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Author: Kayla Isomura

  • 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.

  • Joyce Street banners: Sunbeams lead the way

    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.

  • RISE: Embracing the needs of the community

    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.

  • Breakfast program a ‘big boost’ for unhoused residents of Renfrew-Collingwood says former participant

    Breakfast program a ‘big boost’ for unhoused residents of Renfrew-Collingwood says former participant

    Growing up in Renfrew-Collingwood, Clayton Travis Williams, 42, says he would play basketball as a kid at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH). Afterwards, he would drop by on occasion to use the phone or the washroom. So, it wasn’t until much later, as an adult, that he started taking advantage of more services at CNH.

    In 2017, Clayton lost his father to an accidental drug overdose. At the time, the two were living together in a BC Housing Project. Clayton says he was evicted and struggled to find housing. He slept on job sites and eventually, started living on the street. During this time, he also started experiencing addiction.

    Remaining in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood, Clayton recalls someone mentioning free breakfast at CNH and for over six years, he ended up participating in the Morning Star program, which offers free hot breakfasts, showers, clothing and support services on Saturday mornings. While Clayton says he only participated in the one program, the hot meals and support he received from staff went much further.

    “I was always excited to come get a huge plate of bacon and eggs so I took advantage of that anytime I could,” says Clayton. “It’s such a rejuvenation because when you’re on the street, things like dry socks, some shower gel and a decent meal in your belly goes a long way.”

    At Morning Star, Clayton says he eventually met Ana Mateescu, Homelessness Manager at CNH. He says Ana went a step beyond and ended up finding food for him outside of those Saturday mornings. She would also help him access other supports, including haircuts and laundry when he needed it.

    Today, Clayton is nearly two years sober after addiction treatments and living in sober housing. He is now living on his own in Abbotsford and despite no longer needing services at CNH or living in the neighbourhood, he says he and Ana stay in touch. Ana says she checks in with Clayton regularly and continues to offer him support when she can. She also asks Clayton for help sometimes, too, particularly when she has a client who could talk to someone with the lived experience and journey that Clayton has had.

    As for Clayton, this new chapter in his journey is just beginning. He says his late mother was an outreach worker and now he aspires to do the same. He is also rebuilding familial relationships and working on rebuilding an old business.

    For others interested in the services CNH provides, Clayton reiterates that Morning Star was a “big boost” for him, especially being easily accessible for someone already in the area.

    “A lot of the general consensus is if you want outreach help or a shelter or anything like that, you have to go downtown and get it but there’s this place right here doing that, doing some support stuff like that,” he says.

    Clayton adds that he wasn’t aware of the homeless services available at CNH for a long time, even though he used to sleep on the same block. “Why wouldn’t I come down here and get a free meal and have a shower?” he asks. “Keep those doors open because it was big for me when I was homeless so I hope it keeps going.”

    “The name, ‘Neighborhood House?’ It really is like that,” he says. “I always felt safe here and comfortable and nobody ever treated me poorly here.”

    This story was originally written for our 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the experiences of program participants, volunteers and community members at CNH. To learn more about outreach programs at CNH, visit: www.cnh.bc.ca/outreach. Morning Star takes place every Saturday morning at CNH (5288 Joyce St). Showers and clothing are available from 7-8:30 am, while breakfast is available from 7-9 am.

  • Creating community through family programs at CNH

    Creating community through family programs at CNH

    When Zenaba came to Family Place for the first time with her 16-month-old and 2-month-old kids in 2012, her older child seemed to fit in right away. 

    “I had the baby in the carrier. He had friends, he was playing around with the toys they have, he got involved right away. I got to meet other parents and made friends with them, too,” she says. 

    Zenaba learned about Family Place by accident. She had just moved to the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood, was just getting familiar with the area and she walked into Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), where she learned of programs like Family Place.

    “I took the brochure, went home, and then came to Family Place the next day.”

    Since then, all five of her kids have attended the program. Beyond this, she became more involved with CNH by volunteering with the Food Hub and Families Branching Out, even helping out with fundraising for the latter program through her cooking skills. 

    But everything would change when COVID-19 hit the community in 2020. 

    “Coming here [to CNH] was a big social activity for [my children] so when COVID hit, it affected us very badly,” she says. “It affected my fourth son very much… he had a speech delay and didn’t go out that much.”

    However, Zenaba saw things improve once they started coming back and appreciates the work the CNH staff members have done in supporting him.

    “Every Wednesday afternoon, Katty [Mir] would do one-on-one [sessions] with him. He was very focused and was listening. She really worked with him,” she says. Her son now goes to kindergarten, and Zenaba thanks Family Place for being a reference for them when the school came for an observation. 

    Aside from this, Zenaba also appreciates the other forms of support CNH gives to their family. 

    “Now they’re coming back with the snacks [for kids] again. And it’s even better because now, we get clothing donations for the kids. Sometimes, they even give us food to carry home. So not only do the kids get food, but the parents too,” she says.

    Overall, Zenaba enjoys the community CNH brings to her and her family, thanks to the different programs they’ve been involved in over the years.

    “[Coming to CNH] changed my life. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t come here… daycare was expensive, everything was expensive. Having a program like this offers you and your family a chance to get involved in the community, and it really made a big impact on us.”

    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 family programs at CNH, visit www.cnh.bc.ca/family.

  • ‘It’s been a big part of my life’ says longtime volunteer on CNH

    ‘It’s been a big part of my life’ says longtime volunteer on CNH

    For 13 years, Barry Londry, 67, has found himself inside the kitchen at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) every Tuesday. A volunteer chef for Community Lunch, Barry says he never expected to stay beyond a couple of weeks but now he’s a permanent fixture of the popular low-cost lunch program. “From day one, I’ve been doing the soups and I’ve gotten known for that, good or bad,” he says with a laugh. “Some people have nice compliments but I don’t think I live up to that.”

    With a professional background as a chef and volunteer work with the rooftop garden at CNH, it was a perfect fit when Barry was first asked about participating in the lunch program. However, it’s his passion for food, culture and people that has encouraged him to stay. From congee to borscht and squash soup, Barry says he’s cooked a diversity of dishes at CNH thanks to the monthly menu prepared by the program’s head chef. “I enjoy doing it and it’s easy for me and fun,” he says.

    Seniors sitting outdoor at a community event

    Over the years, Barry has cooked for other events at CNH and in the broader Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood. He has also helped lead other kitchen programs at CNH and was instrumental in starting the Cheyenne Community Garden and the Norquay Food Forest. Barry continues to volunteer regularly at the gardens and participates in the seniors’ karaoke program every month. He also receives cleaning services through Better at Home. However, Barry is no “regular volunteer,” according to staff at CNH. Barry often shares his knowledge and skills within the neighbourhood, working collaboratively “to make the best conclusions,” says Emily Rees, Director of Community Development. “Without him, our programs won’t succeed.”

    In fact, Barry’s wealth of knowledge, skills and interest in collaboration has allowed him opportunities that go beyond simply meeting new people at CNH. Through his time at the neighbourhood house, he’s also gained opportunities and experiences beyond his dreams. Most surprising, he says, was being invited to help prepare a feast for C.R.E.W., the Indigenous Youth Program’s annual canoe excursion for Indigenous youth. “We helped clean hundreds of crabs and got involved with a really nice, full dinner with smoked salmon, traditional salmon and chowder,” he says. “I wouldn’t have experienced that otherwise.”

    Two seniors smiling and helping each other carry a stack of plates in the CNH kitchen. A staff person is in the background preparing for the Community Lunch program.

    In 2012, Barry recalls a cross-cultural meal he helped prepare for a group of city planners visiting CNH. Another year, he participated in and graduated from a course offered by the Community Development Department for community development and community capacity building at Capilano University. “I  completed the course and we had a graduation party,” he says. “It was really great learning about the field by a really diverse group of people who were either working and/or volunteering in the industry.” Later, he was asked about his “dream kitchen” when CNH was building the Annex. Barry worked with the kitchen designer to help design and outfit the Annex kitchen with appliances and major equipment. “When I saw the Annex kitchen completed I felt proud for being a part of it,” he says.

    When asked how CNH has shaped his life, it’s difficult for Barry to hold back tears. “It’s been a big part of my life,” he says. “I consider it my home, I really do.” He adds that it was difficult being away from CNH during closures in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but he is relieved being able to be on-site and back to the kitchen. “It was a tough time but it’s just a big part of my life,” Barry says.” A very positive part.”

    This story was originally written for our 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the experiences of program participants, volunteers and community members at CNH. To learn more about volunteering with at CNH, visit cnh.bc.ca/volunteer.

  • Applications open for the 2023 Early Childhood Education Scholarship

    The Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) Board of Directors is proud to provide a scholarship of $750.00 in honour of a long-term staff Nina Vacca.

    Nina passed away in 2021. Nina arrived to Canada as a refugee and was a lifelong learner; she pursued her Early Childhood Education Certificate later in life.

    Nina worked at CNH as a manager of the LINC Childcare Program; she was also a childcare worker in the Families Branching Out Program and Family Place. She always showed a lot of love and care in the work she did with children. 

    Her contributions and work did not stop with her caring for children at CNH: she volunteered in her community every year to organize events for the Chilean community. 

    At CNH we want to celebrate Nina’s legacy by offering this scholarship to refugee and immigrant women. 

    How to apply

    1. Download and fill out the application at https://bit.ly/nina-vacca-scholarship-2023 or get an application form from reception at CNH (5288 Joyce St)
    2. Email the form to info@cnh.bc.ca or hand it into reception by deadline

    Application Deadline

    The deadline for applications is Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 at 5 pm.

  • Going beyond with settlement services at CNH

    Going beyond with settlement services at CNH

    Twenty-year-old Aliyah landed in Canada in May 2021 to reunite with her parents. Stepping into a new country, Aliyah could not speak English. She also had minimal literacy in Chinese due to reading difficulties. With so many challenges, her circle was limited to her home and parents.

    In September 2021, Aliyah met Helen Su, a Chinese-speaking settlement worker at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH). After a needs assessment with Aliyah, Helen initiated “Guided Pathway,” a comprehensive support strategy to direct her to available resources. Together, they created an action plan aiming at helping Aliyah to settle more quickly.

    Following the action plan, Aliyah joined the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers Canada) program. Sitting in the Level 1 class, she was able to communicate with the instructor and even more, she started to make friends in her class. Meanwhile, Aliyah registered for the Make Your Mark program where she could relax and enjoy creativity. She also participated in an art therapy workshop where she learned to express her feelings and thoughts with different paintings. All these activities offered through our Community Development team empowered Aliyah to break through her limitation and isolation. Now she has become much more open-minded, happier, and more active in the community.

    The action plan also directed her to navigate the health system and identify the available resources supporting her medical needs. Through Community Living BC, Aliyah received benefits and joined programs that helped her have a life filled with many possibilities.

    Aliyah’s experiences reflect the core value of settlement services at CNH. Our service is not as quick as a one-time meeting with the client. It is a long-term journey with much supporting and accompanying. Our services are not as simple as just filling out a form. They imply caring and empowering, navigating and advocating. Our services not only aim to meet the newcomers’ basic needs, more critically but also to help them integrate into the community and eventually find ways to contribute their strength to society.

    Settlement services are available at CNH to support newcomers and immigrants in a variety of first languages. Our hope is to see you and your family make Canada your new home. All programs and services are free! For more information about settlement services at CNH, visit: https://www.cnh.bc.ca/settlement or call 604-435-0323.

  • What is Community Development? The Theory of Change

    What is Community Development? The Theory of Change

    Community Development is one of six departments at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), offering a mix of programming to local residents and community members. In this post, they describe the definition of community development and what that means to their team.

    Community Development at CNH

    We bring neighbours together based on shared interests, common issues and shared identities, as well as across generations and cultures. They identify the issues they want to address or the opportunities they want to explore.

    Communities use their assets and shared strengths to make an equitable change. Community Development staff support neighbours to build the capacity to work together to pursue the changes they want to see.

    This process leads to an interconnected, equitable, just, and sustainable society with strong, resilient communities at the heart of decision-making.

    Community members continue to inform CNH programs, priorities, and initiatives, as well as have the skills, connections, and passions to create and shape initiatives in their communities.

    View or download the graphics as a PDF.

    Our Definition

    Community development is a process where people come together to take action on what’s important to them. Community development helps communities to organize, and to identify the issues they want to address, or the opportunities they want to explore.

    Strategies 

    • Celebration and reflecting: We celebrate diverse cultures, histories and expressions through events, projects and campaigns. We reflect, evaluate and learn from our work in order to continue to inform our understanding of community. 
    • Mobilizing and advocating: Responding to community issues with innovation systems thinking, and strategies to address the root causes of inequities. Mobilizing community members to engage politically and socially towards systemic change that supports an equitable and just society.
    • Connecting: We provide low-barrier and accessible opportunities for people to connect with each other, the community, and the land. We foster relationship-building between people and groups who may not usually connect, including intergenerational and intercultural connections. We build and support networks of residents and community partners that work toward positive change in the community.
    • Resources: We provide information and education to community members. Individuals and groups are supported in their learning journey. Sharing of power? Access? using the power and resources we have to support community needs.

    Impacts (what are we working toward?)

    • Community leadership: A neighbourhood where community members care for one another and support each other. Community Members, groups, and organizations collaborate by working together to build capacity and are empowered to create changes.
    • Community Health and Resiliency: A neighbourhood where community members care for one another and support each other. Community Members, groups, and organizations collaborate by working together to build capacity, and are empowered to create changes.
    • Equity and justice: A neighbourhood that is committed to ongoing processes of anti-racism, identifying and redistributing power, decolonizing, and advocating for systems change towards an equitable and just society.
    • Belonging: A neighbourhood where everyone belongs, fully participates and shares their unique gifts. A neighbourhood where no one feels isolated and our communities have the resources to experience well-being, joy, and celebration.

    Our Principles

    • Community Driven: Drawing on existing assets, strengths and gifts that are already present in the community. Listening in order to support accessible and creative initiatives led by neighbours and Indigenous Peoples where community can connect to each other and the land.
    • Interculturalism and equity: Seek to increase diversity and our understanding of different perspectives and voices. Embed an anti-oppression framework to holistically support and centre those facing marginalization.
    • Centring relationships: Take the long road; Building, and sustaining connections with people takes time, as does creating deeper shifts in the systems. Patience and time are required. Involve different people, interests and sectors, working toward trust and reciprocity.
    • Systems change: Focusing on the root causes of the issues that are important to community members to create sustainable change. Respond to emergent community issues by redistributing knowledge and power; Flexibility based on changing contexts.
    • Building trust: Use processes of reflection, transparent communication, follow-up, ongoing evaluation and feedback loops.

    Join Us

    For more information, call 604-435-0323.

  • CNH staff celebrate 5 and 10-year milestones

    Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At the 2022 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.

    Last year, we recognize and celebrate the following staff for 10 and 5 years of service to Collingwood Neighbourhood House:

    Over 10 Years

    • Robert Allen
    • Alice Chow
    • Bobby Jo Moore
    • Nafisa Sultana

    Over 5 Years

    • Michelle Olvina
    • Zakia Saad
    • Chaturika Kotteduwa Jawarden
    • Cecilia Garcia
    • San Kyaing
    • Mitra Alahyarkhani
    • Donna Bondy
    • Terry So
    • Samuel Iwama
    • Sylvia Ma
    • Nikita Bhardwaj
    • Elizabeth Leon
    • Ry Forsythe
    • Irene Mella

    Congratulations and thank you for your service!

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