Youthopia , Youth for Inclusion Program

In 2011, as part of its BUILDING VITAL COMMUNITIES grant program, the Guelph Community Foundation  awarded $4,450 to Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington for its Youthopia , Youth for Inclusion, program.

Youthopia set out to engage newcomer youth through the arts with spoken word, drama and media, while building leadership skills and broader engagement in the community.

“Moving to a new school is difficult enough for youth, now imagine being new to the country, city, neighbourhood, and having to function in a second language,” said Roya Rabbani, Executive Director of Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington.

Over a period of six months, participants met with trained youth facilitators to work on a variety of activities. This process led to a core group choosing to work on a live production to honour the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination . Another group continued to meet weekly to work on smaller arts projects. Youth also participated in community and civic engagement activities in the Guelph community.

What did it mean to youth participating?

Youthtopia’s RiseUp! event poster said it best: “life is no longer about hiding in the shadows or trying to get by – it’s about laughing and crying, and all the things in between; it’s about the opposite of disappearing. Watch as we come out of our cocoons …”

Roya Rabbani, who recently spoke at the Foundation’s Fall Community Celebration, told the audience that two-thirds of Canada’s growth is coming through immigration. Like trees, these newcomers are uprooted from their homelands and transplanted here, and that is a difficult process. “A caring community allows those trees to take root, to flourish and bear fruit,” she said.

Spoken word was one of many activities undertaken.   To view a short clip from one of Youthopia’s Spoken Word sessions, click here.

Andrea Olson is Executive Director of Guelph Community Foundation

Surprise bequest will help Fundy scholarship fund

By Barb Rayner

$50,000 US – A surprise bequest of $50,000 (US) from a former resident will give a big boost to the Florence Hegan Spinney Scholarship Fund in New Brunswick.

Retired elementary teacher Bev Ingram explained that Spinney was a long-time kindergarten teacher in the town, fondly remembered by many Eastern Charlotte residents who received their early childhood education through her love and devotion.

Following Spinney’s death, she said a group of people whose children had attended her kindergarten decided to do something for her related to education.

They held fundraising fashion shows for several years and when she met Spinney’s son, Norval Winston Hegan, he donated $250 to add to the scholarship fund, said Ingram. Hegan died in San Diego, CA last August, just a few weeks shy of his 80^th birthday.

Eventually, as the funds dwindled, it became a named sub-fund of the Eastern Charlotte Scholarship Fund, which is held by Fundy Community Foundation and provides scholarships to Fundy High students furthering their education at university or college.

Then out of the blue, Ingram received a large brown envelope in the mail from a lawyer in California, which contained a copy of Hegan’s will – the first item was a $50,000 bequest to the scholarship fund established in memory of his mother.

“I am very appreciative. I contacted Fundy Community Foundation and the money will be invested and just the principle used. When the scholarship fund got so small, it was grouped with others,” says Ingram.

FCF, a Canadian public charitable foundation, is also recognized as a charity through the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, explains Executive Director Sandy Thurber, so FCF was able to facilitate the cross-border bequest to provide tax benefit for the estate.

Barb Rayner is a reporter with The Saint Croix Courier, and a former Director with Fundy Community Foundation. This story was first published in The Saint Croix Courier http://stcroixcourier.ca/

Time Travel coming soon to Ross Bay Villa, thanks to generous support from Benjamin Moore

By Lisa Preston

Ross Bay Villa is one of only a few 1860s homes left in Victoria. Built in 1865, the gothic revival style residence is remarkably intact, retaining almost all of its original detailing, both inside and out. With the incredible leadership and professional guidance of a dedicated group of volunteers, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) has been working to bring the site back to its former glory.

Saved from demolition, it has become a gem of a historic house museum and home to the offices of two local heritage societies. The exterior work has been largely completed and we are now focusing on the interior. The restoration of the grounds is near complete and is being designed to show the appearance of the garden during the late 1860s. A group of volunteers is also working on a fascinating project to transcribe the diary kept by the Roscoes, the first family to occupy the house from 1865-1878.

For a history of the project please check out the TLC blog.

This project has been entirely volunteer driven, with leadership by heritage professionals and support from the TLC. The work has been progressing steadily over the last 12 years with hundreds of volunteers lending their expertise, time and tools to the project and fundraising efforts. Our current core group of volunteers, the “Ross Bay Villains,” includes students, public servants, historians, conservators, archaeologists, gardeners, carpenters, and many others, including a former resident of the home, passionate about keeping the past alive.

Each year we open up the house and gardens to the community for a Canada Day Lawn Party. This year the weather was beautiful and we extended the hours of the event to allow for even more people to enjoy guided tours of the house with the last stop being a stroll across the newly installed Oilcloth in the front hall. This year’s event was part of the Victoria 150 celebrations and was documented on video.

The house is also open for guided tours once a month. A new friend of TLC has made several visits to document the grounds and the interior and his photos and blog posts have been collected and posted here http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/2012/06/toad-hollow-photography-visits-ross-bay-villa/

Work continues to finish the restoration of the front hall, including wood graining 12′ lengths of wallpaper by hand, and planning is underway for our grand opening celebrations next year.

Thank you to the Victoria Foundation and the Community Foundations of Canada for access to apply for the 2012 Benjamin Moore Community Restoration Program grant. We are all extremely grateful for the financial support Benjamin Moore is providing and this grant will help speed the completion of the final projects and painting to allow us to meet our target completion date of August 2013.

Lisa Preston is a member of the TLC Ross Bay Villa Restoration Committee in Victoria, BC.

VitalSigns® leads to workplace wellness initiative in Grande Prairie

By Tracey Vavrek

The 2011 VitalSigns® report produced by the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie reported that “obesity has overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of premature, preventable death.”

In the former Peace Country Health Region, obesity rates for people aged 18 and older were reported as being just over 48% above the provincial average. As well, our 2010 obesity rates ranked highest of all 22 VitalSigns® communities.

In response, a Workplace Wellness Program pilot project was launched by Alberta Health Services (AHS) with six Grande Prairie businesses on May 15, 2012.

Garett Richardson of AHS indicated that the most exciting feature of this pilot program was that it reached hard-to-access Albertans who are identified as 50% to 60% of the province’s working population.

Working with six companies and utilizing staff from the Public Health area of AHS, they work closely with workplace champions to determine the company’s needs and then develop programs to address them.

It is wonderful to see AHS take this next step for VitalSigns®.  The response of the six companies who wish to make a difference in their place of business is very encouraging and highlights the importance of the VitalSigns® project.

Meanwhile, another 2011 VitalSigns® finding has prompted action in the Grande Prairie census area.

We found that the child-poverty rate, which is based on the Low Income Measure, was 17.3%.  And, the majority of these children live in single-parent families where recreational activities may take a back seat in favour of basics such as food, utilities and housing – items many of us take for granted.

The knowledge and understanding of life faced by Grande Prairie’s low-income population combined with the Peace Country’s high obesity rate solidified the importance of implementing the Low Income Recreation Access program.

Grande Prairie’s Community Social Development department, which is responsible for overseeing the program, takes action on issues such as poverty reduction and homelessness.

Manager, Donelda Laing reported that the program, which was launched on January 1st, 2012 has been very well-received.  To date her office has approved approximately 300 applications.

The program provides a $100 credit per person per family for access to any city-operated recreational facility and is available to any City of Grande Prairie resident who meets the low-income criteria. As an example, a family with six children and two adults would qualify to receive a credit worth $800 explained Donelda.

The credit can take the form of a punch card and provides families with opportunities to use city facilities and programs.

We commend the City of Grande Prairie for understanding the importance of sustaining citizens in addressing the social needs of the community

Tracey Vavrek is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie.

The Calgary Foundation releases Youth Vital Signs 2012

“Calgary is a great place to be a youth!” That’s what Calgarians, aged 12-20, are saying in the 2012 Youth Vital Signs Report. In fact, Calgary youth rated their overall quality of life a B.

Published for the first time in 2010, as a partnership between The Calgary Foundation and Youth Central, the 2012 edition of Youth Vital Signs is hot off the press. Inspired by The Calgary Foundation’s Calgary’s Vital Signs Report, the Youth Vital Signs Report combines the opinions and perspectives of youth, aged 12-20, with timely research to inform the public and private sectors, governments, youth funders and youth-serving charitable organizations.

This year, we were excited to learn that 26% of survey graders were born outside of Canada – adding unique voices to the survey results. The report showed high levels of youth engagement and volunteerism. In fact, 72% of graders indicated they have volunteered within the past year.

The report revealed some eyebrow-raising data. For instance, Canadian teens spend an average of 6 hours a day in front of a screen… substantially more than the recommended 2 hours. On a positive note, survey graders who indicated they participated regularly in a recreational activity were significantly more likely to rate their physical and mental well-being as high, compared to those who did not participate regularly in sports.

Calgary Youth Vital Signs Report Highlights

• Employment & Training: C+
  Calgary youth unemployment rates reached 14% in 2010, nearly double the 2008 rate of 7.4%. Alberta has also seen a 27% drop in on-the-job apprenticeship registrations since 2006.

• Health & Safety: B-
  Youth crime rates continue to decrease in Calgary, with the total youth crime rate dropping by 33% between 2006 and 2010.

• Identity and Belonging: C+
  Youth told us that there is a growing sense of belonging and an increase in opportunities to embrace cultural differences. One area of research was less positive… the high school dropout rate for Alberta ESL learners is more than double the average.

• Youth Spaces: C+
  Youth commented that while Calgary is home to many recreation and leisure centres, including Shaw Millennium Skate Park, there is a real need for more youth-friendly spaces – specifically places out of the downtown core.

Benjamin Moore program furthers work in Hamilton neighbourhood

By Sharon Charters

On May 31st, representatives from CFC, the Hamilton Community Foundation and Benjamin Moore had the opportunity to visit the Beasley Community Centre in the heart of downtown Hamilton to distribute cheques to five local organizations.

This funding, along with paint and technical expertise, was provided by the Benjamin Moore Community Restoration Program to support a wide range of projects.

It was appropriate and gratifying to be holding the event at the Beasley Community Centre, and presenting to the Beasley Neighbourhood Association funds to support a mural for the outside of the building.

Hamilton Community Foundation has supported work in the Beasley community for a number of years in different ways.

As part of the Growing Roots… Strengthening Neighbourhoods program, HCF provided a community development worker and small grants to help organize in the community. In 2006, the Foundation was approached by donors who wanted to respond to cuts to the national child care program. They engaged HCF to look at options for an investment of $1 million for child care in this community.

After research and consultation with experts in the field of child care and early child development, a proposal was developed for the Beasley neighbourhood. The initiative is based on research and best practice elements of “Best Start” as they meet the unique context and needs of the Beasley neighbourhood.

Since that time, residents and their service providing partners have worked with enormous dedication and commitment to improve the quality of life in the Beasley neighbourhood. They have an official “charter” and, with support from the Neighbourhood Development office of the City, a comprehensive neighbourhood plan.

We look forward to hearing great things from this community as they move from planning to action.

Sharon Charters is Hamilton Community Foundation’s Manager of Grants.

Peter Buffett wows Halifax, endorses Community Foundation model

By Allison Kouzovnikov

The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is still celebrating the resounding success of its recent Concert and Conversation with Peter Buffett.

This was the first event in the Foundation’s five year history and could not have been more perfect, with an excellent sponsor (RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities), a sold-out venue and record-setting book sales.

Photo (from left): CFNS Executive Director Allison Kouzovnikov, Peter Buffett, Dennice Leahey, CM, Board Chair, Robert Orr, Vice Chair

Foundation staff had the privilege of spending extra time with Peter both before and after the event and we were all touched by Peter’s ability to put everyone around him at ease. It truly felt like all had known each other for years.

We especially appreciated Peter’s unsolicited endorsement of our work from the stage mid-concert, which was later summed up by Peter as follows:  ”A community foundation is a vital ally in sustaining a healthy, vibrant region. The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia does the important and necessary work of keeping its ear to the ground and its eye on a vision that donors can participate in – fostering a better world for all within its reach.”

Allison Kouzovnikov is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia

CFNS Board Member recognized as Caring Canadian

By Beverly Clark

The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is very proud of Board Member Mary Lonergan Eldridge, who was recently awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.

The award “…recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation. The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are so much a part of our Canadian character.”

Governor General David Johnston presented Mary with the award along with two other Yarmouth County residents, Winnie Surette and Phil Kitter at a ceremony held at the Yarmouth Town Hall on May 30, prompting this story in The Vanguard.

The Governor General noted that the award was established by Roméo LeBlanc, the 25th governor general, who was our first governor general of Acadian heritage. Governor General Johnston said, “Mr. LeBlanc established the award because it recognized the kind of spirit in the Acadian community in which he grew up in, communities where people cared for one another.”

Mary received this award for providing leadership and sound financial management to many charitable organizations in her community.

This is one of many awards bestowed upon her over the years. In 1988 she was awarded a Medal of Merit by Scouts Canada, received a “Special Volunteer Award” in recognition of her outstanding fundraising efforts for the Museum and Archives Expansion Project in 2000, was recipient of a 2001 Canadian Medal in honour of the International Year of the Volunteer, was cited in the Nova Scotia Legislature as “…giving so generously so that the community of Yarmouth might have a vital, impressive, cultural resource.” and was inducted into the Hall of Honour at St. Francis Xavier University in 2009.

Bravo, Mary!

Beverly Clark handles Communications and Internal Operations for the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia

Victoria’s Vital Youth – called to build a better world

Victoria Foundation’s Vital Youth program provides students with hands-on experience in philanthropy and community development. Formally launched in three schools in November 2003, the program – previously named Youth in Philanthropy – has since grown to include seven high schools.

Representatives of the Victoria Foundation’s Vital Youth program presented a total of $17,684 in grants to 18 local charities May 2.

The following is an edited excerpt of the speech by grade 12 students Bree Neale and Emma Thompson of Oak Bay High School, who represented the program:

When we joined the Oak Bay [High School Vital Youth] club for the first time, we were touched by the stories we heard from various charities. Some of the stories related to our own personal lives in some ways, whether it be a life challenge somebody faced with homelessness or having a brain injury and needing somewhere to stay.

In Grade 11 we stepped up and became [club] leaders, but we were still a little unsure of the best way to lead the group. When we were invited to the Community Foundations of Canada Conference in Vancouver last year we were really excited and happy to be chosen. And it was amazing.

The best part of the youth day was the scavenger hunt. There is no way to describe the feeling you get from being out in the community experiencing first-hand how small acts of kindness leave positive impacts on  people. During the scavenger hunt, we were fortunate enough to be a part of these impacts on people as we gave out free coffee to someone who we felt needed it, made a sign to make people smile (that said “smile if you like the Canucks”) and singing and dancing with complete strangers on the street. All of these activities were incredible experiences to be a part of and it was so special to meet so many youth from across Canada and around the world. We made a lot of new friends!

Attending the main part of the conference allowed us to see how philanthropy exists in the bigger picture. Listening to speeches by some of the world’s most influential leaders, including the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, human rights activist Naomi Tutu, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, provided us with new motivation, skills and information to bring back to our club. A quote that really spoke to us from this conference came from Tutu, the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa: “In times of trouble the wise reach out. They build bridges to connect with others.”

We would like to say a big thank-you to the donors on behalf of all the youth who get the opportunity to be involved in Vital Youth. There are endless benefits from the program. It is extremely rewarding to know that we are making a difference, and to see the enthusiasm recipients show, and the ability they have to further develop their charitable goals. It’s amazing to see how much of an impact the group makes on not only the charities who receive the grants, but also the students.

CSLS Releases Study on Estimates of the Human Development Index for the Canadian Territories and Provinces: Alberta Ranks First

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards today released a major study entitled “The Human Development Index in Canada: Estimates for the Canadian Provinces and Territories.” The report is posted at http://www.csls.ca/reports/csls2012-02.pdf

This is the first study that has developed estimates of the Human Development Index (HDI) for the provinces and territories that are consistent with the official HDI estimates for Canada produced by the United Nations. Key findings from the study are highlighted below.

In 2011, Alberta ranked as the jurisdiction with the highest HDI in Canada, closely followed by Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia. Nunavut ranked last, and Prince Edward Island second last.

The HDI is based on life expectancy, average years of education attainment, expected years of education, and Gross National Income. For both life expectancy and average educational attainment, British Columbia ranked first among the 13 provinces and territories and Nunavut ranked last. For expected years of schooling, Quebec ranked at the top and Nunavut came in last, while for GNI per capita, Northwest Territories was in first place and Prince Edward Island was in last place.

In 2011, Canada ranked sixth out of 187 countries in the HDI, behind Norway, Australia, United States, the Netherlands and New Zealand. This ranking however hides considerable differences within Canada. The top four jurisdictions in Canada would rank third in the international rankings, between Australia and the United States and the Netherlands. Nunavut, with the lowest HDI among the 13 provinces and territories, would rank 38th internationally and second lowest Prince Edward Island 24th.

An analysis of the growth rate of the HDI over the past decade gives a different story than the level of the HDI. Low ranked Nunavut fared best, with the HDI advancing at a 0.54 per cent average annual rate between 2000 and 2011. It was closely followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 0.48 per cent. In contrast Ontario had the slowest growth in the HDI of any jurisdiction in Canada (0.25 per cent per year), closely followed by Alberta and British Columbia (both at 0.26 per cent).

The report provides a comprehensive picture of developments in life expectancy, average education attainment, expected years of schooling, and Gross National Income per capita for all provinces and territories over the 2000-2011 period.

For further information, please contact:
Andrew Sharpe
Executive Director
Centre for the Study of Living Standards
710-151 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3
613-233-8891
Andrew.sharpe@csls.ca

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) is a national, independent, Ottawa-based not-for-profit research organization Its primary objective is to contribute to a better understanding of trends and determinants of productivity, living standards, and economic well-being in Canada through research.