropriate ways.

Evolving Language

Over the years different terms have been used when speaking about or referring to Indigenous people. Several of these, however, have underlying connotations that can be hurtful and harmful. Words are also continuously being updated and improved, and it’s important to stay on top of these trends.

 

For example, a few years ago many people used to the word ‘Aboriginal.’ In more recent years, that term has mostly been replaced with ‘Indigenous’, for three reasons:

 

  1. The term ‘Aboriginal’ was historically used in the context of government – due to the harm the Canadian government caused First Nations, many have decided distance themselves from this term, preferring to use ‘Indigenous’ in its place.
  2. The Latin prefix “ab” means “away from” or “not.” ‘Aboriginal,’ therefore, technically means “not from here” – the opposite of inclusivity, and a complete mischaracterization of Indigenous people’s relationship to this land.
  3. When used in a global context, it creates a more united collaboration among Indigenous communities.

What does ‘Indigenous’ mean?

Indigenous is an umbrella term that refers to multiple groups of people, and can be used when the title of someone’s Nation is unknown. In Canada, there are three distinct groups of Indigenous people: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit.

 

It is important to capitalize the “I” in Indigenous, as a way of showing respect and recognizing the significance of Indigenous identities and cultures.

 

We encourage our non-Indigenous community members to do their research when communicating about Indigenous people, to ensure the correct use of terminology.

 

Here are some resources we recommend:

 

Preserving Indigenous Languages

Indigenous languages are rooted in oral teaching – meaning stories, ideas, and other cultural materials are presented, received, and transmitted through voice, rather than through writing.

 

When a language is lost, so too are the stories and histories that live within it. Due to colonization and the attempted assimilation of Indigenous communities, many Indigenous languages have been lost, and many others are vulnerable, endangered, and at risk. According to the United Nations, one Indigenous language dies every two weeks.  It’s important that we are aware of this issue, and work to preserve and protect endangered Indigenous languages.

 

To learn more about the assimilation of languages, here are a few resources:

 

 

One way people can get more involved with Indigenous language is by learning some Indigenous words. A great way to do this is by visiting a local art gallery or museum focusing on Indigenous history.

 

Other sources of language are books written in various Indigenous languages. You can find these at public libraries and bookstores.

 

Here are some places to start:

 

 

Some Nations also have websites with resources about their respective languages, such as parts of the Yukon (https://ynlc.ca/).

As an Indigenous-serving organization, recognition of Indigenous languages and the ways we talk to and about people are inseparable from our work and our ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

 

To learn more about Indigenous History Month and how Connective is recognizing this month, please visit:

 

https://connective.ca/blog/recognizing-indigenous-history-month-2024/

Announcing a New Program in Dawson Creek

Offering safe, secure housing and wraparound supports to 32 adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness

Connective is proud to announce a new (to us) program in Dawson Creek, British Columbia – our first in the community.

Late last year, we were selected by BC Housing to assume operation of My Home Place, a supportive housing program. Since May 2021, this program has been offering 32 adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness a permanent home and access to 24/7 support services, such as meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness resources. As with Connective’s other supportive housing programs, here, staff work with residents to help them overcome barriers and achieve their self-identified goals. 

 

We worked closely with the program’s previous operator, the South Peace Community Resources Society (SPCRS), to transition the program and took full operation in late 2023. We look forward to continuing to work alongside SPCRS in the community and to building on the strong foundations they have established at My Home Place. On the ground in Dawson Creek, we were excited to welcome a number of new staff to our Connective team.

 

For the last several years we have been proud to operate a growing number of programs in Northern BC – we are grateful for this latest opportunity, and for the chance to leverage our expertise in service to Dawson Creek, while continuing to provide this essential service in the community.

My Home Place

Offering safe, secure housing and wraparound supports to 32 adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness

An Interview with our Program Manager

To help get to know our new program in Dawson Creek we sat down with its Program Manager, to ask a few questions.

 

What impact do you witness this program having on residents?

My Home Place has proven to have a profoundly positive impact on the residents by offering stability, security, and support to them. Initially, some residents encountered challenges during the first few months of moving in, struggling to adjust to their new homes. By the third month of moving in, I saw significant positive transformation as they stabilized and settle into their homes, and into the supportive environment. Many of our residents, who previously struggled to maintain their housing in the community, have since lived here for a year, two years, and even longer.

 

What does a typical day at the program look like?

The structure of a typical day at My Home Place is generally flexible, catering to the individual needs of residents who plan their schedules. Residents have the autonomy to reach out to staff for support and assistance with various requests. On-site support and in-person services are readily available, with occasional community agency partnerships for educational sessions and training. Two nutritious meals (lunch and supper) are provided, and assistance is offered for scheduling appointments, medication reminders, job searches, skill development, and referrals to external agencies. As part of building community engagement, residents are encouraged to participate in group activities, recreational events, and creative pursuits like arts and crafts. The daily presence of the Intensive Case Management Team (ICMT) ensures regular mental health check-ins and support for their clients who live at My home Place. With 24-hour staffing support, the focus remains on providing holistic support to promote stability and well-being.

“My Home Place aims to create an environment where residents feel empowered and supported in their journey towards independence and improved quality of life.”

– Program Manager, My Home Place

What is your favourite part of working with the program?

My favorite part of working at My Home Place is the fulfilment that I have knowing that I am making a positive impact and difference in the lives of our residents that we support and helping them achieve stability. In the almost 3 years that I have worked at My Home Place, I have developed meaningful connections with the residents, and I have witnessed their progress and positive transformation over time, and this has been rewarding. Building a sense of community and trust is also an important part of the work. Most importantly, the staff team at My Home Place have been a great source of encouragement and support to the program, as we all share a commitment to helping our residents and have created a supportive and fulfilling work environment. I believe that the teamwork we have built over the years has been a key factor in the success of the program.

We’re excited to see My Home Place continue to develop over the years to come, and to better get to know the community in Dawson Creek!

Sharing Our 2022-23 Annual Report

Our 2022-23 Annual Report is a powerful testament to the ways we’ve continued to grow as an organization and evolve as essential service providers

While no report could ever fully capture the countless ways we’ve continued to grow as an organization and evolve as essential service providers, every line, statistic, and story within represents an important piece of Connective’s story – the impacts we’ve had on the lives of our service users, and the ways they’ve contributed to our vision of a safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all.

 

While we invite everyone to read the complete report, we wanted to share a few highlights.

Our Year in Numbers

Hair and Makeup Artistry Certifications

 

Thanks to YESS funding from Employment and Social Development Canada, Connective Kamloops’ employment team supported a number of youths to complete Hair and Makeup Artistry Programs through the Cassidy Wyatt Artistry Collective (CWAC).

 

The first cohort of students completed programming in winter 2023, to great success – every student passed the course, and eight of them were awarded an ‘Excellence in Artistry’, recognizing them for all their hard work.

 

In addition to funding course costs, Connective also supported participants with grocery stipends, day care funding, gas subsidies to cover travel to and from the program, and rent assistance so that students could focus on their studies.

 

 

 

“The CWAC Hair and Makeup courses have been life changing. Before taking the courses, I had passion for beauty but lacked the knowledge and skills to turn that passion into a career. I am so grateful…Without this, I never would have had the knowledge and skills to land the dream job I just got offered!”

– Kiana

Expanding Opportunities in Whitehorse

In February of 2023, we were thrilled to announce our fifth program in Whitehorse – a supervised housing and reintegration program for up to six women on conditional release from institutions, giving them the opportunity to return home to an environment that is safe and supportive.

Peter Allik-Petersenn Educational Bursary Winner

“I was incredibly grateful to be chosen as this generous bursary from Connective helped me to cover the costs of my final semester at Thompson Rivers University. It was not an easy decision for me to return to school as a mature student with a family, including three children who depend on me. It was a very challenging two years, but I am proud to share that I have now earned my Bachelor of Social Work degree.” – Karen L (She/Her)

Therapeutic Expression Through Art

“Art therapy is cool because it’s a lot less daunting than traditional talk therapy; because it’s visual, and not as cognitive, it’s more palatable for a lot of people,” says Rebekah. For service users who might be hesitant to seek counselling through traditional means, it can be incredibly powerful.” – Rebekah, Adler University

A Path to Independent Living – Ty’s Story

Ty first came to Rosstown Housing from the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, after spending several years there. At Rosstown, Ty was able to work closely with staff and found a new outlook on life. His willingness to engage with the Forensic Treatment Team increased, and he developed a personal desire to remain clean from substances and create a more holistically enriched living experience.

 

After a year at Rosstown, Ty was ready to live on his own. Access to a housing subsidy helped bring this long-term goal to fruition, and with the support and encouragement of staff, he was even able to adopt two cats – Puzzle and Jenga – whom he cares for a great deal.

 

“My two cats are great to have around.”

 

Advancing Truth & Reconciliation – Connective’s Indigenous Advisory Committee

As part of Connective’s commitment to truth & reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada, we recognize that it is our duty – as individuals, as an organization, and as a community – to engage with our true history through a process of ongoing learning and unlearning, and to take an active role in decolonization.

 

The road to reconciliation is a long one, with many steps along the way – it’s with this in mind that we were so pleased to form our Indigenous Advisory Committee this past year.

 

 

Complementing our Board of Director’s own knowledge and experience, the committee brings unique perspectives on the history and impacts of colonization, in addition to being experts and leaders in their field.

 

Together, they will provide critical and historical input to guide and support our Board as they plan activities or develop policies and procedures that impact Indigenous service users and communities.

“This has been an exciting year of Connective’s response to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations throughout the entire organization. The creation/implementation of the Indigenous Advisory Committee has brought together a diverse view of Indigenous perspectives that are shared in Connective’s delivery of programs and services, developing and revising policies, as well as advancing relationships and partnerships with other organizations in order to help Connective better meet the needs of those whom we serve.”

– Mavis Boucher, Connective Board Member

There’s much more to dive into in our full Annual Report. Click below to learn more!