New off the curb summer edition 2014

Main Office433 Tranquille Road

Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3G9

250-376-7558Toll Free 1-800-661-7451

Merritt Office#105-2151 Granite Ave-

nue PO Box 697Merritt, B.C.

V1K 1B8250-315-0098

Toll Free 1-800-661-7451

Managing EditorJustine Cleghorn

[email protected]

Off the Curb is published bimonthly by the ASK

Wellness Society1

Vol. 5 Issue 4 Summer Edition 2014

Welcome to the NEW Off the Curb!

As Kamloops’ first street newspaper, Off the Curb informs and edu-cates people in the community on issues surrounding marginal-

ized and disadvantaged people. This publication aims to foster community inclusion and awareness

of these issues while eliminating discrimination and neglect. Everyone deserves a safe home and a life free from discrimination. At the ASK Wellness Society (ASK), we strive to achieve this.

Following the guiding principles of harm reduction, social justice, and client-centred care, the staff and volunteers at ASK address the needs of our community’s most vulnerable population. Education, work experi-ence, and even a few cents can make a huge difference to one’s well-be-ing and self-esteem. Our mandate involves taking clients off the streets and into housing. We believe once a person is housed in a safe environ-ment, then they can start addressing any physical or mental health or substance use issues. Next they are ready to transition into employment, eventually becoming self-sustaining and free from government financial support. Our organization has teams of workers dedicated to each step within this complex process.

With the help of the Journalism, Communication, and New Media department at Thompson Rivers University and graphic design specialist Amy Longo, we are launching a new design of Off the Curb. These part-nerships will increase the publication’s professionalism and credibility, while helping us to make a difference in our community.

By facilitating discussion around the struggles and the success of our clients, we can empower not only our clients, but also our community — knowledge is power.

The combination of storytelling and dissemination of accurate infor-mation will result in a truly meaningful product.

Just ASK...

Justine Cleghorn

Managing Editor of Off the Curb

A S K W E L L N E S S . C A

Streets à Homes à Health à Employment

OFF THE CURBVol. 5 Issue 4 Summer Edition 2014

www.offthecurb.caOff the Curb welcomes

submissions from the community on issues affecting those who face

barriers, marginalization, and poverty. For more information,

please contact [email protected].

What you’ll find in this issue:

2 Guest Blurb, submitted by Helena Paivinen

3 A way home for Kamloops youth

4 Remembering Jim Szekeres

5 Ken Salter honoured with TRU alumni award

7 Tainted heroin warning for

Kamloops

7 ASK supports IIFS

7 Safe Suite introduced at Cross roads

8 ASK Wellness programs and supports

10 Thank you for supporting DOFL

12 The ASK Wellness Amazing Race

13 Walk with Us for HIV awareness

14 Jim Reger’s Building Bridges of Trust

16 Home/Less/Mess play review

16 Rest in Peace Robert Toal

18 Client resources and where to find Off the Curb

Guest BlurbSubmitted by Helena Paivinen, RN, BScN, MN

It was with great pleasure that I stumbled across a publication of ASK’s Off the Curb. My

initial impression of Off the Curb was what a wonderful mode of connecting with the community and sharing what is happening at ASK.

I devoured every written compo-nent and carefully examined each photograph for images of people I might know. Putting out such a publication caused me to believe that this agency is being run with

transparency, something which I hope every credible institution would aspire towards.

Being transparent means I can see through it; it minimizes conjec-ture and guessing. Transparency allows me to know what is hap-pening, and if I believe with what is happening, I may be inspired to be a part of it. To me, ASK is more than an agency. It is a happening. ASK is a place where something exciting and hopeful occurs. It is a place where I want to be.

When I walk into the rooms of ASK, I feel a vibrant, invigorating energy, one which I believe ema-nates the four core values of ASK: hope, inclusion, trust, and compas-sion.

ASK attracts me not only be-cause of my professional back-ground, but also because I define myself as a mystic, someone who believes in the spiritual appre-hension of truths that are beyond the intellect. Mystic also relates to mysteries, those things which induce a feeling of awe or wonder. When I am at ASK and see all the people, I experience awe and

wonder. My mysticism draws me to esoteric things, one of which entails looking for coincidences.

One coincidence I found was in the four values of ASK. In nu-merology, the number four reso-nates with the energy of patience, trust, service, morals, honesty, and integrity. Four vibrates with attributes of progress, passion, and justice. In the Torah, the number four indicates a place and symbol-izes wholeness and diversity. The number four represents home.

When I think of ASK, I think of it as a home: an open, inviting home, one in which all are warmly wel-comed. The duty of four vibra-tions is to build a firm foundation for themselves on which others may stand, work and be protected.

I do not know why the people at ASK selected four core values, but nonetheless, the fact is that ASK chose four— not five, not six but four. Is this a coincidence or a re-flection of a truth that goes beyond the intellect? When I am at ASK, I see all the attributes given to the number four. I see passion, hon-esty, trust, service, and integrity. I see diversity and progress.

To me, ASK is not a closed, stagnant place but one which flows with wholeness and diversity. It is a place that inspires. It is a happen-ing. It is a place where I want to be.

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While we are temporarily not accepting clothing, linens, or furniture donations, our clients can always use:

Take-out containers for leftoversPlastic bags

Ziploc bags (all sizes)Baby Wipes / Wet Wipes

Band-aidsBus Passes / TicketsCombs / Hairbrushes

DeodorantPersonal hygiene productsFeminine hygiene products

Toilet PaperAdult diapers

Wrapped candiesGarbage bags

Razors, mens’ and ladies’Shaving cream or foam

Chap-StickKleenex tissues

Toothbrushes & toothpasteTravel-size soaps and shampoos

Q-tipsGrocery vouchers

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A Way Home for Kamloops youthBy Justine Cleghorn

Hungry, scared, sleeping on the cold, damp

sidewalk, without family for support, this is what it’s like to be a homeless youth.

Youth are vulnerable members of our com-munity. Without the appropriate supports, the references necessary to achieve sustainable housing, and the life skills to be independent, youth face many barriers to housing, explained Katherine McParland, the Life Skills Coordinator at Crossroads. Home-less youth are also more sceptical to gang activity, violence, crime, sex trade, and addiction, she added.

Kamloops is coming to-gether to better serve and support youth in their housing needs.

In November 2013, McParland sat down with Kira Haug, SHOP and Blood Borne Infection (BBI) health navigator at ASK Wellness, to form a committee aimed at eradicating youth home-lessness. The committee, dubbed A Way Home, has partnered with the Youth Homelessness Action Plan to put the goals into action.

The Youth Homeless-ness Action plan and A Way Home are taking a three-prone approach: prevention, housing, and support. Some of the key elements of the plan

“Seventy-eight per cent [of youth in foster care] end up homeless after aging out of

care.”

-Katherine McParland, co-founder of the com-mittee A Way Home, aimed at eradicating youth

homelessness in Kamloops.

include: educating youth about homelessness and the supports available, hiring a youth homeless-ness action plan coordi-nator to help utilize the Housing First model and develop transitional hous-ing for youth, and sup-porting youth in securing housing.

Youth homelessness has always tugged on the strings of McParland’s heart because she was once a youth struggling to find a place to call home.

After exiting foster care at 19-years-old, McPar-land lost her support sys-tem and felt ill-equipped to succeed independently.

At age 19, foster kids lose all supports, McPar-land said. They essential lose their family, she said.

“Youth that are in foster care, the government has been their parent,” she said. “They have severed their connection with their birth family so now

the government is their parent, and at age 19 they lose all supports. They may have a whole case team around them, and then all of a sudden they lose them. So often they

fall through the cracks.”For Katherine, being

discharged from foster care felt like it recreated the trauma of apprehen-sion when she originally entered foster care, that loss and grief of losing a parent, she said.

“Even if it is a system, everyone needs that one

safe place,” McParland said.

While working for Access Fami-ly Resources as a research assistant, Katherine had the

opportunity to follow up with youth previously discharged from foster care and was shocked by how many were home-less.

“Seventy-eight per

cent [of youth in care] end up homeless after aging out of care,” she said. “In our community, we don’t have a lot of youth housing services so what’s happening is a lot of youth are being dis-charged from foster care into homelessness.

“It’s a huge neglect of the government.”

This research project helped kick-start McPar-land’s desire to create a committee to do some-thing about the high num-bers of homeless youth.

McParland said target-ing youth in eradicating homelessness will allevi-ate the financial burdens on emergency services, hospital and health care, and corrections costs.

Youth are the next generation, she said. The cycle of homelessness can end with youth.

Remembering Jim Szekeres

Friends and family gather outside of Crossroads to plant an apple tree in commemoration of Jim Szekeres Thursday, July 3, 2014.

“With an insatiable capacity to find the humour and humility in life, our Jim showed us all why laughter and a smile will always prevail in the face of despair. You are not

forgotten and your spirit remains in the food prepared in this kitchen.”

-Bob Hughes, executive director of the ASK Wellness Society

For years, Jim Szekeres envi-sioned a communal space where people gathered to

share meals, stories, and, of course, a couple laughs. On July 3, 2014, that wish came true when Cross-roads unveiled kitchen renovations now known as Jim’s Kitchen.

On July 3, friends, family, and staff gathered to commemorate Jim, his legacy, and his kitchen at Cross-roads. Beyond sharing lunch and swapping memories, an apple tree was planted in Jim’s honour. His children Katelyn, Matt, Jonathan, and Angeline travelled to attend the event.

Five years ago, Jim joined the ASK Wellness

team and since then, won the hearts of everyone he came in contact with.

After 16 years as a police offi-cer on the downtown eastside of Vancouver, Jimmy moved to Kam-

Jim SzekeresJune 16, 1957 - April 17, 2014

loops. Jim’s ex-wife Sherie Szekeres said Jim had always been indecisive about which career direction to choose, but when he was intro-duced to ASK Wellness, he realized his calling. He later transitioned into life skill development for clients with ad-diction and mental health issues at Crossroads.

Jim was a proud father, loving friend, and hard-working commu-nity member. He brought a light and compassion to the lives of not only ASK clients, but also his co-workers. Jim’s Kitchen and the apple tree at Crossroads will serve as a reminder of his life and his infectious smile. 4

“Everyone LOVED his

spaghetti sauce”

–Lindsey Parsons

“He was my best friend.”

-Matt Szekeres

The official opening of Jim’s Kitchen at Crossroads

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In memory of ASK Wellness employee Jim Szekeres, family and friends planted an apple tree in front of Crossroads on July 3, 2014.

Photo by Bob Hughes.

“How about the time we were all at the pub awaiting the silent auction and all the woman at the table took a group shot. Once

we printed the picture, there was

Jim looking in the window from the street. It was priceless silver

fox. “ -Carmen Carr

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“I fondly recall a debate he and I had regarding

the consumption of green things, aka vegetables. I

had made some burri-tos and offered him one. He asked what was in it. I said meat. Then I laughed my ass off as

he got half way through a vegetarian (spinach,

beans, kale, and quinoa) burrito! He was very

displeased.”- Kira Haug

Ken Salter is remem-bered during his time in the BSW program for his

commitment to inclusion, equality and participation for all members of society, and for his desire to work at the front lines of the social work profession with severely disadvan-taged people.

Immediately following gradu-ation, he joined the Aids Society of Kamloops (ASK) becoming the fourth employee at, what was then,

a small grass roots social service agency. Salter is now the longest serving ASK employee and has as-sisted with the growth of the agency to the 65 full-time and 35 part-time employees now working for social justice for many of Kamloops’ most disadvantaged residents.

While primarily responsible for outreach services, Salter consults and works in every service area including housing, health, harm re-duction, services to people exiting the sex trade, mental health, and life skills.

Salter is a past member of the board of the Kamloops Food Bank and is also a founding member of the P.I.T. Stop food program at the Kamloops United Church.

He has served for many years as a field instructor for BSW students completing practicum intern-ships at ASK and has given invit-ed lectures in many BSW classes throughout the last decade. He has provided education and infor-mation to social workers at local events sponsored by the Thompson Nicola BC Association of Social Workers.

Salter is well known as a passion-ate golfer and spends much of his free time on the golf course. He also finds time to create beautiful land-scapes on canvass with oil paint. He is also an amateur prospector and spends a lot of time in the creeks around Kamloops. Salter’s best friend is his dog, Max.

Ken Salter honoured with TRU alumni award

Story by Thompson Rivers University Alumni Association

Ken Salter, street outreach worker for the ASK Wellness Society, received the Grace Chronister Bachelor of Social Work Award in April, 2014. “This award recognizes outstanding achievements of TRU Bachelor of Social

Work alumni whose endeavours in the community have brought honour to the social work program at TRU and the profession of social work,” according to the TRU Alumni Association.

Please accept our sincere gratitude…We at ASK Wellness continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of those in our communities of Kamloops

and Merritt who persistently support our many clients through the donation of items needed to assist them in their daily needs or to simply make life just a little more enjoyable than what they have become all too accus-tomed to. Please be assured that your continuing generosity is sincerely appreciated by all who come through our doors.

This issue we give our heartfelt thanks to the following:COBS Bread for their generous ongoing donations to several of our ASK Wellness programs!Lynda LaFreniere for food items for the HLH kitchen.Tracy Barth for the donation of Greek food and blankets.Glen for continuously dropping off leftovers. It’s really appreciated.Barb McDonald for the meat and baked goods donations for the HLH kitchen.Desert Garden for donating soup.Charles from White Buffalo for facilitating a cultural recovery group.Trevor for kitchen donations.Lillian Power for her beautiful meals and support for our supportive programming.Manhandlers for giving haircuts for a few of our participants.Jeannie and Barry Shaw for bringing in 20 hy-giene/food bags for Crossroads.Mike Donaldson, the owner of Big O Tires for tires on the ASK trailer.Diane Forde for the donation of men’s clothing, linens, towels, fridge, freezer, furniture, microwave, and three beds with frames.John and Stephanie Hampel for the donation of linens, lights, a dozen chairs, two microwaves, and two mattress sets. The donations are benefiting the residents of Sundergreen, HLH and Crossroads. The mattresses went to a single mom and her two chil-dren. Amanda Balmer and Trevor Balmer for donat-ing furniture, men’s clothing, linens, pillows, and a queen mattress and box spring. Gloria and George for donating a double bed mattress and box spring.Jessica Skelly for donating mattresses and furni-ture.Shelley Hewitt for donating a queen bed and box spring.Peggy for bringing in toiletry donations.

Karen and Herta for all they do for SHOP.Big Steel Box for providing us with a substantial discount on a unit to store our donations.Bev and Julie for donating bedding and profes-sional women’s clothing. The G.A.M.E program in Logan Lake for donating water bottles filled with toiletries for our SHOP clients.Sue and Melinda Berlen for donating a match-ing couch, loveseat and chair, all of which found a new home within two hours.Dale and Vicki Hasenwinkle, via Steven Bregoliss for donating three electric scooters. The Hasenwinkle’s originally donated the scooters to the Red Cross, where Bregoliss volunteers. The Red Cross couldn’t use the scooters, so he took them home, refurbished them, and donated them to us. Thank you to the Hasenwinkle’s for their generosity and to Bregoliss for his hard work ensuring the scooters were ready for the next user. We have already found homes for two of the scooters. DK Shoe Clinic for fixing a handful of work boots for ASK clients who can’t afford boots. DK Shoe Clinic is helping one stitch at a time. Samatha Foley and Brent Wright for donat-ing six pizzas and three flats of water bottles for our clients.Hoja Grill for donating ice to our street outreach team to keep water bottles cool when we give them to clients on hot summer days. Journalism, Communicatios, and New Me-dia department at Thompson Rivers University for partnering with ASK and allowing access to profes-sional designs programs, which make this publication possible. An anonymous donor who ran into Ken Salter and donated $50 towards the services we provide. Carol Todd for donating $100 to ASK. South Kamloops Secondary School “Soup for Hope” Club students for donating tons of packaged toiletry bags for clients.

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Crossroads introduces Safe Suite for at-risk women

Crossroads is pleased to announce a new pilot project in conjunction with the SHOP program: the Safe Suite. The Safe Suite will meet the needs of high risk woman who are the most marginalized and vulnerable in our community.

This suite will operate as a temporary, one week stay for high-risk women associated with our SHOP program and on our housing waitlist.

The purpose and benefits of this suite are multifaceted. It will allow staff to assess a client’s

suitability to supported living in Crossroads while building mean-ingful relationships with the staff, encouraging engagement in se-curing housing. The suite will also bridge the gap from the streets to housing for high-risk women by providing transitional shelter for them to stabilize.

The referral process for this suite will operate through our SHOP and housing outreach teams. If you feel you know someone who can benefit from this service, please contact Katherine at 250-819-1551 or Carmen at 250-851-6296.

ASK supports the Interior Indian Friendship Society Health and Wellness Fair.

The ASK Wellness Society and Interior Health jumped on the opportunity to help educate our community on harm reduction at the Inte-rior Indian Friend-ship Society (IIFS) Health and Wellness Fair.

Jeff Walsh, with Interior Health, and Kira Haug, SHOP and Blood-Borne In-fection (BBI) health navigator with ASK, supplied a multi-tude of harm reduc-tion supplies to participants. Along with gaining skills and information, there was HIV testing on site.

“I had my first HIV test and was surprised how easy it was!” Haug said after the event.

The many other agencies that attended and the great food helped make the event a success.

If you or someone you know would like more information on harm reduction or STI testing, please stop by ASK Wellness or contact Kira at [email protected] or 250-376-7558 ext. 224.

Jeff Walsh, with Interior Health, and Kira Haug, SHOP and Blood-Borne Infection (BBI) health navigator with ASK Wellness, distributed harm reduction supplies at

the Health and Wellness Fair hosted by the Interior Indi-an Friendship Society in June, 2014.

Tainted heroin warning for Kamloops

By Ken Salter, BSW

While it is never safe to buy any drugs off the street, it is ex-tremely dangerous to purchase street level heroin in Kamloops at this time.

The tainted heroin is light brown in colour, very chunky and hard to crush. It comes in a plastic bag tied shut with a knot, rather than in a zip-lock bag.

The effects of this drug are very slow to appear, but when it does start to take effect, it knocks the user out. Depending on the amount used, the user will either wake up on the floor five or six hours later, or more seriously, suffer an overdose that could result in fatality.

Our main message is: know your dealer, and do not use alone.

By Katherine McParland

Housing First:Crossroads Inn

A 50-unit, 24-hour supportive housing facility, housing the most challenging and hard to house. Through on-site support, program participants create a wellness plan and work on integrating back into the community after two years. Program participants are also able to participate in an employment program for community clean-up through TNRD. (Funded by BC Housing.)

Henry Leland House KamloopsA 28-unit semi-supported hous-

ing facility. (Building owned by ASK Wellness and funded by the Government of Canada.)

Crossroads adult supportive hous-ing (CASH)

Fifteen suites within the Cross-roads Inn are designated to CASH, a program that has been running for two years. CASH participants are supported 15 hours per week by two staff members. Expecta-tions of being in this program are participation in a group setting and engaging with staff twice a week. Residents are also expected to work with staff on a wellness plan tailored to the individual. Staff assist individuals with life-skills, communication, respectful relationships, employment oppor-tunities, and safety.

Tina Baptiste suitesAn 11-unit building, non-sup-

ported for people with low in-comes. Suites are leased to ASK through the Kelson Group.

Assistance with housing issues at ASK

A client who walks through the doors of our North Shore office — 433 Tranquille Rd., Kamloops, telephone 250-376-7558 — will have the ability to sit with a social worker to assist with all their hous-ing issues. We provide rental top-ups, damage deposit assistance, emergency funding, as well as rent subsidies. We also work with the client to develop life skills such as budgeting, basic cleanliness, and communication skills to ensure they have the best chance to suc-ceed in their housing environment. (Funded by BC Housing.)

Property management assistanceThe ASK Wellness Society has

also taken the initiative to work directly with local property owners to develop goals and initiatives when dealing with clients. Our staff and programs help in a vari-ety of ways. We provide mediation to negotiate mutually agreeable solutions between landlords and tenants, or provide support to improve buildings be it through repairs, painting, and cleaning in or outside of the building. (Funded by BC Housing.)

Other Services:Crisis funding for families

By way of a donation made through the Boogie the Bridge Society of Kamloops, we are able to provide crisis funding to fam-ilies who are in need of rental or damage deposits, food, and utility

payment assistance. (Funded by the Boogie the Bridge Society.)

Health navigation, blood-borne infection management and harm reduction

We have a team of social work-ers and counselors to help clients improve their health. Whether it be to provide assistance to manage medications, attend medical ap-pointments, help understand your answer, assist in finding a doctor, or drive to Vancouver for specialist appointments, we are able to help and provide hope. Through this service, we create acommon purpose of building capacity to have a positive impact on the quality of life of individuals living with complex health needs. We provide needle exchange and harm reduction supplies at all of our agency’s locations and sup-portive housing buildings. (Fund-ed by Interior Health)

Adult/youth STI and harm reduc-tion education

We have a community educator who teaches the ABCs of hepati-tis C, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and sexual health for life. These sessions include: infor-mation related to STDs and STIs; harm reduction tools and different kinds of testing available; sexual exploitation and human trafficking awareness. (Funded by Interior Health.)

ASK Wellness programs and supports available to

the community

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Summ

er Edition 2014Creating Social and Health Op-tions (SHOP)

Through our SHOP Program we assist individuals in exiting the sex trade and maintaining their exit. We help in advancing education and community awareness regard-ing issues surrounding the sex trade. By promoting partnerships between sex workers, residents, community groups, business-es, and government, we help to improve the health and safety of individuals and our community through crisis intervention and harm reduction strategies. (Funded by the City of Kamloops and the United Way.)

Street outreach and third party benefits

Our staff collaborates with other agencies, RCMP, and the City of Kamloops by-law to keep the streets safe. We run a homeless count annually and gather 100 volunteers to comb the streets, al-

leyways, and beaches. (Funded by Interior Health and CLBC.)

We provide assistance to clients who are unable to attend at the Ministry as a third party. (Fund-ed through the Ministry of Social Development.)

Recovery and independent sup-portive housing (AASH)

Adult Addiction Supportive Housing (AASH) provides sup-ports and housing to those individ-uals who have successfully gone through detox and wish further as-sistance in becoming contributing community members. Through 24-hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success. This program always has several people on a wait list. (Funded by Interior Health.)

Mental health & independent sup-portive housing (MASH)

Mental Health Adult Supportive Housing (MASH) provides sup-ports and housing to those individ-uals who are struggling with men-tal health issues and wish further assistance to become contributing community members. Through 24-hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success. (Funded by Interior Health.)

Community integration & devel-opmental disabilities supports

Through a contract with Com-munity Living BC (CLBC), a provincial crown agency, we assist by delivering supports and ser-vices to adults with developmental disabilities and those struggling with mental illness to create com-munities where people have more choices about how they live, work, and contribute. (Funded by CLBC.)

Opportunities program/youth skills link program

Through our program, persons with disabilities or youth between the ages of 19 and 30 struggling with getting back on their feet after abuse, addiction, or life struggles are offered services to instill hope and purpose. Through providing clean-up, landscaping, small re-pairs, painting, weeding, and odd jobs our clients are taught respon-sibility as well as how to work as a team. (Funded by the Government of Canada.)

For additional information please go to www.askwellness.ca or call 250-376-7558

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Whether it’s a few extras veggies or a full basket, please consider

donating your excess to ASK Wellness. Help brighten some-one’s day by sharing fresh pro-

duce. We appreciate your support!

EXTRA GARDEN VEGETABLES?

Dining Out for Life would not have been the immense success it was without our compassionate sponsors and volunteers. The funds raised at the annual fundraiser will assist those in our community who are in crisis with anything that leave a family or individual on the streets, without food, health, or employment. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, came out and supported us during Dining Out for Life! In particular, we would like to extend thank you’s to:

Jerry SpiceTerra RestaurantCarlos O’BryansCommodore Grand CaféCornerstone Sushi & Korean BBQFiesta MexicanaHoja Mongolian GrillMino’sReubin’s DinerAmy BaskinAndre's Tire WorldBarb's BouquetsBikram YogaBobbi ParkesCactus JacksCafe MotivoCanadian TireChatters SalonClassy CreationsColleen NielsonCork 'N' Label U-Brew IncCornerstone SushiCountry Garden GreenhouseD & G Gill Tire and AutoDale Northcott

Divine ToursDoctor Love (Victoria St.)Edith FarrellFountain TireGloria and George MooreGoodwrench Service PlusH&R BlockHello ToastHerb GrahamJardine's DomaineKelly KellandKim GallowayLa Dolcevita Day SpaLeanne PowersLia SophiaLindsey ParsonsLong & McQuadeMonty’s Beach LodgeNancy SymePanago PizzaPeter JonesPeter's PastaPlaza HotelRa Hair Studio & Spa Ltd.Riff Stills

Rivershore GolfRobo CarwashShelley BonnahSimply You JewelleryStaplesSticky's CandySue ChilderleySwiss PastryThe Art We AreThe Edge Hair SalonTLC for PetsToni PateTom RankinTracy BarthUrban Systems Coupon GroupValley Helicopters Ltd.Warner RentalsYoga PotionsNancy SymeCorrie TuckerJennifer JonesAll the staff at the ASK Wellness Society

Thank you for supporting Dining Out for Life!!!

As well, we’d like to extend a warm thank you to our following sponsors:

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SERVICES INCLUDE:

LogosLayout IllustrationPrint Ads

amylongodesign.com

PackagingBrochuresPostersand more. . .

DESIGN

Graphic designto fit every situation.

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Thank you NRI Distribution Inc. for

your continuous support!

Story by Justine Cleghorn

With the help of NRI Distribution Inc., the ASK Wellness Society has raised over $100,000 in the last four years through the Dining Out for Life campaign. NRI Distribution Inc. co-founders Peter McKenna (far left) and Bruce Churchill (far right) pose with ASK’s Cheryl Doolan, Kira Haug, and Bob Hughes. Photo by Justine Cleghorn.

The ASK Wellness Society recognized

NRI Distribution Inc. as one of its major sponsors by surprising the staff with homemade cupcakes on July 15, 2014 to show our gratitude for their continu-ous support.

With the help of NRI Distribution Inc., the Dining Out for Life campaign that supports many of Kam-loops’ most vulnerable peo-ple has raised over $100,000 during the last four years.

NRI became a major sponsor of Dining Out for Life in 2011 when the ASK Wellness Society was fund-

raising for a volunteer trip to help build community supports in Swaziland, the coun-try with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world.

Just becoming a plat-inum sponsor wasn’t enough. NRI co-found-er Bruce Churchill and his family joined the volunteer initiative and travelled with ASK to Africa.

Volunteering and com-munity involvement has always been important to the staff at NRI.

It started because we had people coming to us be-

cause they had things that were personally important to them, said Churchill.

They went from match-ing the money raised by fundraising efforts by staff members to organizing events like golf tournaments to facilitate fundraising.

Co-founder Peter McKen-na came up with the idea of promoting volunteerism as opposed to just supporting the dollar and cents.

“We’ve always kind of done it,” said Carly Gordon, the human resources man-ager at NRI Distribution Inc. “It’s been something that’s very part of NRI’s culture and very much ingrained in our values here.”

If every employee at NRI volunteers for eight hours a year, as an organization they can accumulate a total of 2,000 volunteer hours, which is the equivalent to one full-time position. That’s their goal and they’ve been close to ex-ceeding it every year.

“Not everybody has an extra 20 bucks of cash in our pockets to give to a cause ei-ther here or there, but we’ve all got a few hours of our time,” Churchill said.

NRI’s volunteering pro-gram encourages employ-ees to be involved in the community individually or through company-wide volunteer days. They sup-port and encourage their employees to volunteer and give back to their commu-nity.

Volunteers get NRI t-shirt in recognition of their work, and they have the opportu-nity to win the NRI Volun-teer of the Year Award. NRI tracks the hours and the staff members with the most hours are rewarded with not only the bragging rights of being the volunteer of the year, but also support for an international or domestic volunteer opportunity. This year’s winner was sent to Rwanda after contributing 525 hours of volunteer time in the last year.

“You see people like that, and it’s so inspiring,” Churchill said. “This type of event is far too humbling. You see these heroes within our organization and all we’re doing is facilitat-ing. We’re just creating an environment in which it’s possible.”

The ASK Wellness Society annual Amazing Race is gearing up for another successful event on Friday Sept. 19, 2014.

There are many agen-cies in Kamloops that provide advocacy and other support services to marginalized people in our community. We believe these services are invaluable, and collabo-ration between different community agencies can

only improve the services we provide.

During the race, par-ticipants visit agencies across town and learn about the programs they offer and the services they provide. The race aims to foster teamwork and community collabo-ration in a fun and inclu-sive environment.

We hope the collab-orative spirit the race promotes will extend into

our work in the com-munity.

The ASK Amazing Race offers an op-portunity for such agencies to interact in a more light-heart-ed setting and build interper-sonal con-nections between workers. In addition, the ASK Amazing Race high-lights some of the amaz-ing work that is being done in our community through challenges and activities that bring to light some of the barriers that our clients face.

The race runs all day from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch provided to all participants. The race includes both physical and mental challenges

and activities, but don’t worry—we make it acces-sible to everyone.

Registration is free for teams and participants can expect a full day of fun!

If you have any ques-tions, comments, or concerns, please contact Cheryl Doolan at [email protected] or 250-376-7558 ext. 226.

The ASK WellneSS SocieTy AmAzing RAce By Becca Dickinson

FREE BREAKFAST!Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and

Saturday(Women on Saturday only)

Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.Doors open at 7 a.m.

St. Vincent’s Thrift Store 168 Briar Ave.

250-554-0098

HIV/Hep C Support GroupIf you are living with HIV, Hepatitis C, or are affected by

someone who is, there is a HIV/Hep C support group for persons dealing with these health conditions.

The group meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. We invite you to share your concerns, ideas, experience, and strength in a friendly and confidential environment.

Talk, listen, and learn with those who can relate. We can all ben-efit from support!

Want more details? Contact Larry at 250-376-7558 ext. 232 or [email protected]

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Show your red, show your support for Walk with Us for HIV awareness on Oct. 3

Join us to commemorate the journey of HIV at Walk for Us, previously the AIDS walk, on Oct. 3,

2014 at the ASK Wellness Society. Whether you know someone, have lost someone, or

are someone living with HIV, you are not alone. Through major and incredible advances in med-

icine, AIDS is no longer a threat to our Canadian communities and individuals, but there is still much work left to do.

Discrimination, judgment, and fear continue to mask the capacity of compassion, empathy, and in-clusion for some. The only way we can combat these realities is by coming together in solidarity to create a space that fosters acceptance and knowledge.

B.C. is a global leader in the HIV movement. We have successfully addressed lateral transmission of HIV from mother to child, provided harm reduction services to folks at-risk at various levels, and im-proved access to medical professionals that improve quality of life of people living with the virus.

AIDS is a term that we can begin removing from our vocabulary. Early detection through testing, pre-vention, and education have decreased HIV rates, but the virus is still out there.

New transmissions occur approximately 12 times per day in Canada. This proves that we must still encourage safer sex and drug practices and talk to our youth about self-care.

For those who have walked this road and for those we have lost, it is important to remember that HIV is not the same killer it used to be, but none the less it’s a real threat.

On Oct 3. 2014, the ASK Wellness Society is hosting a celebration of the victories and the losses within our HIV communities.

With the help of Cookie Reimer, a long term sup-porter of ASK, we will host a walk to remember, BBQ, and social gathering at our north shore office at 433 Tranquille Rd.

Donations are welcome and encouraged. These dollars will help those struggling with a HIV diagno-sis live more comfortably when experiencing crisis. Interior Health street nurses will be on-site to provide private and confidential HIV, hepatitis C and Syphilis testing.

Other agencies that provide care services have been invited to join us to build healthier communities, and it wouldn’t be a party without YOU! Please join us Oct. 3 between 11 a.m. and 2p.m. to honor, remember, and above all, challenge ignorance and fear.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

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By Kira Haug

110 – 2659 Douglas Street Victoria, BC V8T 4M3 Ph. (250) 475-2225 Fax (250) 475-2205 Email [email protected]

Jim Reger’s

Building Bridges of Trust Building and restoring trust is mission-critical for success in today’s world. At the core of an effective and productive team lies an abundance of mutual trust and respect, based upon authentic and accountable connections. Creating an environment based upon authenticity and accountability starts with the individual. In order to inspire trust, you must be trustworthy, that is, you have to be viewed as a person of high integrity. We have the greatest impact on our environment through our daily behaviour. Our lives then become our greatest imprint on the world. This workshop will assist you to:

Understand trust at a new level and learn how to inspire and achieve it in your personal and professional life.

Build a culture of greatness, where agreements are aligned with values – and fear, blame and entitlement are replaced with ownership, service and courage.

Build confidence in your ability to make a difference.

Increase your own job satisfaction and contribution to the organization.

Build enthusiasm with your team.

Create a lasting legacy by impacting those you serve.

Create authentic accountability agreements with those you count on and those who count on you.

Based on Jim Reger and David Irvine’s inspirational book, Bridges of Trust; Making Accountability Authentic, this unique program focuses on assisting individuals to develop their personal leadership capacity – by helping them learn tangible techniques for increasing their effectiveness in their workplace and in their lives. Participants will leave with practical insights and tools that will enable them to build powerful, effective and trusting organizations.

“Our  approach  is  based  on  the  major  findings  of  over  20  years  of  research  – that TRUST between managers and employees is the primary defining characteristic of the very best workplaces.” Great Place to Work Institute

Have come together to present:

Building Bridges of Trust September 29, 2014

Kamloops Immigrant Services, 448 Tranquille Road 8:30 am - Registration

12noon – Art We Are Catered Lunch and Networking 4:00 pm - Closing Remarks, Evaluation and Wrap-up

Tickets are $40/person includes lunch Contact Cher @ ASK for tickets

prior to September 23, 2014 [email protected] ●  778.220.8900

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Building  Bridges  of  Trust  Conference  Registration  Form  

September  29,  2014  Kamloops  Immigrant  Services  (448  Tranquille  Road  downstairs)  

8:30  am  -­‐  Registration  12noon  –  Art  We  Are  Catered  Lunch  and  Networking  4:00  pm  -­‐  Closing  Remarks,  Evaluation  and  Wrap-­‐up  

Mail Completed Form with Payment to: “Bridges of Trust” ASK Wellness Society 433 Tranquille Road OR Kamloops, BC V2B 3G9 Send me an invoice

Please type or print in the space provided:Your Name: _________________________________________ Title:_______________________Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________________________City: _____________________ Province: _________________ Postal Code:_________________ Billing Address: (If different from mailing address)City: _____________________ Province: _________________ Postal Code:_________________ Please note any special dietary requirements: ___________________________________________________

Agency/Company/Org.: ____________________________ Attention: ________________________Home Phone (Optional): __________________ Business Phone:____________________E-mail: ________________________________ Fax Number: ______________________

Registration:Registration includes The Art We Are catered lunch http://www.theartweare.com/

$40.00 / person

Method of Payment Cheque Bill My Agency: _________________________________________________________________ Purchase Order # _________________________________________________________________

Purchased by (circle): Individual/ Agency/ OtherCheque #: ____________________________________ Received: ________ / ________ / ________PO/Authorization #: ____________________________ Invoice #: ___________________________Receipt #: ____________________________________ Amount : $__________________________

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Robert Toal passed away peacefully at age 60 in June, 2014. Photo by Ken

Salter.

By Ken Salter, RSW

When a client walks through the ASK Wellness Society doors, the agency don’t know if it will be just a one-time visit or if it will turn into a long, meaningful professional and personal relationship. Robert Toal entered ASK as a client but left as a friend.

Twelve years ago, Robert came to ASK needing an advocate. The ministry suspected he had more assets than he was permitted on income assistance and refused to support him. Over the next two years, ASK Wellness supported

Robert in his personal battles.In those two years, Robert re-

gained control of his life and became a friend to the agency and a friend of mine. Robert adopted our office cat Ribbon and looked after her for 10 years.

Robert succumbed to his hepati-tis C infection in June of this year. After a short battle in Royal Inland Hospital, he ended his days in hospice. Robert will be missed by many of his friends and family.

Rest in Peace Robert Toal

After almost two years of research,

collaboration, and col-lective creation, the No Straight Lines collective premiered their first production on August 14, 2014 at the Kamloops Players Stage House The-atre. The play was a pow-erful journey through the lives of six individuals who have experienced or are still experiencing homelessness.

The project brought people together who have experienced home-lessness in an effort to share their stories and inspire change. Despite having little or no theatre experience, the actors came together to combine

their personal experienc-es and to create a script revealing the power of the human spirit when confronted with adver-sity.

No Straight Lines part-nered with the Thomp-son Rivers University, Thompson Nicola Cari-boo United Way, and the Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan (HAP) to ex-plore creative collabora-tion as a method to fight homelessness.

What set this produc-tion apart was the deeply personal way in which the stories were shared. The bravery, honesty, and integrity from each performer was staggering and inspirational.

Along with personal

narrative, there were cleaver creative moments, such as the parody of the Twilight Zone – the welfare zone. This scene was witty and extremely well-observed, depicting a common conversation between income assis-tance and a client. It also offered those unfamiliar with the social services system a quick tour of the frustrating ups and downs of accessing in-come assistance supports.

The Alphabet Witches were another brilliant device used to demon-strate the impact of labels and the overabundance of acronyms in the social system. The scene por-trayed the situations of three different marginal-ized peoples while two witches with a caldron dumped the acronyms of

the services they needed into the pot. It illustrated how the social services system tries to box people into specific categories — but in reality, people aren’t be so easily sum-marized. The characters must access a whirl-wind of different organizations from the witches in order to meet their needs and access the supports they require.

The production had a variety of presentation styles and an equal bal-ance of humor and heart ache.

After the show, au-dience members filled out surveys asking to compare their views on homelessness before and after the production and how the play impacted their awareness of the issue.

Dawn Farough, with the TRU Sociology de-partment and Ginny Rat-soy with the TRU English department are tracking the effects of the project in the community.

Great work on the part of the collective in creat-ing a powerful insightful production.

Story by Amy Baskin

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DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN BECOME AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF ASK WELLNESS?As many of you know, we are registered as a not-for-profit organization in B.C. We were registered as a not-for-profit back in 1992 as the Kamloops AIDS Society and now operate under ASK Wellness Soci-ety.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A MEMBER?

DO I HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER?• Every member is bound by the ASK Wellness

Society’s constitution and by-laws and such rules and regulations as from time to time may be enacted by the Board of Directors or by the membership of the ASK Wellness Society.

• No member, director, officer, employee, or volunteer shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects of defaults of any other person.

• Required to attend the Annual General Meeting each year (October/November).

• Memberships become due at the end of the Annual General Meeting and must be renewed 30 days prior to the next Annual General Meeting for a member to remain in good standing. Only those members who have purchased memberships 30 days prior to any Annual General Meeting will have voting privileges at that meeting.

• Get involved in your community and make a difference.

• Learn more about how ASK operates and why.

• Meet like-minded individuals who care about their community.

• Assist with the planning and direction of the organization.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO BECOME A MEMBER?• Institution/Agency $25 • Student $10

• Individual $15• Unemployed or Underwaged $1

Want to know more? Contact Cheryl Doolan at ASK Wellness Society 250-376-7558 x 226 or [email protected].

•The ASK Wellness Society is making a HUGE announcement! Make sure you pick up a copy of the next edition of Off the Curb to learn about the new event we will be hosting!•Walk with Us for HIV awareness •The annual homeless count kicks off in Kamloops.

Sneak peak into the next issue of Off the Curb:

• A & W 350 Lansdowne St.• ASK Wellness Centre 433 Tran-

quille Rd.• The Art We Are 246 Victoria St.• Blendz Coffee 210 Victoria St.• Community Mental Health and

Addictions 235 Lansdowne St.• Crossroads Inn 569 Seymour St.• Erwin’s Bakery 369 St. Paul St.• Fratelli Foods 223 Victoria St.• Hello Toast 428 Victoria St.• Hoja Mongolian Grill 256 Victoria

St.• Interior Community Services 765

Tranquille Rd.

• Interior Chemical Dependency Office 239 Lansdowne Ave.

• Kamloops Downtown Library 466 Victoria St.

• Kamloops Fit Families #119, 805 Notre Dame Dr.

• Kamloops Immigration Services 448 Tranquille Rd.

• Kamloops Northshore Library 693 Tranquille Rd.

• Motivo Café 229 Victoria St.• Red Beard’s Coffee Roasters 449

Tranquille Rd.• Oops Café 274 - 3rd Ave.• Passek’s Classic Café & Catering

120 - 3rd St.• Volunteer Kamloops 705 Seymour

St.• Zack’s Coffees Teas & Gifts 377

Victoria St.

Would you like Off the Curb at your location?

Help us promote wellness in your community!

Contact Justine: 250-376-7558 x 262 or [email protected]

Pick up a copy of Off the Curb at:

Aboriginal Employment Services 250-554-4556ASK Wellness Society 250-376-7558Toll Free 1-800-661-7451Alcohol/Drug Information/Referral Ser-vices Toll Free 1-800-663-1441Cellular 250-574-6162BC Employment Services 1-866-377-3670Brain Injury Association 250-372-1799Christian Hostel 250-372-3031Canadian Mental Health Association Toll Free 1-888-674-0440250-374-0440Community Mental Health & Addictions 250-377-6500Emerald on Third 250-374-1090Employment Insurance Toll Free 1-800-206-7218GT Hiring Solutions 250-374-7748House of Ruth (Women Only) 250-376-5621Interior Chemical Dependency Office 778-471-6488Interior Community Service 250-554-3134Tranquille Rd. location 250-376-3660Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society 250-376-1296Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society Alcohol and Drug Counselor 250-376-1296Kamloops & District Elizabeth Fry Society 250-374-2119Kamloops Pride (GALA) 250-376-7311

Kamloops Immigrant Services 778-470-6101Kamloops Family Resources Society and Family Tree Centre250-377-6890 Fax 250-377-7458Kamloops Food Bank 250-376-2252Kamloops Safe Housing Society 250-851-2720Kamloops Native Housing Society South Shore 250-374-6363North Shore 250-374-1728Kids Helpline Toll Free 1-800-668-6868Labour Ready 250-376-9116Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family & Commu-nity Services 250-554-9486LTD Consulting http://ltdconsulting.ca 250-372-5025Ministry of Children & Family Develop-ment 250-377-4416Narcotics Anonymous Toll Free 1-800-414-0296Cellular 250-320-5032Native Housing Society 250-376-6332New Life Mission 250-372-9898Ministry of Housing & Social Develop-ment Toll Free 1-866-866-0800Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General,Community Corrections Kamloops 250-828-4008Merritt 250-378-9355Phoenix Centre 250-374-4634Toll Free 1-877-318-1177Pregnancy Care Centre of Kamloops

24 Hrs/7 Days 250-376-4646RCMP Kamloops 250-828-3210St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store 250-554-0098Salvation Army 250-554-1611Sage Health Centre 250-374-6551Sexual Assault Counseling Centre 250-372-0179Shuswap Training and Employment 250-314-1511Street Outreach & Youth Centre 250-374-7435 or 778-220-3325Youth Safe House 250-374-7435Toll Free 1-855-629-7233Street Outreach Nurses Gaudenza 250-319-6783Lisa 250-318-4611Suicide Distress Line Toll Free 1-800-784-2433United Way 250-372-9933Venture Academy National Toll Free 1-866-762-2211Volunteer Kamloops 250-372-8313White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society & Res. Centre 250-554-1176Mobile 1-888-554-1176YMCA/YWCA Kamloops Women’s Emer-gency Shelter 250-374-6162Children Who Witness Abuse Program 250-376-7800Outreach Services 250-320-3110Have we missed you? If you would like to be included in our resource list, please email Justine at [email protected]

C l i en t Re sou r ce s Clip out for your convenience

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