The Voice of the People -- Fusion West Edmonton Research Report

Fusion West Edmonton
Research Report
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Britannia-Youngstown
High Park
Mayfield
Canora
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Research Report
Into the Needs of the
Youth and Community
of
Britannia-Youngstown,
High Park, Mayfield and Canora
Fusion Canada Youth and Community
16030 – 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5N 2S4
Ph: +1.780.481.7333 | Fax: +1.780.421.7304
[email protected] | www.fusioncanada.ca
Published by Fusion Canada Youth and Community, November 2005
Designed by Fusion Canada Youth and Community
Printed by Zenocopy
Cover Page Pictures by Chanell Rittenhouse
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Contents:
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 7
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................. 7
FUSION YOUTH AND COMMUNITY INTERNATIONAL.............................................................................................. 9
HOW RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ................................................................................................................ 10
HOW THE RESEARCH WAS PRESENTED ............................................................................................................. 10
COMMUNITY PROFILE.................................................................................................................................. 11
2.1
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................... 11
2.2
THE FOUR COMMUNITIES TODAY .................................................................................................................... 13
Table 1:
Population Distribution by Age- .......................................................................................... 13
Table 2:
Aboriginal Population............................................................................................................ 13
Table 3:
Family ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Table 4:
Income and Employment..................................................................................................... 14
Table 5:
Education ................................................................................................................................. 15
Table 6:
Crime......................................................................................................................................... 15
3.0
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE ......................................................................................................................... 17
3.1
THE COMMUNITY .......................................................................................................................................... 17
3.2
YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ................................................................................................................................. 26
3.3
PROGRAMS, ORGANIZATIONS. SERVICES AND RESOURCES ............................................................................... 29
3.4
YOUR ROLE WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE .................................................................................................. 31
3.5
DREAMS AND VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE ........................................................................................................... 33
3.6
DIFFERENT ROLES FOR ASSISTING COMMUNITY ............................................................................................... 35
3.7
GENERAL PUBLICS PERCEPTION OF THIS COMMUNITY AND MEDIA’S EFFECT ....................................................... 39
3.8
WHAT LIFE IS LIKE:........................................................................................................................................ 41
3.9
THE VOICE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE - SURVEY ................................................................................................... 45
Table 7:
Question 1 ................................................................................................................................ 45
Table 8:
Question 2 ................................................................................................................................ 45
Table 9:
Question 3 ................................................................................................................................ 46
Table 10:
Question 4 ................................................................................................................................ 47
Table 11:
Question 5 ................................................................................................................................ 47
Table 12:
Question 6 ................................................................................................................................ 48
4.0
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUSIONS RESPONSE ...................................................................................... 53
5.0
PEOPLE INTERVIEWED .................................................................................................................................. 55
6.0
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 56
7.0
FUSION CANADA CONTACT DETAILS ........................................................................................................ 56
8.0
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................. 57
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 57
QUESTIONNAIRE TO YOUNG PEOPLE ............................................................................................................... 58
ABOUT THE RESEARCHERS .............................................................................................................................. 59
SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO:............................................................................................................................ 60
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Summary of Findings
In the spring of 2004, Fusion Youth and Community took the first steps towards building bridges
into the west Edmonton communities of High Park, Mayfield, Britannia-Youngstown and Canora.
Our goals are to support the youth and community in this part of Edmonton by:
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identifying existing programs,
identifying needs,
building teams to support existing programs, and
facilitating the development of new programs as required.
We recognized that a key first step to this initiative was a
comprehensive research project. In June of 2004 the
first group of Fusion Youth and Community members
met to begin the process that has been completed with
this document.
Fusion Youth and Community recognizes that this is only
the first step. We hope that this report leads to
increased communication and cooperation between
community members and related agencies, so that
youth and community needs are better met and the
community as a whole can move forward. Fusion Youth
and Community is committed to playing an active role
in this process far into the future.
There was general agreement with the young people
and the broader community sector researched that the
community was overall friendly, and that one of the
aspects to celebrate was the strength of the people
through their challenges “The area is great, it’s laid
back, it’s relaxed, but it needs help”.
One of the major areas most often mentioned by
community members and decision makers surveyed
was the lack of community, connection, and trust within
the communities and the desire to see this turned
around.
A strong sense of the transience of the
community also emerged, with a rise in rental
accommodation and frequency of people moving in and out of the community.
Among the young people in the community the results of the survey indicated bullying and
violence is by far the most significant concern for them. It was interesting to find that very few
broader community members and decision makers interviewed indicated awareness of this
issue for young people.
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Both the young people and broader community interviewed were extremely worried about the
level of substance abuse they are exposed to. For young people it was their major concern
second to bullying. Many community members indicated that there has been a rise in drug
and alcohol abuse (particularly crack cocaine and crystal meth) and that it has a much more
visible presence in the community than it once did. Prostitution was linked to this and it was
generally agreed that the age of both substance abusers and prostitutes has lowered. Stony
Plain Road was mentioned repeatedly as a negative and influential place in this regard.
Next to substance abuse and bullying, the biggest issues for young people were peer pressure
and boredom. The broader community interviews reinforced this and identified the lack of
constructive venues, positive programs and helpful role models (especially male role models)
for young people, particularly for the junior high and high school kids. The need for low cost or
free recreation activities for both young people and families was also repeatedly raised as an
issue.
According to the most recent national census there is a higher than average single parent
population within these communities and many of the community members researched said
that there was a definite need for more programs and activities supporting family connection
and cohesion.
Many people both praised the work and presence of police, but said there was a greater need
for police presence. Crime rates in the area are significantly higher than the Edmonton
average and concerns about safety and violence were frequently mentioned by both young
people and the broader community; of special concern, safety after dark.
Homelessness and poverty was also an issue, particularly the lack of low-income housing,
hostels and shelters in the immediate area.
There are many resources and services available for these 4 communities to assist with some
areas of need; however what emerged through the research was that there was limited cooperation and networking between these services and limited public awareness and accessing
of them.
Though there are many struggling families, individuals and children in these communities many
of the people we interviewed were of the view that a significant number of the challenges
reflected in the broader community impact more acutely the aboriginal residents in the area,
who represent 9.4% of the community as a whole.
The work of the schools was also identified as
highly respected, particularly the cooperation
between the schools and the commitment
of teachers and school principals to the
education and welfare of the students.
Despite this, however, the communities are
below the Edmonton average in educational
attainment and the need for more support
for young people educationally was
supported by research with both young
people and broader community members.
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1.2 Fusion Youth and Community International
Fusion Youth and Community International is an inter-denominational Christian community
based organization which works to respond in practical and culturally relevant ways to the
needs of young people, families and their communities. It is Fusion’s belief that where an
individual experiences meaning and community that person is resilient and can best cope with
the crises life can bring.
Fusion originated in Sydney, Australia in the early 1960s as a creative response to at-risk young
people in the area. While it began as work amongst youth, the importance of a healthy and
caring community to care for a new generation has led Fusion to include extensive community
work. Today Fusion international has around 200 staff and thousands of volunteers in 25 centres
around Australia, Europe, the West Indies and Canada.
In 1995, Fusion Youth and Community in Australia purchased a small town from the HydroElectric Commission in Tasmania. ‘Poatina’, an Australian Aboriginal word meaning "shelter",
today provides supported care for socially at-risk young people and offers a wide range of
training and job skills programs.
Fusion is convinced that what is happening at Poatina, in growing an economy that gives
people a future, and doing it in a way that helps them make transitions from a difficult past to a
hopeful future, can happen in any suburb or town where there is a will to do it.
Fusion became established in Canada in 2003 by Edmonton Residents who, on visiting Fusion
youth and community projects in Australia saw practical outreach strategies that could be
adapted to work to support communities in a uniquely Canadian context.
In Canada over the last three years Fusion has begun work with local churches to meet the
needs of young people, their families and communities within West Edmonton, running:
• Community festivals which aim to help the local community reconnect.
• Youth Daytrips which provide young people in the West End with positive recreation,
self esteem building activities, healthy role modeling and support.
• Preliminary schools work, which has provided sports recreation activities and tutoring
support.
• Training for people wanting to grow in community awareness and skill in working with
people.
Fusion centres internationally are established in response to research into local needs, some
examples of these responses are: Drop in Centres / Youth Cafes, Accommodation Programs,
Craft and Social activities for isolated people, Support programs for single parents, Special
programs for teenagers who are not fitting into the school system, Employment programs and
more. Care is taken to avoid duplication of other programs or services, and it is Fusion's aim to
work in harmony with existing services.
Fusion aims to help communities find creative new ways of caring for their own young people
and responding to their needs. The research team saw the need to take the time to listen
carefully to what people felt to be the strengths, weaknesses, needs and opportunities for the
area, so that Fusion and other service providers could respond appropriately, hence this
research report.
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1.3 How Research was Conducted
This research report was undertaken by Fusion Youth and Community to determine the needs of
the West End Communities of Britannia-Youngstown, Mayfield, Canora and High Park and their
young people. While there is no such thing as completely objective research, this research
sought to cover a diverse range of people's opinions and data sources in order to give a report
which is as accurate as possible. This type of research is known as qualitative research.
Qualitative research attempts to get beyond facts and figures and explore the meaning of the
collected information. Qualitative research gives voice to a broad cross section of opinions
and looks for themes rather than numbers.
Before Fusion commences any new programs it is clear that we need to know where our efforts
will be most useful. This report will form the basis of Fusion's strategy for future action in the West
Edmonton area.
The research method included:
Interviews:
The researchers conducted interviews with key community leaders, service providers, business
leaders, community member and parents, asking them the same questions and recording their
responses. (A list of the interview questions and individuals interviewed is available in the
appendix.)
Surveys:
Fusion Youth and Community asked a cross section of students from Britannia Junior High
school and High Park Elementary School to complete a simple questionnaire regarding their
interests, issues that they face in their lives, where they spend their time and what they’d like to
see happen in their community. Their responses were tabulated and form part of this research
document.
Desk Research:
Desk research consisted of compiling statistics from the most recent Government census. The
researchers also utilized the local library and community league literature to build its summary
of the history of the area.
1.4 How the Research was Presented
Each interview was transcribed and quotes were collated into different categories. At
the end of this process there were many, many pages of quotes, and it was clear we
could not include them all. Thus the quotes that appear in this document are a selected
sample deemed to be representative of the general themes that were identified in the
interviews.
If you wish to see a full transcript feel free to contact Fusion Canada Youth and
Community.
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2.0 Community Profile
2.1 History and Description
These communities are situated in Ward 1 of North West Edmonton and the road borders are as
follows: Mayfield road to the west, 111th Avenue to the North, 149th Street to the East, and Stony
Plain Road to the south. They are in close proximity to many services including the downtown
area and the North West industrial area, as well as having quick access to major roads leading
to other parts of the city such as, Groat Road, Whitemud Freeway, and Yellowhead Freeway.
The neighbourhoods first belonged to the town of Jasper Place. In 1876 the first recorded
permanent white settler arrived in the area. It was 1948 when Jasper Place incorporated as a
hamlet after the population swelled from the oil strike in Leduc. It was noted by J.R. Brett that
“The old Stony Plain Trail was generally four feet deep in mud. “Jasper Place was at one time
affectionately called “Mud City” by its residents. Jasper Place was annexed by the expanding
City of Edmonton in 1964.
(Taken from “Britannia/Youngstown Neighbourhood planning study” published in 1983) Britannia
Britannia-Youngstown
The Britannia subdivision was developed in the early 1950’s followed by the Youngstown
subdivision in the late 1950’s. The residential areas of the neighbourhood have changed very
little since then. At this time there were a large number of baby boomer families with younger
children and as we all know these children now makeup some of the parents and
grandparents within this community. Commercial development along 156th Street and Stony
Plain Road has changed the look of these roads quite a bit especially with the more recent
development of Mayfield Common shopping centre.
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High Park
High Park is a smaller, grid patterned neighbourhood with relatively larger lot sizes. Development
in the area occurred in the 1950’s and 1960’s with smaller single-family bungalows, and has
limited commercial development along 111th Avenue. The school and Community League are
situated next to each other and are in close proximity to a local convenience store and hair
salon.
Mayfield
Wop May the World War I pilot and civilian aviations pioneer in Edmonton was honoured by
having the Mayfield neighbourhood named after him. A mural of Wop May is on the side of
the ATB Financial building wall on 156th Street and Stony Plain Road. Before the residential
development started in the 1950’s the land were mostly fields where you could find rabbits and
deer, and belonged to the Oblate Fathers. Mayfield is typical of post-World War II
developments with an altered grid pattern of mainly bungalows set around a school and park.
Canora
By 1912, Jasper Place had two separate areas. One area just across 142nd Street, and another
known as West Jasper Place, which was a group of buildings on Jasper Avenue (now Stony Plain
Road) between 149th and 156th Streets. One of the earliest merchants was a general store
owned by C.W. Bretty, which operated from 1909 to around 1914. The store was located at
what is now part of the Canora community at Stony Plain Road and 151st Street.
Canora was named after the old CAnadian NOrthern RAilway which is now part of the C.N.R.
system. The Canora community league was one of the oldest in the town of Jasper Place, and
although they didn’t have a building of their own for large gatherings until 1967, this didn’t
stopped them from putting on a wide range of activities. Winter carnivals were popular, which
featured races, fancy skating competitions and a queen contest.
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2.2 The Four Communities Today
The following statistics and graphs have been compiled from information from the 2001
Federal Census, the 2005 Municipal Census, as well as the 2001-2002 Edmonton Police
statistics.
Table 1:
Population Distribution by Age-
The total population of the four research neighbourhoods is 11,936 (2005) which has
grown from 11,590 (2001). There was a higher proportion of people aged 65 and over
in 2001 as compared to Edmonton as a whole
Edmonton's Population
Distribution by Age(2001)
65+yrs
5%
The Communities' Population
Distribution by Age (2001)
0-9yrs
13%
45-64yrs
24%
65+yrs
13%
0-9yrs
11%
10-19yrs
12%
10-19yrs
14%
45-64yrs
23%
20-29yrs
18%
30-44yrs
26%
Table 2:
20-29yrs
16%
30-44yrs
25%
Aboriginal Population
The number of people who identify themselves as aboriginals is more than double then
the rest of Edmonton: 9.4% as compared to 4.6% (2001).
People who Identfy as Aboriginals in
Edmonton (2001)
People who Identfy as
Aboriginals in the
Communities (2001)
4.6%
9.4%
Aboriginal
Non-aboriginal
93.6%
90.6%
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Table 3:
Family
The percentage of single parent families is 25.6% which is considerably higher than the
Edmonton average of 18.4%. Also the percentage of single parents who are male is
21.9%, which is higher than the rest of Edmonton which is at 17.9%.
Single Parents (2001)
30%
20%
26%
18%
18%
22%
Edmonton
Communities
10%
0%
Table 4:
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Percentage of families with Percentage of single parent
single parents
families who are males
Income and Employment
The unemployment rate as of Spring 2005 is 8.5% not including students, retired
persons, those permanently not able to work, and preschoolers in the calculation.
Average income levels on a whole are lower than the Edmonton average and the
number of families earning less than $20,000 a year is considerably higher as
compared to Edmonton.
Low Income Levels (2001)
20.00%
18.75%
15.00%
10.00%
Edmonton
10.60%
5.00%
0.00%
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Percentage of families earning less than $20 000
Communities
Table 5:
Education
The number of people who have not completed any schooling past grade nine is
significantly higher than the Edmonton average as well the number of people who have
completed University level education is less than half than the Edmonton average
Education Attainment (2001)
30.0%
25.0%
27.1%
20.0%
Edmonton
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Table 6:
11.2%
Communities
11.8%
6.5%
Less than Grade 9
University
Crime
Crime rates in the four neighbourhoods tend to be higher than the rest of Edmonton
and in some instances double the Edmonton average.
Crime Rates (2002)
Per 1000
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
98.4
63.1
Edmonton
9.9
20.5
18.0
7.8 10.5
Crimes
Property Juvenile
Against Crime (2001) Crime
Persons
(2001)
Communities
8.8
Family
Disputes
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Services Accessible in Community
The services that the people in the community commented on as accessible in their
community are listed below. There are many others that have not been listed. Also, a few of
their comments regarding the services follow.
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Banking
Bars & Pubs
Book Store
Café’s
Health Food Store
Christian Care Centre
Christmas Bureau
Church
Auto Services
Clock Repair
Convenience Store
Daycare
Dollar Store
Education Centers
Employment Services
Food Bank
Goodwill
Grant MacEwan
Grocery Shopping
Gym
Hairdressers
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Gas Station
Library
London Drugs
Movie Rental
Pawn Shops
Police
Post Office
Mayfield Dinner
Theatre
Public Parks
Public Swimming Pool
Restaurants
Shoe Repair
Skating Rink
Transit
United Way
Vacuum Services
Vineyard Church
We Care Group
West Edmonton Mall
Wholesale
“We try to use as many local business’ as we can. Shopping, restaurants, post office, shoe
repair guy, clock repair down the road.”
“Everything, I buy from neighbours, nothing is much better than helping businesses that strive
for a better business”
3.0 The Voice of the People
3.1 The Community
Within the four communities researched we found a mixture of feelings. Some were
happy and liked their area, like business owners, but most felt a strong sense of lack of
community, connection and trust.
Changes Seen in Community
Many of the comments indicated an increase in violence, prostitution and drug abuse causing
most to feel unsafe.
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Problems are increasing - kids more transient - attendance - parents/kids not accountable no 9-5 type jobs - parents working - peer pressure to skip - go sideways around grade eight.
"Before fences and garages you knew your neighbour. When fences go up and garages
go up you lose association with your neighbour."
The Dimensions program has come and gone. It had met some needs in the community
but lacked good relationship with all involved and shut down. Relationship between Boys
and Girls Club and community damaged as a result. Now kids have one less place to go
and now just hang around the neighbourhood.
Uplifts on some parks – more kids are out on their own now wandering at night. Blended
families, single parents, gay and lesbian parents.
“I noticed that there is more young people moving in, so that’s kind of good (for business). I
noticed, not a good thing, this area is more prostitution and drug use, vandalism in
Youngstown area.”
“Centers are nicer; it looks like its growing.”
“Rougher, more fighting.”
“It’s turning around business wise, improvement of looks on the business’ and a wider range
of stores.”
“The sidewalks have been done, that was wonderful, and we celebrated. The children are
a bit more aggressive than they used to be. They don’t like to listen to authority figures. They
have to much ‘idle’ time. I have been taking them to the community centre to do
recreation programs; they need to get rid of their energy.”
“There were more owners, now there are more renters.”
“Violence, drugs, younger and younger are getting involved; it’s like an army taking over.
The crack cocaine is your biggest problem around here, everyone is selling it, and it’s really
out of hand.”
“An increase in the porn industry, increase in crime, increase in homeless people.”
People who are moving in have questionable conduct – hotels, drugs houses, gangs and
prostitution. School has a core group of parents who support the school.
“Mental health stuff has become huge, I’ve seen lot’s of people who come in here with
clear mental health issues, lot’s of schizophrenia, etc. an then the homelessness follows
from there. I probably went through ten pairs of gloves last year giving them away to
people.” “We’re a part of WEBA, West Edmonton Business Association, it’s very inclusive and
all types of groups and people are a part of it.”
“More liquor stores stayed pretty much the same over the last 18 years.”
Elevation in the amount of needs, more walk-ins plus call-ins at the church, bigger need for
rental accommodations, bigger number and bigger in severity
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One family will improve, one family won’t. Community – there isn’t as much to do in the
community, crime rate is likely up. Leaders in gangs know that kids with a poor home life
can be attracted by gang life.
• “Greater parental involvement.”
• “I think that, just recently, the neighbourhood
empowerment team…it’s actually changed the Boys
and Girls Club a bit, there is different and more dialogue
between the different community groups.”
• “Not a lot, I think that this area has remained relatively
untouched.”
• “Like heaven and earth” “this hotel was negative 3 stars
when we purchased it, now it is 3 1/2 stars.”
• “Safeway is the only thing that I’ve seen change.”
• “More bums hanging out at the 7 Eleven since they built
it, I see drug deals going down at the 7 Eleven.”
• “Seen a lot more poverty on the streets in this area, it
wasn‘t this way before.”
• “Stays the same, we put a few officers out in one place,
it flares in another.”
• “Younger families, new families with young kids with
different demands.”
• “People moving in and out of the community – Always
new people coming in.”
Programs that come and go and more vandalism.
Not a lot of infrastructure changes. Don’t have people to run programs
More young people hanging out around the neighbourhoods. Kids don't have respect.
More "dial-a-dopers" [drugs].
“There are more police walking around, since there was a shooting at Lou’s.”
“There are people yelling all hours of the night.”
“There are more homeless people; it’s so hard to get welfare out here.”
“There are no shelters in this immediate area. There’s nothing in the west end.”
“There is absolutely nothing for resource out here.”
It (Britannia-Youngstown) was very low-income, and it hasn’t necessarily changed but
they’ve attempted to improve it.
General Feel of the Communities
There is a feeling of safety during the daytime
however at night many have reported feelings
of uneasiness and not feeling safe. Some also
feel that the community has deteriorated in the
last few years.
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Low income, some handicapped kids, lack
of good male role models.
Mix of blue-collar, lower middle-class.
"Don’t bother - write-off community.”
“Kids just hang around the neighbourhood.”
Family orientated – two schools within the
community.
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“I used to feel safe, really safe. Walking with no problem at night, now I wouldn’t, especially
on Stony Plain Road. I’m not comfortable anymore.”
• It was an older community, but now I
see a lot of people moving out and
younger people moving in.
It’s
becoming a younger community now.
Initially there was a lot of vandalism and
break and enters, but in the last few
years it’s gone down a bit.
• “During the day it’s good, during the
night it gets a little scary. But I think
during the day it’s a pretty good place.”
• “Because we deal in education, the
schools are quite connected, they talk
to each other well and they don’t
operate in isolation. It is to their benefit to be speaking to one another.”
“I’ve found it as very friendly.”
“I love it, I love being here, I love God having me here, and these people are my friends.”
“Middle class, I would say sort of working poor. Most of them work but none of them are
rich.”
“Where I live there are more people that are retired, but where I work, people don’t want to
walk home at night. Buildings are really run down, looks like a dirty street in Mexico.”
“Very careful who to be friends with.”
“Friendly, pleasant.”
“Well, during the day its okay, but I wouldn’t want to be here in the evening”. In the last
couple of years it’s gone down hill.”
“It’s an older, more mature community. I feel safe.”
“A very high crime rate in this community, it’s not the safest community”.
“A lot of police circulate in this area. I believe it’s one of the lowest income areas. Staff
here, in general are more cautious to vandalism.”
Family orientated – Extended family always comes to support the kids.
‘Working Poor’ or Unemployed – Depressed area economically, but also emotionally and
spiritually, sense of hopelessness, trapped, “this is how it is, tomorrow won’t be any better.”
“It’s a good place to do business.”
“We did get a number of parents who really wanted to make a difference in the
community.”
“I think there are a lot of kids here. I find the area to
be…there’s not a lot of ‘hey, how ya doin’? people sort
of stick to themselves. But I also see it to have a lot of
potential for great change.”
“Its in transition, I think right now it’s on the cusp on the
non desirable area to live.”
“I come from Vancouver so this is very different than
I’m used to. I feel that it’s very comfortable for my
employees. I don’t think there’s a lot of safety of
property; I think that it’s in need of repaired of roads
and attitudes. It’s a really varied area; it can go from
residential to industrial so there’s not a lot of
safety…the store next door has gotten robbed 3 times since I’ve started working here.”
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“From a business point of view, this area has a long way to go up, as a community
member, there needs to be a lot of improvements.”
“It’s not very community driven, I know my mom loves the community centre (Canora) but
I’ve never gotten an invite to join.”
“Pretty scary and scuzzy. I don’t like going out of the house after dark, there are a lot of
drunk people around.”
“Pretty nice, pretty safe, it is very busy a lot of traffic.”
“People are fantastic, a few bad apples who have ruined it for everyone.”
“Strong sense of community, people don’t use that cohesiveness in productive ways.”
People within the community want to make it a safer place. There is a strong focus on
youth otherwise they wouldn't be doing some of the progress they are doing e.g.: drop in
center
“The area is great, it’s laid back it’s relaxed but it needs help.”
It’s very needy. It’s a high youth area.
It’s bordering on unsafe. It’s not the best neighbourhood.
Elmwood and south of Stony Plain Road, down 156th St. is all real low-income housing area.
Trust, Communication and Connectedness
Although there was a low level of trust, communication and connectedness within the broader
community we found a high degree of communication and connection between the schools
and businesses in these communities.
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Parents ask, if there is
something going on, how
they can be involved. More
awareness, people are trying
to be more connected.
“I think they’re pretty good, in
one way the professionals
do
a
good
job
of
communicating. Sometimes
there are barriers for people
who are thinking of getting
help here, if they are using
drugs or alcohol they cannot
be here so it’s more to do
with boundaries.”
“We’ve had people here
who disturb the peace and the
police have been supportive when needed. Just having
them present at get-togethers helps to deter criminal
activity, and gang influences.”
“I think that it’s at a fairly high level, there’s quite a bit of
respect for the school.”
“I think there is a lot of trust, the school knows me and I know them. If there are problems
with the students they can call me. There are a lot of day homes who know me, one who
closed down and recommended people to me, so there must be some trust there.”
“If it wasn’t for my son being at school, I wouldn’t have known about any of the programs
going on for the kids.”
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“Probably poor, not all but poor communication with business and police, people you
know, you trust, and those you don’t your not sure. There used to be more connectedness.”
“I don’t think that people are as connected as they should be because of the age gap.”
“It’s like it’s divided, but where I live it’s nicer, but it’s still not very safe.”
“I know that closer to where I live there was a huge drug bust, and some kid I went to school
with got shot!”
“I WOULD PUT AN “UN” IN FRONT OF ALL OF THOSE [trust, communication and
connectedness]. The community is unaware of how bad it’s getting.”
“Communication is really good with the businesses.’”
“A lot people within this community have a sense of unity, because a lot people share the
same kind of problems. Our relationships with neighbours have been good.”
“Not a lot of communication between family members and other families in the
community. –Thru sports there is connectedness.”
“People are aware that there are a lot of unmet needs, but people seem willing to face
them and not turn a blind eye. People seem to be less judgemental, and want to serve…
(people from in and outside of the community). People see it as associated problem.”
“Not real strong connectedness.”
“I think the level of trust is increasing amongst some of the community groups, but I don’t
think it’s been good up to now.”
“I don’t know that directly around this site that there’s a distinct personality, this particular
community is not very connected.”
“I have not really felt any sense of connectedness at all. I have found overall that
Edmonton is very transient; they are here for the money and not to stay long at all.”
“No connectedness, there is none, I wouldn’t really know where to go if I needed help.”
“I do feel a connection but there is a stress there, trust is something that is earned, you don’t
know what peoples intention is until you get a chance to talk with them.”
There are problems at night, like vehicles being stolen.
“Everyone is out for themselves, there’s not a lot of trust in the community, I talk to
everybody but I don’t trust my friends out here.”
Very low, it’s very hard to get parents to trust you. Parents trust enough to come and ask for
help. They are very suspicious of people and programs.
Trust is very low; they don’t trust police or social services or social type services.
Strengths of the Communities
Cultural diversity is seen as a strong point within these neighbourhoods. Amenities and the
transit system are easily accessible making this a desirable and convenient area to live.
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Grocery, drug stores, head-start, early intervention, after-school program - Boys & Girls Club.
Canora Community League is good. Policing in the community is good also.
“I like the area, I like the look. It’s easy to get from point to point. It feels familiar for me.”
Smaller class sizes and more personal and more one on one. Good elementary schools
(Mayfield and Our Lady of Peace), they have good programs and good reputation.
“I know that being in this building for eight years and in the community for 11 years we have
grown up together with the community.”
The diversity would be what I’d celebrate with this school, lots of different kids (culturally)
“I appreciate the people, the people are strong, they have lots of skills, and some of them
are negative. The value is when you spend time with people who trust you. To have people
allow you to be a part of their lives and vice versa.”
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It’s become comfortable, basically I trust my neighbours around me. I’ve never been
threatened.
It’s convenient for me, that’s what I like about it.
“It’s close to everything, it’s close to the mall and downtown, it’s really well developed.”
“Community based club (like Boys and Girls club), open to everyone, quiet and friendly.”
• “The care centre and the vineyard church, but I
don’t go for the religion”
• “There are some nice people in the community,
but they are getting older and disappearing.”
• “Well, what we like about this community and the
transit system is really good” “You’ve got all the
amenities on this street.”
• “Being in the community makes me appreciate
that people are struggling and trying to work and
make life better, it makes me appreciate the
integrity of people, because they respect this
program and what we are doing.”
As far as the business community, they’re really trying. “We’re not really getting involved
though.”
“Celebrations were real there, very genuine…Christmas festivals.
Students really
appreciated it.”
“There’s a lot of diversity, I love that and I think that’s a strength. And I do appreciate the
fact that the school is right here, we can all come to the table and see how we can all
work together.”
“Most of the people who live here, feel like they belong, people are proud to live here and
work here. A lot of people’s parents and grandparents lived here.”
“Everything is close by, I can walk to the store, and everything is in walking distance.”
“The amenities are close, that is the reason why I moved here, I wasn’t driving at the time
and the buses are close.”
“Well for me it is a busy area so I appreciate that, I
don’t get a lot of hassles.”
Not a lot of kids come in, but when the do they are
well behaved, the seniors come in often to have
tea.
Its diversity, community values, Mayfield, High Park &
Britannia all have a strong sense of community
transferred onto their youth. Kids choose to be
involved with sports within the community, rather
than going outside the community e.g.: youth
dances.
“The togetherness, even though it’s a dog eat dog world, people come together if they
have to. The physical help you can get is excellent but economically you’re on your own.”
Principles are working together; they meet on a regular basis. The principles are willing to
do things for the kids in their schools. They are very open.
Challenges of Life in the Communities
Some of the challenges we found in this research that were repetitive are: condition and
culture of Stony Plain Road, lack of resources and funding, hi transients population,
homelessness, lack of planned programming for youth and boredom.
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Takes a while for kids to open up.
Low (80%) to middle (20%) income. Many single parent households. Lack of support.
"Need some good role models." Don't have enough to do after school. Kids want to hang
out, do sports.
• Very transient/no ownership
of community because
they don't own their
houses.
• 100 youth to 3 staff at Boys
and Girls Club; young
children intimidated by
older "bullies"; bullying at
all ages/levels; 60% of
youth from single parent
families; older children (1112+) parenting; alcohol
and drug addictions.
• Need more open gym
nights that allow 7-12 year
olds, kids want to do big fun things but parents are required to pay. They like access to
computers, library, swimming, movie night at Ben Calf Robe School.
“I can tell you as owner of the daycare, there is high percentage of parents are low income
families- 85% are subsidized. To get my business to run smoothly and better quality it’s a
challenge. The bus system isn’t as good as it used to be but it’s still ok.”
A lot of lower income families in the apartments so people are coming and going which
means lots of turn over for the daycare. It’s hard on the kids who are only here for a couple
of months or year at the most and then move on.
“There is an element of racism, preconceptions and assumptions of certain races. This even
comes about in other groups that are doing good things and from nice people.
Some of the challenges here are that not all of the kids have the same access to all the
resources…food, clothing, field trips, financial.
“Showing care to everybody, not judging, looking for the good in people, looking for the
God in people.”
We need volunteers in those communities that we have programs in those schools. There
seems to not be a lot of people volunteering in those areas.
“Personally I don’t feel safe walking around at night, or going to my car when it’s dark, it’s a
rough area.”
“Stony Plain Road is right there – bad strip, its negative (porn shops and drunk people).”
“The people who are running this community (influential personnel e.g.: drug dealers, pimps
etc) don’t respect their power, you can’t go and talk to them anymore, they don’t care
about anyone.”
“Crime is increasing so starting this academic year; we needed to start keeping the back
door to the college locked. We have had to implement a policy about it.”
“I worry about the clients within this community because I know that there are a lot of drug
addicts.”
Tiredness of the families in the community “working poor” – small community
The people in this community are just working to survive – just making it. Some are reeducating to make things better.
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Lack of funding – not enough programs. Program ages: The kids need to be reached early
on and not be influenced by the older kids’ bad habits. “How do you interact with those kids
who are all different ages”? We need to find older role models for the younger kids.
The only real challenge is that we do have some homeless at the backdoor every once
and a while. Once in a while we’ll get people stumbling in here.
Resources and money.
We open up really early when it’s still dark and it’s not a safe feeling at all.
The transit doesn’t start early enough, people are supposed to be at the office at 5am and
the buses don’t start until 5am.
“Sometimes there are transients who stay in apartments around here, and they are the ones
who don’t care about the community, because they are not from here.”
“Knowing where to go for resources. I think there should be a parent group, but I don’t think
there is any. Homeless people can be a challenge.”
“The homeless people are constantly bugging you for money and they keep asking you
over and over again. I think there should be a cop sitting at the 711, 24 hrs a day.”
“The challenge is the younger crowd they don’t seem to care, and have the respect as
past generations do, the love and respect is not there they can be very rude at times.”
Advertising for the community businesses and programs.
Senior Outreach, connecting generations and services, services other than just recreational.
“Work challenges - Differing ideas of what the community focus should be.
Living challenge - A lot of peer pressure for teens.”
“You don’t know who to trust.”
“Poverty, parental motivation - they live in crisis mode, they live from crisis to crisis to crisis.”
Struggle with mental illness and the ripple effect of that (they are not institutionalized, so
they are just wandering around scared, lost, angry, hurt…), addiction and cyclical poverty.
People cannot get off welfare, they are not able to feel confident and enough integrity that
come with working and providing for a family and themselves.
What to Strengthen in the Community
The people voiced a desire for: affordable housing, functional/low cost programs for members
of the community of all ages, greater police presence, improvements to Stony Plain Road, plus
a number of others which can be found in the comments below.
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More community events with whole family
included, don't just use parents to do fundraising.
Boys & Girls Club programs - they used to have a
lunch program.
Improve communications between community
with school, community league, and church.
A place for kids to go. Parents getting involved in
the lives of the youth.
Summer/Weekend programs; help teach younger
families some parenting skills and resources. The daycare is trying to be a
strength in helping where ever they can.
Less crime, maybe more police or patrols or something. Talking to youth
to help them to be aware…something to lower the crime. More money in the
transportation to help the community.
Community being more conscious of things being clean in regard to crime, drugs, and
robberies…maybe a crime watch. For people to be more aware and report what they see.
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“The sense of community, you can never stop working on that. Housing is an issue, a lack of
affordable housing. You should feel safe when working in this community whether day or
night.”
• The availability of more community based
organizations, especially sports.
• “Affordable housing, cleaning up Stony Plain
Road, I think things like that (homelessness
meeting) that don’t stand alone would be quite
beneficial” “Bringing in honest businesses.”
• I think probably if more people became involved
in the community.
• A strengthening of the Community Leagues. I’m
not apposed to seeing someone get paid to
organize a community league. I don’t think that there are enough people who would step
up to volunteer in a position like that.
“Clean up the run down buildings, and Stony Plain Road.”
“Parents come together more, more family orientated things about family issues.”
“Some kind of hostels in this area would help a lot of people.”
“I think security, some form of security measures have to be taken.”
“I think that the awareness and maybe the discussion about the problems going on within
the community. The resources could be organized so that they are more aware or
supportive to what is going on within the community.”
Safety for kids to do “structures/unstructured activities.”
Need a lot more police around, there should be more seen as the West End station is so
close.
Not tolerate what’s going on…people doing drugs…
All the general stuff, communication, connectedness. The police presence could be
strengthened.
“Policing could really use a boost, if they dealt with what they were called to help with, that
would be great.”
“Start having the cops around more, and doing something about the prostitutes.”
“We have a new generation there is not the discipline and structure in the home & the
community that there once was, so we need
to make the appropriate changes.
Awareness about their neighbors, get to know
each other so that they can check on each
other and support each other (mainly the
seniors).
More interaction with youth in the community
More support for Junior. High kids
“Put up some shelters, maybe another drop in
like a soup kitchen everyday, especially
through the winter.”
“Cheap housing, an easier way for people to
get in to an apartment.”
I think low-cost activities for families. Kids gain access for low-cost things but in terms of
entire family event there’s not a lot. We have done them in the past and were very
successful but right now we don’t have the staff…programs that help families connect.
More positive things for the kids to do – less time to do destructive things.
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3.2 Young People Today
There is a strong feeling within the four communities that wider services need to be provided for
the young people. They also see a need for positive role models to come along side the
youth. Many youth in these areas struggle with cultural issues, diverse health issues, poverty,
and lack of family connections, family dysfunction, peer pressure, drug abuse, crime, violence
and overall disconnection to the people around them.
What Challenges Do Young People Face Today?
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Homes unsupervised. Junk food close by.
High Dysfunctional families.
Level of poverty - "working poor"
Lack of enriched programs at home.
Lots of single parent homes.
Health issues with lower income.
Challenges - mixing with kids with higher ambitions- i.e. take Britannia kids and mix with kids
from Westminster Community "ghetto-izing."
Lack of confidence.
Approximately 60% of families are single parent; drug and alcohol addictions; bullying;
parental non-involvement.
Drugs, theft, destruction - drug houses.
Cultured – Not living with biological families. They are not connected to the culture, come
kids love their foster parents/families. They may have had many different foster parents.
Peer pressure.
More single parents families, there is less and less families as a full family. Less
money…more problems…more families split. (Young children don’t know what’s going on,
for example the father has left, so they blame themselves.).
“There are still pretty big cultural issues. Education and racism is a challenge. Having the
family see the importance of education. Some kids learn differently, our kids (Bent Arrow
Junior High program) are very visual learners. In the lower grades you get visual learning but
as the grades get higher the students start to receive more verbal instruction. And they
don’t do that in other schools. Seeing doctors in the medical community is quite difficult for
aboriginals. The youth and older aboriginals go mostly to the Medi-Centre because it’s
anonymous but the doctor’s don’t do a history of that patient. Even aboriginals that are
educated and articulate are treated differently. They don’t want to find out health
information from a G.P. because they don’t want to be made to feel bad about anything.”
“The doctor’s are sceptical that the patients are looking for medication for drugs.” “They
would way rather be Chinese, black or another race. We want to allow them to be proud of
their culture but to not go extreme with it and think that everyone else sucks.”
Number one would be stability, both in home and it can be a fairly transient community.
Also, that they can be restricted because of the financial restrictions restricts their
experiences.
“Aboriginals and Inuit face a lot of set backs. Kids that go to Brightwood know that they’re
‘lower income’ before they even get there. Free drop in centres, Long term commitment of
leaders is necessary.”
“You can address all the issues you want but there has been a commitment of money,
time and energy towards what is needed.”
Here at the daycare there are a lot of single parents, and a lot of them are native.
Approximately half are subsidized by the government, which means that they are the
‘working’ poor.
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There are no ramps for the skateboarders.
The community hall seems to be more for adult things rather than for young people.
There are no local restaurants.
No coffee shop for seniors.
Some sort of a community centre where everyone in the community can hang
out…seniors, families, and young people is needed.
Cultural issues definitely, there’s high aboriginal population in that group - there’s not a
place for them to culturally identify with.
Drug problems.
After school programming.
Easily accessible recreational programs, awareness of those services
“I couldn’t name the names of my neighbours. Not a lot of connection between people,
pretty much everyone is on their own.”
“Older youth are bad influences on younger youth.”
“Staying away from the drugs! I was around it, when I was younger, and I was drinking
young, that is partially why I am where I am.”
“The prostitution is getting worse and the girls are getting younger, and they are doing it for
the crack cocaine…desperation.”
“In this area, it’s gotta be addiction, family violence, security. One day driving to work, in
broad day light, this young man was harassing a young mother. There’s a chance that
young children will be exposed to family violence and other issues.”
“In terms of youth, I think drug, alcohol and gambling is a big one. We have clients who
were into gambling at the local casino. Gang involvement. High rate of high school drop
out.”
Boredom- No place to go, no finances to do anything- Many hang out at WEM.
Not a lot for the youth to do.
Challenges for young people – Despair…they’re not seeing any positive role models that
show them that there is a hope and future. Academics, loneliness, latch key kids, drugs,
alcohol.
“Doing drugs and alcohol, with parents.”
Family dynamics – abuse in some families. Prejudice against aboriginal community and
aboriginal kids. We need to break the chain of the prejudice but also the chain of why
some natives are falling apart.
Poverty; lack of knowledge of all the resources.
“There’s a lot of young people, I think that their challenge is not a lot of role models. They’re
left to their own devices. Not a strong sense of purpose.”
“Transients influencing the young people.”
“I’d say that people need a place to go, the kids need to know where they can go.”
“There is nowhere for the kids to go that’s safe.”
“Growing up with all this information, but not knowing what to do with it. There is no one to
guide them, the system doesn‘t help the situation there is no one for them to look up to, this
is a world wide problem.”
Parents work a lot and they’re not with their kids as much
A lot of peer pressure – loss of Dimensions is huge because we do not have a night
weekend program. Stony plain road has vandalism and drugs…harder and harder for kids
to say no. Challenges of where to fit in, the community is divided by standards of living,
potential living, or achievements in school.
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“They have to face prostitution, drugs, crime, and education. The education out here
sucks. They’d rather put a kid on Ritalin before they figure out the real problem.” “Lack of
self esteem is a problem.”
Cost, very big cultural issues (refugee population), high aboriginal population- cultural
differences, there’s a hand-out mentality- “If I give you my kid for the afternoon, what do I
get out of it?” People are very stuck in their life styles of abuse (crisis mode - caught in the
poverty cycle), substance abuse is very high (crystal meth - very destructive drug that eats
away at your brain - your frontal lobe that affects your self-control), alcohol- kids are
learning from their parents, high substance abuse in aboriginal population and is a high
aboriginal population area, lack of transportation- that’s why need to provide bussingparents don’t have a vehicle or can’t drive their car (e.g. Drive under Influence) or can’t
afford to drive because of high gas prices.
Where Young People Today Spend Their Time
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Rock and Ride at WEM; hanging out at the mall, each others' houses; Britannia gym open
one night a week.
• Library out of community.
• Mall, video games, extra-curricular music/dance/sports.
• Skateboarding, park, tobogganing,
bikes.
• The basement – sober club ages 13+.
Azucar – certain nights are teens only,
otherwise, they go to the real bar.
• WEM – arcades. Younger kids riding
their bikes up and down the streets,
they are board. Going to the corner
store to hang out, playgrounds.
Looking for something to do (Parking
lots for skateboarding).
Boredom so acting out…breaking into school or wrecking the playground, playing football,
soccer, other sports, swimming in summer time, cinemas, kids without parents spending
time at playgrounds.
Some of them spend it in the evenings at the community league. A few in the
playgrounds. In winter they’re in skating at the community league.
“Malls, pool halls, cultural activities (but they’re not always doing helpful things there).”
School a lot. Early in the morning, at the school by 7a.m. and often here till 6:30 or 7p.m.
(They have a ‘snack’ program in the mornings for kids that are on time to class.)
Most of the kids I see are in front or backyards or in cars. I don’t see many teenagers.
Boy and Girls Club, School, Bent Arrow Programs, Rinks, Malls.
“Skateboarding, sports, Boys and Girls club, WEM at Rock‘n’Ride.”
“Outside the video store, the strip mall with La deli.”
“WEM, walk there, or bus, hang around shopping centers, Jasper Gates and 7-11.”
West Edmonton Mall, walking around the streets.
Loitering, the recreation centres.
Boys and Girls Club, hanging out at the gas stations.
“Hanging outside of 7-Eleven. The kids go to the pool a lot in the summer.”
“A lot of young people don’t spend there time in this area there is not a lot for them to do,
there is no space, no breathing room, there is a residential area but no neighbourhood.”
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“They hang out at the bus terminals.”
Going to school
Boys & GirIs Club, Britannia Park, Mayfield Common hall, Holy Cross, Church on other side of
Britannia – Young kids in High Park and West Edmonton Mall.
“At the mall [West Edmonton Mall], ‘mall rats’, who live there, generally that’s where
homeless youth live. They hang out at the bus stop at the mall.
There’s not a lot in the West End to do so they just hang out- loiter at 7-Eleven or pool halls.
The need for a youth drop-in centre is huge.
3.3 Programs, Organizations. Services and Resources
When asked about the programs, organizations, services and resources available we were
provided with a lengthy list as listed in the comments that follow. Strengths and weaknesses of
some of the program were also disclosed.
What is Available for Young People?
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YOUCAN: trains youth to deal with situations in non-violent manner.
Youth group/cadets - small group/community soccer.
• Soccer / baseball / wrestling / cheer leading.
• Boys & Girls Club.
• Libraries.
• Sports programs in Britannia (soccer).
• Community leagues have some services like
play school.
• Sunday school.
• Don’t know.
• Kids on Track, Boys and Girls club, Youth
Emergency Shelter (by Jasper Gates)
• Boys & Girls Club has recreational services such
as: Jr. Chefs, craft night, kids club, break dancing, gym night, out trips, etc.
Health for Two, Parent Talk, YouCan, Peace Building and Leadership Program; on-site social
worker; We Care and West Interagency Group; Community / Children In Action (CIA);
Chimo.
Bent Arrow is age 15-29 year old employment program. You get an allowance for being in
the program.
Sports programs. Parks and Recreation
have green shacks open in the summer.
MADD, Kids Safety, SOS Communication,
Police, neighbourhood watch.
“Social services, Alberta Works (welfare), the
employment program people at Bent
Arrow are connected with the businesses in
the area, connecting aboriginal peoples
with jobs. Also connecting people with the
health services. Daycares.”
Métis counsellor in Britannia Jr. High school,
Social services, YMCA, ‘opportunity for kids’
badminton club.
“There is some outreach being done by
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vineyard or Fusion and although it isn’t inconsistent, it is only a few times a year.”
Church- Christian Reformed Church, community center.
City Social Services, Bent Arrow, Big Brothers and Big Sisters in schools.
“Chimo, Health for two and YouCan.”
“Bent Arrow, but I don‘t know what they are doing.”
“There are a lot of shopping amenities, the food bank is close by, I know of a lot of
programs, but many of them are not within this community.”
Big Brothers and Sisters mentoring. Kids on track – they have Sunday drop-ins. High Park was
really involved with “Dimensions” – A big loss when they weren’t funded.
Boys & Girls Club, Bent Arrow.
Young Life.
Community leagues, church- not sure how much they are involved but there is opportunity.
Sports offered.
Britannia school Friday night program, Coyote Pride, Fusion.
Aboriginal services, Goodwill (opportunities for adults, employment and career
development).
‘I think there’s a pool up that way.’
Boys and Girls Club, Dimensions, Christian Church, thrift store, neighbourhood watch, Bent
Arrow.
“My kids go to Kids on Track, and they go to youth in motion (after school program at
Brightview) and my two older girls go to girls guides.”
“Youth in Motion, and swimming lessons.”
“Boys & Girls Club, tutor for math by the grocery store, there are two group homes near by
for mentally ill people.”
Boys & Girls Club, Bruce Campbell Center, Youcan, Kids on track, Community runs events,
Fusion. Churches, Green shack program.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Program
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Youcan: is focused on training, so not a long-term commitment. Boys & Girls Club is longterm and a hang-out.
They’re not drawing the older kids; they are drawing the younger kids. Limited time slots for
certain programs.
Sparks is good, they are for younger kids. Not enough activities for older kids. We need
structured games (not video games) 8yrs+. Green shacks have games and arts and crafts,
but only in the summer.
The organizations that need to call people for money don’t always get money-funds. (The
money that should go towards the people, who work towards helping the youth, should be
given by the government).
Strengths: I’ve heard only good things about the Boys and Girls club, police involvement.
Weaknesses: Need more challenging and outdoor things to motivate them and encourage
them to come to those programs - kids were saying that the programs (Tuesday night at
community league) were boring.
“They operate in isolation with themselves. The daycares and the schools should be
connected. The justice system should be connected with Health, with education, children
services. Unless you’re aware of what the programs mandate is then you won’t get in. You
have to have a very specific situation in order to be supported by certain programs. There
are kids with serious problems that will only be helped until they are eighteen and then they
have to search for programs on there own.”
Strengths: Meeting the needs of the kids.
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Weakness: Funding, this end of the city has been neglected a bit.
“They appeal to younger crowds but they probably don’t appeal to the middle age youth.”
“There are not a lot of buildings available. We have a lot less kids coming to church now
compared to when we shared the space with The West End Church of God.”
They could advertise more, make it more exciting. I think the group that has been there
has been there for a long time and they could use ‘new blood’.
Bent Arrow- very culturally aware.
Boys & Girls Club - they’re very aware “That place hops.”
There’s not one place for people to go to, for kids to hang out and it be a safe place for
them to be.
Strengths: “They are available to everyone and they exist.”
Weakness: “Not a lot of structure.”
The Boys & Girls Club needs to stay open later.
Strength: Is that there is concern.
Weakness: Chasing the smoke rather than dealing with the problem.
Strengths: “They are really passionate; they are doing it out of their heart.”
Weakness: “Their manpower is stretched, and they don’t have funding.”
Strengths: “Kids-On-Track provide the transportation.”
Weakness: “Not advertised enough.”
Strength: It’s a great program.
Weakness: for Girl guides is the price.
Strength: “It’s in the school.”
Weakness: for Kids in Motion- “It doesn’t go all year round, it‘s only 6 weeks long.”
Strengths: Such a diverse amount of needs are being met by all the programs, broad
range of services, so many that the kids themselves can service.
Weakness: Need to be more connected between agencies.
3.4 Your Role Working With Young People
It seems to be a desire of the people in the community to be positive, encouraging supportive,
mentors and role models for their youth. They saw themselves as someone who could be a
means of hope for the youth, guiding them spiritually, standing in as a facilitators, helping to
show them how to give respect to others and themselves, helping them with find their sense of
identity and building them up to make healthy choices. By the comments below you will find
that the people here have only the best in mind for their youth.
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To be someone that they can be comfortable with, a male role model, disciplinary, and to
help them connect with each other.
Prime role - "listening to them."
"Just to have someone to go to."
Spiritual guide- brings spiritual direction to young people.
Counsellor, confidant, and an adult they can trust.
Mentor, someone they can talk to, trust, there to interact and socialize.
Somewhere that is giving them skills, working skills, budgeting skills, shopping skills, banking
skills.
Not to be just seen as a babysitting service, but a role model to all families who drop their
children off at the day care.
I hope I help to develop their skills, to help them to become good people.
Being a role model and teaching them values. I’m not afraid to speak of my values. Even
simple things like manners, teaching them basic things that I can do and I try to do.
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Teaching them socially acceptable behaviour, please and thank you, road safety which
will hopefully go on to be a safer community.
“To help them with their sense of identity, to help them feel proud of who they are, to help
them start in their learning. My role is to keep them safe, and share knowledge with them.”
• To provide an example, it’s important to me and to the
teachers at this school. How you communicate, how
you view people.
• To be a provider of experiences.
• To communicate with everyone, within the community.
We need to work close with Ross Sheppard and Jasper
Place High Schools, because that’s where the students
go.
• Help the kids to know there will be a ‘pay off’, that
good hard work in school.
• “Their parents are coming in here, but not much a role
with the young people directly.”
• My role is to make sure that if we can provide
programs in those areas that we do, build social
capacity.
• “To be as influential and impacting in a positive way as
I can, mentor and role model.”
• “Particularly here, my role is to help youth gain
independence which means supporting them and helping them find the resources that are
available” “Sometimes it means driving them, finding them counselling, finances etc.”
“Being honest.”
Their Mother. Give as much guidance as possible. Trust, facilitator.
Give them a positive outlook, different perspective, hope, respect for themselves and
others.
To give instructional leadership, to empower our staff, to improve student achievement.
To build a relationship with them and show them that I care about them, that its ok to fall
down.
‘We want to help create a youth culture of peace.”
“I try and volunteer at the school when I can, so that I can support good things that are
happening, and showing our kids that it’s important to be there.”
Helping role model and mentor – whatever these kids want me to be, whatever they need
from you.
Providing low-cost or no cost activities that are going to build them up, crisis prevention,
being available during crisis situations.
3.5 Dreams and Visions for the Future
The common dream was to own their building so they could provide programs and activities to
all age groups in one building, like a large community centre that services all four communities.
Also, to have agencies, organizations and services working together and communicating with
each other so no one falls through the gaps.
For Young People
The interviewees would like to see the young people become more connected with each other
and parents and a place of their own to hang in and participate in a variety of constructive
activities. Especially mentioned was a skate park and a low cost facility where the door is always
open.
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"These kids have potential; they have
something deep down inside that
somebody needs to bring out."
Mentorship - one-on-one.
Social skills training.
Co-operative games.
Recreational programs.
"Develop a long-term relationship."
Reduce dropouts - by grade 3.
Reading as early as possible.
Connect with parents and peers.
Youth programs to get kids off of
computers and TVs.
Own a building - warehouse-type, for a drop-in centre.
Activities like: Skate Park, crafts, cook/kitchens, café, and floristry.
Sports teams - a sports director.
Structured activities, drop-in sports, life skills, being a part of a team.
Kids hanging out in the community where they live instead of going somewhere else.
For the older youth to take initiative and spend time with younger youth. Teach older youth
about that kind of stuff. For families and seniors to work together, many of them are lonely.
One-on-one relational stuff. For parents, to sit and talk with there kids and teach parents
these communication skills.
Drop in centre – many role models open for Junior High kids. Educated people who can
give great advice.
More recreational things. I would renovate the schools in the area, and would put money
towards equipment for the schools. Provide them with more choices of things to do, to
spend their free time with parents and families, to bring families together.
Young people -- organizing things for the kids, camps and things like that. When you have
enough people you can do so much with them. Have more and better programs, staffing
is the main thing because you need people to supervise them.
“I would try and do what I could to make this a community that you could go to school in,
work in and find activities that kids would buy into and something that will be meaningful for
them. I would do whatever I had to do to get excited about there future. For them to see
that there is a pay off to going to school, and changing these young peoples way of
thinking.
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To meet the needs of the school and the community…have sports, senior programs…To
change the culture and helping people to see what the school is really about and the able
to be proud of their community.
“Someone to help the parents learn how to be good parents.”
“We need to be collaborative as an organization, and even more so between different
organizations or programs.”
Everyone would be stationed in the school to have the feelings of being apart of a family. A
24hr place – door never closes. Community kitchen
Clean up the parks, build a skate park, and a parent and toddler activity thing at night
would be good.
“After school activities, parents should feel welcome. Parental classes, babysitting classes
and life skill courses for the kids.”
We would create youth culture of peace. And have the community foster that.
A lot of work with the families.
I think that they need somewhere they can go to get training and certification to get jobs.
Just some place where they can go and get the skills they need and have the resources
they need to get them going.
“Provide extra curricular activities to keep the interest of the kids with good role models. Find
something that peaks their interest and keeps it. Develop relationships in the families to give
them support basis.”
Expand Boys & Girls Club. Youth worker specific for different needs of support Ex: family,
youth…etc. Programs available at all times – breakfast-lunch-supper. Once a week special
events. Community workers to always be letting community know what’s going on in all
different areas all the time. ALL day Saturday programs. Youth centers with showers,
clothing, beds, and people working to set them up with proper support. Community halls
open more to the younger kids, free transportation between the communities. Worker on
playgrounds, more family involvement – once a week family event.
A youth drop-in center where there are constructive things to do. Live music and Christian
bands, instruments for them to play, pool table. I think one of my big dreams is moving out
of the church and having a building to do after school programs; in association with the
schools where they would bus them to do these programs with them.
A free counselling service- my idea is that all these things can exist or be offered out of one
place. It would mean the world to them to have purpose and hope.
We want them to find change, to be able to affect change in their lives.
For Community
There are many different views regarding the dreams for the community. A main theme would
be more interaction of all types between all ages in the neighbourhoods. There is also mention
of a facility where everyone can meet to interact and connect.
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To have hang-out times with kids but also have out-trips like a hiking trip on the weekend;
something that allows you and the kids to know one another better and also involves the
families more.
Single mothers program.
Co-op.
Senior’s drop-in centre, active work bingos/casinos.
Try to get them to volunteer with kids.
More respect between the generations.
More interaction with younger kids
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Make a gym for them burn their energy. If they had a big gym and organized sports…that
people don’t have to pay for.
Making it easier for kids to have somewhere to go when parents and adults aren’t around.
“I’d have a health perspective on it- healthy body, healthy mind.”
Prevention programs.
Building on kid’s skills that aren’t based on competition and academics.
“Make this area nicer with the buildings, even West Edmonton Mall is going down hill, it’s
dirty and gross now.”
We need a steering committee, and having an opportunity to really hear what the
community needs.
A place to recreate that would occupy their time, that’s constructive, rather than do drugs
and drink.
Work with seniors, combat neglect in terms of young and old people. It is not just another
drop in center but have people that the kids can talk to and trust.
I don’t see it becoming a rich community; it’s not really the answer. Yes getting off drugs,
yes getting out of poverty, but more so than that more family connectedness. Family units
need to be strengthened - to facilitate stronger family ties.
3.6 Different Roles for Assisting Community
The Churches Role
The community seems to see the churches role as being one of relationship building and
reaching out to the community. To be aware of the needs, open, accepting and inviting of
the community creating a place where people can go to get help.
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Local churches need to build a relationship with kids before they start giving the kids a
bunch of instruction or including a bunch of stuff about God.
“Inviting people in, encouraging people to be a part of the community, getting more
known and building bridges.”
Taking the gospel out into the community and living it.
Needs
more
"practical"
assistance:
food
bank,
clothing,
and
refugee
assistance/housing/supplies.
The church should be involved, but can't see how that should be done. There is much
stigma against the church. They had a partnership with a local church for Christmas
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dinners but had a difficult time getting families to attend it because of it being facilitated
by a church.
“Being positive, get younger kids involved, instilling good values that need to be carried
outside of the building into the real world.”
Everyone needs to get together – church needs to install
values.
They could work with the low income families, because they
have funds coming into the church for those things. A lot of
people need spiritual guidance. To educate people in the
neighbourhood about religious programs and benefits.
“To be open and accepting and inviting to everyone in the
community.
“Even if it’s just a warm cup of soup, there needs to be
something meaningful on the other side of the door in order
for them to want to go to a church.”
“Being aware of the needs, being aware of what God is
asking you personally to do and as a church corporately. Any
place where you can plug people in to and have God
working and healing in their lives.”
Role modeling, inviting.
“I am not a church person, so I don’t know how to answer
that.”
“To bring people to knowledge of a relationship with God.
“Getting some programs together and supporting the youth,
and finding a safe place for them to congregate.”
The church’s role is not to be the preacher, I think they’re role
is to be the community friend. The one that you can always
turn to. They need to not do so much within their church, but
within the community.
churches role “they are trying to do their best to assist the
community, but they have limited funds and man power.”
“They could help sponsor stuff, allowing the people to use
their resources.”
“For them to be more out there.”
“They could assist by reaching out to the parents so they can reach the kids and it would
reach the community, pass it down.”
“A guiding factor, to be non-judgemental, love unconditionally, firm but fair.”
Provide a role of support, out reach and programming. Build relationships with people in the
community, love them and meet needs spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
“Share gospel, teach them what it means to be a disciple to have God in your life.”
“Evangelism, loving people and sharing Christ.”
“Be able to engage in a positive way to all the families in the community, not just the ones
that go to church.”
“Awareness and support.”
“Local church- I see that it needs to be the forerunner; it needs to be out front and involved.
People should be able to come into the church and say ‘I need help’ and us say ‘ok lets
help.”
It has to be a strong centre of the community.
The City’s Role
Among things like drawing groups and people together, keeping the city clean, planning and
providing programs, the main thing that the interviewees say as the city’s role was funding. To
put money towards services and programs that are meeting the needs of the community such
as community leagues, schools, affordable housing, etc.
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More money, more financial support…there’s always need of money. More housing, more
job opportunities.
With all the funding the city has they could do a lot for the community, like sports programs.
Getting the community conscious about how they can be
involved with the community.
“I think that the city could help draw different groups
together. There is an Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord
that was signed by the mayor and council to acknowledge
the aboriginal community and to promise to be committed
to working with aboriginals as a whole and to inform. To
compare the number of aboriginals with library cards to the
literacy stats or those types of things. Aboriginal story times
at the library etc.”
They have to be a big part of the planning. Their people
that can make it happen. Schools have limited resources;
the city has a bigger piece of the ‘pie’, to create a social
balance. They have in other parts of the city but not so
much here.
“I think the city is doing a lot, there are a lot of resources going to the inner city however,
and they have been reactive and not proactive to areas like Stony Plain Road.”
Paying for community leagues, funding. Not leaving it only to volunteers to do the job.
“They’re valuable positions in the community that should be paid for.”
“Even putting more money into the schools so that they are a lot nicer.”
“Hostels, and affordable, just somewhere warm to sleep, there is nothing for people in the
west end and it’s getting worse.”
“There needs to be an increase in recreational stuff, centres, or activities, and safety things.”
I think the city’s role is to try and get people together. I think they need to put more money
into more kids and youth programs. To put money toward maintaining the community by
keeping it clean, repairing things…
A concentration on education, early intervention.
“Business revitalization program is being instigated by the city and it will be a good thing,
and the community will follow with it.”
“I think the city could send the cops our way, and maybe help with funding” “The City’s
website should have all the communities and their programs listened.”
“More police.”
“The City could do a lot more in the way they budget and send their money, I find myself
paying a lot of taxes but I don’t see what they are going to, taxes are going up in the area,
yet our economy is good, shouldn’t that mean taxes go down?”
“Recognize the need of the community and then fund the people and services meeting
those needs. They seem to want to support new initiatives. Listen to the community and
what it needs and then support based on that, instead of new initiatives, find out what’s
already in place.”
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The School’s Role
A major theme that stood out was the need to share the resources of the school, to allow the
school’s to be used by the community for multiple purposes. Also, to have an awareness of
what’s going on around them and lives of the young people to be able to better teach and
serve the students.
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“Schools should be sharing their resources.”
“Raise their level of quality of services to the children.”
To educate the children about social behaviour and socially accepted behaviour.
“They need to develop a higher understanding of the history and needs of aboriginal
people.”
“Important for the teachers to find out when the kids aren’t learning. The teachers at any
time should be able to say what students are learning and who’s not, and what they’re
going to do about it.”
“The schools need to be used more than 8 hours a day, it’s a waste.”
“Could be a building, a resource of a gym- offering their space.”
“Doing a better job of keeping kids in school. The high schools are just open when they
have to be. I don’t think people in High School would attend a before or after school
program.”
“Education, discipline, and teaching respect for the family.”
“They have extra curricular programs, special interest or needs programs that they deliver at
a low cost.”
“A general level of awareness with what’s going on this community. Understanding what
these youth may be dealing with on a daily basis, which may reflect why they have
behavioural problems.”
“I think their role though could be to open up and letting people use their facility.”
“The school is a good place for a meeting place, and they should allow other organizations
to use their space, because they have a lot of space that the government funds and so
they should share it. The schools should have all the programs listed and available for the
parents and students.”
“We live in a multicultural world we need to learn about each other; the more I know about
you and you know about me the better off we are.”
“To keep the kids in to things, more teacher awareness about family life and to be more
sympathetic and not judge families.”
“I see as very cooperative with the existing services and each other, the schools are doing
a very good job! Being a facilitator for the parents to the programs, they can assist on
connecting kids and families into programs.”
The Community League’s Role
The research shows that the interviewees see the community league’s role as organizing and
hosting events and programs that bring families and community members together. To
provide opportunities for community connection and for people to be able to work out
community issues together.
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“Host events.”
“Organize things for parents to get to know each other better, so
that they can become aware of each other; so not just things for
kids but also parents.”
“To have programs, to bring the people together. They
could organize more programs to bring families together,
where people can bring up issues of the community so that
they can deal with them together.”
“They need to some better PR or something to
reach out and have something meaningful for
families.” “Some community leagues are better
organized then others.”
“To be more consistent with providing for the
community.”
“Very affordable sports programs, family gettogethers, like carnivals.”
“To have programs for kids.”
“I am not aware of any in the West end.”
“Somehow coordinating all the agencies, so that they all
aren’t doing the same things, for the same ages; sponsoring little get-togethers for parents,
so that you know who the parents and kids are.”
“Their role is to provide appropriate activities in their communities. And to watch, to be the
‘watchdog’.” “Seek out youth who want to make a positive change in their community and
give them opportunities and jobs, mentoring them.”
‘Providing indoor space and facilities.”
“Support and programs.”
“Community league - providing them with mentors or leaders (there’s not a lot of people to
model off of).”
“I think that it brings community together, offer things like physical active stuff. It could do
more low-cost sports teams and activities. Seeking sponsorship activities for low-cost
activities. Family program nights that promote family cohesion and connection.”
3.7 General Publics Perception of this Community and
Media’s Effect
When asked this question many people responded saying that the media focuses on the
negative which has created a negative perception of the area. Overall, it is seen as an older
and poorer community with a high aboriginal population in which many people feel safe during
the day but not at night.
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“The porn shops and pawnshops give people a negative perception of Stony Plain Road.”
“Old, not revitalized, settled, not a dynamic youth place and respectable, middle class.”
“Not very good because of drugs, hotels on 111 Avenue, gang shootings, and prostitutes.”
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“Media doesn't reflect much on area unless there is something of importance.”
“Shooting at WEM bar, shooting at Stony plain Road bar, predators coming out of the
remand center.”
“People think it’s bad because it’s behind the Saxony – stigmatism. Media does not come
out here, unless it’s negative.”
“Media are good in one way, but sometimes it’s not enough to get the whole picture. So I
noticed in this area, they are not aware of what’s going on- they know only what they’ve
heard on the news and no more. The news shows to many bad things, and not enough
good things.”
“I think people look on it as the older community.”
“I think it’s not good and I think that the media has a lot to do with it.
The media don’t celebrate the good things happening in the community.”
“The image during the day is very different then at night. Even positive stories have a
negative spin to it.”
“I really like this area, it’s great. I feel safe during the day; it’s such a different place when I’m
here during the day.”
“The enrolment in this school dropped when the girl died on the golf course because she
went here. The media always connects community things with schools. The media shows
that it’s a rough community, how much good stuff about the community do you see? For
schools, they don’t talk a lot about
things that are successful.”
• “I think people think it’s a poorer, older,
aboriginal community.”
• “The west side is starting to lose its rep.”
• “Relatively safe, more unsafe in the
South and North, with the exception of
Stony Plain Road”
• “The media probably creates it!” “They
are always reporting crime, and it’s
always on 156th and Stony Plain road,
and people think it’s a more crime
ridden area than others, but crime is all
over, not just in this area”
“Quiet, little seniors’ community.”
“Oh, you live there! That’s so bad people say that because it is associated with Stony Plain
road.
“The public perception is that it’s a rough area. Media gives information on what’s
happening.”
“I think that this is a questionable area.”
“Until now, the general stigma is that it’s bad, but it’s the transients who give that perception”
“In reality it’s a very good place to do business, the potential for this block is unlimited; we
just need to change the perception.”
“The media affects everything; it doesn’t have a good perception. You only hear of the bad
things happening, they don’t show the good, It is all negative.”
“They see us as a low income area with vandalism and theft.”
“Community has inner city status, low income housing, single parents, drugs, many
stereotypes come with that. Media focus on the negatives of the community – that gives a
stereotype on the whole community, even when incidents happen at West Edmonton
Mall.”
3.8 What Life Is Like:
For Elderly
Words like fear, sad, isolated were used when asked what people thought life was like for the
elderly, but among those words were also things like a sense of pride and ownership for the
community considering some have been here most of their lives. There seems to be services
meeting their immediate needs and there are things for them to access.
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“They are happy. There used to be a legion that they
used to go to and have fun and get to know each other,
but it’s not here anymore. But there are places for them
to go and things for them to do.”
“There are grandparents that are raising kids. There is a
real pride for their community but its been neglected.”
“It’s a little sad; people here are probably going to live
here for their whole lives. I think a lot of elderly live on
they’re pension alone. There is good connection for the
elderly with churches and other groups, there is lot’s but
not enough of programs. They depend on the food bank and the churches for socializing.”
“Fearful, and for some it’s lonely.”
“I think a lot of the elderly people who have lived here their
whole lives, I think there is a sense of fear.”
“They seem to keep their eyes open, keeping ownership of
their community and watching for things that are happening.”
“Lonely.”
“Problems of being harassed by drunks, the buses are good
but you see beer bottles and although there are video
cameras it’s not the best.
“I think its pretty good.”
“Probably pretty scary for them.”
“The elderly probably have it pretty rough, its very focused on
the young/money making group.”
“There are things for them to access.”
“Isolated. I don’t see a lot of them out.”
“I don’t see them out a lot, or you see them on their way to bingo.”
“Very difficult, they were raised with discipline and structure but they aren’t given the respect
by the younger generation that they were taught to give.”
“I think that it’s pretty well in terms of their immediate needs, they are pretty well taken care
of. Transportation is a hard thing for them.”
For Younger kids, older kids:
Although some responses were positive, the general view was that they are bored and hanging
out in different places, many at West Edmonton Mall and that transients of the community
have a negative influence on them.
•
•
“All the kids are bored.”
Younger kids: “I see them running around happy. Day time isn’t as bad as night time.
Older kids: Probably the same as anywhere else.”
Page 41
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Page 42
“Younger kids, its good I guess, from my perspective. I am near the park and community
league. Older kids, there’s a lot for them. There’s only the hockey rink, I don’t see them very
much.”
“Kids (young and old), tough, transient community, there’s not much for them to do.”
“Younger/older, depends on money, and having an adult in their lives that can drive themtransportation, there’s big roads blocking them.”
“I’d rather live somewhere else, the only thing that’s exciting is that I live on Candy Cane
Lane.”
“I don’t think it’s a very healthy environment.”
“It’s become more evident that they are becoming more involved with the drugs.”
“I often see young kids just hanging out here on Stony Plain road, bored out of their minds,
or riding their bikes around.”
“The majority of the kids from this community hang out at the mall (WEM), because it’s
warm, safe and it gives them something to do.”
“Younger kids are bored.”
“Younger and older kids, I don’t think its a lot different than any other area. Some are going
to find things to do and some are going to get into trouble.”
“I think good and bad, they’d have some great times here but its gotta be a little scary at
times too.”
“Younger kids are bored. Older kids may be influenced and they are making bad
decisions.”
“Kids, I think they’re forgotten a lot. There are tons of kids in the area and there’s not much
for them to do. They are left on their own; there is not a lot of supervision.”
For single parents:
Single parents in these areas are widely recognized as a vulnerable, struggling group
emotionally and financially. The feeling is that it is difficult for a single parent to get ahead and
sometimes to even find resources that could be of assistance to them.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“It’s hard, and they aren’t always putting their kids
first.”
“There are lots of subsidized houses, so housing,
daycares, schools are available.”
“It’s hard for them to afford housing; it’s hard for
them to start over after a break-up.”
“Tough, but there are a lot of resources for them,
just a matter of getting it to them.”
“Financially hard, socially hard, not a lot out there
for them. They either don’t know about the thing
that they can access.”
“Tough, I think there’s lots of single parent families. I
think they need two parent family support. I think
they are inconvenienced almost, unsupported.”
“It’s good, because it’s close to everything, they
have the buses, they don’t have to drive there kids
around.”
“Lonely and sad.”
“I would imagine probably challenging, the good
thing is that this community is close to a lot of
buses and that would be a positive aspect, also,
there is a lot of close amenities.”
“Single parents are struggling.”
“There is a parenting group that a friend of his goes too. He went to a single parent’s thing
downtown.”
“It all seems to be geared for single Mom’s and not much for single Dad’s.”
“I think its tough no matter what area you live in, its hard for them to get a break. I think its
probably scary for them too.”
“For single parents its pretty tough, housing is pretty unaffordable.”
“It’s just a matter of communication, a lot of single parents who are struggling; just don’t
know about the programs in place, and where to go to use them.”
“Tough, because they don’t tell you where the resources are.”
“I was a single parent for a while with my first son, and there wasn’t a lot, so I had to use my
son’s grandparents a lot, and I had to work a lot of overtime to pay for daycare, but I lost a
lot of time with my child because of it.”
“Single parents, not enough financial assistance.”
“I think it’s very difficult. Daycare is very expensive so it makes it really hard for working
moms. Isolation is huge, transportation issues.”
Page 43
For aboriginals:
There are many views of the aboriginal community, however our research has shown that the
greater community is unaware of the specific issues and therefore do not know how to respond
to the needs of the First Nations population appropriately. Several comments from interviewees
who work with the First Nations people have great insight because of their position and
understanding of the culture.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Page 44
“Depends on the “BAND” that they are from. Need to learn
how to live in a community “Bands” do support many of
their members.”
“The ones I see are either drunk in front of the bar on Stony
Plain Road or getting high in the playground- 1/3 of them.
2/3 are working hard and going to school. I know that some
of them are getting help, there is help for them.”
“This area doesn’t have many; there are a few in the school.
Not sure, but I think they do ok. They seem to be the more
educated and community conscious ones. They are
involved in programs that reach out to other natives and
their communities. (The 2 families that she knows from the
daycare)
“It could be better; they have the same issues as other people with the added difficulties
of lacking education. It’s slowly getting better, with the last 15 to 20 years there has been a
movement of healing in the aboriginal community.”
“All the problems we’ve discussed have the biggest impact on them. All the transition is
really hard for them; the kids who are around all the time do really well.
“I don’t know if it’s any different than non-aboriginals, poor kids are poor kids.”
“So many First Nations children have been taken from their families. We
have a whole generation of First Nations youth that have no
connections, it’s been really destructive. They wander the streets
wondering who they are and where they came from. We have stripped
them of their culture and what they know. I have met first nation youth
who do not want to be put in the category or ‘seen’ as Native because
of the stereotypes and what that puts on them”
“I think there’s a lot of resources for First nation’s people.”
“They are not being brought up in their strong cultural values”
“The only ones that I see in the community are sick in the alley ways,
and it’s probably not proper representation”
“There’s support there but I still think there’s a
large need. The support is not connecting
the resources back to their own lives.”
3.9 The Voice of the Young People - Survey
A random sampling of young people in the four neighbourhoods was taken using the survey
found in appendix 8.2. Sixty students from elementary and junior high schools completed
these surveys. The following graphs are a compilation of the data from those surveys.
Table 7:
Question 1
What Community do you live in?
25
20
20
Number of
Students who
completed
surveys
17
14
15
10
6
3
5
0
High Park Britannia
Canora
Mayfield
Other
Communities They Are From
Table 8:
Question 2
General Feel of Your Community
5
Other
1
Unfriendly
12
Feelings chosen from
Always safe
4
Scary
7
Pleasant
19
Comfortable
21
Safe during day, but not night
16
Fun
Friendly
23
7
Unsafe
0
5
10
15
20
25
Number of times chosen
Page 45
C
om
Page 46
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Sk
at
in
W
g/
te
C
a
Sk Fr
r/V rks/
t
S
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I
i
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m
t
H
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i
o
Sw ate end
an de lay ter m ing
r
e
bo s
s
g i o g g r n e un
ng a
ou t/M ity mo Ev /Sh Sp imm ar /Fa
O
ha vie ent op orts ing din mil the
ou me nd
S
g
s
s
y
N
s
s
s
r
ll
t
pu
Afterschool and Weekend Activities
Table 9:
Question 3
How Time Spent After School & On Weekends
11
25
5
8
20
15
0
12
0
22
7
23
25
0
5
10
15
20
Number of times chosen
25
30
Table 10: Question 4
Young Peoples Struggles Today
Other
Things Young People Struggle With
Feeling down
Transportation
Boredom
Friends
School marks
Drugs & Alcohol
Authority
Peer pressure
Money
Finding work
Bullying
Family
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number of times chosen
Table 11: Question 5
Who the students live w ith:
Family
Member
6%
Foster Home
2%
Other
5%
Group Home
2%
Mother and
Father
33%
Father
14%
Mother
38%
Page 47
Table 12: Question 6
15
29
15
12
3
18 18
26
r
Othe
j ects
e p ro
in
l
n
/o
ities
si gn
Act iv
t e de
i
l
a
s
b
n
o
We
reat i
i on s
/Rec
petit
s
t
r
m
o
o
C
Sp
e tc.
h op s
s
k
r
Wo
s
v ent
ra l E
u
t
l
u
C
i ng s
Outt
d
n
e
k
We e
iv al s
Fest
ent s
e Ev
c
n
a
0
ic/D
M us
5
Activities to choose from
Events or Activities You Would Like to Participate In
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number of times chosen
What needs to improve in the community?
(What do you think needs to improve in your community? Question #7)
Questions 7 through 9 gave the students the opportunity to express in their own words how they
felt about life in their communities.
‘Less violence and more safety”
“Safety”
“More police watching the playgrounds and back allies”
“The bullying”
“Violence”
“Safer community”
“Learning and less fighting”
“I think what needs to improve is the breaking into places at night”
“No gunshots”
“Thieves”
“Bullying”
“Friendliness”
“The teenagers in the park across the street”
“More block parents”
“The bullying”
“Stop bullying”
Page 48
Physical improvements and Facilities
“Get bigger parks and skate parks, more libraries”
“A CD store”
“How the community looks and what condition it is in”
“Garbage on the ground”
“More places to go”
“More playgrounds, a little but safer”
“No littering”
“The amount of garbage on the ground, it needs to be picked up”
“Sports equipment”
“Maybe a skate park”
“peoples parking”
“I think we need an ice rink somewhere, from 150th St. –110th Ave. to 156th St.-110th Ave.”
“Garbage/pollution”
“Clean up”
Social Issues
“The people”
“Less drugs”
“Bums and unemployed people asking for money”
“Drug and alcohol abuse”
“The people who party below us in the night”
“The new west hotels (north of the community), use of drugs and alcohol, and the police
authority”
“The homeless people”
“The alcohol and drugs/bullying”
“The people they let in and around the Barclay square townhouses”
Recreation
“More activities”
“I think more people exercising and having fun”
“Some more fun stuff”
“More programs and recreational activities”
“Some more fun stuff”
Positive comments
“I don’t think our community need anything to be improved”
“Nothing, I love my community”
Peer Pressure
“People need to start making better choices for who they hang out with”
“For the people to stop doing stuff that other people are doing because everyone else is doing
it”
Page 49
What young people need..
(What do you think the young people in our community need? Question #8 Surveys)
Programs/Activities
“I think young kids need more exercise”
“Wrist rockets and paint balls
“They need more fun and stuff to do”
“I think they need more fun stuff to do”
“More sports and less drugs”
“Free programs to join”
“Young people in our community need more stuff to do like play games, and get outside”
“More friends, more things to do”
“Sport activities”
“Something to do to keep them out of trouble, like some kind of fun house”
“Young people need to be able to have fun things to do after school”
“More things to do so they don’t start trouble”
“More recreation”
“Free, fun things” , “I think more activities”
“Attention”, “Supervision”
Facilities
“More playgrounds, safer places, safe at night, more street lights”
“More parks and places to play”
“Someone to hangout with”
“More fun activities”
“Fun places to go, money”
“Arcade”
“Maybe like a boys and girls club really close to home”
“Friendly friends and good education for school”
More and better parks ”;“ Skate Park
“Somewhere to hang out like the band”
“Somewhere safe and fun to hang out with friends”
“Indoor skate park”
“Playgrounds and parks”
“A Boys & Girls Club”
Social Issues
“Bodyguards for the bullying”
“Someone to hangout with”
“I think we need more jobs and transportation”
“Young people need education”
“To stop doing drugs”
“Help”
“A better education”
“The bullies need to stop pushing people around”
“More money”
“Safer area”
“More attention and opportunity”
“The young people should stop drinking and smoking”; “Lots of money”
Page 50
What young people want to happen for young people…
(What would you like to see happen for the young people in your community? Question
#9 Survey)
“Stop Violence/ happy, healthy, safe”
“To be more friendly”
“For them to be walking around in clusters of friends”
“To see them grow up good and healthy”
“To be safe, to be cared for”
“Safer community”
“To stand up for what is right and not letting older kids push you around”
“Stop the violence at night”
“Less drugs”
“Less violence”
“The police circling around so they can see what is happening”
“Seeing everyone smile and having fun, not fighting and making fun of people”
Social Issues
“More trust with parents”
“Stop the drugs and alcohol”
“Stop the alcohol and drugs”
“To stop drugs like marijuana”
“For them to stop drinking and smoking and sometimes stop killing people”
“Bad people behind bars”
Facilities/structural up grades
“To have a place where you can ride your bike or skateboards, such as skate parks and a
track”
“To get rid of the motel on the north end of the community”
“More parks”
“Have a place to go when you’re board on the weekends”
“Being safer, safe at night, have more fun with playgrounds”
“A skate park being built for the skateboarders”
“I would like to see them play on a new, bigger park”
“Better Playgrounds!”
“Bigger parks”
Programs/Activities
“Go outside more”
“More team sports”
“More sports”
“Have fun”
“Young people need to get outside instead of being inside and watching TV all day”
“I would like to see us being good role models so the younger kids will behave good”
“Dances more often and contests”
“Umm, having like a young kid get taught by older kids”
“Volunteer” ; “More friendships!”; “Place to hang out”
Page 51
Wanting a better education for themselves/seeing into the future for
employment
“Getting good school marks”
“Get better grades”
“Nicer houses and clothing”
“To be able to get a good paying job that’s not a fast food place”
“Live happy”
“Get a job, go to school”
“I would like to see some of them go to better homes”
“Smaller classes and more teachers/student teacher help”
Page 52
4.0 Recommendations and Fusions Response
“These kids have potential; they have something
deep down inside that somebody needs to bring out”
In response to the findings of the research, Fusion acknowledges the need to build
social capital. To do that we need to create opportunities for people to serve and trust
being served, therefore Fusion makes the following recommendations to the city, local
churches, community organisations, police, community leagues, schools and
community members…
Recommendation 1
That a youth and community resource centre be established in these four communities
as a hub of community connection. With a future view of growing into a Community
Centre that services people of all ages with positive programs, connection, education
and access to available resources and support services. This initiative aims to support
particularly vulnerable people in the community such as; single parents, the homeless,
and the elderly, children and young people of all cultural backgrounds.
Recommendation 2
That there be greater networking, communication and cooperation between
organisations and services that serve the west end communities.
Recommendation 3
That the City choose to fund relevant programs which support community connection
and address issues of familylessness in the community. This, in our view, will be indirectly
addressing the issues of substance abuse, violence and other issues which come from
this lack of critical support networks.
Recommendation 4
To provide venues and low cost programs for junior high and high school kids. Some
suggestions are:
1 Low cost or free recreation and sports activities
2 Positive adult role modelling/mentoring and connection
3 Assistance with homework and school work
4 Life skills and drug awareness programs
5 Programs addressing bullying
Recommendation 5
For the city and business owners to take cooperative initiative by undergoing research
on Stony Plain Road to seek out the positive and negative affects of their businesses on
the surrounding area. The intention being to find next steps to help it become an
enjoyable and safe place for all to be.
Page 53
Recommendation 6
That schools open their facilities to serve the wider community through sports, recreation
and community programs.
Recommendation 7
To provide leadership training for students that then become part of a community wide
Youth Team to give the young people a voice in proactively and positively contributing
to the community.
Recommendation 8
Address bullying related issues by running a program in schools which names
values and enacts them across the school community.
Recommendation 9
To establish an Industry based mentoring program that will allow older people to
support the young people by teaching them life skills and to be industrious.
Recommendation 10
That the community leagues work to facilitate Sports and recreation programs for all
age groups (parents, youth, and children) available at a low or no cost.
Recommendation 11
That churches together bridge further into the community by actively supporting and
providing school, community league and other community building programs.
Fusion’s Response:
To provide initiatives that invite members of the community to actively participate in restoring
trust and hope in our neighbourhoods and families.
We will do this by- Continuing community festivals in partnership with willing community members.
- Networking with other organisations and services in order to connect needs to resources.
- Providing education, recreation and support initiatives for entire families.
- Further researching the specific needs of high school age young people in the area and
exploring responses to these.
- Building teams to work with junior high age young people and upper elementary kids through
low cost, informal sports and recreational programs.
- Seeking to restore the community centre model that links families, individuals, youth and
seniors through supportive programs.
Page 54
5.0 People Interviewed
Thank you to all those below who gave their time to be interviewed. Your willingness to voice your
opinions and ideas made this research project possible.
Kiesha Anderson
Trish Armstrong
Dennis Aronyk
Chris Arsenault
Valene Auger
Leslie Berry
Cathy Bible
Harvey Borrows
Normie Carlson
Kristy Chaisson
Lynda Chaplin
Kyle Dubé
Martin Dugas
Cst. Jason Forbes
Rev. Richard Frotten
Donna Ganpatt
Janice Gargus
Joan Gibson
Amanda Harry
Karen Holmes
Trish Kolotyluk
Karen Leibovici
Tim MacMillan
Eddie Mah
Lori Mentz
Dr. Bruce Miller
David Morris
Mark Muir
Beth Murray
Caz Nazaire
Cindy Nerling
Carole Raketti
Jared Robinson
Brad Rosaasen
Petrina Runke
Rebekah Schindel
Rebecca Smith
Ken Spillett
Anna Stachal
Charmaine Thomas
James Thompson
Cheryl Whiskeyjack
Supporting Interviews:
Sheldon Arends
Kristy Chaisson
Tony & Janice Friesen
Peter Jonkman
Gabe Mancini
Beth Matheson
Rena Methuen
Bethel United Church (Apostolic), Assistant Youth Leader
Community Member
Revolution Cycle, Owner & Manager
Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Director of Services
Bent Arrow, Program Manager
Community Member
Brightview Elementary School, Principal
Bent Arrow, Family Aid
Keyano College, Instructor
Kids on Track, Program Co-ordinator
Community Member, Mother
YOUCAN, Program Manager
Goodwill Store (Stony Plain Road), Manager
Edmonton Police Service, Local Beat Officer
Westmount Presbyterian Church, Minister
Vineyard Church, Outreach Worker
High Park Community League, Vice-President
High Park Elementary School, Principal
Boys & Girls Club, Youth & Family Service Worker
Dollar Store, Employee
Britannia Junior High School, Guidance Counsellor
City of Edmonton, Counsellor, Ward 1
Community Member, Father
Britannia Junior High School, Former Acting Principal
Britannia Grocery Store, Owner
Member of Legislative Assembly, Edmonton Glenora
Britannia Junior High School, Principal
Sit & Chat Caribbean Café, Owner
Beulah Alliance Church, Care Ministries
Howard Johnson Hotel, Sales Director
Kinder House Daycare, Owner
Magicland Daycare, Staff
Boys & Girls Club, Staff
Gospel Centre Pentecostal Church, Youth Pastor
Youth Emergency Shelter-START House, Case Worker
Community Member, Mother
A Helping Hand, General Manager
Youngstown Elementary School, Principal
Youngstown Child Care Centre, Owner
Magicland Daycare, Owner & Manager
Boys & Girls Club, Former Director of West End Location
Bent Arrow, Program Manager
The Core, Youth Worker
Kids on Track, Program Co-ordinator
Overcomers Victorious Ministries, Pastors
Britannia Junior High School, Retired Principal
Mayfield Elementary School, Principal
Page 55
6.0 References
Bowler Wanchuk. Volunteers, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues , Lone Pine
Publishing Edmonton Alberta 1986.
Herzog, Lawrence. “Early Days of Jasper Place” Edmonton Real Estate Weekly, Vol. 23,
Iss. 45 November 13, 2005
Kuban, Ron. Edmonton’s Urban Villages: The Community League Movement,
Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 2005
www.edmonton.ca
7.0 Fusion Canada Contact Details
Fusion Canada Youth and Community
16030 – 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5N 2S4
Phone: (780) 481.7333
[email protected]
Page 56
Fax: (780) 421.7304
www.fusioncanada.ca
8.0 Appendices
8.1 Interview Questions
1. a) What is your position or positions within this community?
b) How long have you lived and or worked in this community?
c) What types of services do you access within this community? For example, shopping,
recreation, entertainment, food, etc.
2. a) What have you seen change in the area over the time that you’ve been here for?
b) Tell us about how you find this community, what is the general feel of the area?
c) How would you describe the levels of trust, communication, and connectedness?
d) What do you appreciate about this community, what are the strengths to celebrate?
e) What are some of the challenges you face living in this community?
f) What in the community can be strengthened?
3. a) What do you see as some of the challenges that the young people
(K-12) of this community face? For example cultural issues, family dynamics etc.
b) How and where have you seen the young people from this area spending their spare
time, both inside and outside of this community?
4. a) What programs, organizations, services or resources do you know of that are available for
young people?
b) What do you think the strengths and weaknesses are of these programs?
5. Networking question =What do you see as your role, in working with young people
6. Imagine you had unlimited resources and a team of youth and community workers at your
disposal.... what would be your plan, your dream for the future of:
- This community’s young people
- The community as a whole
7. a.) What do you see as the local churches role for assisting this community?
b.) The city’s role?
c.) The schools’ role?
d.) The community league’s role?
8. What’s the general public perception of this community and how does the media affect this
perception?
9. Who else do you suggest we interview?
10. What do you think life is like for?
- The elderly
- Younger kids, older kids
- Single parents
- Aboriginals
Page 57
8.2 Questionnaire to Young People
HAVE YOUR SAY !
If you are between 10 & 25 years of age this is your chance to say what you think young
people in West Edmonton need!
1.) What community do you live in? circle one:
-High Park
-Britannia
-Canora
-Mayfield
-Other Please list:_____________________________________
2.) What is the general feel of your community?
Circle the ones that best describes your community:
-Unsafe
-Safe during daylight but not at night -Always safe
-Friendly
-Fun
-Comfortable
-Pleasant -Scary -Unfriendly
-Other Please List:_____________________________________
3.) How do you spend your time after school and on weekends? Circle that you do the most:
- Hanging Out
- Watching videos
- Swimming
- Computer/video games
- Events
-Skating
- Parks/playground
- Stores/shops
- Internet/MSN
- Friends/family
- Community Hall
- Playing Sports
- Other Please list:______________________________________
4.) Circle the areas that you think young people in this community struggle with today (circle
as many as necessary):
-Family
-Authority figures (ex: teachers, police)
-Bullying
-Drugs & Alcohol
-Boredom
-Finding Work
-School marks
-Transportation
-Money
-Friends
-Feeling depressed/down
-Peer Pressure
-Other Please list:________________________________________
5.) Do you live with your:
-Mother & Father
-Mother
-Father
-Friends -Foster Home
-Group Home
-Family member (Grandma/Grandpa, auntie/uncle)
-Other Please list:_________________________________________
6.) What kinds of events or activities would you most like to participate in? Circle 3 favourites
- Music/dance events
- Competitions
- Festivals (ex. Food, comedy)
- Sports/recreational activities
- Weekend Outings
- Website design/online projects
- cultural events
- Workshops (ex. Poetry, drama, writing, film, theatre or media projects)
- Other Please list:_________________________________________
7.) What do you think needs to improve in your community?
8.) What do you think young people in our community need?
9.) What would YOU like to see happen for the young people in your community?
☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
Thank you for participating in this survey!
☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
Page 58
8.3 About the Researchers
Our team consists of the following group of dedicated and kingdom hearted people. They are
either active members of Fusion Canada or volunteers with the organization. At the time of the
research project they all lived in Edmonton area and are acquainted with the communities
that our research covers through the festivals and programs that Fusion Canada has provided
to these communities over the past two years.
Krystalyn d’Haene- Has completed her Certificate in Youth and Community Work (Christian)
and is now studying her Diploma in Youth and Community Work through Fusion.
David Mackenzie- Has been working full time with Fusion for just over a year and is apart of the
Fusion Alberta Leadership team. He will soon be on his way to Australia to study Certificate in
Youth and Community Work (Christian).
Amanda Hansen- Was a youth minister at a church in St. Albert as well as a full time mom and
has been volunteering with Fusion for over a year.
Michael Parker- Graduated from high school last spring and will soon be going to Australia to
study Certificate in Youth and Community Work (Christian).
Ashley Hansen- Has completed her Certificat4 in Youth and Community Work (Christian) and is
now studying her Diploma in Youth and Community Work through Fusion. She has also taken
on the role of program coordinator for Fusion Alberta and is apart of the Fusion Canada
leadership team.
Paul Robertson- Fusion Canada’s National Coordinator who is currently in Australia studying
Certificate in Youth and Community Work (Christian).
Heather Robertson- Has completed her Certificate in Youth and Community Work (Christian)
and is now studying her Diploma in Youth and Community Work in Ballarat, Australia.
Naomi Querengesser- A Fusion Canada team member who has a Certificate in Computer
Office Support. She has been a part of our Fusion team for over two years.
Janelle Goward- Is an elementary teacher in Edmonton but has taken time away to study
Certificate 4 in Youth and Community Work (Christian) in Australia and will then be returning
home to Kelowna with her family.
Elaine Greidanus- A graduate student in Psychology at the University Of Alberta, who’s been
involved with Fusion Canada as a volunteer.
Susan Robertson- This Architectural Technologist is currently in Australia studying Certificate in
Youth and Community Work (Christian).
Darlene Robertson- A registered nurse, office manager, and Fusion Canada’s National
Secretary who has been involved with our organization for over two years.
Liz Garvin- A full time Fusion International worker who has come a long way to support our
Canadian team. Prior to doing her Certificate and Diploma in Youth and Community Work
(Christian) she was an elementary school teacher.
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8.4 Special Thanks goes to:
All those who participated in interviews
The photography team: Chanell Rittenhouse, Gordon Howell, and Amanda Hansen
TJ Kruk for helping design invitations for research launch and helping with research launch.
John Latten and Paul Robertson for all their helpful comments and editing pointers
Liz Garvin for all her encouragement, support and for her positive attitude.
Zenocopy
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