April 24, 2013 Volume 9 • Number 17 50¢ Newsstand Price
INSIDe
north shore
3 WAYS TO ORDER! 1 Come in 2 Text: 250-319-9965 3 Call: 250-376-1716
Creative candy – page 2
also
Home of the Reubinator
NOW OPEN!
Serving up holistic health care – page 9
Located inside Robo 204 Tranquille Rd Breakfast all day!
your neighbourhood. your newspaper.
Local dining supports local housing This year ASK Wellness has a new set of plans for the proceeds raised from its annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser, happening on April 25 at restaurants around the city. The past two years have seen funds used to support the ASK Global Citizen Project, sending staff to Africa in 2011 and India in 2012, where they completed community sustainability projects. This year it’s ASK Stays Local. One way they will do this is to direct proceeds to a housing improvement fund to help landlords with the kinds of improvements that typically cause them to raise rents. “We have partnerships with a multitude of landlords. This is another way to help them continue to help our clients,” explains Kira Gosselin, Chronic Health Navigator for the agency. Many of the housing options for the most marginalized in our community have seen better days. “My goal has been to provide safe, affordable housing to this profile, but I fear that the challenges I currently face will force me to abandon providing this housing in the foreseeable future,’ says Debra Powell, a private, for-profit landlord who has housed many of ASK’s clients over the years. “My expenses are ever-increasing,” adds Debra. “There are no subsidies or grants for improvements. Property taxes go up, BC Hydro has doubled in the last four years with no extra use. I provide everything for tenants: furniture, bedding, cooking facilities and equipment, and free laundry. I re-paint, replace and renovate constantly as this profile is very hard on the rooms and furniture. When you have so little, it's hard to take pride in a life with little opportunity or comfort.”
Staff from Ask Wellness wound up last year's Dining Out For Life at the Noble Pig, when they raised money for ASK Goes to India. “We are staying local this year to improve the quality of life for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents, through sustainable housing and garden projects,” says Kira Gosselin, Chronic Health Navigator for the agency.
The staff at ASK believe their clients deserve to have homes they can feel safe in and proud of. “We will offer grants of up to $4000 for improvements to landlords who are willing to put in a $500 contribution and we are offering to do the work,” says Kira. “And all of the projects will be done by ASK staff and volunteers on their own time.” Providing housing to our community's individuals at risk of homelessness for the last six years has been a life changing experience for Debra, who, like most, had no idea what living in poverty with chronic health issues was like. “I love my tenants and worry about what will happen to them once I've had enough,” she says.
“I am excited to hear about and be a part of this local initiative to assist those private landlords in Kamloops and make this a better community for all those who live in it.” The one-day international Dining Out For Life fundraiser takes place in over 55 cities across the U.S. and Canada. In Kamloops, diners can choose from a list of 11 restaurants all over the city and 25 per cent of their food bill will be used to fund ASK Stays Local. To learn more and see a complete list of participating restaurants, visit diningoutforlife.com/Kamloops. To donate cash or building supplies or to volunteer, contact Cheryl at 250-376-7558, ext. 226. Rebecca Stewart
WE OPEN AT 9:30am TO TAKE YOUR ORDER
Best pizza in the city! #2 - 724 Sydney Ave. North Shore
250-554-3030
Visit us on-line @ www.dominos.ca
PICK-UP
Medium
4
SPECIAL
1-Toppin
$ .44
g Pizza
Some Restrictio Apply ns
Carryout