Victims and Survivors of Crime Week across Canada with the theme “The Power of Collaboration”

Submitted by Partners Against Violence Committee

Gordon Edgar Randy Palmer Jason G. Antonio Saddman Zaman

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. – Alfred Austin

You don’t have to have a ‘green thumb’ to enjoy gardening. Sometimes gardening knowledge is acquired over the years as we get hands-on experience and glean knowledge that only working in the dirt can do for us.

Joan Ritchie EDITOR

The benefits of gardening far outweigh the effort it takes to get the job done.

I absolutely love to be in the backyard and I take such great pleasure in planting my flowerpots that usually don’t have much for flowers but mostly just every shade of greenery and other non-flowering plants of interest. For example, I love King-tuts and they make an absolutely gorgeous tropical statement to any backyard. I love bamboo grass as it grows so thick and lush down taller pots. Well, I must admit, I love plants and the more the merrier! Every year I try and find some new ones that are interesting and beautiful.

Unfortunately, the credit cards get a going-over and my husband threatens I am going to get ‘plastic surgery’ if I don’t stop the buying. Just to clarify, he means he is going to cut up the credit cards with no physical repercussions to myself. So far this year, so good!

Speaking about the benefits of gardening, it’s so therapeutic to do that even a person’s immune system benefits from it. Every time I go into a greenhouse it’s like I get revitalized and the stresses of life just seem to evaporate while there.

Gardening is one of the healthiest hobbies a person can have. The bending and stretching are an absolute benefit as we are able to whittle ourselves into shape, not to mention that when we are working with shovels and other tools, our strength increases. Have you ever noticed that when you are in the fresh air and doing something physical, sleep seems to come easy?

Unfortunately until our muscles get over the extra daily workouts, our butts, legs and arms feel the effects but everyone wants to have a tight-butt right?...and there’s no better way to see some results than exercise.

Apparently, our minds benefit from gardening, as well. It is believed that gardening activities may spur growth in a brain’s memory-related nerves.

“Researchers in Korea gave 20-minute gardening activities to people being treated for dementia in an inpatient facility. After the residents had raked and planted in vegetable gardens, researchers discovered increased amounts of some brain nerve growth factors associated with memory in both males and females.

“In a 2014 research review, analysts found that horticultural therapy — using gardening to improve mental health — may be an effective treatment for people with dementia.

In fact, in the Netherlands and Norway, people with dementia often participate in groundbreaking Greencare programs, where they spend a large part of the day working on farms and in gardens.” https://www.healthline.com/health/healthful-benefits-of-gardening#improves-memory

In the same article it says, “Whether your patch is large or small, a raised bed, community garden, or window box, getting dirty and eating clean are good for you.”

The Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, marked from May 14th to 20th, offers an opportunity to raise awareness about victim issues, and about the services and laws in place to help victims, survivors and their families. When a crime occurs, it doesn’t affect just one person, but their family members and the entire community. Victims and survivors of crime and their families deserve support from their community. Many victim service providers, police officers and professionals working in the criminal justice system provide assistance to victims and survivors of crime and their families. Victims and survivors of crime need to know that they have a voice in our criminal justice system and that there are laws in place to help them.

Victims of crime have rights at every stage of the criminal justice process.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION – You have the right to request information about: the criminal justice system and our role as a victim; the services and programs available to you; the status and outcome of the investigation and legal procedures; the date, time, and location of proceedings in relation to the offence; reviews relating to the offender’s conditional release and the timing and condi- tions of that release.

RIGHT TO PROTECTION – You have the right: to have your security and privacy considered by the appropriate authorities in the criminal justice system; to have measures taken to protect you from intimidation and retaliation; to request that your identity be withheld from the public; to request testimonial aids when appearing as a witness in court.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION – You have the right: to present a victim impact statement and have it taken into consideration; to share your views on decisions that affect your rights.

RIGHT TO RESTITUTION – You have the right: to have the court consider making a restitution order against the offender to pay for your financial losses; to file the restitution order as a civil court judgment if the offender fails to pay.

Help is available.

John Howard Society (306) 693-0777

Moose Jaw & District Victims Services (306) 694-7621

Moose Jaw Transition House (306) 693-6511

Regina & Area Sexual Assault Centre (306) 352-0434

‘Love Your Neighbour’ banquet to raise money for new Souls Harbour facility in MJ

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission (SHRM) is once again seeking to raise money for a new facility in Moose Jaw with their ‘Love Your Neighbour’ banquet, taking place 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at Grant Hall Hotel.

The banquet will support the Christian non-profit in its mission to provide for the needy. Riverside Mission is struggling with ongoing maintenance costs at their current location on Manitoba Street East. In addition, SHRM is seeking to expand their offered services with a brandnew facility on River Street West.

SHRM has been operating since 1990 and provides services in both Regina and Moose Jaw. Between the two locations, they serve nearly 350 meals per day, provide 34 emergency shelter beds for men, run a residential addiction treatment program for women, a Christian daycare, and more.

The proposed new project would create a 14,500 sq. ft., two-storey facility including a 50-person dining hall for Riverside Mission, a food distribution and clothing processing centre, 11 affordable housing suites, six suites for a men’s addiction program, and community support services offices.

Full details are available at www.shrmsk.com/ moose-jaw-building-project.

SHRM has obtained the land, but project costs have gone from an estimated $4.5 million to more than $5.4 million. SHRM is struggling to find that money, and the project is now two years behind schedule.

SHRM executive director Joe Miller previously told the Moose Jaw Express “we’ve lost faith” that the community will fund the new building. Miller criticized federal, provincial, and municipal governments for their lack of support, expressed disappointment with the results of recent fundraisers, and said local businesses have not committed enough financial support.

“We are a non-profit and we are taking care of Moose Jaw’s most marginalized citizens,” Miller said in that interview. “… I would hope that the community is in support of that … we just need a better response.”

“We haven’t had a huge rally of support for the [River Street] project itself,” said Rachel Mullens. Mullens has worked for SHRM for 10 years and oversees Riverside Mission as director of emergency services. “That has been a bit discouraging, I would say, but this Love Your Neighbour banquet will be the start of a new rally to put together some funds and move forward.”

Mullens said that Grant Hall have been awesome to work with as the date of the banquet approaches. There are 150 seats available — tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight.

“We still have some spots available,” she noted. “The banquet this year is very much geared towards our new building. We’re going to have some people from the community speak on our behalf as to what the new building will provide for Moose Jaw, and Joe Miller, our executive director, will do a question-and-answer to clarify things for anyone who has questions.

“The funds will be going directly towards the new building, which we’re really hoping to get off the ground this year.”

Mullens added that in her ten years with SHRM, the community of Moose Jaw has always stepped up to help.

“Moose Jaw has been an amazing community,” she said. “We’re very grateful to the community and this new project will open a lot more doors. If anyone is interested in knowing more about it, [they should] buy tickets to the banquet, or come on down to Riverside and I would be happy to show them what the project looks like and have a conversation with them.”

The Love Your Neighbour banquet needs sponsors. Interested businesses should contact Taeryong No, finance manager at Riverside Mission. No can be reached at tno@shrmsk.com, or by phone at 306-510-4673.