Annual Report 2017
A Word from the Chair ››
T
he last year has been pretty exciting. It’s been a time of change, but at the same time there are some constants that give us comfort every day. In my mind, our neighbourhood is both enduring and endearing. Every morning I count myself lucky to roll my bicycle through the heart of Fernwood and see my neighbours, shop owners, high school students, and the many people who defy labels. I see kindness; I see vitality, and most of all I see something so many people in our world are searching for—a community. At Fernwood NRG, we’re working hard to build up our community and wherever possible create positive change. The most tangible sign of change involving Fernwood NRG has been the ongoing construction of the new mixed use building at 1310 Gladstone Ave. Like many of you, I’ve been watching as the construction site went from a hole in the ground to walls, stairs and windows. You might be wondering what the final building will look like? Well, we’ve always wanted the building to look like it belonged with the rest of our ‘village’ so it’s going to be clad in bricks that will complement the rest of the handsome buildings that surround it. The apartments up top will benefit from being just high enough that they
will have nice views. As for the rest of the building, we’re confident that we’ll have tenants that will provide great services to the neighbourhood. This past year we also saw a new Provincial government that has promised bold and ambitious steps to improve childcare affordability. Like many of you, we are excited to see all the details. Fernwood NRG has provided high quality childcare for decades, and our dedicated staff work hard to make our programs not only caring, but also as affordable as possible. It would be nice for hard working families to have additional assistance with childcare. We think it will make our neighbourhood a better place because it will make it more reasonable for everyone to live here. We’re hopeful that this new promise will deliver assistance that is sustainable over the long haul. We also hope that it won’t compromise our desire to pay our 18 child care employees a fair wage. While it didn’t exactly happen in 2017, there was a big change at the Cornerstone Café. The living room of the community changed hands. We remain the owners of the building. The space is now leased to the people who operated the Parsonage and Fernwood Coffee near Cook Street. The owners of those businesses live in our neighbourhood. We believe that this has
Michael Lancaster
injected a creative vibrancy back into the space. Personally, I’m thrilled to have my Saturday morning breakfast bagel that much closer to my door! Speaking of good food, some of you may have attended our Family Dinner Night on Mondays at the Fernwood Community Centre. This year we started a new program called Student Dinner Night. The new dinners happen on Wednesday nights at the community centre and offer students who live in the community a break from their studies and a chance to share a meal with familiar faces or meet new people. When possible, this dinner event also showcases live music and gives students a chance to grab some free groceries through
the Food Share Network. And as long as I’m talking about food, I should remind everyone that the Good Food Box continues to be one of the best deals around. Go to thegoodfoodbox.ca/home/order and get yourself hooked up with this affordable, locally sourced, box of food. In closing, I want to say that the Board and Staff of Fernwood NRG strive to offer relevant and meaningful programs that make our community stronger and more vibrant. We like to think these services help pull this collection of houses, apartments and businesses into something more meaningful – a neighbourhood called Fernwood. Please accept our gratitude for your continued support in delivering these services. 2017 Annual Report
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A year in review F
ernwood NRG is your neighbourhood resource group. Whether you want to share a meal with neighbours, or find a summer camp for your child, or even get a great haircut, we’re the folks to help you—right here in Fernwood. And we do so much more besides: childcare, family support programs, recreation programs, affordable housing, FernFest, the Good Food Box…the list goes on. We even publish this newspaper—the Village Vibe. In the last five years, we have been in growth mode. We have added 54 licensed child care spaces for school age children. We
added five affordable housing units in 2016, with four more units under construction and due to open this summer. We have added two well-attended weekly dinners (one for families, and one for students). We increased the Good Food Box to weekly service in 2017, increasing volumes more than 50%. We’ve increased the number of families supported by the Gift of Good Food from 22 families in 2014 to more than 150 families in 2018. And, we are nearly finished constructing a new mixed-use building at 1310 Gladstone Avenue that will be a beautiful and permanent addition to Fernwood Village.
›› Lee Herrin, Executive Director
All of this work is very rewarding, but it is also demanding. On the page opposite are just a few of the folks you might see around the neighbourhood going about their work: Jenna, our ever-positive Administrative Coordinator at the front desk at the Community Centre; David, our hardworking Community Centre Cook tucked away in our basement kitchen; Jesse, one of our child care team leading the children on a neighbourhood walk; Juan, our Maintenance Assistant, sweeping the sidewalk in front of the Cornerstone building; Carina, the patient Director of the Community Centre walking
down Gladstone Avenue between meetings; and Maya, one of our newest team members, working with families in the crowded gymnasium on a weekday morning. If you do see them, please say “hello”; and if you are so inclined, maybe say “thank you.” They, and all of the 92 people who worked for the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group in 2017 are happily working for all of us here in Fernwood. As always, even 92 of us cannot do it alone. So thank you to all of our funders, donors, supporters and volunteers in 2017.
Here’s a snapshot of Fernwood NRG’s work in the neighbourhood over 2017:
We provided safe, affordable housing for
15
families
99
We grew to quality, licensed affordable child care spaces
We raised over
We supported
100
s of families through Best Babies & Family Programs
$80,000
We hosted more than
16,000
people in recreation programs & events
for The Gift of Good Food, to provide families with fresh produce for a whole year We served over
4,900
We gave
3,692
meals at the Fernwood Family Dinner, Student Dinner, & Seniors Lunch
haircuts and styles at Studio 1313
We packed & distributed
9,410
Good Food Boxes
61,930
We prepared snacks & meals for our programs
Community members volunteered over
Through food reclamation programs such as the Food Rescue Program & Fernwood Helping Hands,
3,300
11,300lbs
hours in programs & at events
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2017 Annual Report
of food was diverted from the landfill
Faces of Fernwood NRG Fernwood NRG has a dedicated, hard-working, fun-loving team guided by our Declaration of Principles and Values. We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood. Meet a few of the many people who work with Fernwood NRG on the front lines and behind the scenes:
Jenna Lang
David Gillis
Jesse Douglas
Administrative Coordinator, 8 months
Cook and Kitchen Coordinator, 2 years
Early Childcare Educator in 3-5 Daycare, 6 years
"I really love getting to work in an environment that loves diversity and accepts other people. We have so many programs that help people when they need it and it is extremely fulfilling to be part of it."
"I love being a part of a community, being a part of and participating in something that is bigger than me, that supersedes me, the people and the connections. That’s been the greatest gift and the greatest lesson, community. It comes back to community. The gifts I have are useless if I don’t have anyone to share them with."
"As much as I’m trying to teach them [the kids], I’m learning from them. So that’s really my favourite part of working in the Daycare itself. I learn everyday about patience and being my most positive self."
Juan Martinez
Carina Foran
Maya Molander
Maintenance Assistant, 1 and a half years
Fernwood Community Centre Director, 4 years
Family Programs Assistant, 3 months
"I’ve learned that working with members of the community, through community dinners, volunteers, and different people at the Centre, is very satisfying. It’s just a good vibe, I just get such a good energy from being here. That’s what I enjoy the most."
"Supporting people, creating projects, developing improvements, and being part of something bigger are some of the reasons I love my work—it’s rewarding and humbling all at the same time. I also really love walking down Gladstone and saying hello to familiar faces."
"I love being a part of making certain spaces available for people to come and enjoy for the most part it’s in a low cost, non-judgemental, culturally diverse and accepting environment where kids are able to grow, play and learn and it’s pretty fun."
Special Thanks To John, Logan, and the whole Discovery Coffee Crew, Thank you so much for all the generosity and support you gave the Cornerstone Cafe over the past 11 years. Not only did you supply us with outstanding coffee, you also helped us build community, friendships, and a neighbourhood gathering place. It’s been our privilege to have partnered with you and we wish the Discovery family the very best into the future. With warmth and gratitude, Your friends at the Cornerstone Cafe
Our Funders We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the following funders in 2017:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation City of Victoria Cornerstone Café Fernwood NRG Holdings Inc. Island Health Island Savings Credit Union Oak Bay Kiwanis Rotary Club Studio 1313 Hair Design United Way of Greater Victoria Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity) Victoria Foundation
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia. Thank you to the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development for funding through Child Care Operating Funding and the Enhancement Grant. Thank you to the Public Health Agency of Canada for funding through the Community Action Program for Children & Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program. 2017 Annual Report
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Our Donors & Supporters We are tremendously grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their support in 2017: Aaronson's Pharmacy AES Engineering A Paddle in the Park Khalil Akhtar Ampersand Distilling Co. Sarah Amyot Angel Chopper Bicycle Club Artavi Skateboards Aubergine Specialty Foods Beacon Consultants Ian Beatty Beehive Wool Shop Belfry Theatre Bicycle-itis Blue Grouse Estate Bona Vini Wines Co. Bread & Butter Catering Café Brio Category 12 Brewing Central Middle School Circus CFAX Santas Anonymous Charelli's Cheese Shop, Delicatessen & Catering Christine Lintott Architect Coalition of Neighbourhood Houses Coast Environmental Coastal Community Credit Union Cobs Bread End of Day Giving Program Cold Comfort Cold Star Freight Systems Inc. Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria: BC Transit Ticket Assistance Program Compost Education Centre Cook Culture Cook Roberts LLP Cornerstone Café Costa Verde Landscaping Culinare Victoria Cultured Kombucha Dak Dave & Holland, in honour of their nuptials Derek Davidson Caitlin Davies Paula DeBeck Design Charette Discovery Coffee Do250 Dobell Sign Co. Benji Duke Feast of Fields Fernwood Coffee Co. Fernwood Inn Fernwood Yoga Den Fierce Studio Float House Food Share Network Friendly Giant Window & Gutter Cleaning Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House FUN Society Garside Signs Garth Homer Society Brett Gaylor Mark & Diana Gillis Good Food Box Volunteers Good Things Consignment Graphic Office Interiors Ltd. page 4
Greater Victoria Public Library Gulf Island Film & Television School Gypsy Mermaid Habit Coffee Harbour Publishing Heart and Hands Health Collective Helijet Honey Bee Cleaning Service Horror Escape Hoyne Brewing Co. Il Terrazo IMAX Victoria Integral Group Intrepid Theatre Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria Bruno Jayme Kelly Takach Pottery Robert Kemp Knappett Projects Inc. Doug Koyama Sara Kubica Michael Lancaster LifeCycles Project Society Shoshanna Litman Margaret Hantiuk Lisa Matthaus Merridale Cidery & Distillery Metropol Industries Michell's Farm Mila Czemerys Mitchells Farm Market Modo M Steven New North Park Bike Shop Northern Quarter Nude Wax Bar Obara & Company, Chartered Accountants Ocean River Sports Olive the Senses Orca Books Origin Gluten-Free Bakery Ottavios Pagliacci's Paladin Security Pedersen's Event Rentals Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Phillips Soda Works Pizzeria Prima Strada Portofino Bakery reFUSE Resource Recovery Rifflandia Riot Brewing Co. RISE Health RJC Engineers Rock Bay Creek Revival Liz Rubincam Ryzuk Geotechnical Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse Sheringham Distillery Shortt Sound Kelsey Singbeil Smoke and Anchor SOMA Active Health Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub St. John's Ambulance St. Luke's Players Stage Wine Bar Storied Wine & Spirits Matt Takach The Fernwood Inn The Livet The Make House
2017 Annual Report
The Mustard Seed Street Church The Rootcellar The Salt and Pepper Fox The Whole Beast The Zone at 91.3 Thistle & Wren Beth & John Threlfall Thrifty Foods Thrive Yoga Studio Tidal Toys Tod Creek Craft Cider Toque Catering Trees Dispensary Urban Lotus Acupuncture & Herbs UsedVictoria.ca Vancity Varsha Indian Kitchen Victoria 1000 x 5 Victoria Conservatory of Music Victoria Distillers Victoria Symphony Victoria Women in Need Community Cooperative Vinyl Envy Vitamin Angels Wildfire Bakery Yates Street Taphouse Yonni's Doughnuts Gift of Good Food Donors & Supporters 7 Rays A.W. Jones Insurance Service Ltd. Abby Sprouts Inc. Academy Dental Advicas Group Consultants Inc. Ellen Agger Theresa Aldred Amber Allan John Alley Dina Aloi Ambit Gender Diversity Consulting Peter Ameerali Sherri Andrews Carol Armstrong Shannon Ash Kim Atkinson Aubergine Specialty Foods Christian Baerike Anna Maria Bamji Bandcamp Michael Barr Cindy Barton Tindy Bassi Bean Around the World Fawn Beckwith Beehive Wool Shop John Bell Benji's Pub Quiz Adrienne Benner Josie Bergman Jaymini Bhikha David Biltek Sonya Bird Michael Bloomfield Celine Boisvenue Leslie Bootle Cathy Boraston Lisa Bosdet Caitlin Boudreau Sarah Bourdon Graeme Bousada Taylor Bridges David Bristow Stephanie Bruzzone Alli Bunting
Linda Burdick Barbara Butler Café Brio Linda Cain Terry Calveley Mercedes Calvert Jennifer Cameron Kathryn Camfield Tracey Campbell Ashley Campbell Sarah Causton Bekki Chaddock Chamberlain Walk James Chapman Donald Charbonneau Patrick Charpentier Chatters Hair Salon Suzanne Christensen Kim Clarkson Cold Comfort Sandra Collins Carla Coombes Chris Crozier Kennedy Cullen Michelle Dale Dan Juricic Personal Real Estate Corp. Lorne Daniel Sharon Dash Lee Anne Davies Sarah Davis Paula DeBeck Elizabeth Dechert Anna Deluca Susan Dempsey Ali Dennis Kristia Di Gregorio Glenn Diachuk Discovery Coffee & Yonni's Doughnuts Edie Dittman Dawn Donpierre Christina Drake Emily Dunkley Sharon Dunn Dennis & Maryann Dyck Lyndsey Easton Erin Ebanks Brian Eckert Jane Edler-Davis Allison Edwards Susan Edwards Enid Elliot Crystal & Trevor Elton Enigmatic Events Richard & Gwenyth Epp Barbara Erickson Melissa Erletz EVOO Victoria Ltd. Fan Tan Home and Style Fernwood Coffee Co. Fernwood Yoga Den Paula Ferris William Ferris Jennifer Ferris Denise Fiddick Luncinda Flood Laura Floyd Flying Squirrel Victoria Carina Foran Rae Franklin Nancy Frederickson Elan Fritz Garth Homer Society Dustin Geddes Donald Genova Melissa Gibson Emma Gilchrist Moira Gill Linda Gillespie Mark & Diana Gillis
Monique Gobes Goo Goo Goggles Rowan Good Eleanor Good Good Food Box Gals Good Food Team Maureen Goyeche Karen Graf Maureen Grant Christina Greengrass Daisy Blue Groff Nancy Gunn Kash Gushulak Olivia Gutjahr Dorothea Haeussler Jennifer Handley David Handley Claire Handley Roger Harmston Madeleine Harned Grady Harris Leanne Harrison Sarah Harvey Iris Haugen Ray & Joan Headrick Hemma Yoga and Acupuncture Erin Henneberry Andrea Henning Karoline Henry Sean Hern Lee Herrin Sheryl Hine Kirsty Hooker Elaine Hooper Dawn Hope Danica Houliston Susan Housel Howyfaswed Hoyne Brewing Co. Fiona Hughes Melissa Huston Jennifer Hykin Nancy Issenman Ejemen Iyayi Alison James Patricia Javorski Jodi Jensen Janna Jessee Kan Jones Kathryn Juricic Maja Juricic Katie Thacker Yoga Liz Kemp Coreen Kempling Sally Kennedy Nancy Kenyon Linda King Aimeson King Heather Kingston Kingtide Films Alana Kirby Madeleine Kirk Nancy Kirshfelt Chelsea Kittleson Minjung Kwon Lani Laal Suzie Lacroix Ralph Lapp Whitney Laughlin Ted & Lora Lea Christine Leach Kelsey Legault Heather Lejeune Henriette Lem Cindy Lenyk Laura Lessingham Joanne Levy Susan Link Ruth Linka Nicky Logins Karen Loucks
Charlene Love Shelley Lowery Shea Lowry Angela Lucas Luna Collective Donna Lynch Michelle MacDonald Brett Macdonald Carmel MacDonald Martha Macdonnell Duncan Macrae Valerie Mains Lyn Makepeace Dawn Malcolm Peter Malcolm Kailee Mar Linda Marcinkiewicz Barbara Mason Chelsea Mason Janice Mason Gary Mason Pamella Mason Mason Street Farm Lisa Matthaus Tasha May Janice McArdle Susan McConnell Alan McDermid Peter McGuire Morgan McIntosh Ashley McKay Sarah McShane Roger Meager MediaNet Merridale Cidery & Distillery Erica Messing Sandra Meyer Mile Zero Marketing Laura Minja Janet Mitchell Joanne Mockford Storm Moinier Rance Yan Ki Mok Dawn Moon Sara Moore Melissa Moroz Stephanie Munkley Shari Nakagawa New Stone Age Cabochons Joanne Nicolson Simon Norris North Park Bike Shop Northern Quarter Kelly Norton Judy Norton Betsy Nuse Ocean Grown Medicinal Society Sandi Ogloff Olive the Senses Shaun O'Mara One Yoga Victoria Rachel O'Neill Orbus Business Networks Orca Book Publishers Victoria Orme Rachel Page Steve Palmer Shelley Parker Ralph Parker Peter Parker Watershed Partners Anissa Paulsen Dorothy Pearson Shaun Peck Robyn Penfold Jenna Peters Linda Pettinger Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Kristi Philpott
Jennifer Playford Elizabeth Polard Juan Portilla Courtney Postnikoff Jayne Postuk Karen Poulin Tina Price Debbie Pungente Linda Putz Lisbie Rae Joan Randall Realfoto Media Inc. Red Barn Market Oak Bay Red Stairs Inc. Sarah Reid Irene & Ted Relph Reynolds Secondary Leadership Group Trish Richards Cathy Riley RISE Health Risk Creative Michael Robinson Lisa Roe Susan Ross Lorna Ross Laurie Rubin Saanich Community Health Services Sagefolk Consulting Inc. Marjorie Sager Gail Saiger Christine Sanders Peter Sandmark Peter Scales Alex Schaffter Allison Schein Carolyn Schellenberg Gregory Schick Catherine Schissel Nancy Schultz Sheridan Scott Swati Scott Wendy Sehn Shatterbox Café Shori Shewchuk Karen Shuster Charlene Simon Kelsey Singbeil Sisters of St. Ann Glen Smethurst Matthew Smith Robert Forrest Smith Susan Snell Soma Active Health Brenda Sorley Anna Spahan Peter Sperling Eloise Spitzer Staff of Woodward & Co. Gail Star Laurel Stark Chris Stask Karen Steemson Justin Stephenson Erin Stockley Crystal Stove David Stuart Studio 1313 Hair Design Chris Sullivan Juanita Sullivan Dayle Sutherland Dawn Sutherland Eric Swanson Cary & Cindy Swoveland Team Anna Bell Team Fairfield Gonzales Team Handley/Good Family & Friends
Team Juricic Family Team Lettuce Eat Team Lettuce Turnip the Beet! Team Mighty Moms Team Orca Books Team Peninsula Community Health Services Team Team Quadra Village Community Centre Team REALFOOD Team Saanich Community Health Services Team Snowbucks Team VGH-NICU Team Victoria Hospice Team Watershed Co-Working Team Yum Yum! The Dutch Bakery The Local General Store The Rootcellar The Savoury Café The Vitamin Shop Loni Thompson Joanne Thompson Sarah Thornton Times Colonist Sahlin Timothy R. Pete Tonseth Ashley Toye Tanya Trafford Judy Tremblay Jacinthe Tremblay Hazel Tremblay Cedric Trueman Bob Tyrrell Urban Solar Geraldine Van Gyn Vegas Convenience Store Alexa Verstraten Victoria Event Centre Vinyl Envy Daniel Von Känel June Wall Ron Warden Caitlin Weedle James & Sharon Welby Heather Wellman Linda Westby Andrew Whale Marcelle Wheeler Ashely Whelan Pat Whitby-Bailey Kyle White Stacy White Alice Whitehead Nic Whitehouse Wide Awake Heart Merrie-Ellen Wilcox Carolyn Wilkinson Barbara Williams Nicole Williams Devon Windsor-Doyle Rudy Witt Women In Need Community Cooperative Jacqueline Wong Katherine Woodhouse Robin Woodworth Andrew Woolridge Warren Wunderlick Xenex Consulting Inc. Margaret Yandel Liza Yuzda Sia Zabaras Kelly Zaharko Linda Zajac Julianne Zussman A huge thank you to all our volunteers!