Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Dec. 14, 2015

Calgary mayor proposes resiliency fund in light of economic downturn

December 14, 2015. Monday Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi will be presenting a motion to create the Community Economic Resiliency Fund by using the estimated surplus of $30 million from the 2015 budget. Nenshi is proposing the fund because of the impact the economic downturn is having on Calgarians. The fund would use $8.8 million to freeze Calgary transit fares at 2015 rates with the exception of the adult fare, which would rise to $103 for January and then return to $99 in February 2016; $1.8 million would freeze all recreation and parks fees at 2015 levels; $5 million would go to an emergency fund to assist non-profit organizations and city business units experiencing excess demand or reduced revenue as a result of the economic downturn and global events; and $14.4 million will go for affordable housing initiatives.

Students show the Christmas spirit

December 14, 2015. Grades 1 to 6 students at George H. Luck school in Edmonton stopped at Boyle Street Community Services Monday to deliver their annual backpacks. More than 50 children came carrying about 250 backpacks loaded with gifts for the homeless. The students stayed to perform Christmas carols in the drop-in.

Whitecourt RCMP investigate man found dead in woods

December 13, 2015. RCMP said a body of a man was found early Sunday morning in a wooded area on the outskirts of Whitecourt. The site was secured and RCMP are in the initial stages of investigation. The RCMP cannot indicate if this is a criminal or non-criminal death and there is currently no indication of any specific risk to the general public. More information is expected to be released Monday.

Checkstops help out charitable causes

December 12, 2015. Charity Checkstops were held in Innisfail and Blackfalds on Saturday. The Innisfail RCMP hosted its 20^th annual Charity Checkstop with proceeds, which included clothing, food, new clothing, new toys, and cash, going to the local food bank, Christmas Bureau, Women's Outreach Society, and Big Brothers and Sisters. In Blackfalds, the event was hosted by the Central Alberta Victim and Witness Support Society with funds going to train advocates to provide emergency services to those who need immediate support.

Edmonton’s Food Bank, IFSSA get chickpeas donation

December 12, 2015. Chris and Tracey Chivilo from W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions delivered 1.8 tons of chickpeas to the Edmonton food bank on Saturday. The Islamic Family and Social Services Association helped connect W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions with Edmonton’s Food Bank for this large donation of chickpeas. The IFSSA and Edmonton’s Food Bank have been combining resources for food hampers. The chickpeas will be used to support the hamper programs, meals and snacks offered throughout the community. “We are working closer together to ensure we have adequate food supplies and resources to support each other,” said Marjorie Bencz, executive director of Edmonton’s Food Bank, which provides food to over 210 agencies, churches and food depots. Since September 2014, the food bank has experienced increased numbers, with 17,722 people served with hampers in October 2015. This number is an increase of 37 per cent since October 2012. Comparing October 2014 to October 2015 there has been an increase of 21.5 per cent. 

Report offers 16 recommendations from flood disaster of 2013

December 11, 2015. Support and focus emergency management capacity building in First Nations is one of 16 recommendations from an independent review released on Friday on Alberta’s 2013 floods. The support for First Nations includes providing those selected as field officers with the requisite cultural training and building relationships with the communities. That work is already underway with Alberta Emergency Management Agency having hired additional First Nations field officers, with their role expanding to provide emergency management training to First Nations communities. In preparing the report, MNP interviewed dozens of stakeholders including the municipalities and organizations directly affected by the disaster. Other recommendations include improving communications within the government to the municipalities and the public; developing and implementing a provincial emergency social services framework; and pre-qualifying vendors and creating a list of those who can deliver recovery services. The government has accepted 15 recommendations and one in principle, and work to implement the recommendations is underway.

Ministers hold first meeting in phase on of MMIW

December 11, 2015. Federal ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould, (justice and Attorney General), Carolyn Bennett (Indigenous and northern affairs) and Patty Hajdu (status of women) held their first meeting on Friday with survivors and families of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. In a joint statement, they said, “We listened to their stories and were deeply moved by their personal accounts of loss, violence and disappearance. These tragedies have taken a lasting toll on these individuals, their families and their communities. They are determined to seek justice and healing, and to make sure this doesn't happen to other families.” Meetings with family members will continue in the coming months as well as meetings with Indigenous organizations and communities, provinces and territories, front-line workers and experts. These meetings form phase one of the two-phase approach to the national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Information garnered will be used to design the inquiry. “We are determined to do this right for the survivors, their families and loved ones and to honour the spirits and memories of those we have lost and protect future generations," concluded the statement.