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  • Celebrating National Volunteer Week 2024: “Every Moment Matters”

    Celebrating National Volunteer Week 2024: “Every Moment Matters”

    April 14-20, 2024 is National Volunteer Week! This year’s theme, “Every Moment Matters,” highlights the importance of volunteers and each contribution they make at a moment when we need support more than ever. Volunteers make a lasting impact in our community’s inclusivity, strength and wellbeing as they continue to generously share their time, talent, and energy.

    We share some stories from our staff that celebrate these volunteers’ collective impact through their kindness, generosity, and commitment.

    Morning Star Program

    “Our Morning Star volunteer team is extremely dedicated and CNH is very lucky to have such wonderful volunteers. The team comes in every Saturday morning at 6 am to serve a hot breakfast to an unhoused and/or low-income community. The team is friendly and very welcoming to all of our participants and makes sure they all feel comfortable. This volunteer team is very special and we appreciate all that they do for our Morning Star program!” –Sue Woodland, Morning Star Program Manager

    Seniors Programs

    “Arleen Cruz is capable, ready and willing to do whatever is needed. She began volunteering at CNH when she was in middle school but joined the Seniors’ team last year. Whether she is volunteering with the walking club, teaching the ukulele, leading a singalong or showing movies, her love for seniors shows.” –Susanna Chu, Housekeeping and Wellness Program Manager

    RISE Community Health Centre

    “Local resident and volunteer Patricio Ibarra is one of the founding members of the RISE Community Health Centre (CHC) Advisory, which was formed in 2019. His accomplishments with the committee include helping to select the name RISE, helping to hire our first staff member Sonja Rietkerk, helping with the RISE CHC grand opening and helping to approve the proposal for the RISE CHC Pharmacy. Patricio brings a wealth of knowledge to the committee from his lived experience as an immigrant from Chile, active member of the Renfew-Collingwood neighbourhood and as former president of the CNH Board of Directors. In fact, Patricio has been volunteering at CNH for the last 20 years! Patricio is stepping down from the RISE CHC Advisory Committee this year, and we want to thank him for his longstanding commitment to CNH. Thank you, Patricio!” –Sandra Bodenhamer, Director, RISE Community Health Centre

    Food Hub Programs

    “Miguel has been an incredibly dedicated volunteer for our Food Hub food drop program for almost two years. What makes his commitment even more remarkable is that his mother, Esperanza, and his son, Anthony, are also actively involved in supporting the program. Miguel’s positive energy and warm demeanour have significantly contributed to the program’s success, creating an environment where participants feel valued and supported. He goes above and beyond to assist those in need and serves as a crucial link between participants and our staff. Miguel consistently shares valuable feedback and insights with our team, helping us continuously improve the program. His contributions are invaluable, and we are fortunate to have him as part of our volunteer team.” –Ross Oh, Food Hub Manager

    These are just a few examples of CNH volunteers in our community. To learn about volunteering at CNH, visit cnh.bc.ca/volunteer.

  • “It was as if we were guests in your home”—a recap of the 2023 Seniors’ Holiday Luncheon

    “It was as if we were guests in your home”—a recap of the 2023 Seniors’ Holiday Luncheon

    Written by Susanna Chu, Housekeeping and Wellness Program Manager

    Our seniors are still talking about the CNH Holiday Luncheon, says Information & Referral/Reception Manager Jenny Eng-Chan.

    “Entertainment, prizes, decorations, food, activities… it was if we were guests in your home,” one of them said.
    These guests, many of whom arrived early, were greeted by a musician on bagpipes. Inside, they discovered glittering holiday décor and floral arrangements—made by seniors in a workshop led by Ave Maria Garden volunteers—graced every table.

    As CNH Executive Director Jennifer Gray-Grant acknowledged, the event was held on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. She thanked special guest Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway, who had helped secure provincial funding to save the CNH Community Lunch program and make this holiday luncheon special.

    A team of staff and volunteers served a delicious turkey lunch with all the fixings while a local quartet called the Backporch Serenaders set the mood with delightful old-time jazz. Long-time CNH volunteer and Elvis impresario Peter Yap dazzled the audience. His energetic rock-and-roll performance was followed by the graceful Hawaiian rhythms of RISE dietitian Rani Wangsawidjaya’s hula dances.

    Volunteers Barry Londry and Martha Barrones shared their “Memories of Home”—Barry recalled hot chocolate and gifts with family, plus 15 years of celebrating with friends at the CNH holiday luncheon. Martha talked about advent, piñatas, and posadas in Mexico and Spain. She and Santa presented the preschoolers who performed next with a piñata for their efforts.

    Finally, the Highs and Lows Mental Health Choir treated our seniors to holiday favourites and led them in caroling, with Santa joining the ranks of the singers. They ended with Silent Night in multiple languages.
    Throughout the afternoon, the guests were surprised and delighted by scratch-and-win games and many prize draws. One in four guests received a gift bag of donated self-care items. Heart to Home frozen meal delivery, Liberte Café and Restaurant, London Drugs, and Subway contributed gift cards. And as they have every year, Panaderia Latina Bakery provided 100 servings of luscious cakes. A $500 grant from VanCity’s Collingwood Community Branch and a $1500 donation from Safeway Collingwood provided six grand prizes—a plush blanket and cash—and a goody bag for each guest, including a Safeway gift card and care items. A gentle reminder to take care of themselves.

    After attending many holiday gatherings in the neighbourhood this season, Peter Yap says, “The CNH holiday luncheon was the best.”

  • “You do only what you can:” Florchita Bautista on exercising at CNH

    “You do only what you can:” Florchita Bautista on exercising at CNH

    At 87, Florchita Bautista doesn’t seem to be slowing down. After decades of work supporting labourers on the picket lines and amplifying the cause of Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada as a nun, she’s now taking her time focusing on her well-being.

    Florchita, who first moved to Toronto from the Philippines in 1987 where she spent 15 years advocating for domestic workers, moved to Vancouver in 2001 after retiring from her role. She first heard about Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s recreation programs while attending service at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. She had been previously exercising at the community centres in Burnaby.

    “I was looking for a place where I can exercise. Then I heard [about] this one and thought, why don’t I try that one? I felt that my limbs are already starting to get rusty,” she said. Now she encourages her fellow seniors to get moving as well.

    Florchita looks forward to attending the recreation classes as much as she can. She likes the flexibility that the programs offer, especially after she survived a heart attack.

    “Even if I am not able to follow as vigorously as the others anymore, our facilitator/teacher is very nice. She tells me, ‘You do only what you can.’ The doctor also told me that. And if you feel you are already too tired, you start feeling it a little bit, stop. And that’s what I do. So I am not ashamed if I’m doing the other exercises already sitting down. I take myself for what I am.”

    Florchita adds that exercising at Collingwood Neighbourhood House has helped her stay active and regain her strength.

    “Especially after my heart attack, I was more or less just at home, but now, I feel that [the recreation classes are] really helping me.”

    She also appreciates her fellow class participants for being understanding and supportive of her accessibility needs.

    “They are very nice—they are the ones to take the chairs, to bring back the chairs. And they do not like me helping out to lift the chairs anymore, realizing my age. I really am the oldest among them,” Florchita says.

    For more information about recreation programs at CNH, visit cnh.bc.ca/recreation. Portions of Florchita’s interview have been translated from Filipino.

  • National Day of Action for Child Care

    National Day of Action for Child Care

    Today, November 30th, is a Canada-wide Day of Action for Child Care. As the Province moves forward with the implementation of their $10 a day Child Care BC plan, it’s important to recognize that quality, affordable child care cannot happen without the educators.

    CNH will continue to be an advocate for professional wages and benefits based on a provincially funded wage grid because child care educators not only play a vital role in providing quality care and expansion of spaces, but they are essential in the education of young minds!

    Visit https://youtu.be/FXNXxLadtJY to watch a video of four of our educators tell us why they chose the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) profession, what they love about their work, and what they are hopeful for, for the field of ECE.

    We highlight the work of CNH’s amazing child care staff. Parents very kindly shared with us what their child’s educator means to their family and words of support for the ECE profession. These kudos are also being shared with our educators.

    Some of our incredible child care staff

    “I have found all ECEs to be kind, fair, great negotiators(!), caring, fun and respectful of our young ones. They encompass all the qualities a parent could ask for when entrusting them with the care of our precious children”

    “Preschool teachers are exceptionally important in children’s lives, especially during their most impressionable years. They provide children with a support system, encouragement and build a great foundation for their future”

    “I cannot overstate how much we appreciate the work that you all do in providing care and contributing to raising healthy and happy kids”

    “The low level of pay available to these childcare workers versus the training they need and the precious people we put in their hands is greatly out of balance and I have seen firsthand where programs have lost AMAZING employees to better paying jobs”

    “The bonds he has developed with these teachers and staff have allowed him to grow and develop into the wonderful toddler he is today. The staff are incredible, and always willing to learn how to adapt to our son’s needs. 
    The training, education, and continual improvement required to care for the diverse needs of all children requires a special person. Their contribution to the growth of our children is extremely valued and we are very thankful”

    “They are all calm and honest, not passing judgment onto a parent or made to make them feel less. They are very understanding and honest and most of all friendly. All the staff that interact with C, are always smiling and seem genuinely to love their job. They always greet us with a smile every morning and even say goodbye after we leave. C is getting to be around people with good values and respect for one another. Plus, he really likes it I’m sure. Even if he does cry a bit when dropped off in mornings, ha-ha!”

    “It’s a long day for my kids. It’s a profound relief, and a delight, to see them so excited to get to out-of-school care in the morning, and then always wanting “5 more minutes” when I pick them up at the end of the day. I know that they love this program because it’s a safe and enriching place for them to play”

    “We value the educators at O’s daycare for providing genuine care and connection for all the little ones in their parents’ absence. I recall struggling when first sending him to daycare, and I was compassionately reassured that his needs would be met (including being held and hugged when pandemic measures encouraged social distancing)”“It takes a village to raise a child and that cannot be more true about the teachers at Terry Tayler. We couldn’t do it without their support, compassion, patience and care. They welcome us at every drop off and pick with a big smile no matter how well-behaved or difficult our child was that day. It is hard to be away from your child all day but knowing that our children are happy and well cared for at daycare makes a huge difference. Teachers are educating our future doctors, engineers, artists, business owners and so much more. That is a huge job and they deserve a fair wage!”

    “We can’t express enough how grateful we are for the early childhood educators that teach and care for P. Knowing that she has a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment to go to everyday allows us to have peace of mind. It allows us to focus on what we need to do to contribute to the health and vibrancy of our household and community. P loves going to daycare and we know she feels safe and nurtured by the committed educators who teach her. We are so lucky to have to have these amazing humans in our community! We have the utmost respect and appreciation for the skills, knowledge, capabilities and empathy of the early childhood educators at your centre. We believe that our current early childhood education system under compassionates those providing such an important service to our community and we strongly support fairer wages going forward.  Quality, affordable childcare for all!”

    “Please consider that those who are spending large amounts of the day, often more waking hours than their primary caregivers, provide not only a watchful eye, but are also our children’s first professional educators. They provide rich learning opportunities, while building our children’s confidence and ensuring they are cared for both physically and mentally”

    “As a parent who’s benefited from the $10/day program, I can see how it has allowed our family to redirect the funds to other important areas in our life but this monetary benefit has not been experienced by the ECEs”

    “Early education is so important to us – Teachers play such an important role in a child’s earliest years, when they’re just picking up the foundational elements of life, and aren’t able to (or need to) rely as much on friends and other students, like they can in later years.
    It’s laying the foundation for their education – Daycare is about so much more than simply learning basic skills – Our kids learn critical social and emotional skills and a partnership is formed between the child, their parents and the teacher. When this is done successfully, it lays the groundwork for it to continue throughout the child’s education.
    – They help lay the foundation for education and discovery, for the rest of a child’s life – for a successful future.
    They bring expertise in children’s development – they specialize in working with children the age of ours. They are pros at assessing, observing, and documenting their development. They focus on the child’s strengths and adapt their environment to their needs and likes.
    – We see them building a warm and positive relationships with our children – important to us because children need to feel safe and cared for. They also help the kids build positive relationships with other.
    They teach them so many important life skills – cooperation, sharing, being creative, using their imagination… They create a welcoming environment for children to make them feel right at home. They have patience for our children.  They help us understand what is going on with our children.It has been so great to see them socialize with people outside of our home and family – this has made them very social people, which we so appreciate!  They don’t get scared around new faces or around large groups”

    #childcaredayofaction #ecematters @10aday @ecebc1 @ccabc

  • Sharing a part of one’s self through volunteering

    Sharing a part of one’s self through volunteering

    Volunteer Ludin Godinez struggled when she first arrived in Canada in January 2020: in addition to the COVID-19 shutdown in March, she had difficulty navigating a new country, a new language, and a new community. 

    But that all changed when she started volunteering for the community; first with the Food Bank, and then with Collingwood Neighbourhood House, where she fondly looks back on helping cook the holiday dinner at Family Place. 

    “I really enjoyed it. The chefs really knew what they were doing,” she said. 

    This later turned into her volunteering for the monthly Community Kitchen, where she once facilitated a session on Costa Rican food and made dishes for 17 people. Aside from the cooking, she loved the opportunity to talk about her home country. 

    “I really enjoyed sharing that part of me, and [having] the opportunity to cook my [cuisine]. It’s not just about you, but your culture,” she said. As of this writing, Ludin will be hosting another Community Kitchen session in late September.

    Beyond being a wife and a mother, Ludin is also a student: she is currently enrolled in LINC to develop her English-language skills and is taking classes to become an Early Childhood Education Assistant, with the dream of opening her own home daycare someday. Ludin credits CNH staff member Hannah Balba in supporting her with her goals. 

    “She helped me with my cover letter, my resume, my driving test, and even printing stuff… the little things, even though they’re not her responsibility. I don’t see Hannah as an employee; I see her more as a friend,” Ludin said.

    Ludin appreciates the opportunity to volunteer and be part of the community; she encourages others to get involved as well. 

    “Just do it. You can give back to the community and be part of that; you also receive more than you think you give. If you’re thinking you want to be a volunteer and you want to help—no, they help you.”

    For more information about volunteering with CNH, please visit cnh.bc.ca/volunteer.

  • ‘My second home:’ Gian Villanueva on participating in CNH youth programs as a newcomer

    ‘My second home:’ Gian Villanueva on participating in CNH youth programs as a newcomer

    During his six years of visiting Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), Gian Villanueva said participating in youth programs has built his confidence.

    The 17-year-old said he wasn’t always one to approach new people but CNH changed how he interacts with others.

    “I’ve learned a lot about being more sociable here,” he said. “Going to Collingwood and meeting new people that are [also] new to Canada changed me into that person, being able to talk to them more comfortably and treat them as a friend right away.”

    The Grade 12 student said he moved to Canada from the Philippines in 2016. In the same year, he recalls a visit to his elementary school from CNH staff. Eventually, he made his first visit to the neighbourhood house with friends. Gian said he enjoyed it so much that he knew he would be returning “all the time.”

    True to his word, Gian continued to return each week to participate in settlement programs and other drop-in activities for youth.

    “It was really fun and you actually got to play sports, open-gym and do cool things,” he said. “That was also one of the ways I could spend my time since I didn’t really have electronics and since I just came to Canada.”

    Today, Gian said not much has changed. He continues to play a variety of sports in the gym and experiment with new dishes in the kitchen, though he has recently started to volunteer at CNH and said he would like to eventually find a part-time job at CNH, too.

    “I guess my entire life in Canada would be so different if I wasn’t introduced to Collingwood,” Gian said.

    Described by CNH staff as “always super helpful” in supporting wellness activities and cooking in the kitchen, as well as “instrumental” in the seniors’ snow shovelling project this year, finding ways to volunteer or participate at CNH has simply become routine for Gian. It’s also family, he said.

    Throughout his time at the neighbourhood house, Gian said he feels that everyone is treated like family, regardless of their background. He said that the Youth Services team, staff, participants and volunteers are considered equals.

    “I can call Collingwood my second home now, which is nice,” he said, adding: “If I didn’t learn about CNH when I came here, I’d probably be doing nothing right now. I’d probably just be working but I’m so glad that I found out about CNH . . . and that [staff] encouraged me to go here.”

    For more information about our youth programs, email Sanjeev Karwal at skarwal@cnh.bc.ca or call 604-435-0323.

  • Volunteer sings for fun—and for community

    Volunteer sings for fun—and for community

    At the start of the pandemic, life was lonely for Alice Crestejo. Like for many others, Alice found stay-at-home orders and physical distancing challenging. So when staff at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) established a virtual singing program for seniors, it didn’t take long for Alice to jump at the opportunity to host it.

    As an award-winning singer and performer with a repertoire of songs from the 1950s and 1960s, Broadway musicals, classical music and Italian opera, it was a perfect match. Organizing this program, however, did not come without its obstacles.

    Prior to the pandemic, seniors would meet regularly at CNH for karaoke. Once the pandemic started, In the virtual version of this program, called Sing for Fun, seniors were invited to participate in a singalong, or even sing solo.

    “To start the Sing for Fun program was not easy,” Alice said. “After finding music that people are familiar with and editing the lyrics of each song to match the music, I had problems transmitting the music and my voice over Zoom in a clear manner.” 

    “I tried different ways and [staff] even offered to buy a microphone for me, which I declined.”

    CNH staff were “so kind,” said Alice but eventually, she had the system figured out. It took a few tries and a few classes learning to use Zoom but the result was worth it, she said.

    Jenny Shen, Seniors Wellness Coordinator, agreed.

    “[Alice] shared her singing talents with seniors and brought tremendous fun and happiness to those who were homebound and isolated during the pandemic,” Jenny explained. “When word spread, not only seniors from local communities came to join the online program, but also seniors from the lower mainland, and even from other cities like Toronto.”

    “Those long-time-no-see friends, neighbours, and family members never felt so close to each other to sing, laugh, and celebrate together with Alice.”

    No longer in isolation, Alice said she has enjoyed volunteering as Sing for Fun host.

    “The past two years have gone by very quickly,” Alice said. 

    “I really enjoy doing the program as much as the participants,” Alice said. “It made me forget about the loneliness we were in during this pandemic.” 

    “CNH has been my sanctuary for two years. I am the one who should thank CNH for that opportunity.”

  • Feeling a sense of community through volunteering

    Feeling a sense of community through volunteering

    For volunteer Rahel Getaneh, helping out at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) not only gives her an opportunity to do something; it’s also a way to contribute to the community. 

    Over the past year, Rahel has been volunteering at the office, stamping envelopes, shredding documents, and supporting the Office staff with their tasks. But her journey as a volunteer actually began 15 years ago, where she also helped out with office-related tasks such as photocopying, typing, faxing, and more. 

    “I came back to Collingwood [because] I really like the environment, the people, the culture,” Rahel says.  

    And speaking of people, she appreciates feeling a sense of community every time she comes in to volunteer.

    “The people,” she says, “are really nice, really supportive. And they provide a lot of support to the community, so I just wanted to contribute to that.”

    Rahel encourages folks to get involved at CNH, even if just for a small time commitment. 

    “A lot of new people don’t know where to go and what to do. It’s such a good idea to start with Collingwood or any neighbourhood house…whether it’s to start volunteering or participating in a lot of different activities and experiences,” she says. “It’s such a good support system.”

    For more information about volunteering with CNH, please visit cnh.bc.ca/volunteer.

  • 2021 Community Vision Award recipient shares impact of nomination

    2021 Community Vision Award recipient shares impact of nomination

    A year after receiving Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s Community Vision Award, Jillian Tale continues to pursue her passion for early childhood education.

    The Community Vision Award, which includes a $750 scholarship, is given to a Grade 12 student from Windermere Secondary School. It aims to support a student with a connection to CNH and/or who has volunteered in the neighbourhood, and is entering a diploma program for early childhood education, community services or community development.

    Jillian, who started her Early Childhood Education studies at Douglas College last fall, recently obtained her license to be an Early Childhood Education Assistant. She currently works with infants and toddlers at Port Moody’s The Kids Academy.

    “[The award] helped me move forward and pay for the class I needed to get my license,” she said.
    Now finishing her first year at Douglas College, Jillian hopes to build transfer credits to Capilano University to do a Bachelor’s, and then a Master’s in Early Childhood Education.

    Jillian, who also lives in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood, credits her time volunteering for the community in helping her figure out what she wanted to do and what her passions were. She started volunteering in the neighbourhood, as well as for Collingwood Neighbourhood House, during high school.

    “I found out through volunteering that I actually loved working with children,” she said. “I would do activities like cooking, arts and crafts, lego, and reading with the kids.”

    She encourages young people to volunteer for the community as a way to figure out what they want to do in life.

    “Get out there as much as you can, as soon as you possibly could. Ask friends if you want to do volunteering together… it was less scary volunteering with my friends. We all figured out what we wanted to do and what our passions were as well. It helps a lot, going out and getting into the community,” Jillian said.

    The Community Vision Award is announced annually at CNH’s Annual General Meeting, held in late September.

  • Early Childhood Education Scholarship Application

    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.

    To apply, please complete the application online at https://bit.ly/nina-vacca-scholarship-2022 or get an application form from reception at CNH (5288 Joyce St) and email it to info@cnh.bc.ca. Deadline for applications is July 22, 2022 at 5 pm.