Saskatchewan Resources / Ressources de la Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Resources / Ressources
de la Saskatchewan
SASKATCHEWAN
ARCOLA AND ST-AUGUSTINE FAMILY SUPPORT CENTRES
2315 Abbott Road Tel.: (306) 565-2667
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4N 2K2
2343 Edgar St. Tel.: (306) 325-5303
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4N 2K2
The Arcola Family Support Centre, along with the St-Augustine
Family Resource Centre, focuses on community development, primary
prevention and self help. Services offered at these Family Centres
include community kitchens, community gardens, a job enhancement
program, a moms and tots drop-in, children's cooking classes,
babysitting classes, parenting classes such as 1,2,3 Magic,
Nobody's Perfect, Women Parenting Alone and How to Talk so Kids
will Listen. They also offer a literacy program Come Read With Me
in which parents are encouraged to read with their children.
The main goal of the Centres is to assist community members by
providing support and to strengthen the community. This is done
through counselling, parent education, and referrals to community
agencies, such as the food bank and self-help groups. Educational
opportunities are provided to community members to strengthen their
family unit and improve their knowledge of parenting methods. By
using self-help models, the family support centres work toward
preventing child abuse, neglect, hunger, poverty and alleviating
stress.
CENTRAL REGINA EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
2115 Athol Street Tel.: (306) 757-3744
Regina, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 522-0040
S4T 3E8
The Central Regina Early Learning Centre strives to equalize future
prospects in education for children from low-income families, while
at the same time promoting the involvement of parents. Its
transportation service for children is made available to parents,
who can then participate in program and Board activities. The
Centre's goals are attained through a pre-school program, parental
participation in the Board, and home visits. The Central Regina
Early Learning Centre is adapted to the socio-cultural diversity of
native families who make up nearly 80 percent of its clientele, and
pairs native and non-native early childhood educators in its
program.
CHILD EDUCATION AND HUNGER PROGRAM
230 Avenue R South Tel.: (306) 655-4635
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 655-4718
S7M 0Z9
The Child Education and Hunger Program (CHEP) provides support and
expertise to community groups and local agencies in order to
promote the distribution of food to hungry children and young
people in schools, community centres and other locations in
Saskatoon. In the the spirit of community development, CHEP is
also committed to educating and sensitizing the community on the
subject of nutrition, and the issues of hunger and poverty. CHEP
cooperates with other key partners to address issues of food
security, such as collective kitchens, bulk buying, wellbeing of
infants and toddlers, and other issues such as housing.
CIRCLE OF LIFE
1459 Retallack Street Tel.: (306) 757-0120
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4T 2J2
Circle of Life offers services to low-income families, mostly
native families. This Centre is located in North Central Regina in
the heart of a chronic low-income neighbourhood. Circle of Life
runs a clothing bank, a lunch program for children, and provides
free access to a phone. In endeavouring to empower low-income
families, Circle of Life conducts advocacy with the courts and
social services. Furthermore, Circle of Life is based on
Aboriginal spirituality: women healing circles and sharing circle
are offered.
THE CIRCLE PROJECT
625 Elphinstone Street Tel.: (306) 347-7515
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4T 3L1
The Circle Project is a non-profit organization that has developed
a wide range of activities and programs for low-income status and
non-status Aboriginal people in Regina. Based on a holistic
approach to social problems, the Circle Project attempts to promote
unity, respect and acceptance of all people through practices
rooted in native cultural traditions, such as the Medicine Wheel
and the involvement of elders.
Some forty activities and programs are available: social services,
employment training, groups for persons with disabilities and for
Elders and youth, recreation, drug and alcohol counselling (A.A.
groups meet at the Circle), the Hot Meal Program, the Native
Ministry, literacy and programs for young offenders, cultural
camps, and child care.
The holistic approach of the organization, based on Aboriginal
traditions, is its unique feature. The Medicine Wheel is the core
of its approach whereby empowerment is linked to individual,
family, community and global development. Following the teaching
of Elders, individual healing and the healing of the community are
related. Physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual
well-being constitute a whole. Counselling and social interaction
between people at the Circle aim at reclaiming a balance between
the gifts each person has received from the Creator. The Circle
Project's approach also emphasizes the unique gifts that each
individual possesses and her or his ability to create.
Participants can express this ability through the many diverse
activities they organize at the Circle.
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL
325 Avenue E South Tel.: (306) 653-6260
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7M 1S2
Composed entirely of volunteers, themselves mostly welfare
recipients, Equal Justice for All defends the rights of welfare
recipients through individual advocacy, and lobbies different
levels of government to bring about change in the provincial
welfare system. In order to further assist welfare recipients, the
organization also circulates information on support groups and
community agencies, welfare regulations and the rights of
recipients.
KING GEORGE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
721, Avenue K South Tel.: (306) 244-0679
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 244-0795
S7M 2E7
The King George Community and School Association is a self-help
community organization whose activities centre on neighbourhood
security. A recreation and job hunting program for young people,
a community policing program, and lobbying on environmental and
employment issues affecting the neighbourhood are this
organization's main areas of activity. The distinguishing feature
of the King George Community and School Association's approach is
its commitment to protecting citizens through self help.
MISTAWASIS CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTRE
Box 250 Tel.: (306) 466-4800
Leask, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 466-2299
S0J 1M0
The Mistawasis Child Care Resource Centre, a community-driven
program, is located on the reserve of Mistawasis First Nation, a
Cree Nation. The Child Care Resource Centre was a pilot project of
Brighter Futures, geared toward low-income families. It offersplaygroups, toys for kids to play with, and a headstart program for
children aged 6 and under. Mistawasis Resource Centre also
recycles and make toys for children from low-income families. Once
a month, an elder goes into the classrooms to tell stories and do
activities with the children. Story circles and Pow Wow dancing
lessons are also offered for the children.
At Mistawasis Child Care Resource Centre, some programs are offered
to parents, such as craft classes, parenting classes (e.g.,
Nobody's Perfect) and a healing circle. Mistawasis Child Care also
runs a toy lending library and a clothing depot.
PEOPLE EMPOWERING PEOPLE
Box 1468 Tel.: (306) 728-4720
Melville, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 728-4720
S0A 2P0
People Empowering People works with low-income families and
individuals to help them improve their living conditions. Through
the efforts of volunteers, self-help and support groups have been
organized in several rural communities. The organization is also
committed to defending the rights of low-income people, providing
information and referral, cooperating with other organizations
working in the field, and sensitizing social workers and the public
to the problems facing low-income people.
PEYAKOWAK
2823 Dewdney ave Tel.: (306) 525-9689
Regina, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 525-6164
S4T 0X8
Peyakowak which means "they are alone" provides support to families
who are in danger of having their children apprehended. This
organization also helps low-income parents go to school and makes
referrals to collective kitchens and food programs for children to
help them overcome poverty.
The main goals of Peyakowak are to prevent the apprehension of
Aboriginal children, to maintain and strengthen Aboriginal families
as well as to re-unite families, and to provide community education
for Aboriginal families.
RAINBOW YOUTH CENTRE
2338 Dewdney Tel.: (306) 757-9743
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4R 1H5
Rainbow Youth Centre offers counselling, recreational activities,
health-oriented projects, workshops, and arts and crafts. It also
offers personal and skill development classes, such as anger
management skills for adolescents, a substance education program
and a literacy program. Rainbow Youth Centre also offers programs
for teen parents such as transportation, babysitting and parentingskills. Rainbow Youth Centre provides a hot supper program.
REGINA FOOD BANK
2201-1st Ave Tel.: (306) 791-6533
Regina, Saskatchewan Fax: (306) 347-8533
S4R 8G4
As well as giving families the opportunity to choose the food they
want, the Regina Food Bank also offers other services to low-income
families and individuals, such as community kitchens and cooking
classes to learn how to cook low-cost food, a bargain centre, and
a training cafeteria where people are trained to work in the food
industry and where meals are offered at low cost. A laundromat is
available for a nominal fee. In a few months, the food bank wants
to develop a processing kitchen to process surplus food: surplus
food will be made into soups, pizzas, muffins and perogies, and
then frozen. These frozen products will be used to supplement the
food hampers.
Furthermore, the Regina Food Bank also offers two workshops, one on
maintenance, the other on vehicle repairs. The Food Bank also has
a resource centre for-low income families, where they offer advice,
counselling, life skills and education in a variety of areas.
The Regina Food Bank runs many other programs such as Grow a Row
where gardeners are encouraged to plant an extra row to harvest for
donation to the food bank; Hunt for Hunger where hunters are asked
to donate excess meat to the food bank; Let's Talk Turkey an annual
fundraiser to pay for more than 2,000 Christmas hampers; donation
of fresh milk to children aged five and under by Dairy Farmers;
grain donations by farmers. The Regina Food Bank is also trying to
develop community gardens where low-income families can grow the
vegetables they need.
REGINA INDIAN COMMUNITY AWARENESS INC. (RICAI)
1264 Athol St. Tel.: (306) 359-8262
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4T 7V3
Regina Indian Community Awareness Inc. was created in 1978. This
Centre is located in a low-income area of Regina. RICAI runs a
coat program for children, a community kitchen once a month, and
provides hot lunches for children. RICAI provides counselling in
advocacy for native people in dealing with government agencies. It
also promotes community involvement and education of community
affairs to raise funds to operate the various programs and
activities.
SASKATOON FOOD BANK AND GRASSROOTS RESOURCE AND SELF HELP CENTRE
(GRAS)
202 Avenue C South Tel.: (306) 664-6565
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7M 1N2
Saskatoon Food Bank and GRAS are working toward ending hunger in
Saskatoon and surrounding areas. The Saskatoon Food Bank provides
food boxes to people in need of temporary, short-term, or emergency
food supplies. The Food Bank takes deposits of food from farmers,
retailers, wholesalers, and the general public. Food that cannot
be used locally is passed on to other agencies or traded with other
Food Banks for items that the Saskatoon Food Bank is short of. The
Food Bank believes that no one should have to go hungry. The
Saskatoon Food Bank was organized by a group of volunteers from the
community, and depends on the support of individuals and groups in
the Saskatoon area.
The GRAS Centre is a grassroots resource and self-help centre that
runs community cooking and sewing groups for families who want to
learn to cook healthy meals on a low budget. GRAS offers support
groups on personal development, parenting, assertiveness training
and problem solving. GRAS also provides a clothing depot, a
resource library, personal development workshops and help with
income tax forms.
TENANTS' ASSOCIATIONS
Saskatoon Housing Authority Tel.: (306) 668-2700
525, 24th Street East Fax: (306) 668-2701
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 0K9
Several activities organized in 1993 by the Tenants' Associations
in three Saskatoon Housing Authority family housing projects are
worthy of mention. One of them, at Leif Erickson Place,
concentrates on issues related to security by developing activities
and community protection measures within the project (curfew for
young people, information workshops on the subject of security, and
the organization of "patrols" by the residents). A second
activity, at Westview, offers activities for children (caring for
flowers, sand castle contest, group outings and outdoors days).
The third association, at Sturby Place, organizes outdoor
activities and has started a fundraising drive to purchase play
equipment for the children.
WOMEN OF THE DAWN INC. ISKEWAK WANISKAWAK
2201-1st Avenue Tel.: (306) 791-6500
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4R 8G4
The role of this organization is defined as "Women helping women
and families in need". Women of the Dawn is a non-profit
organization established in December 1993 by a group of women who
identified a need to organize and become advocates on behalf of the
many families living in poverty in the City of Regina. Women of
the Dawn is dedicated to their vision of the Aboriginal community
as a community working together toward self-reliance. Women of the
Dawn follows a philosophy that promotes development, co-operation,
and good will.
Gleaned from Aboriginal teachings, it is a philosophy that inspires
success in women of all nations. This is vital since women of all
nations have the ability to be healthy contributing members of
society, if given the opportunity to enrich or develop their skills
and abilities.
Women of the Dawn serves women of all nations and their children in
a number of beneficial ways. It helps individuals who are
suffering the effects of poverty and are in need of support to
overcome illiteracy. It also helps individuals re-establish family
structures, work through difficult issues, pursue employment, face
new challenges, build self-esteem, and become self-reliant.
Women of the Dawn provides services such as advocacy and
counselling to low-income first nation women. It offers workshops
on self-esteem, suicide awareness, sexual abuse awareness, and
healing circles. Women of the Dawn also offers a job readiness
program and some computer classes designed to empower native women
and help them become self-sufficient.
WORKING FOR WOMEN
#203 - 315, 22nd Street Tel.: (306) 665-2802
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 0G6
Through empowerment principles and activities, Working for Women
helps women overcome the obstacles to finding work. The
organization also fights against gender discrimination in order to
establish models of positive work relations for women. In addition
to organizing self-help and support groups, Working for Women also
offers employment training and organizational skills workshops.
The organization devotes part of its energy to presenting workshops
and conferences outside the organization, in cooperation with other
community organizations, and to lobbying different levels of
government on women's employment issues. The distinguishing
feature of this organization is its respect for the collective
history of women, particularly the problems faced by women in
finding work.
