Phone: 604-435-0323 | Email: info@cnh.bc.ca

Category: News & Announcements

  • Historical honour highlights the impact of CNH staff

    Historical honour highlights the impact of CNH staff

    Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) is officially a Place that Matters in our city, but it’s also a place that has made a huge difference in three generations of the Correal family’s life.

    On Feb. 16, 2021, Carmen Correal and her daughter Adriana gave a fantastic presentation to the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. And while they outlined the history of CNH, they also got personal about the organization’s impact on their family.

    The Foundation was celebrating its Places that Matter initiative where it has designated a number of buildings and places in Vancouver as Places that Matter. CNH was designated under this program almost 10 years ago; you may have noticed the oval, purple plaque near the front of CNH Joyce, over the brochure holder that notes the honour.

    For the Foundation’s event, they requested a speaker to talk about CNH. Recreation Coordinator Carmen Correal kindly volunteered and asked her daughter Adriana to join her. They did a wonderful presentation!

    Carmen and Adriana gave a quick history of CNH, from its humble beginnings in a storefront on Kingsway in 1985 and its move to the CNH Joyce location in 1995, to its growth over the years with the addition of three off-site child care centres, school-aged care in local schools, the opening of the Annex and, most recently, the opening of RISE Community Health Centre.

    Carmen Correal (far right) and her family pictured after 14 years in Canada.

    They then told the story of their own family’s engagement with CNH and how it has played such a strong role in their settlement in Canada and in the life of their family. After arriving in Canada from Colombia on July 1, 1998, Carmen took English classes at CNH. She placed her then four-year-old son Juan Carlos in the program’s child-minding and also brought him to CNH’s Parents and Tots program, while she was volunteering with the program. She then started working at CNH as a contractor, then staff, eventually moving into the coordinator’s position.

    Juan Carlos has volunteered at CNH, both of Carmen’s daughters, Adriana and Laura, have worked at CNH and Adriana (who created the beautiful artwork in our lobby) decided to go into a career in the arts following her work in the arts at CNH. Carmen’s husband attends Zumba twice weekly. Carmen and Adriana ended their presentation showing pictures of Carmen’s granddaughter in a program at CNH, noting that CNH continues to play a huge role in their family’s life.

    An organization is not just about a collection of buildings. Carmen and Adriana made clear that the organization is all of the people who made their family’s journey possible and successful. Their particular story is one that represents so many people who come to CNH and find what they need and want, thanks to the amazing staff team. Thanks to Carmen and Adriana for a wonderful presentation and thanks to the full staff team for touching so many people’s lives and giving them a sense of belonging.

    To view Carmen and Adriana’s presentation, play the video below.

    Top photo: Carmen Correal and her daughter Adriana.

  • CNH stands in solidarity with the Asian-Canadian community

    The Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), its Board, staff and members mourn the loss of eight lives taken in a horrific act of violence in Atlanta, Georgia. Out of respect for the families who have asked for the victim’s names to remain private, we will not share their names at this time.

    We recognize that six of the eight victims were Asian women, making this enraging and heartbreaking act of violence one that reverberates greatly through the Asian community in North America and beyond. As well, the specific and targeted locations of these murders brings to light the vulnerable plight of immigrant and migrant working class women involved in domestic work and sex work, and we recognize the impact these murders have on this community. The victims come from many walks of life as grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and spouses whose families are forever affected. We ought not to make assumptions or conclusions about their work, but hear their stories and celebrate the impact their lives have had on those around them.

    While the act was perpetrated in the United States, we acknowledge that Canada is not immune to the kind of racism and misogyny that brought about this crime. From laws that targeted early Chinese immigrants for discrimination, to the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War II, to the marked increase in recent acts of Anti-Asian racism and violence in our own neighbourhoods, let us remember that we must be ready to challenge racist and misogynistic attitudes and actions whenever we encounter them.

    To our friends in the Asian-Canadian community, and immigrant and migrant sex workers, CNH stands with you in this time of grieving and we want you to know that you belong in this community. We grieve with you over the tragic loss of lives and we recognize that this is a sensitive time with feelings of fear, disbelief, and confusion.

    While CNH makes this statement of solidarity with those impacted by this crime, we know that statements alone are not enough. If we truly believe that there is no place for Anti-Asian racism, violence, and misogyny, then we must reflect on how each of us perpetuates these wrongs, and instead work toward centering the voices and perspectives of those most affected in our communities. We also are committed to deepening healing, building friendships, and cultivating understanding amongst diverse cultural groups in our community.

    Last Spring, CNH’s Board organized and conducted a Town Hall on ‘Anti-Asian Racism During the Pandemic’, leading a discussion on the racist and discriminatory behaviours occurring against Asian-Canadians in Renfrew-Collingwood. The conversations that came out of this event continue to underscore the need for change at a systemic, community, and interpersonal level. We must examine injustices and together imagine a kind, equitable, and radical future.

    To mutually share in learning and action about anti-racism, we invite you to visit CNH’s resources page at www.cnh.bc.ca/communityresources.

    It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” It is in that same spirit of justice for all that Collingwood Neighbourhood House identifies with the Asian-Canadian community, and immigrant and migrant sex workers. We will listen to you, grieve with you, learn from you, grow with you, and fight for you.

  • Applications open for Community Systems Change Certificate

    Applications open for Community Systems Change Certificate

    Do you want to learn how to be a stronger community leader? Do you want to learn community development in a creative and academic setting? Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s (CNH) Community Development department is launching the second cohort of the Scale Your Impact: Community Systems Change Certificate. 

    This is a free certificate program open to changemakers in the Renfrew-Collingwood community. This program brings together community partners, leaders, artists, and volunteers who are working to improve their community. Participants have the opportunity to learn with a cohort about systems change and how to get at the root issues of problems they are working on to create lasting change.

    Classes will begin on Sept. 25, 2020 and will take place in person or online.

    An application process is required and space is limited. We recommend applying early to secure a spot with applications due on Sept. 5, 2020. To download an information page with dates and registration information, click here.

    About the program

    Over the eight sessions, we will cover a broad curriculum that will allow you to solve community-based problems. We will discuss systems thinking, human-centred design, equity and collaboration. You will have the opportunity to work 1-1 with a coach who can support you to deepen your impact and there will also be small grants available to support a project to make change around a problem you are working on in your community.

    Scale your Impact will teach you:

    • How to understand the big systems you are working in and where the leverage points for change are

    • How to get at the root causes of big issues such as systemic racism, homelessness, climate change and more

    • How to use human-centred design tools and other innovative methods to increase creativity and idea generation

    • Why self-awareness is a necessary part of effective social innovation

    • How to create innovative teams and collaborations

    • How to write better grants and effectively evaluate the impact of your work

    Important dates

    Sept. 5, 2020: Applications due
    Sept. 25, 2020: Program begins (8 half-day sessions monthly, Fridays from 8:30 am-12:30 pm)

    Session dates

    Session 1 (Sept 25): Intro to social innovation and systems thinking
    Session 2 (Oct 30): Collaboration and communication
    Session 3 (Nov 27): Self in the system – adaptive leadership for impact
    Session 4 (Jan 29): Anti-racism, equity, and Truth and Reconciliation
    Session 5 (Mar 5): Leverage points – how to intervene in a system
    Session 6 (Apr 9): Resilience, anti-fragility and collective change
    Session 7 (May 7): Evaluation – developmental evaluation, collective impact
    Session 8 (Jun 4): Wrap up, integration and celebration

    Application

    Scale your Impact is a free program with the generous support of the Vancouver Foundation. There is a maximum of 20 participants in this
    program, and seats in the program are secured through a simple application process.

    To apply for the program, please fill out an application form. Given the limited spots in the program, we encourage you to apply early to save your seat.

    Please note that we are only able to accept a maximum of 4 people per organization due to size limits.

    About the instructors

    Lisa Gibson is a facilitator, coach and systems change consultant. She specializes in helping people and groups bring their whole hearts forward in creating a more just, caring and sustainable world. With over 20 years of experience in local and international work at multiple scales, she specializes in working with individuals, organizations and communities to embed systemic change, transform belief systems, and construct alliances across diversity. Lisa has worked with Collingwood Neighbourhood House for over 10 years, and teaches in SFU’s Social Innovation Certificate program.

    Crecien Bencio is a community developer at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. For the past 8 years, he coordinates a variety of creative initiatives and he collaborates with neighbours to bring beauty to the community by painting murals, sharing recipes and writing stories. He is a long time resident of Renfrew-Collingwood and is passionate about the arts, Japanese animation and travelling to faraway places. Currently, he is working towards an Asian Studies degree at Langara College.

  • RISE Community Health Centre officially opens on Crowley Drive

    RISE Community Health Centre officially opens on Crowley Drive

    Construction of RISE Community Health Centre (CHC) is now complete and the long-awaited facility has officially opened its doors.

    The facility, located at 5198 Joyce St., provides comprehensive primary health care and health promotion services to residents in Renfrew-Collingwood.

    “We’ve listened to the people in Renfrew-Collingwood and have built on the good work their community organizations are already doing,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Now that RISE is open in its main location, in addition to the site at CNH, more people will be able to get the care they need when they need it.”

    “This will make a difference for those who have been struggling to access health-care services.”

    Prior to its opening on June 15, RISE has been offering limited services at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) since November 2019.

    What is a community health centre?

    Community health centres provide services tailored to meet the health needs of the community they serve. They are either community governed or community informed and they are most often not-for-profit organizations. RISE is governed, owned and operated by CNH.

    Why RISE?

    Since the closure of the Evergreen Community Health Centre Primary Care clinic in 2014, community members have been advocating to bring primary care services back to the neighbourhood. 

    CNH conducted extensive community engagement from 2018-2019 to ask local residents what type of services they felt were needed and what they would like to see. Since many residents face barriers to accessing medical care, such as English literacy, lack of support, social isolation, poverty, and stigma, a community health centre model was chosen to support health in a holistic way. 

    From those consultations, RISE was born and became a part of CNH. RISE stands for Resilience, Integrative, Socially Just and Equitable, and those are the values the Health Centre aspires to achieve.

    The RISE approach specifically recognizes the social determinants of health that greatly influence individual and community health. In addition to providing direct medical care, RISE staff work with individuals and groups to address underlying social and economic factors that can negatively impact health and, in doing so, supports the health and resilience of the Renfrew-Collingwood community.

    Space, staff and facility hours

    RISE staff outside of the new facility.

    The new RISE space is the embodiment of what the neighbourhood asked for, including a warm, inviting and colourful space that doesn’t “feel like a medical clinic.” The space includes bright yellow accents, a plant wall, a tea and water station, soft couches and spaces to gather.

    The neighbourhood also asked for diverse staff that are representative of the community and also the key populations that will be accessing services. The 17 staff at RISE speak 13 languages between them, and come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds.

    RISE is now in operation on Mondays and Tuesdays (9:30 am – 5:00 pm), Wednesdays and Thursdays (9:30 am – 7:00 pm), Fridays (9:30 am – 6:00 pm), and the first and third Saturday of the month (9:30 am – 3:30 pm).

    RISE will continue to provide services from the clinic room at CNH on Joyce Street, including serving the Morning Start Breakfast Program and other programs as requested. Additionally, RISE will continue providing outreach to Sarah Ross Modular Housing and Kingsway Continental.

    Precautions during COVID-19

    Although services remain modified according to current COVID-19 guidelines, new referrals are being accepted by phone, email, and fax. In-person visits remain limited.

    If you have clients that you think would benefit from our services, please do not hesitate to call: 604-558-8090 or email: risechc@cnh.bc.ca.

  • CNH Board of Directors: Call for nominations

    CNH Board of Directors: Call for nominations

    CNH is accepting nominations for its Board of Directors. This is an exciting time to join our Board as we have just opened a new, embedded community health centre, RISE at CNH. 

    Applicants should live and/or work in Renfrew-Collingwood, have a broad understanding of the neighbourhood and feel committed to becoming engaged in improving all aspects of our neighbourhood. We are interested in hearing from people from all backgrounds and ages but are especially interested in applicants who are between the ages of 16-29 or are 50-plus. 

    This year we have a particular need for those who have been an active member in a residents group, have been active in a religious or spiritual group and/or are artists. We are also particularly interested in applicants from Indigenous, Latinx, Filipino and Vietnamese communities.

    The CNH Board of Directors is committed to an anti-oppression approach to its work and welcomes those who thrive in a vibrant, diverse environment. Applicants should be able to spend 8-10 hours per month on Board-related work and be able to commit to a three-year term, starting this October. 

    The deadline for applications is July 3 at 12 pm. If you are interested, please contact Jennifer Gray-Grant at 604-451-9855 or jgray-grant@cnh.bc.ca.

  • Statement on anti-racism from the CNH Board of Directors

    As a neighbourhood house, we strive to be a welcoming place, working with local residents to give them a sense of belonging in our neighbourhood. Here is the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) Board of Directors’ anti-racism statement:

    “Over the last few months, there has been a resurgence of racialized violence and xenophobia within this community and beyond. These attacks, whether physical or verbal are violent, and violence has no place in our community. Racism and xenophobia harms everyone, not just those who are being targeted. It divides us and weakens our collective identity.

    It is during such times of discomfort and uncertainty that we reveal our true selves and as a community, we are better than this. Racism is never acceptable, and it is particularly deplorable at such a time when everyone, globally, continues to be impacted by this pandemic.

    For those who have been senselessly targeted by these acts, either directly or indirectly – we stand in solidarity with you. CNH is committed to the task of confronting ongoing racism and we urge all of you to stand up to these incidences and this rhetoric – we all have a responsibility to condemn these behaviours and attitudes.”

    “The ultimate measure of a (person) is not where (they) stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where (they) stand at times of challenge and controversy” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Please check out our Community Resources page for some great anti-racism resources. If you are facing a situation where you feel threatened and in danger, please call 911.