Annual Report 2016
A Word from the Chair ›› hen I pause to think about Fernwood, the neighbourhood we call home, I can’t help but think about the ‘Fernwood State of Mind’ (apologies to Billy Joel). Fun and creative things happen in this neighbourhood, and we also do our best to try to pull together and do good things for each other. This ‘state of mind’ was on full display this past year as Fernwood NRG continued to move a major project along, our mixed use development at 1310 Gladstone. A key hurdle was obtaining city approvals for our plans. This meant a public hearing at City Hall where Fernwood residents lined up to speak about the project. Apart from supporting this project, the kind words and support for Fernwood NRG was truly humbling. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank everyone who attended that meeting and spoke about our organization as well as your neighbourhood. City Council approved our plans and we will be breaking ground on this new building in the spring of 2017. I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to talk about why we embarked on the 1310 project. Approximately 6 years ago we hosted the Neighbourhood Visioning Forum. Fernwood residents said they wanted a vibrant thriving village,
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affordable housing, affordable childcare and food security. As a mixed use project— commercial and residential—the 1310 project is intended directly to meet two of those needs by creating space for a healthy businesses and affordable housing. At the same time, the revenues which are generated by 1310, and other operations like the Cornerstone Café and Studio 1313 Hair Design, provide us with a stable source of income to fund our other programs like child care and food security. Speaking of our family programs, they continue to be foundational to what we do. Fernwood NRG staff work hard day in and day out to care for Fernwood kids. If they are wee babes with working parents, pre-schoolers with fun on their minds, or elementary kids with questions, Fernwood’s family programs are there for them. The organization’s staff strive to provide a rich experience for all of these kids. As a parent with a child in Out of School Care, I see kind and creative staff doing interesting things with kids every day. I feel confident that as these kids grow up they are going to be healthy and caring kids that make the world a better place. Fernwood NRG continues to pursue strategies to address food security. One of the most visible pieces of this work is
Michael Lancaster
the Good Food Box. Fernwood NRG has expanded its work with other organizations in Victoria to provide an affordable source of fresh fruits and vegetables. As food becomes more and more expensive, we know it will be harder for people. If you aren’t familiar with it, check it out at thegoodfoodbox.ca. Part of the Good Food Box program includes the Gift of Good Food fundraising campaign, which in 2016 raised over $65,000 to provide 130 families with a large Good Food Box every two weeks for all of 2017. Now that’s a Fernwood State of Mind.
The Fernwood State of Mind also includes the events in our neighbourhood. Our organization puts on FernFest, Fernwood Bites, Pole Painting and more. We introduced a new event this year—Fernwood Lights. If you missed it, watch for it. It’s a winter festival bringing food, drink and fun to an otherwise dark winter night. We haven’t yet set the date for 2017, but stay tuned! In conclusion, on behalf of the Board, a big thanks to all of our staff, the neighbourhood businesses and organizations, and all of you who keep on living the dream in a ‘Fernwood State of Mind.’ 2016 Annual Report
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A year in review ernwood NRG is a charity that delivers programs in Fernwood. We provide childcare, family support programs, recreation programs, and a weekly lunch for seniors, and so on. We’ve done most of this since we opened the doors of the Fernwood Community Centre in 1980. It is not necessarily glamorous, but it is important work in our neighbourhood. Over the past several years, we have worked to expand the service we deliver: we’ve added 30 additional child care
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spaces, we’ve added a weekly family dinner program, we’ve taken on the Good Food Box Program, we’ve planted a garden and an orchard, we maintain Spring Ridge Common, and lots more. One thing that makes us different from centres in other neighbourhoods is that since 2005 we have taken a broader focus on the health of the entire neighbourhood. We changed our name (to Fernwood NRG) and extended our mission out from the Community Centre and into the
›› Lee Herrin, Executive Director
neighbourhood. We now own four buildings. We provide affordable housing for families, and offer commercial space to neighbourhood businesses. We’ve even made our own forays into business— through a subsidiary company we own neighbourhood businesses that help build and support our community: the Cornerstone Café, and Studio 1313 Hair Design. Income from these businesses and buildings supports the delivery of programming and services in Fernwood.
In 2016, we finalized our plans for our next project at 1310 Gladstone. We received tremendous support from the neighbourhood on our petition and at the Public Hearing to permit rezoning the property. We are very excited to break ground on this project in the spring of 2017. A big thank you to all of our funders, donors, supporters and volunteers in 2016! And of course, we couldn’t do it without our fantastic staff (some of whom are profiled on the next page)!
Here’s a snapshot of Fernwood NRG’s work in the neighbourhood over 2016:
We provided safe, affordable housing for
15
We provided quality, licensed affordable
75
families
care for children
We supported
Through donations to The Gift of Good Food,
100
s of families through Best Babies & Family Programs
90
We hosted more than
18,500
people in recreation programs & events
we provided families with fresh produce for a whole year
We served over
2,000
We gave more than
meals at the Fernwood Family Dinner
2,500 haircuts at Studio 1313
We packed & distributed over
6,000
Good Food Boxes
We prepared over
40,000
snacks or meals for our programs
We served more than Community members volunteered over
3,750
hours in programs & at events
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2016 Annual Report
100,000
cups of coffee or tea at the Cornerstone Cafe
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:
Kennedy Macedo
Yuri Pomeroy
Kathryn Juricic
Cornerstone Cafe Manager, 1 year and 1 month
Early Childhood Educator & Program Lead in our 3 to 5 Daycare, 11 years
Event Coordinator, 5 years
“It's nice to work with people in the community and know that all the money that we're making at the cafe is going back to Fernwood. It's really nice having regular customers that you get along with and feel like it's just a big living room. At Fernwood NRG, everyone knows each other and I feel like we are all a big team. Even though we work in different parts of the NRG, it all comes together in the end.”
“I find this work meaningful when I see kids grow mentally, emotionally, and socially. When a couple months ago, they weren't able to take off their boots. They cry. Then you teach them little by little. They learn to take off their boots, to play with friends... You can see when kids accomplish something.”
“I enjoy the diversity of connections my job offers. Working in the Community Centre and within the community allows me to have friendships with neighbours, local businesses, my amazing co-workers, parents, caregivers and their children that make this feel more than just a job.”
Sean Solberg
Laura Burki
Cole Polly
Early Childhood Educator Assistant in our Infant & Toddler Daycare, 12 years
Out of School Care Team Lead & Summer Camp Coordinator, 4 months
Maintenance Coordinator, 1 year | Good Food Box volunteer, 6 years
“I love my job. I love working with kids... nurturing kidlets. There are two kids that are graduating from Vic High this year that I worked with when I first started at Fernwood NRG. One of the kids I've worked with works at the Cornerstone now, Shael. She still calls me Seany; she gives me hugs. She’s still one of my kids.”
“I love being able to create a foundation for kids to be authentic. Getting to just be themselves and have a safe zone. They don't have to fit in with their crew of kids at school. They don’t have to be the big sister or the little brother. They just get to be them. Just offering them the space and that foundation for them just to be.”
“I like being a part of the community. I like being part of an organization that is responsible in a way for the community's well-being. I like helping to maintain that as best I can. What's the best part of my day? Sitting down having a coffee.”
Johanna Greaves Rachael Green-Enkel Alison Hartley Alex Harned Emily Hazelton Adrian Blair Heim Katarina Heim Shelley Heit Lee Herrin Rhys Hibbert Kylie Hill Madelaine Hittos Jennifer Hopper Vic Horvath Sarah Isaac Bailey Jensen Bryan Johnson Kathryn Juricic
Yuri Pomeroy Tina Price Emily Quattrin Kirsty Rankin Lenore Rankin Tina Robinson Jacqueline Rogers Julia Sitonin Sean Solberg Kaori St. Cyr Morgan St. John Emma Stanford Judy Swanston Alysa Marie Thomas Kari Thoresen Chelsea Ulrich Heather Van Harten Christel Veilleux-Morrow
Our Staff Coal Andrew Germaine Asplin Kristin Backlund Kari-Anne Barr Hanna Bekesza Shonna Bell Rachelle Bowen Zoe Brisebois-Bourget Alexandra Bristow Laura Burki Joshua Casey Narisse Christensen Abby Cronk Kristin Crossman Mila Czemerys Wendi Davies Ticara De Rose Coertze Jesse Douglas
Lanna Duffy Claire Eide Joshua Elder David Emery Stephanie Enevoldsen Miriam Enkel Greg Enkel Oliver Evans Brittany Fagan Susan Feigin Carina Foran Shael Fripp Tarah Gatsi Madison Gbur Alleyne Gerard Rebecca Giles Geovanna Gonzalez Erin Gray
Arie Kelerstein Andrew Kerr Moyuru Koga Sarah Laxton-Scott Keilah Lukenbill-Williams Laine MacDonald Meaghan MacDonald Kennedy Macedo Joshua Patrick Manning Juan Jose Martinez Tatianna Mattrick Jennifer McCarthy Jill Moran Leah Norwood Jessica Payne Stephanie Piper-Arroliga Sharon Policnick Cole Polly
Ashley Vukovic Micqualyn Waldie Simon Widmann Mary Catherine Wolfe Chad Woolner Kayla Wrightson Caitlin Wynne Board Members
Kelsey Singbeil - Chair Lisa Matthaus - Vice-Chair Matt Takach - Treasurer Sarah Amyot - Secretary Caitlin Davies Paula Debeck Brett Gaylor Michael Lancaster Amy Zidulka
2016 Annual Report
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Our Funders We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the following funders in 2016: BC Ministry of Children and Family Development Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program Child Care Operating Funding
City of Victoria Community Action Program for Children Cornerstone Café Fernwood NRG Holdings Inc. Island Health
Oak Bay Kwianis The Province of British Columbia Public Health Agency of Canada Quadra Village Community Centre Rotary Club
Studio 1313 Hair Design United Way of Greater Victoria Vancity Victoria Foundation
Our Donors & Supporters We are tremendously grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their support in 2016: Adrena LINE All Fun at Western Speedway Ampersand Distilling Company Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Atomique Productions Aubergine Specialty Foods Be Love Beehive Wool Shop Belfry Theatre Bicycle-itis Big Wheel Burger Bon Macaron Patisserie Bona Vini Wines Co. Bread & Butter Catering Category 12 Brewing Choux Choux Charcuterie Christine Lintott Architect City of Victoria Coalition of Neighbourhood Houses Coast Environmental Coastal Community Credit Union Cobs Bread End of Day Giving Program Cold Star Freight Systems Inc. Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria: BC Transit Ticket Assistance Program Compost Education Centre Vincent J. Connor Cook Culture Cook Roberts LLP Cornerstone Café Craigdarroch Castle Historic House Museum Culinaire Dak Johnny Dangus Discovery Coffee Do250 Dobell Signs Co. Meg & Chris Emslie Fernwood Coffee Co. Fernwood Inn Fernwood Yoga Den Flavour Food Share Network Friendly Giant Window & Gutter Cleaning Frilly Lilly Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Front Range Films FUN Society Gardenworks Garside Signs Garth Homer Society
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Goo Goo Goggles Good Food Box Volunteers Greater Victoria Green Team Healing City Soils Heart and Hands Health Collective Susan Herman Hot and Cold Café Hoyne Brewing Co. Hungry Rooster Il Terrazzo Intrepid Theatre Island Health Jennifer Roberts Florist Kingtide Films Knappett Projects Inc. Larsen Music Shoshanna Litman Marina Restaurant Mason Street Farm Edible Nursery Merridale Ciderworks Metropol Michell's Farm Modo Norte Street Food Northern Quarter Nourish Oak Bay Beach Hotel Obara & Company, Chartered Accountants Ocean Grown Medicinal Society Ocean River Sports Olive the Senses Orca Book Publishers Origin Gluten-Free Bakery Paladin Security Terry Parkes Pedersen's Rentals Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Phillips Fermentorium Distilling Co. Phillips Soda Works Pigeonhole Home Store Portofino Bakery Ready to Rent ReFUSE Resource Recovery Regional Assembly of Text Rifflandia RISE Health Rock the Shores Root Cellar Royal BC Museum Liz Rubincam Olena & Mike Russell Sea Cider and Blue Grouse Estate Sheringham Distillery Silk Road Tea
2016 Annual Report
Alyssa Silvestre Ian Sirias SOMA Active Health Spinnakers Brewpub St. John's Ambulance Stage Wine Bar Storied Wine & Spirits Sysco TD Victoria International JazzFest Tempest Rainwater The Guild Freehouse The Livet The Local General Store The Milkman's Daughter The Mustard Seed Street Church The Parsonage The Salt and Pepper Fox The Vic Life The Zone @ 91.3 Beth & John Threlfall Thrifty Foods Thrive Gardens Thrive Yoga Studio Tigh-Na-Mara TNT Paintball Tod Creek Craft Cider Toque Catering U.M. Marketing Used.ca Vancity Victoria 1000 x 5 Victoria Distillers Victoria Event Centre Victoria Taste Victoria Women in Need Community Cooperative Vinyl Envy Vitamin Angels Julia Watson WildPlay Yates Street Taphouse Yonni's Doughnuts The Gift of Good Food Donors
4 South Royal Jubilee Hospital 7Rays 8 South Royal Jubilee Hospital A.W. Jones Insurance Ian Abbott Abby Sprouts Advantage Tree Care Ellen Agger Theresa Aldred Sarah Amyot Shannon Ash Frances Backhouse Christian Baerike
Phoenix Bain Margaret Baker Cindy Barton BC Heritage Branch Staff Allyson Belyea Catharine Berghuis Erna Beunder Deanna Billo Blue Dog Kayaking Kelly Bohlken Lance Bonds Mark Brajer Brody and Mary-Steph's Birthday Kristi Buchanan R.W. Buckingham Bully Design Co. Geraldine Bulosan Particia Butler Barbara Butler Café Brio Linda Cain Terry Calveley & Family Jennifer Cameron Cheryl Cameron Kathy Campbell Rosemary Cannon Marilyn Cauiness Cenote Restaurant & Lounge Adrian Chalifour Chamberlain Walk Hair Design Patrick Charpentier Claire Clarke Kim Clarkson Elizabeth Collins Hazel Cullen Mila Czemerys Elizabeth Czerwinski Brianne Czypyha D. Clark Arboriculture Sarah Davis Anna De Luca Paula DeBeck Berniece Delbrouck-Burton Nikolas Desilet Barb Desjardins Glenn Diachuk Christina Drake Patricia Dunn Mary-Anne Dyck Ruth Edwards Stephen Emery Linda Esplen Sonja Evans Fairfield Health and Wellness Centre Nancy Falconer Fernwood Yoga Den Laura Floyd Jessy Friedenberg
Mary Garden Garth Homer Society Emma Gilchrist Nick Gill Sue & Craig Girard Lisa & Todd Gleinzer Goo Goo Goggles Good Food Box Gals Samantha Gough Maureen Goyeche Greenspirit Health and Movement Resources Cara Guffey Habit Coffee Dorothea Haeussler Tim Hardy Todd Harmer Maddy Harned Sarah Harvey Lynn Henshaw Kim Highsted Leanna Hill Kylie Hill Hillside Dental Centre Jennifer Hoffmann Joan H. Holmes Elaine Hooper Hoyne Brewing Co. Alejandra Huerta Fiona Hughes Melissa Huston Intrepid Theatre Staff Investor's Group Nancy Issenman George Jamieson Patricia Javorski Jodi Jensen Colleen Juricic Susan Kim Linda King Chelsea Kittleson Judy Kitts Janet Krenz Colleen Kusack Cathy Larade Garret Larsen Whitney Laughlin Mia Lauzon La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Victoria Staff Naomi Lee Gagan Leekha Henriette Lem Tamara Leonard-Vail Heather Lindsay Ruth Linka Charlene Love Grace Love Jeremy Loveday Barb Lucas Lululemon Victoria Staff Donna Lynch
Laine MacDonald Samantha Magnus Nicole Mar Kailee Mar Karla Marshall Kim Martelli Patricia Martin Benny Martin Lisa Matthaus Karen Maxwell Anne Mayhew David McDonald Lorraine McGinnis McVagh Cunningham Group Merrigan, Hammond & Holden Family Kara Middleton Moksha Yoga Westshore Maureen Munro Rhianna Nagel Gail Napier Joanne Nicolson Chris Noel Northern Quarter Elizabeth Nuse Oak Bay General Hospital Health Unit One Yoga Victoria Sandi Oqlell Orbus Business Networks Orca Book Publishers Ltd. Rachel Page Caroline Pattison Nicole Pattison Dorothy Pearson Nancy Peck Peninsula Health Unit Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Picot Collective Pizzeria Prima Strada Playland Daycare Centre Ltd. Alyssa Polinsky Monica Pozzolo Tina Price Judy, Alison & Ross Ramage Laurel Rayani Ashley Raynor Tarah Reece Reynolds Leadership Trish Richards Kathleen Ritchie Hugh Roberts Amber Rumpel Ashley & Joel Saurette Schissel & Associates Nancy Schultz SeaStar Chemicals Brian Shaughnessy
Silver Spoon Financial Inc. Kathi Springer Kelsey Singbeil Skyview Tree Care Jill Slauenwhite Kaeli Rose Sort Barb Stansbury Avery Stetski Joanne Stichbury Crystal Stove Nancy Stuart Dale Summers Cary & Cindy Swoveland Norm Tandberg Katie Thacker The Dock Members The Local General Store The Roost Household The Savoury Café The Sisters of Saint Ann The Veggie Pledges The Vitamin Shop Rebecca Thompson Sarah Thornton Thrive Studio Ashley Toye Neil Tremblay David Trottier Bryan Truong Bob Tyrrell Marianne Unger Unity Victoria Jean V. Veer Holdings Ltd. Victoria Ashtanga Victoria General NICU Victoria Hash House Harriers Victoria High School Leadership Class Victoria Hospice Victoria Shambala Centre Carol Vincent VintAgeous Vintage Fair Allieren Ward Brianna Westhaver Westin Bear Mountain Westshore Sooke Island Health Team Alice Whitehead Merrie-Ellen Wilcox Natalie Williams Kara Windram June Wing Shayla Wright Warren Wunderlick Phil Wynne Margaret Yandel A huge thank you to all our volunteers!