Friday, January 31, 2014

CANADA MILITARY NEWS: Desiderata-ur a child of the universe/Bullying- amazing NINJA LOVE teacher shares "how long have u been doing this?... Every Friday since Columbine" and How not 2 rape/ONE BILLION RISING FEB. 14 girls and women standing up- no more abuses or excuses 225 Countries join us/SOCHI Winter Olympics-Paralympics 2014 in Mother Russia/ Our troops ..the soul of our nation- they define us/CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER John Baird addresses UN 4 girls against women abuses










Share This With All the Schools, Please
TEACHERS- THE FRONT LINE WARRIOR ANGEL PROTECTORS/LEADERS AND THE PERFECT NINJA LOVE STRATEGY  OF OUR CHILDREN





Afterwards, we sat for a few minutes and talked about teaching children and what a sacred trust and responsibility it is. We agreed that subjects like math and reading are the least important things that are learned in a classroom. We talked about shaping little hearts to become contributors to a larger  community – and we discussed our mutual dream that those communities might be made up of individuals who are Kind and Brave above all. - See more at: http://momastery.com/blog/2014/01/30/share-schools/#sthash.uwYMcyQ2.dpuf

And then she told me this.
Every Friday afternoon Chase’s teacher asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week. The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student whom they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are privately submitted to her.
And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, Chase’s teacher takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her and studies them. She looks for patterns.
Who is not getting requested by anyone else?
Who doesn’t even know who to request?
Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated?
Who had a million friends last week and none this week?
You see, Chase’s teacher is not looking for a new seating chart or “exceptional citizens.” Chase’s teacher is looking for lonely children. She’s looking for children who are struggling to connect with other children. She’s identifying the little ones who are falling through the cracks of the class’s social life. She is discovering whose gifts are going unnoticed by their peers. And she’s pinning down- right away- who’s being bullied and who is doing the bullying.
As a teacher, parent, and lover of all children – I think that this is the most brilliant Love Ninja strategy I have ever encountered. It’s like taking an X-ray of a classroom to see beneath the surface of things and into the hearts of students. It is like mining for gold – the gold being those little ones who need a little help – who need adults to step in and TEACH them how to make friends, how to ask others to play, how to join a group, or how to share their gifts with others. And it’s a bully deterrent because every teacher knows that bullying usually happens outside of her eyeshot –  and that often kids being bullied are too intimidated to share. But as she said – the truth comes out on those safe, private, little sheets of paper.
As Chase’s teacher explained this simple, ingenious idea – I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. “How long have you been using this system?” I said.
Ever since Columbine, she said.  Every single Friday afternoon since Columbine.



Good Lord.


This brilliant woman watched Columbine knowing that ALL VIOLENCE BEGINS WITH DISCONNECTION. All outward violence begins as inner loneliness. She watched that tragedy KNOWING that children who aren’t being noticed will eventually resort to being noticed by any means necessary.


And so she decided to start fighting violence early and often, and with the world within her reach. What Chase’s teacher is doing when she sits in her empty classroom studying those lists written with shaky 11 year old hands  - is SAVING LIVES. I am convinced of it. She is saving lives.
And what this former NASA scientist and mathematician has learned while using this system is something she really already knew: that everything – even love, even belonging – has a pattern to it. And she finds those patterns through those lists – she breaks the codes of disconnection. And then she gets lonely kids the help they need. It’s math to her. It’s MATH.
All is love- even math.  Amazing.


Chase’s teacher retires this year –  after decades of saving lives. What a way to spend a life: looking for patterns of love and loneliness. Stepping in, every single day-  and altering the trajectory of our world.


TEACH ON, WARRIORS. You are the first responders, the front line, the disconnection detectives, and the best and ONLY hope we’ve got for a better world. What you do in those classrooms when no one  is watching-  it’s our best hope.
Teachers- you’ve got a million parents behind you whispering together: “We don’t care about the damn standardized tests. We only care that you teach our children to be Brave and Kind. And we thank you. We thank you for saving lives.”
Love – All of Us









THE DAY I TAUGHT HOW NOT TO RAPE


Yesterday, the news invaded my classroom. I think the kids aren’t paying attention. I think the kids only care about the news as it relates to Justin Bieber. I think they aren’t listening or capable of advanced thought. Every single time I think one of those things, I sell out the ninth-graders that come traipsing through my room every day.
It started when I picked this poem to go over different ways to look at poetry:

Witness

Martha Collins

If she says something now he’ll say
it’s not true if he says it’s not true
they’ll think it’s not true if they think
it’s not true it will be nothing new
but for her it will be a weightier
thing it will fill up the space where
he isn’t allowed it will open the door
of the room where she’s put him
away he will fill up her mind he will fill
up her plate and her glass he will fill up
her shoes and her clothes she will never
forget him he says if she says
something now if she says something ever
he never will let her forget and it’s true
for a week for a month but the more
she says true and the more he says not
the smaller he seems he may fill up
his shoes he may fill up his clothes
the usual spaces he fills but something
is missing whatever they say whatever
they think he is not what he was
and the room in her mind is open she
walks in and out as she pleases she says
what she pleases she says what she means.
It is ambiguous. I suppose that is the point. The best literature for me to teach is the kind that gives the kids enough to be interested in, but they still don’t have a clear idea of what is going on. We spend the day looking at the poem from every angle we can find, or at least that is the plan.
Yesterday, pretty immediately, someone in the back shot their hand up and did not wait for me to call on them. “Ms. Norman, this poem is about rape.” It wasn’t a question. It is rare for a fifteen-year-old to speak about anything with this kind of authority, let alone poetry. A few kids chimed in to agree with the first student and I admitted that I often read the poem that way, even if you don’t have to. I was about to launch into an explanation of other ways this poem could be read.
“Ms. Norman” another kid called, “Have you heard about that rape case in Ohio? Those guys got convicted. They have to go to jail. They are going to lose their scholarships. They were going to D-1 schools!”
“Well…”I responded, feeling the heat crawl up my neck, “maybe they are going to jail for rape because THEY ARE RAPISTS!” I yelled those last three words at my kids and watched as some of them blinked in surprise. Apparently, the thought had never occurred to them that these athletes who were convicted of rape, were in fact rapists.
It is a strange thing about looking into the face of a 15-year-old, to really see who they are. You still see the small child that their mother sees. You see the man or woman they will be before they graduate. They are babies whose innocence you want desperately to protect. They are old enough to know better, even if no one has taught them.
I realized then that some of my kids were genuinely confused. “How can she be raped?” they asked, “She wasn’t awake to say no.” These words out of a full fledged adult would have made me furious. I did get a good few minutes in response on victim blaming and why it is so terrible. But out of the face of a kid who still has baby fat, those words just made me sick. My students are still young enough, that mostly they just spout what they have learned, and they have learned that absent a no, the yes is implied.
It is uncomfortable to think that some of the students you still call babies have the potential to be rapists. It is sickening, it is terrifying, but it is true.  It is a reality we have to face. My students have lived in a world for fifteen years where the joke “she probably wanted it” isn’t really a joke, they need to unlearn some lessons that no one will admit to teaching them.
Standing in front of my classroom and stating that a woman’s clothing choice is never permission to rape her should not be a radical act. But only a few heads nodded in agreement. Most were stunned, like this was a completely new thought. The follow up questions were terrifying in their earnestness. “Ms. Norman, you mean a woman walking down the street naked is not her inviting sex? How will I know she wants to have sex?”  A surprisingly bold voice came out of a girl in the back “You’ll know when she says, you want to have sex?!”
If you want to keep teens from being rapists, you can no longer assume that they know how. You HAVE to talk about it. There is no longer a choice. It is no longer enough to talk to our kids about the mechanics of sex, it probably never was. We have to talk about consent, what it means, and how you are sure you have it. We have to teach clearly and boldly that consent is (in the words of Dianna E. Anderson) an enthusiastic, unequivocal YES!
What came next, when the idea of a clear yes came up, is the reason I will always choose to teach freshmen. They are still young enough to want to entertain new ideas. When we reversed the conversation from, “well she didn’t say no,” to “she has to say YES!” many of them lit up. “Ms. Norman,” they said, “that does make a lot more sense.” “Ms. Norman,” they exclaimed, “that way leaves a lot less confusion.” When one of the boys asked, well what do you want me to do, get a napkin and make her sign it, about four girls from the back yelled, YEAH!
What happened in Steubenville makes me sick, but we are kidding ourselves if we think that it is not representative of what is happening in basement parties after the homecoming game all across America. Our kids want to talk about it. They need to talk about it. We need to have conversations about consent that are not centered around what should have been done, but are instead centered on what will be done in the future. Our teens can handle it, I promise they can.
A strong understanding of consent as an enthusiastic and unequivocal yes is essential to reversing the culture that our teens have grown up in. The amazing thing is the way my students responded to the conversation. Our students want a better way, it is our responsibility to show it to them, even if it is scary, especially when it might make us uncomfortable.
Our students are paying attention. They do care about what is going on in the world. They do listen and are capable of advanced thought. I am done selling out the ninth-graders that traipse through my room every day. The news will no longer invade my classroom, instead I will invite it.
Is is worth noting that the young people involved in this incident were nearly the same age as your students?
I am glad y’all are talking about it, I hope it happens in high schools across the country because there appears to be a culture of confusion here (not surprising, as our adult culture is pretty confused as well). Our young people get a lot of mixed messages that as adults we just learn to cope with. I think we take for granted that young folks understand oppression, sexism and exploitation—but how will they learn to identify it when they see it in movies, on TV, in song lyrics, etc if there isn’t someone along the way to point it out? It just becomes the norm. A norm that needs changing.
Thanks for your work.



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Classified - Inner Ninja ft. David Myles


COMMENT:   
Great song from Canadian rapper Classified.

nobody's gonna see me coming.
nobody's gonna hear a sound.
no matter how hard they tryin,
nobody's gonna bring me down.

Couldn't have been said (or sung) much better kids.

CLASSIFIED- INNERNINJA- THE PERFECT KID VIDEO ON BULLYING... WITH DAVID MYLES- Classified has spent a long time helping homeless kids and kids and youth in jeopardy...... Classified’s 3’Tall  plays it hard against abuse of women and children and bullying..... and Classified’s /David Myles Inner Ninja... and The Day Doesn’t Die on ... youth... don’t give up... inspires the world on this day..
- NO MORE BULLYING AND BULLYCIDES- 


LINKS ON BULLYING AND CHILD ABUSE- (Mind Rape/Physical Torture/Sexual Assault)

FOR KIDS- TWEENS-TEENS-YOUNGBLOODS- But perhaps most of all..... each and every Canadain Adult- we must take more responsibility and be more vigilant:

To learn more about bullying and if u r being abused- check out:





RespectED: Violence & Abuse Prevention







 The Day I Taught How Not to Rape



Read how a ninth-grade teacher helped her class confront the issues. Seehttp://accidentaldevotional.com/2013/03/19/the-day-i-taught-how-not-to-rape/








If you are a victim of bullying, call The Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.









Please don't give up- everybody hurts... sometimes... hold on, hold on, hold on

R.E.M. ~ Everybody Hurts
Lyrics:
When your day is long and the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go
Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on
Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand. Oh, no
Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
(Hold on, hold on)

Everybody hurts
You are not alone




R.E.M.- Everybody Hurts



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O CANADA- Akina Shirt - Cree Anthem singer - Calgary Flames Hockey




O Canada- Classified



O Canada - Bilingual Version- every day is Remembrance Day in our Canada



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ON FEBRRUARY 14, 2014- come join world’s women and children-  One Billion Rising – Break the Chains of Abuse- No more excuses-  We want Justice...  V-DAY.... and then we were jumping.... powerful video around the world.... inspiring...

One Billion Rising



Published on Jan 8, 2014
On 19 January 2014, the official One Billion Rising 2013 documentary short will premiere at Sundance, the preeminent film festival founded by One Billion Rising supporter, Robert Redford!

In celebration, we invite you to host a Sundance Rising Viewing Party as a lead up to your 2014 One Billion Rising for Justice events. Gather activists, volunteers, community members, and organizations in houses, dorms, movie theaters, stadiums, auditoriums, parks, and malls between 19 January to 25 January to screen the film and help build momentum for this years initiatives, while honoring last years accomplishments.

REGISTER Your Viewing Party at http://www.onebillionrising.org/3943/...



And...


One Billion Rising Halifax 2013- ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY- We got ur backs girls.... women.... ladies...gals.... we got ur backs



This event at Saint Mary's University was organized in part, to bring awareness to this years production of the acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues. One Billion Rising is also a celebration of progress in the work to end domestic violence.

We rise too, as a reminder that the discussion and activism need to continue.


And...




BLOGGED;
CANADA MILITARY NEWS: One Billion Rising- no more excuses or abuses- girls and women matter in this world- St. Mary's University needs 2 get with 2day's world and human dignity - privileged indifference does NOT work in Canada- Women equal Men in Canada- Blogs -ALWAYS ...GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS





AND..


BREAK THE CHAIN- ONE BILLION RISING






and..


BLOGGED;

'Girl power' crucial in push to achieve global development goals, says Ban in Davos-JAN 24- UN NEWS 2014-ONE BILLION RISING-no more abuses or excuses-Women Matter -October CANADA- John Baird addresses UN 4 Women's Rights and horrid abuses of girls -women/Cher nails it/Congo disgrace/USA-Canada Child Sex Trafficking- Canada women equal men...period- ?CAN'TRESTOF THEWORLD?





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AUDREY HEPBURN – WHEN ASKED 2 SHARE HER BEAUTY TIPS…

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers throuh it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.





People even more than things need to be restored, renewed, revivied, reclaimed and redeemed.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find on at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.”

PHOTO: Katherine Hepburn and the love of her life Spencer Tracy









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When ur alone life can be tough... it’s like ur 3 Foot Tall
Classified - 3 Foot Tall


COMMENT:   Trust Me, we have ALL Been Told We Were Useless. Step up ur game, Cause The Boat Is Just About To Rock. JUST BE BRIGHT, VIBRENT, COLORFUL, BE.. YOU! :)





O Canada - French version by the First Nations Children's Choir
by Nova Scotia


To the accompaniment by the Canadian Armed Forces band, the First Nations Children's Choir sings the French version of O Canada at ceremonies at Fort York on Saturday, April 27, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of York.
comment:Very good, But not a french version its a first nations version

NOTE: it’s actually First Nations- O Canada not French and soooo beautiful...

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VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS/PARALYMPICS  2010- CANADA  (taps out 2 our Canadian team  SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS/PARALYMPICS 2014- MOTHER RUSSIA)


O Canada (Bilingual Version)




O Canada - ka-kanatahk the National Anthem in Cree



COMMENT:
impressive performance

I really like it.
I just wish the "smart" and "intelligent" people would respect the nature as natives do.


TRUE PATRIOT LOVE EXPEDITION- Injured Canadian soldiers and high-powered executives are teaming up to mount an expedition to ski the North Pole this spring called True Patriot Love Expedition from April 19 until May 2, 2014. Left to right: Canadian Arctic expert, Richard Weber, Peter Burcew, injured soldier, Paul Desmarais III, corporate co-chair, François Dupere, injured soldier, Shauna Davies, injured soldier, David Quick, soldier team captain and Tim Hodgson, corporate co chair


Ski expedition to raise awareness and money to help Canadian veterans recover from mental and physical injuries




ONE BILLION RISING- break the chain- no more abuses or excuses.   Grls and Women rise up and celebrate global women February 14 2014-   UN this week acknowledged global Girl Power- how about signatory in 2014 that women equal men?   Let's dance, smile, toast women globaly- it's our time


Español | Français. There are 7 billion people on the planet. Half are women. One third of them are raped or beaten. V-Day refuses to watch as more than one billion ...







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Rehtaeh Parsons.... the face of every little girl in the world meant 2 be loved 4ever and 4 always..... 



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U are a child of the universe- no less than the trees and the stars- u have a right 2 be here....
CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE (Lyrics) Desiderata by Max Ehrmann


Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

 Max Ehrmann 1927






 



                   #WeAreWinter "Behind-the-Scenes"Cat: #WEAREWINTER, Tags: #WeAreWinter, Sochi 2014,WeRWinter olympic.ca/games/2014-soc… olympic.ca 




@WoundWarriorCA  results 5,472,585.90 -recordsetting #BellLetsTalk Day: http://ow.ly/t5gGl    Congrats to @Bell_LetsTalk &Canadians!


Remembering our Vancouver Winter Olympics/Paralympics 2010 Canada AND TAPS OUT... 2r Canadian Team 4 Sochi Winter Olympics/Paralympics 2014 Mother Russia



O Canada (Bilingual Version)




#WeAreWinter “Behind-the-Scenes”Cat: #WEAREWINTER, Tags: #WeAreWinter, Sochi 2014,WeRWinter http://olympic.ca/games/2014-sochi/ …   http://olympic.ca/




Canada Commemorates 100th Anniversary of the Great War- WWI started in 1914. War of 1812 created us with our First Peoples- WWI defined us -Vimy Ridge. This is a beautiful dedication by High School Students who were devestated by 4 Canadians in 2007 and they wrote and performed this incredible historical documentary 2 honour Canada's Forces- land, sea and air... Malvern Collegiate Instit. 2007- Proud Canadian Soldier

 Malvern Collegiate Instit. 2007- Proud Canadian Soldier






HONOURING OUR NATO TROOPS
BLOGGED:

CANADA MILITARY NEWS: South Pole Wounded Warriors Allied Challenge-Incredible story and victory of 4 counries of Wounded Warriors - Antartica 2 South Pole- Victory run/walk success- in harshest climates- UK/Canada/Australia and USA- The Journey and success proving 2 a billion folks proudly- disabilities are abilities in disguise- did we make u proud- u surely did and do..Environmentalists could NOT make it.... u ran and walked it.... the world rejoiced and Santa and NORAD hugged u along the way.The Journey 2 Victory blogged daily- December 2013/O CANADA TROOPS- we love u so- honour




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Here's a Thank U 2 R Canadian Troops

Wishing our Canadian troops home safe - Standing on Guard 4 Thee
Dennis LeClair 2 Our Canadian Troops




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twitter

Know some1 hurting? Sendupthe Count- WWW.MILNET.CA hashtag ?#?sendupthecount?http://milnewsca.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/send-up-the-count/  nSOLDIERS4SOLDIERS 18553738387

AND..

rVETSMATTER-soldier2soldier   VETS CANADA- tollfree phone line, 1-888­CAVETS1 (1-888-228-3871) ­call-in centre that serves the country http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1182731-dunne-a-rescue-mission-for-troubled-vets


AND..
CANADA-   A new toll-free support line, 1-855-373-8387, was launched today, established for soldiers by other soldiers


IN OUR CANADA-  OUR TROOPS MATTER- THEN, NOW ALWAYS..... Politicans need 2 remember this

Dieppe Bell Commercial-An old Bell commercial about a kid who calls his grandfather to thank him for everything he did in WW2. For a commercial, it is pretty moving.


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PLS SHARE ON UR SITES: Know someone hurting? Send up the Count- WWW.MILNET.CA hashtag ?#?sendupthecount? –thx http://milnewsca.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/send-up-the-count/
nSOLDIERS4SOLDIERS 1-855-373-8387
AND..

CANADA : That’s why one group has stepped up with its own support system, independent of the military.

AND..
CANADA-   A new toll-free support line, 1-855-373-8387, was launched today, established for soldiers by other soldiers


and..

VETS Canada volunteers have sometimes spent up to 72 hours in hospital emergency rooms with at-risk and suicidal veterans.

A toll-free phone line, 1-888­CAVETS1 (1-888-228-3871) con­nects to an emergency call-in centre that serves the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and to the Arctic oceans.





RESCUE MISSION 4 TROUBLED VETS


A rescue mission for troubled vets


Tim Dunne is a Halifax-based communications consultant and militar y affairs writer.

Their demons were born in the various Canadian missions in far-away places like Bosnia Herzegovina, Rwanda, Somalia and Afghanistan. Military and RCMP members return from thes e deployments haunted by the events they witnessed in places where our nation has sent them.

The post-Cold War era has been the cru cible for new and more sadistic conflict, beginning in the early 1990s with the ethnic cleansing of the Balkans and Rwanda. It has also added a new generation of veterans to those already plagued by psychological, mental and physical injuries, including depression, attempted suicide and uncontrolled rage.

This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to live with their fam­ilies or in a traditionally stru c­tured environment. Their recol­lections have induced many to frequently self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.

Those who have served in Canada’s international missions should not be left homeless; those whom Canada has put in harm’s way should no longer go without a safe, stable and warm place to call home when they return home.

Visionaries Jim and Debbie Lowther and several colleagues established Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada (VETS Canada) in March 2011 to reach out and help many of Canada’s veterans who could not success­fully make the transition from their military careers to healthy civilian lives.

“I was helping at a soup kitchen and I saw the person I was serving was a buddy I sailed with," Jim Lowther said, describing VETS Canada’s genesis. “That was enough to tell me we have a seri­ous problem."

From its home base in Halifax, the all-volunteer, non-profit and non-partisan corporation began to provide aid and comfort to at-risk Canadian veterans. The organiza­tion has grown into an interpro­vincial network of volunteers, many of whom are themselves veterans. Others, serving military and RCMP, work within their respective communities to find homeless and at-risk veterans.

VETS Canada’s goal is to ease the challenges of moving these veterans from the streets or shel­ters into affordable housing; provide for their health-care needs; help them access the b ene­fits and services from other organ­izations such as Veterans Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion; support their search for suitable employment; and act as a referral service or bridge, assisting veterans to access appropriate supports and services.

“We are non-judgmental. If a veteran is homeless or at risk, we will help," retired Colonel Marie Leloup says, with unmistakable and unshakable determination. She is one of a number of VETS Canada volunteers.

“There are lots of reasons why people end up on the street," VETS Canada volunteer Barry Yhard explained. “And they aren’t easy to find unless they self­identify. We have foot patrols that actively look for potential VETS Canada clients, and Oak Comput­ing developed a smartphone app so anyone finding a homeless veteran can instantly send us the person’s location."

Oak Computing is an Ottawa­based software development company that developed the app for Android devices without charge. Westwood Development has assisted with o ffice accom­modation and Dulux provided paint. Government surplus office furniture was an obvious bargain.

VETS Canada is completely dep endent on donations to sup­port its operations and the volun­teers are proud that 90 per cent of their revenue goes directly to operations. They work with Cana­dian Legion advocates and Veter­ans Affairs Canada case workers.

Field offices are in Sydney, Fredericton and Kingston, Ont., and new chapters are beginning in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia . They ex­pect that within six months there will be a chapter in each province.

Tragically, operations in conflict regions have left our veterans with tortured memories that initially cause them to live in tents, couch­surf, live on streets, condemned trailers, unoccupied buildings (squats) and homeless shelters. Frequently, they gravitate to the street and are left to seek a little warmth near a vent or a doorway to have some respite from Canada’s vicious winters.

VETS Canada volunteers have sometimes spent up to 72 hours in hospital emergency rooms with at-risk and suicidal veterans.

VETS CANADA- toll-free phone line, 1-888­CAVETS1 (1-888-228-3871) con­nects to an emergency call-in centre that serves the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and to the Arctic o ceans.
Lowther encapsulated the group’s mission: “We are the last stop before the vet ends up on the street, and we are the first step for them to get off the street."






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#WeAreWinter “Behind-the-Scenes”Cat: #WEAREWINTER, Tags: #WeAreWinter, Sochi 2014,WeRWinter http://olympic.ca/games/2014-sochi/ …   http://olympic.ca/


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