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Volunteer Reflection: Rock Bay Landing Shelter (Cool Aid Society)

12/21/2011

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Note: Due to the theft    of my Macbook Pro and it's files (all photo/video footage), I have had to adapt the way in which I share and reflect on each organization that took part in the Roadtrip with Reason. You can view a few video profiles that were already posted prior to the theft here   . Thanks for your support!
Rock Bay Landing Shelter
(October 2011)

After a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my family in Victoria (British Columbia), I said my farewells and watched them hop the ferry back to the mainland - leaving just Archie and I behind. I was continuing on to complete the last leg of my cross-Canada volunteer journey and had plans to stick around Vancouver Island to explore. My next volunteer stop was at the Rock Bay Landing Shelter in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Rock Bay Landing shelter is an extension of the Cool Aid Society, which is a non-profit organization that strives to "provide holistic shelter, housing, and community health services to adults experiencing marginalization in the Victoria area". The Cool Aid Society began back in 1968 when a "Cool Aid Hostel" (emergency shelter) was established for transient youth travelling the country. Now they run 4 shelters in Victoria, BC -  Rock Bay Landing is their most recent addition. 

I arrived to RBL on a beautiful sunny day in October and was completely surprised to find such a modern, clean, green (solar panels!) and safe space. To be completely honest, I strolled by the building twice just to be 100% sure I wasn't lost. This was unlike any shelter that I had seen before. I later learned that the reason why RBL was so impressive was because it only opened on November 3rd, 2010 and had been a major (and necessary) undertaking for the organization. 
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Facts about Rock Bay Landing
- 84 permanent shelter beds
- 23 units of transitional housing
- 2 units of family shelter (only one in Victoria)
- 40 shelter mat spaces, available for overflow
- Advanced security / safety features for staff and clients
- Day storage, cart accommodation
- Laundry, showers, clothing, dining facilities, workshops
- Volunteer opportunities for clients

It's a pretty spectacular building that also hosts equally spectacular staff and volunteers. I was welcomed to RBL by Sarah Hook, the Volunteer Coordinator, and immediately felt my little fears melt away. What a gem! When she was taking me on the initial tour of  RBL - laundry, showers, courtyard, activity room, offices, day storage, clothing 'store', kitchen, classrooms, transitional rooms, etc - it was clear that I wasn't the only one who thought she was gem-like. It was nice to see some clients' interactions with staff, and appreciation for the work that they put in on a daily basis. After spending a few days volunteering at RBL, I was more understanding of the realities (& struggles) that the staff do face. It's not an easy task to keep the shelter running so smoothly.

Not an easy task at all. 

As a volunteer, some of my roles were to sort donations for the shelter 'store' (clients are able to take a limited amount of clean clothing for themselves), do shower sign-in/out (& hand out towels/toiletries), prepare lunch and dinner services (with the creative head-Chef's who make delicious & nutritious meals with limited resources), serve meals to the clients, assist with an arts workshop, and complete room-checks (clients have to leave their rooms during the day for janitorial staff) ... but my favourite part of the experience was engaging with the clients.

I learned a lot about the stigmas surrounding people who use services provided by the Cool Aid Society. I learned that there are families living there, teenagers, adults, mothers, seniors, addicts, full-time employees, immigrants, couples, victims, runaways, volunteers, people with mental health issues, and everyone else in between. I learned that these clients love art, hockey teams, cooking, playing soccer, going to the movies, their hometowns, holiday celebrations and fireworks. I learned that they are educated, plan to get educated and have dreams just like the rest of us.

I learned that the people at Rock Bay Landing are exactly like you and I.
They are human, after all.

At the end of my time with Rock Bay Landing, I concluded that although it's a 24-hr co-ed shelter space, it looks and feels more like a University residence. This is a really great thing, in my opinion. It's a home - a place for memories, tears, struggles, overcoming obstacles, sharing meals, friends, family, motivation, successes and hope.

Everyone needs a place to call home, even if it's only a short-term fix.

My experience at RBL reminded me of how lucky I am as an individual, and how lucky we (as Canadians) are to have dedicated staff/volunteers who work so, so hard to offer support to those who really need it. I sincerely hope that one day RBL is no longer necessary, but until that day, I am grateful to know that the Cool Aid Society is there.

For more information on the Cool Aid Society, click here   ...and if you're in the Victoria area, I encourage you to check-out their Christmas initiative "homeless partners ". 
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Article: 'Roadtrip with Reason helps out' -- The Province

11/16/2011

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Check out a beautiful newspaper article about the Roadtrip with Reason!

It was posted on November 16, 2011 in The Province (Vancouver, BC).

Much love and thanks to Lisa Calvi & also to Garry Sowerby for their ongoing support.

Read it HERE
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Thankful.

10/10/2011

5 Comments

 
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!!
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Glacier. Alberta. Cool.
I am currently in Sidney-by-the-Sea, BC - enjoying the Thanksgiving festivities with my family. Turkey dinner is happening tonight and I could not be more excited. Mmm mmm. In the spirit of this holiday, I have created a succinct list of all the things I am thankful for...

1. This experience - what an opportunity it has been! So much to say. Stay tuned for lots of reflection in the coming weeks.

2. Chevrolet Canada - I can't imagine doing the cross-Canada journey without "my" 2011 Chevy Cruze. Archie has become my partner in crime - the only constant I have had throughout the 3 months on the road. He has played the best tunes, provided a great place to snooze, been thoughtful with his gas intake, and never ever let me down. 17, 000 KM later and I still think that he is the best! It's going to be tough to say goodbye. (Yes, I am a crazy car lady. Haha) 

3. The Pepsi Refresh Project - the funding that started it all. The long days of planning, designing this website, hounding everyone for their daily votes, and living in a constant state of anxiety for two months - it all worked out! I am so grateful to be a member of the Pepsi Refresh Project grantee family!

4. Henry's - my equipment friends. It still amazes me that they stepped up to the plate and offered me such an amazing video camera that I use on a daily basis. I couldn't have created any of the videos without it!

5. Anyone who has sponsored me in some way - so many people have fed me, housed me, and thrown a couple bucks my way. I am so appreciative of each and every kind gesture.

6. The non-profit organizations that have been involved in this journey. I have not yet been disappointed by any of my volunteer visits. I am really glad that I have had the ability to discover and share some of the most innovative, successful, and passionate change-makers in Canada. I am so grateful that these organizations exist and that the people who work/volunteer for them are willing to (often) be overworked, underpaid, and understaffed just to ensure that some kind of change happens. Amazing human beings.

7. My family. How cool is it that my parents flew all the way out to British Columbia to enjoy Thanksgiving with my brother, his ladyfriend and I? Pretty cool. It feels/smells like home - except with the ocean and mountain views.

8. Anyone who has taken the time to read my posts, engage in my project, send me a kind e-mail or offer encouraging words. The past 3 months have been incredibly challenging for a variety of reasons, but it has also been incredibly fulfilling and I can't thank you enough for being a part of it!

9. My friends. I have nice friends, but there a select few who have gone above and beyond to support me throughout this journey. You know who you are. I heart you, so much.

10. Canada. It's beautiful and has provided the most amazing backdrop for this experience. I love, love, love my home and native land. 

I hope that you have had the best Thanksgiving, wherever you are. I am going to go stuff my face now.

Happy Trails & Travels,
Becky xo
5 Comments

Take a Hike.

6/29/2011

4 Comments

 
Hi Friends,

I am 19 days away from departure. Can you believe it?! There are so so so many little bits & pieces that I need to tie together, and that includes the announcement of some more non-profits. I am so grateful that I found out about this organization from Vancouver, BC and I can't wait to visit in October. I have a feeling that I am going to learn a lot...
Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation
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Recent grad - Lei Lei!
What is the Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation? 
The Foundation was established in 2000 to support the Take a Hike program. In partnership with the Vancouver School Board, the Foundation provides the resources and funding for programs operations, therapists and outdoor activities. The Foundation has raised over $1 million in support of Vancouver's at-risk youth.

What is the Take a Hike program?
It's an alternative education program that engages at-risk youth through a unique combination of adventure-based learning, academics, counseling, and community involvement.

Take a Hike guides and empowers these youth to blaze a trail, a positive path with positive outcomes. With Take a Hike's guidance, every youth will have an opportunity to blaze their own trail--one that is right for them, that empowers them, that gives them survival skills for life.

Who participates in the program?
Students in the Take a Hike program often struggle with issues that have inhibited their success in the mainstream school system such as drug and alcohol addiction, physical and mental abuse, criminal activity, low self-esteem, depression, and/or trauma. Most students are referred to the program by school counselors or social workers for an opportunity to make lasting change in their lives.

How can we help?
a) Volunteer - be a positive role model in the classroom & outdoors
b) Donate - spare some "change" to help Take a Hike make change
c) Spread the word - join their online community

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Klaus & Krystil - Staff


Incredible, right?! I haven't even volunteered with them yet and I already feel inspired. Take a Hike has some similarities to a program that I took in Grade 11 called the Bronte Creek Project. It had such a positive affect on my life - an unforgettable experience. I am so glad that similar programs exist in other locations across Canada and I can only imagine how amazing the Take a Hike program and foundation are. I simply cannot wait to learn more about their program when I role into the Vancouver area in October.

Take some time to read more about them. They are a special group to follow!

Happy trails & travels!

Warmly,
Becky xo

4 Comments

    What is this?

    Welcome! My name is Becky. I took a roadtrip across Canada, from July to November 2011. This roadtrip was a special one though, because it had reason!

    Go through my blog history to catch up on my 4-month cross-Canada roadtrip where I supported small non-profit organizations and explored the idea of volunteerism. It was so inspiring, life changing and so much FUN...

    Click HERE   to get put on my e-mailing list! You can also check me out on twitter   or facebook!

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