Branching Out - Spring 2022

BRANCHING OUT

Trellis Society Spring 2022

S O C IE T Y What’s Inside

Hi. We’re Trellis!

Trellis Society is focused on providing a continuum of services to people from all backgrounds, including those with complex needs. With our support, people from all walks of life are empowered to reach their potential, move beyond systemic barriers and cultivate great outcomes.

We are rooted in history and focused on futures. We became one of Calgary’s largest social services agencies through the merge of Aspen Family & Community Network and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary in 2020. Growing from a combined history of 117 years, Trellis is proud to be making a generational impact on the people and communities we serve.

Trellis Society’s commitment to reconciliation starts with taking this opportunity to acknowledge our honour and privilege to live and work within the Treaty 7 territory. We acknowledge the traditional and ancestral territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Siksika Nation, the North and South Piikani Nations and the Kainai Nation. We also acknowledge the other members of Treaty 7 First Nations, the Tsuut’ina and Ĩyãħé Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) which include Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. In addition, the City of Calgary is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Region 3). Finally, we acknowledge all nations, genders and spirits who live, work and play in Moh’kinstsis, the Blackfoot name for Calgary, and Treaty 7 Region of Southern Alberta who help us steward this land, honour and celebrate this territory.

A Note from Jeff

My friends, the last year pushed all of us to face new challenges and find opportunities to work differently. As a community we’ve had to get creative with how we connect, learn and grow together. At Trellis this has meant choosing to see possibilities underneath any obstacles we come up against.

Over the last year we have had the privilege of providing connection, case management and/or referrals to over 16,000 people in and around Calgary. Your support for our work has been crucial and appreciated beyond measure. You believe in our vision, nurture our progress and encourage us to grow. Thank you for remaining agile and continuing to support our staff and the people we serve throughout these difficult times.

Although I have the incredible honour of leading Trellis I do not stand alone. The work that is represented in this publication is just a snapshot of what’s happening at Trellis, none of which would be possible without the dedication of the incredible people who choose to be a part of our team. The past year has continued to challenge us in many ways and I am so grateful to serve alongside these passionate and committed professionals.

I have great hope for the connections that will return, grow and strengthen this year. As you read through this second edition of ‘Branching Out’ please find inspiration from the stories shared and an invitation to get involved in an area that resonates with you. Together we will continue to grow, impact our community for good and support each other along the way.

Growing with you,

Board of Directors

2021-2022

Karleen Batty, she/her, Chair

Anil Nayak, he/him, Vice Chair

Alisa Sorochan, she/her, Treasurer

Aidan Mills, he/him

Chris Simard, he/him

Christi Adams, she/her

Christine Neff, she/her

Christy Elliot, she/her

Erin Ludwig, she/her

Gabriel Chen, he/him

James Kusie, he/him

Serena Reid, she/her

Jeff Dyer he/him

CEO, Trellis Society

Steve Spaulding, he/him

Zhaodi Culbrath, he/him

SCAN THE QR CODE TO MEET OUR BOARD

Sean is a full-time business owner who grew up in a stable home. He started his own family with the birth of his daughter, but life grew complicated when he and his partner split up. They disagreed over what days they each spent with their daughter, which resulted in Sean’s time being cut shorter and shorter. This went on for over three years until finally, they decided to go to court.

When Sean’s ex claimed that he was a bad parent who wasn’t interested in being a dad, his lawyer recommended he take a parenting class to support his case. Having never accessed social services before, Sean didn’t know who to reach out to.

Sean started searching for support only to be met with dead ends. He was unable to find a program that matched his situation or fell within his court date. Frustrated, Sean says there were moments when he was ready to give up and walk away.

“I kind of threw my hands up and started to feel like nobody

wants to help or nobody cares,” he says. “My time with my daughter was very important to me, and I wanted to be a dad to her, but I was having a hard time getting any kind of information on where I could turn in this situation.”

Turning around

One day, Sean got a call back with a referral to our Family Resources Network (FRN). He still felt discouraged but ultimately decided to give the program a try.

Sean started talking with Trellis’ FRN staff, who he says helped him right out of the gate. They went over different supports that would help him learn more about caring for his daughter. Sean was drawn to the online Circle of Security Parenting Program as the idea of ensuring his daughter felt safe and secure resonated with him.

Sean’s work schedule was too unpredictable for him to register for the current weekly class. However, the team offered to arrange flexible times for all eight (8) sessions which Sean promptly signed up for. they would arrange flexible times to fit his availability. Sean was very grateful for this option and signed up for the class.

“That’s when things really started to turn around,” Sean says. “My feelings towards all this changed, and I just focused on getting some help and guidance.”

Going into his first session, Sean wasn’t sure what to expect. He was nervous about not knowing the right answers, but he soon got into the flow of things and felt at ease around the staff. Over the next two and a half months, FRN staff checked in every Monday to schedule their weekly meeting and sent Sean the corresponding handouts. Sean always arrived on time (once from the back of his truck at a worksite!) with materials printed and having reflected on the previous week’s content.

Sean was very engaged in the class and picked up on the concepts quickly. One valuable takeaway for Sean was knowing that things aren’t always going to be perfect. Both parents and kids will make mistakes, but there is always opportunity for repair and to talk things out. This was an eye-opener for

‘For the first time in four years, I felt like a dad’: Circle of Security rekindles father-daughter relationship

‘For the first time in four years, I felt like a dad’

CIRCLE OF SECURITY REKINDLES FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP

Sean and his daughter love being outdoors. They recently went to a friend’s ranch where they had fun exploring and visiting with the horses.

Sean because he had been hard on himself when he thought his daughter wasn’t having a good time or she had a better connection with other family members. It took the pressure off and helped Sean focus on how he could best support his daughter.

Sean began to feel more confident in his parenting abilities and applied what he was learning as he spent more time with his daughter. He made sure to be present when his daughter was playing and gave her freedom to explore. He also learned to be more assertive and set healthy guidelines for his daughter. Sean noticed the difference this made in their relationship. She called him dad more and was excited to come over. She would tell her mom about their time together and ask when she could see him next.

“For the first time in four years, I felt like a dad,” Sean says.

Between weekends with his daughter, Sean would check in with the FRN staff during their meetings together. He felt comfortable talking about his experiences and asked questions whenever he was unsure.

“As I was getting more time with my daughter and things were shifting, it was super nice to have some backup and somebody to talk to,” he says. “I couldn’t put a number on the value that I got out of that.”

A beautiful outcome

Nine weeks later, Sean received his certificate of completion. He told the FRN staff how much this journey had meant to him and thanked them for their “wisdom, knowledge and kind words”. The staff wished Sean luck at court and assured him that he could reach out any time for support.

When the judges looked at Sean’s case, they saw how invested he was as a parent. Sean’s ex was also surprised to see the effort he had put into the Circle of Security classes. Both judges came to the same conclusion: “This is a dad who just wants to spend time with his daughter.”

Sean was granted one week on/one week off custody, and he

was so happy he was shaking from excitement. “It was like a sigh of relief, the biggest weight off my shoulders,” Sean says. “It was just the best day!”

The tension eased between Sean and his ex, and he has continued to see more good days with his daughter. She is full of energy, just like her dad, and some of their favourite activities to do together are camping, hiking, biking and skating. The most important part for Sean though, is being there to see his daughter grow. Her safety and security come first, and as long as he’s a dad, Sean’s goal is to give his daughter her best chance to be a child and enjoy life.

“That’s when things really started to turn around,” Sean says. “My feelings towards all this changed, and I just focused on getting some help and guidance.”

Sean teaches his daughter to skate for the first time.

“It’s my turn to show them that I can”

HOW A DETERMINED MOTHER ESCAPED ABUSE AND MADE IT TO SAFETY

Names have been changed due to confidentiality.

“Mama, can you read the book to me?” asked Cathy’s frightened three-year-old daughter. The two of them were huddled together in the spare room of their basement as angry shouts thundered over them. It was all they could do to hide from Cathy’s partner, whose rage would explode in erratic episodes.

“Mama, you need to read louder, it’s not stopping!”

Life hadn’t always been this way. When Cathy met Seth a few years earlier, he was in a good place. Seth had been diagnosed with several mental health disorders but took medication to help him manage. After their daughter was born, however, things started to spiral. Seth stopped taking his medication and began to lash out more.

Cathy felt like she was always walking on eggshells, unsure of what would set Seth off. Even the slightest thing, like the way she said good morning, could lead to an outburst that consumed the entire day. Seth’s anger controlled Cathy’s life and trapped her further in their relationship when he didn’t

allow her to work.

There were times when Seth’s mood would start to improve, but it wasn’t long before he fell back into abusive behaviour towards Cathy or, at times, himself.

“I kept telling my daughter, ‘I’m going to get us out. I’m going to get us to a safe place, I promise you. It may not be right now, but I’m going to get us out,” Cathy says.

The yelling still hadn’t stopped when Cathy eventually went back upstairs. Her daughter was close by her side, and as they passed Seth, he spit in Cathy’s face.

“That was my last straw,” Cathy says. “I said I’m no longer going to be scared anymore, because if this is where the road is leading, nobody’s going to come out of this. Nobody.”

On the clock

Cathy had no plans for where she would go. All she knew was that she would do everything she could to keep her daughter

safe. When she told Seth they were leaving, he gave her only two weeks to get out of the house as a tactic to force her to stay.

“Two weeks is all I need,” she said.

A friend on holiday offered their place as a safe house while Cathy looked for somewhere permanent to stay. As Cathy hurried to pack up their things, Seth called Cathy a terrible mother who would never get anywhere. His insults had always caused Cathy to shut down or hide, but this time was different.

“There was not one moment where I wanted to throw in the towel. It just kept pushing me and pushing me. I needed to get out of there as fast as I could.”

Cathy started searching for as many resources as she could find, making phone call after phone call. With no job or money saved, her options were limited. She wanted to protect her daughter from having to stay at a shelter, but she couldn’t afford anything that was more stable.

It wasn’t until she talked to a friend that Cathy learned about Trellis. She had never heard of us before, but she was willing to take whatever help she could get. Shortly after contacting us, Cathy arranged her first meeting with Christina from Home Stay, a Trellis program that helps prevent and divert families from homelessness.

Cathy recounts the day they sat down together at the kitchen table. With her daughter on her lap, Cathy opened up about her situation. She shared that she knew what she needed, but she wasn’t sure how to get there.

“I told her right now the only things that need to get done is I need time to find a place, I need to get my daughter in daycare and I need to get a job. Right now, I have nothing lined up.”

Christina listened and assured her that everything would be okay. Together they mapped out the next steps for Cathy to reach her goals, the most pressing of which was finding a place to live.

Christina helped Cathy apply for a subsidy with Calgary Housing and wrote her a letter of support. While they waited for a response, Cathy started searching for rentals. The process was “exhausting and depressing”, but she eventually found an apartment that she loved. The best part was that it was right across the street from a daycare! Cathy was thrilled when her rental application was approved and shared the news with Christina, who was ready to help.

“When I told Christina, she was like, ‘What do you need? Let’s get it done!’”

They went through the paperwork together, and Christina provided a subsidy for the security deposit and the first few months of rent. She also supported with moving expenses and offered to help Cathy with any food, clothing, or furniture she needed so that she and her daughter were comfortable. All of this was a huge help to Cathy as it gave her the breathing room to focus on her goals.

Around this time, Cathy suffered the heartbreaking loss of her mother after a hard battle with cancer. Cathy believes her mother was finally able to rest when she told her she had left her previous relationship and she was safe.

During their regular check-in, Christina asked her what she needed. Cathy thought about it and said she would benefit from counselling. Christina then went and found her a counsellor, much to Cathy’s surprise.

“I didn’t even know that there was support for any of what I’ve been through. Telling Christina what my troubles were, how I’m feeling… She was there to actually listen and help with stuff that I didn’t even know I needed help with.”

“You’re going to get somewhere”

Cathy continued looking for work and followed up on the employment resources that Christina recommended. She was determined but securing a job during a pandemic proved to be difficult. After a while she began to feel discouraged.

“That was my last straw,” Cathy says. “I said I’m no longer going to be scared anymore, because if this is where the road is leading, nobody’s going to come out of this. Nobody.”

When she told Christina that she was working as hard as she could but just wasn’t getting anywhere, Christina’s response was exactly what she needed to hear.

“She assured me, ‘You’re moving in the right direction. It’s going to take time. You just need to keep your head down and keep moving like you’re doing because you’re going to get somewhere.’ Her words helped me immensely when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Cathy did keep moving forward, and this past November she secured a full-time job in administration. More good news came when Cathy’s application for the subsidy with Calgary

Housing was approved.

Standing across from each other in Cathy’s kitchen, Christina exclaimed, “You did it!”

From night to day

Over the span of a few months, Cathy experienced tremendous challenges and pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of. Her hard work was worth it to see her family thriving. Cathy’s daughter loves the daycare by their apartment and can already spell and read on her own. She is free to enjoy her childhood where it is peaceful and safe.

As for Cathy, she can say with confidence that “life is very good”.

“From where I was a year ago to now, it’s night and day. I’m happy. I can go to sleep and wake up without fear. I’m not walking on eggshells anymore. I could never and will never go back.

Making new goals is on the list of things to do, because all my old ones are complete, and that’s a really good feeling. I’m taking courses and trying to better myself now. I was told for a long time that I couldn’t so now it’s my turn to show them that I can.

My biggest advice for others is to reach out. There are a lot of resources that may not be right in front of you, but they are there. And if people are trying to help you in a positive way, you take that help and you learn everything you have to learn.

If I didn’t have Trellis, I don’t know where I’d be. But luckily, I don’t have to think like that. I just hope that other people in my situation get the help and the experience that I did. Any time Christina offered help that would benefit me or my daughter, I just said yes. And I’m forever grateful and thankful that we can breathe.”

“From where I was a year ago to now, it’s night and day. I’m happy. I can go to sleep and wake up without fear. I’m not walking on eggshells anymore. I could never and will never go back.“

Culture Camp

Over the past few years, Okotoks Indigenous River Camp has served as a place for Indigenous youth and Elders to come together and reconnect to the land. The camp’s purpose is centered on creating opportunities for young people to learn about their Indigenous culture, build relationships with Elders and find healing.

“Being in foster care since I was very young, I have never had an opportunity like this one before. Five days with so many Elders, hearing the traditional stories and language. I needed this.”

– Culture Camp Youth

A place to call home: Inside The Maple housing program

A place to call home

INSIDE THE MAPLE HOUSING PROGRAM

Everyone deserves to have a home and the opportunity to rebuild their lives, no matter who they are or where they come from. This is a belief exemplified by The Maple, our supportive housing program for female-identifying adults who have experienced chronic homelessness. The Maple is one of our newer programs and each day it is dedicated to helping residents improve their quality of life and define what success looks like for them.

Take an inside look at The Maple and the people who live there, as told by program manager Crystal Scott and case manager Lexi Knight.

How would you describe the overall purpose of The Maple?

Crystal: The Maple means something different for every single one of the residents. For some when they first come in, it’s the opportunity to have a safe place that they can call home. For others, it’s a steppingstone to what’s next.

It’s safety and security. We want to provide the ability which everyone should have: to feel safe and to trust others around you. We want them to come in and not just survive, but also have the right and privilege to succeed, and success looks different for everybody.

Lexi: Everyone here is over the age of 25, so it’s very different than working with youth. It’s a lot more coaching and support through their day-to-day lives and helping them learn how to do things for themselves. It’s about empowering the residents to do what they can and then being there to support them through it.

Who are the people who work at The Maple?

Crystal: We have ten client support staff who are on site 24/7. They focus on the basic day-to-day life skills. That can look like cooking, banking, setting up doctor’s appointments, accessing community resource, etc.

We also have two harm reduction therapists that come to The

Maple a couple of times a week. This gives the residents the opportunity to engage with a therapist without having to leave the building. Our Circle Keeper, Ezra McKay, also comes to The Maple to do cultural pieces that the residents request, like smudge and ceremony.

At The Maple, whatever the residents need, there’s somebody there that can help, which is very important for some of the residents that have been street entrenched and haven’t had those needs taken care of in the past.

The Maple provides residents a safe, secure place that they can call home.

How does The Maple provide a safe environment for residents?

Lexi: We create a sense of safety where residents know that they have a home to come to every night, a bed to sleep in and a safe space to be. Harm reduction is a big component. It’s so much more than just handing out safe-use supplies. We’re supporting them to live life fully and reach their potential.

Crystal: Many of the residents that come to us have a very long history of trauma, and a lot of times that trauma comes from domestic violence. We create a safe environment where they can still have guests come into our building, but there are certain boundaries that we can put in place. For example, one of the residents who had a guest over came to a staff and said, “I really need this guest to leave because I don’t feel safe.”

So, it creates a safety net where they can ask for support and help if they don’t have the skills yet to put those boundaries in place themselves.

How do you work on relationshipbuilding with residents?

Lexi: A fair number of our residents don’t know what it’s like to have healthy relationships because they haven’t experienced them in their life. Staff will model how to have an adult conversation, how to navigate tricky relationships, how to set and maintain boundaries.

One of The Maple’s strengths is client engagement. We have a monthly calendar where we have different activities like midnight movie nights, baking days, and crafts. Sometimes we’ll sit in the kitchen and help them do their hair or nails. A lot the residents really like art, so we’ll sit in the kitchen and paint together. That’s a really great way to genuinely get to know people and learn what supports they need.

Crystal: Thanks to a grant from the Calgary Homeless Foundation, we were able to hire a recreation planner to plan daily activities for the residents. It could be anything from trips to Banff, scootering around the city, bowling or going to the zoo together. Opportunities that our residents have never experienced.

Health and belonging is a critical piece. We can give somebody a home but if they don’t feel like they belong there, then it really makes no difference. They’re not going to stay. They’re going to go back out into the streets. We want to create those relationships and the ability to go do new things so that the residents also feel like they belong in the community.

What does resident success look like?

Lexi: Things that might seem simple to you or I are not always

simple for a lot of residents who’ve had to live in constant survival mode. My goal is to do whatever I can to make their lives a little easier. That might look like getting a resident to wash their hands if they have trouble with hygiene, helping them to go grocery shopping, or even making them laugh if they’re having a rough day.

What are some milestones you celebrated this past year?

Lexi: We had a resident who was homeless for ten years before she came to The Maple. She and I built this amazing relationship. She would poke fun at me, and I could kind of poke fun at her back, and she would just laugh. At one of her last lease signings, she said, “This is my home. This is my first real home. I have these people who I know care about me.” That was huge.

Crystal: Often when people come off the streets and they’re in active addiction, they’re in fight mode because that’s how they survived. You can see the switch when they know that they have somewhere safe, they have somewhere consistent and they have staff there 24/7 who genuinely care about them.

For one resident who has severe schizophrenia, staff used to have to call emergency services two to three times a day. It’s now been over a year since we’ve made any calls. She’s able to manage how she’s feeling and it’s because she feels safe

Residents have some fun with karaoke during The Maple’s holiday party.

Residents and staff play a fun game of bingo together. Engaging with residents through activities and spending time together helps residents to build healthy relationships and feel supported.

and has built trust with staff. She never had conversations in the past, and now she can articulate herself and express how she’s feeling.

When you can trust others and have healthy relationships, everything else can start to fall into place. If we can help break down barriers, that provides these residents with the opportunity to start building healthy relationships with other people, whether it be street friends or their families.

How long do residents stay with The Maple?

Crystal: It’s really based on their individual needs. There’s no timeline. There’s always hope for transition, but that doesn’t mean there has to be transition. Some residents have gotten to a place where they’re ready to move into a community placement, but a lot of our residents will tell you they’ll probably be with us forever. We are happy to have them with us for as long as they need.

Bowness Club gets a makeover

Bowness Club gets a makeover

STAFF

The Bowness Club is in an old building. I remember being in high school in the late 90’s when it was called Pin and Cue… it was a pool hall with a subway inside. When that closed, Wood’s Homes took it over for a few years before Boys and Girls Club turned it into the Bowness Club. Now as Trellis, we decided it was well overdue for a makeover.

The Club was in desperate need of new paint, from classrooms to offices spaces, bathrooms to main spaces and the gymnasium to the multi-purpose room. Chipped, flaking and peeling, our walls showed extensive wear and tear after years of heavy use. On top of that, medical-grade cleaning products in response to pandemic protocols had stained the walls and discoloured the existing paint.

We needed a high-durability paint product that would be able to last through extensive community use and strong cleaning products. However, that would also mean a higher price point for each can of primer and paint.

Help from the the community

As a non-profit, finding the funds to do big overhauls is tough. So, when a grant from the Kinsmen Club of Calgary (KCC) Major Projects Program became available, we knew this was a perfect fit for the Club. The KCC supports communityoriented non-profit organizations in their ability to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow by investing in the lives of people young and old — to live in strong, caring and healthy communities.

We applied and got approved for $20,000! We had big dreams with what we could do with that money, replace the floors, open up the office space, install basketball nets in the gym. But at the end of the day, the most bang for our buck was going to be painting — 7,000 square feet worth of painting.

As the quotes came in, we realized we still were about $12,000 short of our goal to have the entire Club painted. We started to think about what rooms were not too bad and what we could skip out on. Then we came across The Urban Painter.

The Urban Painter created the Paint for Good Project, which selects a few non-profits each year and donates $5,000 worth

WRITTEN BY ERIN HENRIKSEN IRELAND, BOWNESS CLUB PROGRAM MANAGER

of either products or labor to upgrade their spaces. When I reached out to them, I thought we might still have to cut out the bathrooms or the offices. But after seeing the space, they told me they wanted to make it work because the Bowness Club was worth it and our kids deserved this. I thought I was dreaming!

For our next steps, we worked with an interior designer who helped us choose colors that were calming and fun to make our space welcoming for kids, adults, youth, everyone.

The Urban Painter team worked around the clock over the holidays to ensure that the space was ready for families when they got back from the break. Though there were a few hiccups along the way (like needing WAY more patchwork than initially thought), all in all we ended up with a beautifully painted space that the staff, kids and families all love!

Prior to all of this, one of our kids in the after-school program was consistently drawing and writing on the walls. One day, our staff was helping her wash off the writing and asked her if she needed to worry about her writing on the walls once the Club got painted. She replied, “Nope, I just do it now because it’s so ugly in here.”

When she got back from the break and saw the new painting she said, “There’s no way I’m writing on these walls, it looks too good!”

STORY

Fatima Buland

The youth who made her mark at Trellis

Our goal is to help everyone grow to their full potential so they can reach their dreams. We have the great privilege of seeing this vision come to life in many of the youth who grow up with our programs. One remarkable individual we’ve had the joy of working with over the years is a young person named Fatima.

Fatima’s natural leadership and ability to connect with others have made her one of the most active members in our Youth Programming. She is wise beyond her years and her calmness provides the perfect balance to her unwavering determination. As Fatima prepares to graduate high school this year, we look back on her journey with us and the positive changes she brought to Trellis.

Starting out

As a newcomer to Canada, Fatima remembers being very shy, only talking to her family and close friends. She grew up in a small village in Pakistan, where she was surrounded by her whole extended family. Some of her fondest memories are of times spent with her cousins and grandparents.

Moving to the other side of the world at the age of five was a difficult transition for Fatima. She had to learn a new language and culture, but the hardest part was the switch from seeing her relatives every day to not at all.

“Everybody’s house was a wall away. We were all connected,” Fatima recalls. “Then we came to Canada, and there was nobody here.”

A home away from home

Fatima was in the seventh grade when she came across Trellis’ table at a Canada Day event. After meeting the staff and taking a look at their Youth Programming calendar, she decided to sign up for their Cook and Learn class.

Fatima “absolutely loved” the program and felt an instant connection. She had so much fun, she kept coming back.

“Everybody who was participating had a different background. It was a nice environment where it was like a really big family

Fatima Buland: The youth who made her mark at Trellis

THE YOUTH WHO MADE HER MARK AT TRELLIS

Fatima Buland (left) first joined our Youth Programming a few years ago. During her time with us, Fatima has worked with Trellis staff Sherry Huang (right) to help more youth find connection.

just cooking together,” Fatima says. “I met a lot of new people and made many new friends through these programs.”

Youth Programming soon became Fatima’s “second home away from home” where she would go to hang out after school. Getting to know others at the program also brought her out of her shell and grew her confidence.

Landing her first job

A new opportunity came up when Fatima was introduced to the Stampede Youth Work Experience Program. She was nervous about applying for her first job, but she credits Sherry, Trellis’ Youth Employment Facilitator, who was there for her through every step.

Sherry, a Youth Worker on Trellis Youth Employment team helped Fatima prepare her resume and practice interview questions, giving her tips and tricks to do well. Thanks to Sherry’s support, Fatima went on to ace her interview. In fact, the hiring team was so impressed, they originally thought she was overqualified for the job.

“They called me back and I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’” Fatima says. “It was a big accomplishment. I was excited. My family was excited. And it was also my first time going to Calgary Stampede.”

Fatima continued to exceed expectations, and it was during

that summer when her personality finally came out. She was always the first one at the Stampede grounds, arriving two hours early, and would offer to help with any preparations for the day. Working the Stampede grounds with her team also helped her to open up.

“That was one big thing that I got out of Stampede,” Fatima says. “Interacting with everybody just boosted my confidence and helped me really improve my communication skills.”

Those same skills would come in handy at Fatima’s subsequent jobs, which she applied for on her own. From working at Callaway Park to the Calgary Zoo, Fatima put almost everything she earned towards her post-secondary education so that come this fall, she’ll be able to attend university without student loans.

Forging her own path

Over the years, Fatima grew from the support she received. But it’s fair to say she has made just as big an impact on our programs. Wherever there was an opportunity to help, Fatima was always the first to sign up.

“She has the biggest heart. She just likes giving back whenever she can,” Sherry says.

Encouraging youth input nurtured Fatima’s passion for helping people. With guidance from Sherry, Fatima created the Youth

Fatima and the Volunteer Club have a blast helping out at GlobalFest 2019.

Volunteer Club, connecting youth with seniors and local events like Global Fest. Fatima also started the Girls Club/Sports for Building Youth Connections so that female-identifying youth could have a safe space to bond and have fun together. Many of the program’s youth were newcomers to Calgary, just as Fatima was years ago. Anytime someone new showed up, Fatima took the first step to introduce herself.

“I know what it felt like,” Fatima says. “When you’ve experienced that yourself, you want to help other people, so they don’t feel left out. I want to make everybody feel very welcome.”

The future for Fatima

Fatima is looking forward to graduating high school and has been accepted into the computer science program at the University of Calgary. Sherry believes without question that Fatima will be amazing in whatever she chooses to do.

“I have no doubt that she’s going to be my boss one day because she’s just so motivated.”

Though she’ll be moving on to a new chapter of her life, Fatima says she intends to stay connected to her Trellis family.

“I still call Sherry if I ever need anything. She’s been there for me through thick and thin. I still volunteer with Trellis. I’m never going to leave the program.”

Living our values

Trellis’ commitment to reconciliation, diversity and inclusion extends beyond our programs and services. To be truly committed, we understand the need to embed these values across all aspects of our work, including our partner, contractor and other vendor relationships. Keeping this in mind, our vendor selection process prioritizes businesses who also display commitments to reconciliation, diversity and inclusion. This is a small but important step in ensuring we put concrete action behind our words.

Regardless of your business size, there are things you can do to demonstrate your commitment to these values. If you don’t know where to begin, we’ve put together a small list of resources to help get you started.

If you’re a vendor or contractor who’s interested in working with Trellis please contact our Facilities Team at facilities@growwithtrellis.ca.

Fatima packs shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Bill’s Legacy Lives On

In the fall of 2021, Trellis received a phone call with some important news. William “Bill” Donahoo had gifted Trellis with a donation in his will.

Bill dedicated his life to helping others. He was actively involved in the community, serving as the president for the Alberta Cerebral Palsy Association as well as the Calgary Northeast Eye Opener Lions Club. We knew Bill as a board member who passionately served with our Legacy Aspen team. Bill believed in the work we were doing and helped lay the foundation to make Trellis what is today.

“Bill treated everyone with respect and grace and showed a genuine interest in their life,” says Bill’s counsel and close friend Guy Cochrane. “Bill was never one to brag about his accomplishments or his activities.”

Through Bill’s final legacy giving, $80,000 will support Trellis’ Sustainable Families housing first program which provides intensive support for families facing homelessness; the In Home Family Support intervention program to ensure children of all ages are safe and well-nurtured in their homes; and the Home Stay Prevention housing-first harm reduction, prevention and diversion program that offers short-term case management to families on the verge of homelessness

Guy believes Bill would have been happy to know that he has made a difference in the lives of others for the better.

Remembered as a person with a positive attitude and sense of humour, Bill will also be remembered as a generous person who supported what was important to him right up to his final wishes.

Bill Donahoo served as a committed board member for many years, and his impact will continue to live on at Trellis.

“Bill would have been happy to know that he has made a difference in the lives of others for the better.”

On the forefront of change: Aura brings light to queer youth homelessness

Aura brings light to queer youth homelessness

On the forefront of change

AURA BRINGS LIGHT TO QUEER YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

Statistically, queer youth face higher rates of violence and homelessness, yet the supports and specialized housing available are minimal. This harmful reality cannot be ignored, and it’s one that our Aura program is working hard to change.

As the only queer housing program in Alberta, Aura provides crucial support for 2SLGBTQ+ gender nonbinary and gender nonconforming youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. When youth come to Aura, they are welcomed into a safe, inclusive space where their gender identity and sexual orientation is respected and celebrated.

Being an affirming program starts with hiring staff who are part of the queer community. Having lived experience and understanding of the challenges youth face, staff are able to address barriers and support youth in the ways they need it most.

“Aura provides support that recognizes the nuance of being queer and homeless in a way that no other program does across Alberta,” says Aura housing support worker Meagan

Mah. “This is really essential because we know when queer youth have supports, their rates of suicide, self-harm and homelessness decrease.”

Trellis Caseworkers work one-on-one with youth to help them accomplish their goals. This can look like finding and maintaining permanent housing, building financial stability, growing life skills and connecting youth to queer-affirming community resources.

“It’s a better experience, because people feel like they have more agency to be able to come out, to be able to be queer and open in those spaces,” Meagan says. “They don’t feel like there’s this big shame they have to hide in order to get into a program or to get into a shelter.”

For Yulia, who knows what it’s like to have nowhere to go, the support she found at Aura made a profound difference. After moving to Canada three years ago, she faced several challenges. Jobs and rental viewings were limited at the beginning of the pandemic, so she found a friend in Calgary

to live with. Everything was good for a while until he found out that Yulia was transgender. Feeling that the environment was no longer safe, Yulia stayed at a shelter for two weeks. She was able to find an apartment, but when the pandemic worsened and Yulia lost her job, she was once again forced to turn to shelters.

“Being in that insecure position was frustrating. You can really think that I can do nothing, I don’t understand anything, and go in that darker space of despair,” Yulia says.

After several months, Yulia was finally referred to Aura last January. Yulia began working with Meagan and describes their time together as a “fantastic, unique experience.” She found Meagan to be kind and gentle and someone she could connect with personally. Yulia opened about her life, and with Meagan’s support, she was able to connect with resources and work towards the goals she had for herself.

“With the positive support from Meagan, I was able to figure out my life quite well. I have stable housing. I have a stable job. I am connected to a doctor and counseling. I am more confident about things that I can do in my life, and I’m less anxious.”

Aura also addresses barriers caused by discrimination within the shelter and others stems. The different risks that

queer youth encounter are largely due to homophobic and transphobic violence. However, because of gaps in knowledge and underreporting, these incidents are often normalized and invisible.

By raising awareness and supporting other programs in becoming more queer-friendly, Aura hopes to build an environment where queer people can feel safe and supported.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH YULIA’S STORY

Meagan Mah, Case Manager of Aura (left) and Yulia (right).