Author: Kayla Isomura

Elisa Casilla: Over 15 years of service in payroll and accounting at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At each year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Elisa Casilla for 15 years of service. Here’s what Kulwant Kaur, Director of Operations, had to say about Elisa:

I have had the privilege to work with Elisa for the past 16 years.

Elisa first joined CNH in 2007 as a casual accounting assistant and learned the work very quickly. In 2008, she was hired as a temporary accounting assistant. Elisa worked diligently and was promoted to payroll and benefits manager in 2010. She is very hardworking, extremely trustworthy, very dedicated and does not hesitate to help other staff even if she is extremely busy with very tight deadlines. If you know Elisa well, she is calm and has a good sense of humour but can get very serious, too, especially if it is about payroll. Elisa takes her responsibilities very seriously. There is a funny quote when new staff are introduced to Elisa, their supervisor would say to be nice to her as she does payroll.

Elisa says she has enjoyed working at CNH for all these years because of its family-oriented and flexible work environment. Her daughter even attended our school-age child care program at Graham Bruce and is now in university. Time flies so fast.

Thank you, Elisa, for all your contribution. CNH is very lucky to have you all these years!

To learn about current career opportunities at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

January 9, 2024
Amie Fan celebrates 20 years as an Early Childhood Educator at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Amie Fan for 20 years of service. Here’s what Sabrina Bantog, Manager of Child Care Human Resources at CNH, had to say about Amie:

Amie started work with us at CNH in August of 2003. I had the pleasure of working with her for 10 years before I moved on to other roles within Collingwood. It is an honour to recognize Amie for 20 years of dedication to CNH. Amie currently is an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) working at the Collingwood Early Learning & Care Centre.

Amie’s coordinator, Kalvinder, says that Amie is a dedicated, hard-working individual with a great sense of humour. Amie supports children’s learning by having a love for playdough. Every week, she makes playdough that children can roll, mould and construct with. When children combine playdough from two different hues, you can see the joy on their faces. Amie also shares her love for music and dance with the children by engaging them in “dance time” by playing songs. Kalvinder thinks Amie stayed with CNH for the majority of her ECE career because she enjoys the everyday interaction with children and families and loves the welcoming environment of the daycare.

Kalvinder’s work-related memory involving Amie was when she participated in the learning with the community pedologist about the Early Learning Framework. Amie took the initiative to learn how to use one-note to enhance the documentation experience for both staff and children. She would take pictures of children exploring different mediums of art, while recording their thoughts, conversations and ideas and then download it to one-note for the team to look at.

Amie’s colleague describes her as always being reliable and having a memory like no other. She remembers children’s names and families from many years ago. Amie always has a smile on her face and a calm demeanour no matter what is going on.

When asked Amie about her highlights of working at CNH, she mentioned watching children grow and develop and the support she receives from CNH in particular during the pandemic which was a difficult time for everyone. Amie really appreciates the support the CNH provided her during this time.

When Amie was asked why she stayed with CNH, she said: “I love the people that I work with and interact with each and every day. CNH is a home away from home for me!”

Congratulations, Amie, and thank you for your continued service at CNH.

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

December 19, 2023
Rania Hatzioannou: A ‘guiding light’ in children’s writing classes at CNH for 20 years

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Rania Hatzioannou for 20 years of service. Here’s what Carmen Correal and Amir Sabbaghan, both Recreation Managers at CNH, had to say about Rania:

We come together with pride and appreciation to honour a truly exceptional instructor who has dedicated two decades of her life to nurturing the creative minds of the children in our community. We celebrate Rania, a guiding light in our children’s writing class, for her unwavering commitment and remarkable contributions.

Rania has inspired our children’s community for the past 20 years, the spark of creativity in countless children’s young hearts and minds. Her dedication to fostering a love for writing and storytelling has enriched the lives of these children and left an enduring legacy within our community.

Through the years, Rania has consistently demonstrated qualities that make her stand out as an outstanding educator. Beyond her instructor role, Rania actively contributed as a member of the Board of Directors at CNH for nine years. From 2010 to 2012, she was vice president.

We asked Rania. Why did you stay so long at CNH?

She turns down every Friday night invitation to socialize with family or friends because she cannot think of anything else to bring her the same joy she gets from seeing a child’s eyes grow while learning.

Rania’s favourite work-related memory?

“I have far too many fond memories of teaching creative writing at Collingwood. Children have to read their stories in front of the class. One time, a young student was reading in front of the class with his eyes going left to right across the notebook page. The story was very long, but he was not turning the pages. I asked him to show me the story afterwards; the pages were blank! He was making up the story as he was going along! He was an excellent storyteller, but after two years in my class, he was also a good writer.”

Rania’s impact on our community and our children’s lives is immense, and we look forward to celebrating her legacy together as a community.

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

December 12, 2023
From participant to director: Sanjeev Karwal celebrates a 20-year milestone with Youth Services at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Sanjeev Karwal for 20 years of service. Here’s what Jennifer Gray-Grant, Executive Director of CNH, had to say about Sanjeev:

When Sanjeev Karwal was a child, on weekends he would push his bike across Euclid Street to join his friends as they played on the warehouse ramps in the light industrial space. A few years later, the space had been cleared and he attended the ground-breaking ceremony for Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s (CNH) main site.

In 1995, when CNH opened its new site, Sanjeev, his brother and friends started playing basketball at CNH. For Sanjeev, the visits evolved throughout high school into opportunities to attend other programs and then volunteer, notably with the Youth Centre and the after-school Buddy Program. Twenty years ago he was hired as a youth worker at the Youth Centre and now serves a dual role in Youth Services as a manager and as a director.

“I really appreciate the journey I have had at CNH,” Sanjeev said. “I’ve been able to learn, develop and grow with the organization. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead and be part of so many meaningful and rewarding projects, where I’ve been able to be creative and use a variety of skills and assets.”

One of those skills included helping to convert an old restaurant, along with numerous CNH volunteers, into a Halloween haunted house complete with clowns, dancing ghosts, masked ghouls and a terrifying graveyard. That effort landed the group on the nightly news as two television stations came out to film the frightening scenes.

Another of his cherished memories is joining the Pulling Together Journey one year. On the journey, Indigenous youth paddle canoes, sleep in tipis and engage in traditional Indigenous cultural practices. Sanjeev said that at the end of the 10-day journey along the Fraser River, the canoes left the river and headed towards Spanish Banks. At the same time, canoes coming from the ocean also paddled towards Spanish Banks, as planned. He said it was amazing how the 25 canoes joined together to paddle in a circle, welcoming one another, before pulling up to the shore.

Sanjeev said it has been really satisfying to watch, over the years, as children and youth come to CNH to enjoy programs, maybe train to become volunteers and, in some cases, serve on the CNH Board of Directors or, like Sanjeev, start to work at CNH.

For Sanjeev personally, that cycle is happening again. CNH was established in 1985, the same year Sanjeev was born. Family members brought a toddler Sanjeev to CNH’s small storefront on Kingsway, for various programs. Now, Sanjeev is bringing his own son, Bodhi, to CNH for childcare. And so it begins for the next generation.

For information about careers at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

December 5, 2023
Thomas Wong: 25 years of ‘extraordinary compassion’ at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Thomas Wong for 25 years of service. Here’s what Jenny Shen, Navigation & Peer Support, Walking Club & Tech Support Program Manager, had to say about Thomas:

A remarkable individual, Thomas Wong, also known as Master Thomas, has been an integral part of CNH for more than 25 years.

Thomas is a master in many areas. From Qi Gong to Tai Chi, Tai Chi Sword to Chinese calligraphy, he’s a seasoned instructor. Did you know he was already a black belt in karate in his early twenties? But what sets Thomas apart is his extraordinary compassion towards his students. He knows each of them and always takes care of those who are vulnerable or have special needs. His classes are so popular that, to this day, at the age of 75, he holds the record for running the most classes at CNH.

If you stroll outside of the main CNH building, you will come across a bench with four elegant Chinese characters: Spring, summer, autumn and winter, painted by Thomas. It conveys a profound pearl of wisdom: Our lives, like the changing seasons, have their own unique beauty.

Thank you, Thomas, for sharing your talents, wisdom, and beautiful spirit with us for 25 incredible years. We look forward to many more seasons of inspiration and growth with you.

To learn about current career opportunities at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

November 7, 2023
Walda Gorn: 25 years in child care at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Walda Gorn for 25 years of service. Here’s what Diana Taykandy, Operations Child Care Program Manager, had to say about Walda:

Walda began her journey at CNH just over 25 years ago. In 1997, she started as a practicum student in our preschool program. Once she completed her Early Childhood Educator (ECE) coursework, she returned to CNH to complete 500 hours of volunteer work to obtain her license to practice in childcare. At this time, Walda volunteered in both of our preschool and infant/toddler programs.

Eventually, a part-time position became available in our infant/toddler centre and Walda applied. With her experience at CNH, it was no surprise she was hired for the role. Shortly after, a full-time position opened with our childcare team and for years, Walda worked happily in the infant/toddler program, learning, growing and always caring for our under-threes. Over time, it became clear that Walda was continuously willing to learn, discover and improve her programs. She was also keen on honing her own skills and knowledge in the industry.

In 2013, Walda became a program coordinator at CNH and that’s where we still find her. We are so fortunate that Walda did all her early learnings with us. Today, Walda works with eight educators in the infant/toddler program, most of whom have been working together for many years. Needless to say, a team working together as long as they have, share a special connection.

When asked what made Walda stay with us for so many years, her initial response was that she loved the team she worked with. Ultimately, Walda says she felt (and still feels) that CNH is her place. Walda also lives nearby and has been a part of the local community for a long time. In fact, Walda’s family has spent time helping in both our infant/toddler program and CNH as well. Walda’s husband, for example, has supported our childcare centres by doing odd jobs, such as painting, pressure washing and building furniture. Additionally, he has always been a huge support to Walda, who in turn is always looking out for the very best in her programs.

Walda is dedicated and self-motivated, which is only part of what makes her the special person she is today. It has been a pleasure working with her all these years and we look forward to many more. (We are not kidding, Walda says her future plans are to continue working at CNH.)

Thank you, Walda, for all that you do every day. We are so fortunate to have had your entire career take place at CNH!

To learn about current career opportunities at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

October 31, 2023
Julie Cheng celebrates 25-year journey of art, literacy and community news at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Julie Cheng for 25 years of service. Here’s what Jennifer Gray-Grant, Executive Director of CNH, had to say about Julie:

Around the time I met Julie, I invited her for lunch. She arrived at the restaurant on her bike, ordered a healthy meal and then talked about work but also about her children and partner. At the end of the meal she pulled a container from her backpack to tuck away her leftovers, so she wouldn’t waste food.

That’s pretty much what you need to know about Julie: she’s a healthy, thoughtful, prepared, principled person who is engaged in her work and is a loving partner and mom.

During her 25 years as a contractor at CNH, Julie has worked on a variety of projects. But first, she was a volunteer and sat on CNH’s Board of Directors; this was in the early 1990s when CNH’s main site was being developed.

As a contractor in the 1990s she worked on an arts-and-culture project that created, among other things, the Multicultural Archway in front of the CNH Joyce location. Julie recalls that the Building Community Through Cultural Expression project also spawned the annual Moon Festival and the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News.

She then worked on Multiculturalism Week where, as she distinctly remembers, the week’s activities ended on February 21; Her daughter Kate was born on February 22. Julie said Kate “still has wonderful timing to this day”.

Julie also served as Renfrew-Collingwood’s Literacy Plan Coordinator, a project that brought together 200 people to develop a literacy plan for the neighbourhood.

In 2007 Julie became editor of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News a role she embraced with enthusiasm, working hard to reflect the neighbourhood in the pages of the newspaper. She also used a guiding principle she learned on the CNH Board: everyone has a gift to share. She turned that into a tagline for the newspaper: Every voice matters. Julie recently left that position but still retains the role of online editor.

Julie said her long relationship with CNH has been an amazing journey where she and her partner have raised their children. “CNH has been an important part of it.” As she looks to the future she said she’s looking forward to playing tennis, spending time in her garden and raising mason bees.

Thank you, Julie, and congratulations on this milestone!

To learn about current career opportunities at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

October 24, 2023
Renuka Bhardwaj celebrates 25 years in Early Childhood Education at CNH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Renuka Bhardwaj for 25 years of service. Here’s what Sabrina Bantog, Manager of Child Care Human Resources, had to say about Renuka:

I have known Renuka since she started with us at CNH 25 years ago. When I first met her, it was both as colleagues and in the parent/caregiver capacity as her daughter was in my program as an infant. Renuka’s first role with CNH was as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) practicum student. Shortly after, she became a preschool staff and then took over as the supervisor of the program. She has been with the program as a coordinator ever since.

If I had to pick one memory of Renuka, it would be of the time we spent together with Leadership Initiative, a course offered by Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), where we spent many hours together learning about and working on advocacy for childcare. We created a project called “Children Are Everybody’s Business” and when the program came to an end, Renuka’s journey of advocacy was far from over. She continued on to become a board member with the Vancouver branch of ECEBC and recently became a shop steward.

Outside of her typical work, Renuka takes opportunities when she can in order to support CNH. During the pandemic, Renuka was a tremendous support for community food distribution. Emily Rees, Director of Community Development, says Renuka stepped up without hesitation and was such a pleasure to work with. Renuka worked behind the scenes organizing food orders, registering clients, and working directly with community members to maintain safety, answer questions and receive food. Renuka was able to pivot her skillset and apply her knowledge from childcare to a new setting. She was also open to learning new skills. We were so grateful for Renuka’s contributions and are proud to share that Renuka continues to support other initiatives at CNH, such as our annual volunteer recognition event.

Renuka’s colleagues say they enjoy working with her because she is open to new ideas, passionate about her work and fun to work with. Renuka’s favourite work-related memories are our Christmas parties in the multi-purpose room (a long time ago) and our ECE trip to Reggio Emilia in Italy.

Renuka says, “CNH is not only my workplace, it was also my childcare place. I have made some good friends, I know I can go to for advice and help.” Additionally, Renuka says she has stayed with CNH for so long because CNH is a family-friendly workplace and it became the village that helped raise her child.

When asked about her future plans and goals, Renuka says, “Let’s see what the future holds for me.”

Renuka would like to acknowledge her daughter, Nikita, who now works at CNH with the Department of Operations.

Thank you, Renuka, and congratulations on this milestone!

To learn about current career opportunities at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/about/careers.

October 17, 2023
Joyce Street banners: Sunbeams lead the way

Last month, a new set of banners lining Joyce Street were mounted, aiming to share stories of the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood.

Illustrated by Aaniya Asrani, the banners lean into past and present, taking inspiration from a series of community gatherings that took place earlier this year.

“It started with community members gathering to [share] what home and community means to them,” said Asrani, noting that sessions took place at St. Mary’s Elementary School, Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) and through a platform called Curiko.

In these sessions, participants collaborated with each other and the sun to capture their thoughts and the present moment using cyanotypes, a type of photographic process. Asrani and another artist named Annie Canto collaborated on some of the workshops, helping participants find materials in their local environment, such as leaves, rocks, grass and flowers. The pair also helped participants make drawings on acetate sheets to lay over top cyanotype paper and fabric, leaving a negative image of the form that was laid down.

Asrani then used these cyanotypes as a base to illustrate the history of the neighbourhood which would then be turned into the street banners along Joyce Street.

“The imagery I created in response was inspired by the history of Joyce-Collingwood, which used to be full of fields, apple orchards, and even a lake,” said Asrani. “As time went on, land was segregated and businesses and homes popped up, along with the road and railways that connected this place to others.”

“I’m super grateful to Loretta Houben’s hard work and research putting together the Collingwood Chronicles which goes into great detail about the history of this place from the perspective of someone who grew up here,” they added. “I was able to use direct references of maps and images of the actual trains to shape the artwork, share the story more accurately, and also develop the concepts around this specific context.”

Students from St. Mary’s participated in a short walk on Sept. 27 to see the banners and were very excited to recognize part of their work on the street, said staff at CNH. The banners are expected to stay up for the next two years.

This project was funded by the Neighbourhood Matching Fund.

October 4, 2023
RISE: Embracing the needs of the community

When Darren Childs, 60, first visited RISE Community Health Centre, he says he was “scared to death of medicine.” With cerebral palsy, diabetes and other health challenges, he says he had no interest in the healthcare system because previous practitioners would give him medications that made him sick. A year after his first visit to RISE, which is operated by Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), he now has a different view of medical care.

“The important part is giving people the freedom to feel who they are,” says Darren. “It’s not just that my lungs hurt or my legs hurt, it’s the idea that RISE and its medical team have hooked me up with the right people that match my personality as well.”

While Darren says he can’t speak for everybody, he says the staff at RISE and their willingness to answer his questions and be transparent with him has made all the difference. Living with both a disability and in poverty, Darren says he is often expected to meet the needs of the system but what he really desires is for the system to meet his needs.

At RISE, he has found a system that he describes as “wonderful.” Since joining RISE, Darren has a team of medical professionals working with him, including social workers, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists and nurse practitioners.

“At one point, [RISE] assembled all the people that were meeting with me,” says Darren. “There were 10 people that met with me on a regular basis and we had a roundtable meeting so I could find out what everybody’s job was and how I was going to get help.”

Having his needs met beyond basic medical care has been “the biggest gift that RISE offers,” explains Darren. “It’s the ability to go back into a community and embrace the needs of not just one patient or 10 patients or all the patients but indeed, the community.”

Further, he says RISE staff have helped connect him to other CNH programs and services that support his mental and physical well-being. Darren receives produce from the food hub program and has received additional support from staff when the batteries died in his wheelchair, making it impossible for him to leave his apartment. Additionally, he actively participates in social prescribing, which bridges health and social services for seniors and older adults in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood. Darren says he’s built new relationships through this program and discovered new goals.

Today, Darren says he no longer feels alone and his overall quality of life and well-being has improved. His perspective on medicine has changed so much that he was also asked to, and is considering, joining RISE’s advisory board.

“If [RISE] knows that the community has a need, then they try to fix that need,” says Darren.

This story was originally written for our 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the experiences of program participants, volunteers and community members at CNH. For more information about services provided by RISE Community Health Centre, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/rise or call 604-558-8090.

September 27, 2023