or higher resolution - Victoria Cool Aid Society

BUILDING
HOMES, LIVES
AND COMMUNITY
ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 13
1
DEDICATED TO DON MCCONNELL (1949-2013)
Back in 1992, Don found the need to stay at our Streetlink Shelter for a week or two. Not content with receiving
something for nothing, he did whatever he could to help us keep the shelter clean and organized during his stay. Even
after he found a place of his own, Don continued to volunteer his time working hard in our kitchen and anywhere else he
was needed. For more than 20 years Don came to work with Cool Aid. He received no pay and inspired us all with his
dedication, his work ethic and his proud determination.
In 2009, we recognized Don’s extraordinary work with a plaque dedication and an honourary membership in the Cool
Aid Society. Publicly, he downplayed it all, but we think he appreciated the gesture just the same. In 2011, after much
convincing, he moved into Cool Aid’s Olympic Vista seniors building where he lived very happily until his death this May.
Don accepted only the slightest assistance and repaid our efforts a hundred times. He was a friend, a colleague and an
uncommon man. He is dearly missed.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
4
Board Chair and Executive Director’s Report
6
Cool Aid Backgrounder
8
Building Homes
11
Building Lives
15
Building Community
18
Financial Highlights
20
Independent Auditors’ Report
22
Governance of Victoria Cool Aid Society
23
Donors, Funders and Partners
26
Individual and Monthly Donors
Cover Photo (Kneeling man), Lyle Stafford,
Times Colonist, Copyright © 2012
OUR VISION IS
THAT NO ONE IS
FORCED TO SLEEP
ON THE STREET
OR GO HUNGRY
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BUILDING HOMES, LIVES AND COMMUNITY
ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 13
BOARD CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
BY BRADLEY CLARK AND KATHY STINSON
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Management Team, we are pleased to
report that we have had a productive year, building homes, lives and community in
the Capital Region. Still going strong after 45 years, Victoria Cool Aid Society remains
steadfast in our mission to end homelessness in Greater Victoria, committed to
working compassionately with the thousands of individuals in our community who are
struggling with mental illness, addictions, head injuries, trauma and poverty.
Thanks to the energy, expertise and commitment of Cool Aid’s staff and partners, the
generosity of our volunteers and donors and the continuing support of our funders,
this year we have been able to:
• Open the doors to 23 additional homes within Swift House, our first and now largest
supported housing building with 49 apartments in total
• Welcome an additional 1,123 new patients to the Access Health Centre and deliver
more than 36,400 primary health and dental care appointments
• Provide over 53,200 shelter bed nights and 119,000 hot meals to 1,598 individual
shelter residents and help 174 of them obtain housing
• Receive 390 new clients into the Casual Labour Pool, connecting 327 individuals to
jobs, helping them live better lives
• Lay the groundwork for Cottage Grove Apartments, our next supported housing
project – 45 new homes in Saanich for seniors!
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Cool Aid continued to proactively respond to the ongoing challenges in our
community, adding resources to key areas, enabling us to:
• Provide 40 seasonal shelter mats from November through March utilizing
the basement of the St. John the Divine Anglican Church
• Expand the operating hours of our pharmacy to match those of the Cool Aid
medical clinic, increasing access to medication by 25% for Health Centre
patients
On behalf of the Board and the Management Team, we extend our heartfelt
thanks and appreciation to all staff. You assist the people we serve to transform
buildings into homes and work 24/7 to help our clients, tenants and patients
to build better lives for themselves. It is through your compassionate actions
that Cool Aid continues to reach out to those most in need of our help, building
a better community for all of us who call Greater Victoria home.
• Implement our own in-house meals program for our three seniors housing
buildings, especially delighting the tenants of Hillside Terrace
• Increase the availability of harm reduction supplies to clients within our
shelter program
• Reduce the Dental Clinic waitlist from six months to three by opening on
Saturdays
These and other successes will be highlighted in the pages that follow. Our
annual report this year has a refreshed look, with more emphasis on telling
our story -- the stories of the people who work for us, and the stories of the
people we work with every day. Some of these stories will lift your spirits and
some may break your hearts; all of them will move you.
To our Management Team and Board colleagues – your continued guidance,
support and confidence is an incredible gift – thank you!
Kathy Stinson
Executive Director
Bradley Clark
Board Chair
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COOL AID BACKGROUNDER
BUILDING HOMES, LIVES AND COMMUNITY
Cool Aid creates opportunities for people who are homeless
or living in poverty. We make a difference through housing,
health care, support and emergency shelters. Founded in
1968, Cool Aid helps over 10,000 people in the Capital Region
every year. Our vision is that no one is forced to sleep on the
street or go hungry; everyone who needs supportive housing
gets it; integrated health services to treat illness and promote
wellness are available; and integrated services are provided to
those with mental health and addiction challenges.
Supportive Housing
At Cool Aid, we believe that the provision of safe, secure and supportive
housing is the key to ending homelessness and helping people improve their
lives. Cool Aid housing includes a full spectrum of supports geared to each
person’s needs, to help them manage challenges related to poverty, addictions,
mental health, head injuries, aging, the justice system and other concerns.
We operate 351 apartments in ten buildings located in Victoria, Saanich and
Langford, including three seniors buildings, and plan to open 360 more by
2018.
Cool Aid also operates the Downtown Community Centre, which offers free
and low-cost community activities and facility rentals that focus on healthy
living, health promotion and social diversity.
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Emergency Shelter
and Transitional Housing
Cool Aid’s shelter programs provide the very basic of needs to people
experiencing homelessness in Greater Victoria: shelter, food and hygiene,
and also offer 23 transitional apartments for residents who are working on
stabilizing their lives. The shelters provide a link to other Cool Aid services
such as the Dental Clinic, Casual Labour Pool and healthy recreation, and
other community services like Our Place and Detox. In 2012, Cool Aid
sheltered 1,598 people using the 124 permanent beds in Rock Bay Landing
(the main shelter), Sandy Merriman House for women, and Next Steps
Transitional Shelter. Cool Aid also partners with other organizations to
provide additional emergency shelter mats for adults and youth during the
cold and wet winter months.
Community Health Services
The Cool Aid Community Health Centre creates an environment of
trust and mutual respect between the staff and the over 4,000 patients
we serve. Through an innovative, team-based approach, services are
designed to reduce the significant barriers facing the downtown population
accessing traditional health services. A highlight of the unique service
delivery at the Centre is shared care. For example, a nurse practitioner,
nurse clinicians, physicians, mental health and addictions counsellors,
nutritionist, acupuncturist, pharmacist, dentist and dental hygienist, and
visiting specialists, such as psychiatrists, are all possible points of entry into
accessing comprehensive, primary health care.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
As we work to build homes, lives and community, Cool Aid is guided in its
endeavours by a three-year strategic plan based on the balanced scorecard
methodology.
Our prime objective (below) is the lens we use to identify what we need to do
and how we need to do it, articulated in the plan as 20 strategic objectives,
a number of which are highlighted in the following pages.
Quarterly and annually, we report on our progress in meeting our strategic
objectives, using the yardstick of some three dozen performance measures
and targets. An annual balanced scorecard report to the community has been
published on our website every summer since 2006/07 and can be found at
www.CoolAid.org/planning.
PRIME OBJECTIVE
In partnership with others, Cool Aid will end homelessness in
Greater Victoria by 2018 while improving client quality of life.
The REES Program (Resources, Education, Employment & Support)
provides support to hundreds of clients who are living with mental health,
addictions and related challenges through a wide variety of peer-driven
programs including: employment and volunteer opportunities, Every Step
Counts running and walking program, a resource centre and outreach and
peer support workers.
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
• This year, 26 tenants who were formerly homeless were provided with new
homes in the 23 new apartments created out of the old Streetlink Shelter
downtown.
• Shortly after releasing a “Procurement Action Plan” on how the community
can end homelessness by 2018, the Coalition to End Homelessness chose
Cool Aid’s apartment building proposals as three of five priority projects to
end homelessness in the region. The projects we have been advancing are:
1.Cottage Grove in Saanich, with 45 apartments for seniors. The land was
secured this year. $500,000 more in private contributions are needed,
plus $6 million in government funds, before construction can begin.
BUILDING HOMES
Not surprisingly, the key to ending homelessness is to provide homes
for people with nowhere to live. This section highlights some of the
ways that Cool Aid’s Housing, Shelter and Health Care programs have
been building homes and helping people to find and keep housing this
year, often by working closely with other organizations.
Cool Aid’s housing practice combines the principle of harm reduction
with a “housing first” approach. We help our tenants make personal
growth with a focus on building relationships and trust. When tenants
are ready, they are supported in working on the more difficult issues in
their lives, such as addictions and mental health.
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2.Cedar Grove is a redevelopment project on Gorge Road, Victoria, which
will be expanded from 21 apartments to accommodate 60 tenants
living with mental health and addiction challenges. Local contributions
needed, including local government, are $2 million.
3.Central Gardens in Victoria is a proposal to transform the existing
seniors’ Central Care Home on Johnson Street into 140 apartments for
people who have been homeless and low-income singles. This facility
is currently owned by the Baptist Housing Society and will need to be
purchased and renovated after their residents are transferred to a new
facility in Saanich. The amount of local contributions needed has not yet
been determined.
• Thanks to contributions from the United Way, City of Victoria, CRD, BC
Housing and the Government of Canada, re-construction was completed at
Queens Manor (a former Travellers Inn) in October 2012, and all 36 suites
were fully renovated with new kitchenettes, electrical, fresh paint, new
blinds and flooring. The common area has also seen many improvements.
Cool Aid is now able to provide our tenants with a bike lock up, a large
common room with pool table, community resource information boards
and a tenant phone.
“We wish to thank all staff for your compassion and goodwill following the
death of our Chris. We will never forget the wonderful ceremony held on
May 4th; it will go a long way in our healing process. Many of Chris’ good
qualities, and there were many, come out in the stories and consoling words
– makes us proud. We came away from the experience having learned how
much love and caring the staff at The Landing has for their clients. It is heart
warming to know Chris was around such extraordinary individuals. In our
view, you are heroes! Thank you so much for all you did for our son, Chris.”
– Parents of a deceased Rock Bay Landing resident
• The Community Access to Supportive Housing (CASH) program came
to fruition on May 15, 2012. CASH brings housing providers like Cool Aid
together to form a common pool of apartments. The selection committee is
composed of service providers who are familiar with the clients to focus on
placing individuals in buildings where they have the best chance of thriving.
As the CASH process did not create new housing for clients, it draws our
attention again to the need for more supportive and subsidized housing in
the Capital Region.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
IMPROVE SERVICE INTEGRATION; STRENGTHEN SERVICE EXPERIENCE
• Cool Aid’s REES Program, which supports people living with mental health
and addiction challenges, is a partner in the “Community Split Program,”
in which several community agencies pool funds to assist people facing
unexpected crises related to their housing and/or finances, frequently
putting them at imminent risk of homelessness. By providing cost-effective,
small grants to pay bills, eviction and homelessness are prevented.
• Shelters ran several “Ready to Rent” courses this year, teaching people
without apartments how to plan for better housing, to know what landlords
look for in choosing a tenant, budgeting skills, and rental reference
requirements to improve their ability to find and keep an apartment. Dozens
of people from the program subsequently found rental accommodation.
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BUILDING HOMES
J’s Story (Next Steps Resident)
I have spent seven years of my life on the streets of
Victoria, mostly under a bridge. Life was hard, life was
cold. I had tried to make the transition from streets to
housing before. Unfortunately, I never had the resources
to stay in housing nor the skills for the job to pay my bills.
At the beginning of this last attempt to get off the streets
I heard about this place called Next Steps run by the
Cool Aid Society. What they had to offer was exactly
what would help me do the transition properly. I will be
attending school while staying at Next Steps. I will be
gaining the skill set to get a job that will pay the bills and
that I will thoroughly enjoy.
The impact of all of this will be far reaching and impact
my life in such a tremendous way. Next Steps is offering a
chance to produce positive, outstanding people who used
to think they had no chance. Next Steps has a lot to offer
me and any person wanting to make the best change one
can make. From under a bridge to under a roof.
www.CoolAid.org/next
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BUILDING LIVES
One of the unique aspects of Cool Aid is the holistic approach the organization takes towards each
individual and the many programs we offer to help them build a better life. Whether a client is a patient
at the Access Health Centre, a housing tenant, a Labour Pool worker, a drop-in hockey participant at
the Downtown Community Centre, or a woman staying at Sandy Merriman House, our professional
staff helps assess their needs and offers assistance and guidance to other programs that can help.
We believe in the power of individuals to change their lives and are there to help.
YEAR AT A GLANCE
• Cool Aid’s Shelter, Housing and Every Step Counts running/walking programs served over 175,000
nutritious meals and snacks this year.
• The old kitchen at the converted-to-housing Streetlink shelter was upgraded and became the central
hub for the preparation of seniors meals for Langford, Victoria and Saanich buildings. Red Seal Chef
Ron Curran created a 28-day rotation meal plan balancing comfort and taste with nutrition and value.
Seniors in Cool Aid supportive housing are delighted with the results.
• Participation in monthly housing meetings for our 375 tenants grew significantly. Discussions include:
tenant rights and responsibilities, working collaboratively with staff, safety issues, processes for
resolving issues, concerns, programs and services, and opportunities to voice opinions and ideas
about how to build community and Cool Aid programs.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE
“I am always crying or trying to hold
back tears of gratitude when I’m here
XOXO. It’s truly/literally lifesaving, lifeenhancing especially with my son’s
critical/precarious health.”
– Mother of Dental Clinic patient
• Two former tenants are up for a “Heart Award” for making positive changes to their lives. The
twin brothers were among the campers on Pandora Avenue when Cool Aid first welcomed them
to Queens Manor, formerly a Travellers Inn. Cool Aid worked with VIHA’s Downtown ACT team to
provide support and encourage them to take treatment for their intravenous drug addictions. They
are now in recovery and living in stable housing.
• The Health Centre’s hepatitis C group expanded to include a second weekly group, also facilitated
by a patient and nurse. Participants get prepared for the very difficult hepatitis treatments and
are supported through them. (This “group medicine” is also a very cost-effective way of providing
maximum support for patients.)
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
EXPAND HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES
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• The PORT (Palliative Outreach Team) is a collaborative team comprised of
different community agencies, including a nurse and doctor from Cool Aid,
which provides home visits and coordinates care for patients who are at the
end of their life.
BUILDINGLIVES
LIVES
BUILDING
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
IMPROVE SERVICE INTEGRATION; STRENGTHEN SERVICE EXPERIENCE
• Both the REES Program and the Downtown Community Centre started new
courses this year to teach computer literacy skills which are focused on
helping participants gain a very basic comfort and familiarity with computers
and the internet and to reduce their fear/reluctance to use a computer. The
programs are facilitated by staff and volunteers. Volunteers also keep the
computer room running at Rock Bay Landing shelter.
• This year, the Dental Clinic cut the waiting period for new patients from six
months to three months by the addition of a Saturday morning clinic. At
the same time, the number of patient visits increased by 176 this year. The
Dental Clinic remains hard to fund and is in constant need of donations to
pay for patient services.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
ACCELERATE ACCESS TO SERVICE
“I’m the wuss that came in earlier and had
that wisdom tooth extracted and a cleaning.
Could you please thank everyone who I came
in contact with there today for making me feel
comfortable and for helping me get through.
It’s hard for me and you guys are absolutely
amazing and I have nothing but good to say
about you all.”
- Dental patient Paul
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• Nursing volunteers provide much-needed foot care to residents and clients at
Rock Bay Landing every month. Thank you!
• The Community Kitchen Program became an important “core program” at
the Downtown Community Centre this year. The Kitchen provides youth
and adults with basic food preparation, nutrition and food buying skills.
Participants make and share a meal together and take some home, along
with the recipes. A small give-away food program also started this year at the
Community Centre.
• Downtown Community Centre employee Miranda Lane won the “Local
Food Champion” prize this year for food security initiatives.
“It’s been a privilege working with you all. It is a true gift to be
able to open your heart to the pain and hardship of others, yet
this is what each and every one of us does on a regular basis at
Cool Aid. Never underestimate the impact love like this has on
the world. Light trumps darkness, every time.”
– Former staff member
• Nurses and doctors from the Cool Aid Community Health Centre make
regular visits to Cool Aid Housing and Shelter buildings, many of our partner
organizations such as the Native Friendship Centre, and even “take it to the
street” to make sure everyone needing health care receives it. Nurse and
doctor visits reduce trips to the emergency room and provide convenient,
frequent contact with a medical practitioner.
• Shelter residents and clients have been stepping up as volunteers. Next
Steps residents returned this year to volunteer at Rock Bay Landing and
enjoyed giving back. Volunteers at Rock Bay have taken charge of the
vegetable garden which is resulting in wonderful, fresh produce for all to
enjoy at meal times. “Clean Teams” continued cleaning up the Rock Bay
and Sandy Merriman neighbourhoods this year, with participants receiving
training and an honorarium.
• Many Cool Aid clients are artistic and this year has seen a lot of growth in the
arts offerings provided including: poetry workshops in the shelters, weekly
art classes at Rock Bay Landing, a weekly writing group at Sandy Merriman
House for women, various offerings at the Downtown Community Centre,
and arts activities in seniors’ and other supportive housing buildings – even
cartooning and mandala drawing.
• Ensuring that all Shelter sites are both inclusive and welcoming to all
individuals has been a focus in 2012/2013. External facilitators reviewed a new
Inclusion Policy and offered recommendations and feedback regarding the
LGBTQ2S communities. Cool Aid followed up with their recommendations
and hosted two PRISM facilitators who led a discussion with the whole
Shelter program team about how to best welcome transgendered clients.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
IMPROVE SERVICE INTEGRATION; STRENGTHEN SERVICE EXPERIENCE
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BUILDING LIVES
Ending homelessness is daunting, but it’s the right thing to do.
Since the seniors’ supportive housing building Olympic Vista opened two years
ago, Senior Housing Worker James Slack has worked with colleagues and tenants
to create a supportive environment, “in a way that we had folks of a similar mind,
who wanted to be part of a community.”
“We have put a lot of effort into finding folks who would buy into it, and also our
staff, who have put a lot of effort into creating an environment which is very social,
very positive, encouraging and respectful,” he said.
Ask him why – why does it make sense to invest in facilities that get people off the
street, providing them with safe secure places where they can stabilize and get
some help establishing healthy lifestyles – and he touches on two themes: moral
and social responsibility.
“First and foremost, living in the country that we live in, we’ve got some moral
responsibility to folks to keep them at a reasonable standard of life,” he said. “When
you get to know who these people are, you realize that they are very similar to
anybody else… any one of us can have these issues at any point in our lives.
“Once you hear the stories, and find out where they’re at, you realize that, frankly,
they have the same goals and desires that we do, and for some reason along the
way they have fallen by the wayside.”
Then there’s the bottom line rationale: Socially, it makes more sense to provide a
basic standard of living to those who find themselves destitute and homeless than
to leave them to fend for themselves.
“It’s a lot more expensive if you have to take someone through the health care
system than to have housing so they can take care of themselves,” James said.
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BUILDING COMMUNITY
Cool Aid builds community with every person housed, with every arts and
life skills course delivered, with every dollar saved through the provision
of services that reduce demands on more costly public services such as
police and hospitals.
Cool Aid builds community by working with dozens of partner organizations
and government bodies; by providing meaningful opportunities for clients
and other members of the community to volunteer or work; by sharing our
stories and knowledge at public events and conferences, helping others
learn about what can be done to end homelessness and improve our
community’s quality of life.
When Victoria Cool Aid Society is building homes and lives we are also
building the community we all love so dearly.
YEAR AT A GLANCE
• In partnership with the United Way and Umbrella Society, the REES Program
developed and delivered the Community Volunteer Training Program. This
year, this eight-week program delivered mental health and addictions training
to more than 90 volunteers from approximately 40 non-profit health and
social service agencies. This training increases the capacity of volunteers to
understand and support vulnerable populations facing multiple challenges
related to mental illness, addictions, poverty and social isolation.
• Many individuals wish to learn more about resources in the community but
often feel reluctant or overwhelmed to inquire or visit on their own. Cool
Aid’s REES Program now facilitates monthly casual and friendly group tours
to local community agencies to find out about the programs and services
offered.
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• Cool Aid employees were honoured with the 2012 United Way
Community Spirit Award for outstanding Employee Giving Campaign.
Staff pledged over $18,000 to the United Way this year.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY; BE A GOOD PARTNER
• Forty Every Step Counts runners and walkers took part in the TC 10K this
year. The Cool Aid/Victoria Foundation program took first place in the nonprofit category and was one of the charities of choice for the event bringing
in over $2,500 in pledges.
• This year, Narcotics Anonymous has been renting a meeting room in the
basement of Mike Gidora Place. Several Cool Aid tenants participating in
the meetings have experienced good support in their recovery.
• This year, Shelters partnered with VIHA harm reduction services to become
secondary distribution sites for harm reduction materials to improve client
access to health-related supplies. AIDS Vancouver Island outreach workers
visit some Housing clients in their apartments, which provides opportunities
for the frank one-on-one communication that is an essential part of harm
reduction services.
• Cool Aid annually sponsors three Camosun College Department of
Community, Family & Child Studies awards; supporting new career
graduates that are entering the community social services sector.
• This year, Rock Bay Landing started working with Lifecycles Society
and members of the Good Neighbour Liaison Committee (City, Vic PD,
Burnside Gorge Community Association) to develop a garden across the
street from the shelter to beautify the area and provide food.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR
• Again this Christmas, the Society was overwhelmed with the generosity
of the community. Dozens of individuals, churches and businesses gave
generously to make sure that the spirit of Christmas was appreciated by
our low-to no-income clients. Thank you for touching our hearts.
• Shelters received a generous grant from the Victoria Foundation to create
client “start up kits” (basic furniture, kitchen supplies, toiletries, etc.)
which contain the very basic necessities for setting up a new home. Each
“kit” costs about $400 and improves the chances of a new tenant staying
housed successfully.
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
SUPPORTS OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO:
EXPAND HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES
“It took me a year of slow recovery, where I gradually started
trusting myself to convalesce from the depression and anxiety
I had become accustomed to,” remembered D.
“I depended on the Next Steps regularity of living, enabling me
to resolve issues and move to independence. Staff helped me to
trust people again, and more importantly, develop self-reliance.
Living independently for the past year, I have resurrected my
art career and have an exhibition in Europe in 2013.”
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OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FUNDING; EXPAND HEALTH &
SUPPORT SERVICES
• A registered nutritionist volunteered to offer courses on nutrition in our
shelters, which were well attended and appreciated. Another volunteer,
formerly a shelter resident, offered Tai Chi classes to “give back” in
appreciation. Dozens of community and client volunteers help out every
week. Thank you everyone.
• The staff at Sandy Merriman had a wish that the bathrooms could
have complete makeovers. By the time the $13,000 renovations were
completed there was new flooring and sub flooring, toilets, sinks,
counters, fixtures and paint. A big thanks to the businesses that made it
happen at no cost to Cool Aid: A&D Glass, Colonial Countertops, Double
“A” Painting, Gary Muir Plumbing, Hourigans, Pine Lighting, Strong
Bathrooms and lead donor/coordinator Proline Management.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
NS’s Story
I had given up on hope and all expectation. Addiction
and melancholy had won. I believed that my next
steps led only to oblivion. A counselor told me about
an unusual transitional shelter in Victoria that could
assist me if I was serious and committed to a plan.
I was frightened. I had to surrender my old ideas
about personal independence and external approval,
but such, I accepted, is the cost of transformation.
Next Steps not only provided me with food and
a warm, dry bed – it gave me hope. I now had the
means to take coursework and get therapy; to gain a
new perspective on my future. As a result, my sobriety
is strong and I am able to start giving back through
volunteer activity in the community.
The feeling here is like a family. The support team
provides wisdom and heartfelt encouragement. I feel
confident that my next steps will now have force
enough to overcome my obstacles.
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Financial Highlights
Revenue By Funding Source
Revenue Amount By Source
(Excluding Deferred Contributions)
BC Housing
Management
$7,630,533
Vancouver Island
Health Authority
$4,077,807
Fees
Rental Income
$2,926,084
$2,001,199
Donations and Grants
$942,464
Forensic Psychiatric
Services Commission
$693,308
BC Housing Management Commission 42%
Vancouver Island Health Authority 22%
Fees 16%
Rental Income 11%
Other
$91,437
Donations and Grants 5%
Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission 4%
Other 0.5%
Funding from BC Housing Management Commission increased
from 38% to 42% of total income, while VIHA funding decreased
from 26% to 22%. All other sources remain similar to last year.
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Overall operating revenue increased by 11.6%, in part attributed
to an increase in rental income and subsidies after the addition of
the 23 housing units at Swift House and increased revenue from
the extended Pharmacy hours at the Access Health Clinic.
“I lost my housing, it was cruel, disruptive and abusive there. Now that I am here on my
own, I feel like I’m going to get better. I like the talks and laughs at Sandy Merriman House,
great insight with staff and positive feedback. This is one of the best times I’ve had here.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, love and your beautiful smiles.”
– Shelter resident
Expenditures By Program
Expenditures By Category
(Excluding Amortization Expense)
Salaries &
Benefits
$10,351,939
Program Expense &
Client Support
Building & Mortgage
Expense
Office, IT &
Communications
Other
Housing 36%
Shelters 27%
Health Services 26%
$3,874,205
$2,621,915
$436,205
$159,661
Salaries and benefits continue to be the largest expense and
increased by 8.2% over last year, in part due to increased
staffing levels. Total expenses increased proportionate to
revenue by just over 11.3%.
Administration 7%
Support Programs 4%
Management maintained its administration costs at 7%;
well below the sector target of 10%.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
To: The Board of Directors of The Victoria Cool Aid Society
Report on Summary Financial Statements
The accompanying summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement
of financial position as at March 31, 2013 and the summary statement of operations for the
year then ended, are derived from the audited financial statements of The Victoria Cool Aid
Society for the year ended March 31, 2013. We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on those
financial statements in our report dated June 19, 2013.
The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Canadian
accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Reading the summary financial statements,
therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial statements of The Victoria Cool
Aid Society.
Management’s Responsibility for the Summary Financial Statements.
Management is responsible for the preparation of a summary of the audited financial statements
in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.
Auditors’ Responsibility.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the summary financial statements based on our
procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Canadian auditing standards.
Opinion.
In our opinion, the summary financial statements derived from the audited financial statements
of The Victoria Cool Aid Society for the year ended March 31, 2013 are a fair summary of those
financial statements, in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit
organizations.
Chartered Accountants
Victoria, BC
June 19, 2013
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SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at March 31,
2013
Assets
Cash and short-term investments
SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ending March 31,
2013
Revenue
$
4,110,875
B.C. Housing Management Commission
$
7,630,532
Accounts receivable
775,962
Vancouver Island Health Authority
4,077,807
Other assets
165,649
2,918,183
Prepaid leases
743,733
Health Centre revenue
(Pharmacy and Dental)
Rental income and occupancy fees
2,001,199
Donations and grants
1,494,143
Property and equipment
31,020,346
$ 36,816,565
Liabilities and Net Assets
1,673,546
Deferred contributions
1,724,458
Long-term debt
Net Assets
693,308
Investment income and other
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Deferred contributions related to
property and equipment
Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission
7,547,627
22,282,648
3,588,286
$ 36,816,565
99,339
18,914,511
Expenses
Salaries and benefits
10,351,939
Program expense and client support
3,874,205
Building and mortgage expense
3,794,712
Office, IT, and communications
436,205
Miscellaneous
159,661
18,616,722
EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
$
297,789
2121
GOVERNANCE OF VICTORIA
COOL AID SOCIETY
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Kathy Stinson, Executive Director
John Crean, Supportive Housing Services
Irene Haigh-Gidora, Community Health Services
Don McTavish, Emergency Shelter Services
Melanie Clarke, Human Resources
Hope Roberts, Finance
Ed Jones, Information Systems
Jackie Carlé, Executive Coordinator
22
22
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bradley Clark, Chair
Investment Advisor, Raymond James Ltd.
Angela Williams CHRP, Vice Chair
Chief Operating Officer, Royal BC Museum
Rick Marshall, Secretary
Associate Director of Policy, Ministry of Health
Larry Beatty CA, Treasurer
Grant Thornton LLP
Claudia Wilimovsky, Past Chair
Independent Communications Consultant
Heather Brazier, Director
Executive Lead, Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
Norman Gidney, Director
Retired Business Journalist
Drew Mildon, Director
Lawyer & Partner, Woodward and Company
Arleen Paré MSW, MA, MFA, Director
Retired Social Worker
DONORS, FUNDERS AND
PARTNERS
Anonymous Donors
Many of you prefer to make your gifts without fanfare or praise and some
of your gifts are spectacularly generous. A special thank you to the many
individual and corporate donors who prefer to give quietly and who are truly
making a difference for people living without homes and in severe poverty
in the Capital Region. Thank you so very much for your heartfelt generosity.
Please feel free to call anytime. Your anonymity will be respected.
Alan Rycroft, 250-383-1977 or [email protected].
Estate and Bequest Gifts
Victoria Cool Aid Society very much appreciates the thoughtfulness of
the following generous donors who are leaving a bequest for the Society
in their will. Bequests without a named purpose are used to build new
housing for people who have been homeless and to support the Cool Aid
Endowment at Victoria Foundation. For information on how you can leave a
bequest please contact your financial/legal advisor.
Anonymous Bequestors (9)
Michael and Christine Bloomfield
Virginia and Charlie Brucker (Nanoose Bay)
Frances Mahon Chapman
Monique Clébant
Ross & Shelia Deakin (Vancouver)
Mary Doody-Jones
Ted and Ruth Humphries
Estate of Dennis Kershaw
Gilbert Lowe
Marilyn Van Imschoot
It is also helpful for the Society to know about your bequest and we
appreciate hearing about your wishes: Alan Rycroft or Kathy Stinson
at 250-383-1977 • www.CoolAid.org/bequest • [email protected].
Special Events
Special events are a lot of work but they provide huge benefits to
Cool Aid by introducing our work to others, building community
and profile for the Society, and raising money which is used to
help over 10,000 clients every year. Thank you to the following
community leaders for the events they sponsored this year.
Bandit Benefit Chilli Supper & Concert: Sixth Annual
Bottle Depot: Month-Long Bottle Drive
Children of Celebrities: Concert
Downtown Victoria Business Association: Sweater Drive
G.V. Harbour Authority: Lighted Ship Parade
KOOL FM Toonie Drive
Out of Hand Artisan Fair
TC 10K
Toonie Drive
UVic Gustavson School of Business: Chillin’ for Charity
WolfSheep Arthouse Fundraiser
2323
DONORS, FUNDERS AND
PARTNERS
Government Funders
Most of Cool Aid’s operating and capital dollars are investments by our
governments in essential services needed in the community. We are very
grateful to our government partners for the confidence they have shown in
Cool Aid by providing this core support.
Province of British Columbia
BC Housing
BC Mental Health & Addiction Services
Government of Canada
CRD - Capital Regional District
Corporation of the District of Saanich
City of Victoria
VIHA - Vancouver Island Health Authority
Foundation Partners
Foundations are very special partners to Cool Aid because they exist to
support other charities and have chosen to invest in the important work
of housing, emergency shelter, inner city health care and other supportive
services. A very special thanks to our thoughtful and generous foundation
partners.
Chimp Foundation
Encana Cares Foundation
Greater Victoria Savings & Credit Union Legacy Foundation
Look Beyond Addiction Foundation
Provincial Employees Community Services Fund
United Way - Alberta Capital Region
United Way - Peel Region
United Way of Greater Victoria
Vancity Community Foundation
Vancouver Foundation
Victoria Foundation
24
Society Partners
While we partner with many non-profit organizations
through the Coalition to End Homelessness, the
Downtown Service Providers, the BC Non-Profit
Housing Association and many other groups, we
would like to say a very special thank you to those
other organizations who gave Cool Aid a direct gift
of cash or goods this year.
BCGEU Area 01 Cross Component Committee
Beta Delta Master
Congregation Emanu-El
The Dear Hearts Book Club
The Friary Group
Gordon Head United Church
Gordon Head United Church Women
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Island Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre
Kiwanis Club of Victoria
LifeRing Secular Recovery
Macaulay School PAC
Oak Bay Kiwanis Club
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
ROMS BC - Rental Owners & Managers
Rotary Club of Victoria
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 7
Sacred Heart Catholic Women’s League
Sisters of Saint Ann
St. Mary Magdalene Church
St. Mary of the Incarnation
UVic Commerce Students Society
UVic School of Earth and Ocean Studies
Victoria General Hospital - Labs
Victoria Legal Support Staff Association
Victoria Lesbian Senior Care Society
Victoria Regional Dental Hygienists Society
View Royal Elementary
Corporate Partners
Local, national and international businesses have all helped Cool Aid with donations and grants of cash, gifts of services and goods, and by lending a hand
through volunteering. It’s great to live in a community where businesses are key partners in helping to end homelessness. Thank you all.
Anonymous Businesses
Acadia Dental Centre
Accent Inns
Alert First Aid
Allure Consulting Inc.
Aveda Institute
Baan Thai Restaurant
Beach Rags
Bead Shop
Bear Mountain Resort
Beehive Wool
BFI Canada
Bosa Properties
Bottle Depot
Brent Jansen Plumbing and Heating
British Candy Shoppe
Bubby Rose
Caffe Fantastico
Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations
Canpro Construction
Capital Iron
Children of Celebrities
Chinook Power Vac Ltd.
Coast Capital
Coast Claims Service Ltd.
Colonial Countertops
Colwood Dental Group
Cowichan Trading
Craigdarroch Castle
Curious Comics
Cusp
Decade
Dig This
Donna M. Iverson P.L.C.
Dr. Jerry Jacob Inc.
Dr. Kyle R. Egger
Dr. Natanya Padachey Corp.
Fairfield Fish and Chips
Feel Good Yoga & Pilates
Ferris Oyster Bar - Jim Byrnes’ Cool
May Blues
Frontrunners
Fry’s Real Wheat Bread
Gobid On-Line Auctions
Goodlife Fitness
Great Spots Recreation Properties Ltd.
Hartwig Industries
iD2 Communications
IMAX
Inside Out Furniture
Inspire Hair Design
Irving Pitcher Architects
Island Savings
Jawl Properties
Jensen Group Architects
John’s Place
Kandu Plumbing and Heating
Kizonoba Enterprises Limited
Knappett Projects Inc.
Knotty by Nature
Larsen
Life Mechanical
Linda Spaner Dayan Frimer
Lucky Bar
Lululemon Victoria
Magnolia Hotel
M’akola Housing
McAllister Marketing
McConnan, Bion, O’Connor & Peterson
McGregor Socks
Megson FitzPatrick Inc.
Merck
Morguard
Munro’s Books
New Balance Shoes
Ocean River
Old Spagetti Factory
Old Victoria Water Company
Out of Hand Artisan Fair
Oxford Foods Ltd.
Pederson Rentals & Sales
Peninsula Dental Centre
Pluto’s Resturant
Prospect Lake Golf
Quimper Inc.
Sapphire Day Spa
Satin Moon
Schnitzer Steel Pacific
Shaw Communications Inc.
Shelbourne Plaza Pharmacy
Shine Café
Sinclair Dental Suppliers
Strongitharm Consulting Ltd.
Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery
Swiss Herbal
Synergy Wellness Centre
Sysco
TC 10K
TELUS Employee Charitable Giving
TELUS Victoria Community Board
The Keg Steakhouse
Tim Horton’s
Tiverton Holdings
Tom Harris Cellular
UK Sailmakers
Urban Barn
UVic VIKES
Vertex Pharmaceutical
Wilderness Committee
Wolf Sheep Arthouse
Yam Magazine
25
Individual & Monthly Donors
Hundreds of “ordinary” and extraordinary individuals make gifts, large and
small, to Cool Aid every year. Many of our programs would not be in operation
without your gifts, or would be greatly reduced in scope. While all areas of
Cool Aid’s work benefit from your individual gifts, the following programs are
most dependent on your generosity:
•New buildings, including the Access Health Centre and 360 more apartments
we need to build by 2018, would never get off the drawing board without
the special, generous support of people just like you.
•The REES Program provides support, volunteer and employment opportunities for
several thousand local people living with mental health and addiction challenges.
•The Downtown Community Centre is the only centre in Victoria that provides
free programming so that people who are living in poverty can enjoy the same
benefits as those of us with an income.
•Cool Aid’s full-service Dental Clinic would not be able to serve over 4,000 patients
without your generous support.
Thank you all very much, with a special appreciation to our monthly donors whose names are bolded.
Many anonymous individuals
Sharon and Terrance Ackerman
Lorraine and Lene Addison
Heather Aked
Jeannine Alain
Lawrence Alexander
Rosalyn and Gordon Alexander
Susan Allen
Gordon and Joan Alston-Stewart
Ms. Agnes Ananichuk
J. Andrews
William Ansbacher
Jo Ann Arnason
Pamela Arslanyan
Margaret and Michael Asch
Mr. Kenneth and Sylvia Austin
Peter Aven
Colin Aykroyd
Ulrike and Robert Baker
William Baker
Gunilla Barnett
John and Barbara Barton
John Bartucz
Jill and Eliza Bates-Smith
Robert Baynham
Barry and Mary Beardsmore
Megan Beise
David Belcher
Robert and Sherry Belcher
Wes Belcher
Andrew Benson
Irma Berlin
Susanne Elizabeth Bertschinger-Tschopp
Valerie Billsborough
Vicky Blades
26
Eugene and Patricia Blonder
Michael and Christine Bloomfield
Gisele Bourgeois-Law
Tricia Bowen
Gregory Bowes
Colin and Susan Boyer
Gretchen Brewin
Jessica and Robert Brooks
Charles Brown
Shirley Brown
Norman and Julie Bruce
Sara Bryant
Sara Buyze
Bonnie Calder
Marilyn Callahan
Gordon and Anne Campbell
Norm Cantin
Lavonne Carson
Timothy Cary
Ronnie Cavender
Tom Celuszak
Adele F. Chanady
Frances L. Chapman
Brad and Jody Clark
Mr. George and Mrs. Anne Clark
Helen Clarke
Dr. Joyce Clearihue
Sean Clouston
Emma Cochrane
Susan Coneys
Ms. Margaret Cooke
Mrs. Kathleen Cossom
Ms. Catherine Cottyn
Mr. Robert (Bob) Crane
Lesley Crassweller
Rosemary Crawford
Anna Crosby
Dr. Richard Crow
Lynn Curtis
Marie Curtis
Paul Curtiss
D.S. Daly
Rosario D’Angelo
Elizabeth and Gordon Dangerfield
Justine Darnley
David G. McIntosh
Brenda Davie
Richard Day
Andrew and Gladys De Groot
Jack and Jacqueline De Jong
Mr. Ross and Mrs. Sheila Deakin
Richard and Joanne Deans
Raleigh Debow
Mrs. Joan Deeken
Dr. Pierre D’Estrube
Brian Dewar
Ms. Clarice Dillman
Ms. Carol Dohan
Phillippa Doherty
Pat Dowdall
Dr. Rodney Drabkin
Susan Draper
Gail Dumont
Jean Duncan
Joel Duncan
Yves Duruisseau
Lilian N. Edey
Dr. Angela Enright
Arthur Entlich
Paul and Diane Erickson
Elizabeth Fagan
Margo Farr
Mrs. Ruth Farrow
Mr. Werner Faust
Dr. Lawrence Fawcett
Laura Ann Fellman
Lori Ferguson
Paula Ferris
Joan Feyrer
Mr. William Feyrer
Dorothy Field
Raymund Folk
Anne Ford
Sharon Foreman
John Forster
Lauren Fox
Deanna Fraser
Brian Froese
Damon Fryer
Lili and Rodger Garbutt
Dr. Paul and Virginia Gareau
Elizabeth Garrett
Dr. Paul and Mary Gelpke
Kim Genereaux
Mr. John Ghanam
Parneet Ghandi
Lesley and Philip Gibbs
Bev Gidora
Tina Gill-Atwal
David Glen
Albert and Joan Glowicki
Nancy Gnaedinger
Tony Goluza
Doreen Goodwin
Walter and Carolyn Goresky
Dr. Brian and Caroline Gorman
Ariel Graham
Laurette Grant
Julia Greer
Dorothy Griffin
Les and Margo Griffiths
Shirley Grosser
Anita Guns
Jean Guthrie
John Hackett
Jim Hackler
Alan Hale
Lois Hall
Clide Halliday
Dorothy and William Hamilton
Roberta Hamme
Pauline Harding
Matthew and Norma W. Hayes
Dr. R. Alan Hedley
Anne and Doug Henderson
Dr. Christopher Henderson
Marilyn Henigman
Jill Henry
Cherie Herriott
Desiree (Dee) Heston
John Hewson
Joan and Craig Wharf-Higgins
Brian Hill
Ingrid Hilyer
Nell Hodges
Mr. Peter Holloway
Mrs. Grace Holman
Herbert House
Helen and Ted Hughes
Ryan Hulstein
Mrs. Janice Hutchins
Connie Isherwood
Steve Ivison
Jim and Amy Jaarsma
Jim Jackson
Mike Jackson
Viveka Janssen
Robert Jawl
Srinath and Sharon Jayatunge
Katrina Jensen
Marlene Johns
Mary Doody and Gerald Jones
Wanda Jones
Eric Jordan
Ann Juteau
Mr. Tyson C. Kelsall
Dr. Perry Kendall
Roy Kendall
Don and Elizabeth Kennedy
Peter Kerr
Ms. Patricia Kilner
Christopher King
Dr. R. David Kinloch
Pat Kinrade
Hannah Kirzinger
Barbara Knighton
Marian Krismer
Matthew and Dawn Kuhnke
Margaret and Henry Kuyvenhoven
Jeannie and Clement Kwan
Jane and Gerald Kyle
Ms. Danielle LaFerriere
James Lamb
Dr. Martha Laurence
Marlene Lavallee
Randall Law
Melissa Lawrence
Patricia Lehmnann
Susan and Hartley Lewis
Gudrun Leys
Judy Lightwater
Patrick Lintaman
Hayley Lonsdale
Alison Looysen
Gilbert and Leona Lowe
Lori Lucyshyn
John Lynch
Bette MacDiarmid
Eric MacEachern
William MacGillivray
Dr. Kenneth S. MacKenzie
Heather Mahony
Stephen Makuch
Stephanie Malahoff
Kelly Marcheluzzo
Margaret and Joe Newell
Judy Markle
Dianne Marks
Christina Marshall
Rick S. Marshall
Gina Martin
Justin Martin
Gayle Mason
Pamella Mason
Hugh Matheson
Jean Matheson
Magaret and Murray Matheson
Dr. Michael Mawdsley
Autumn Maxwell
Mary McAllister
Frances McBride
Anna McClymont
Veronica McClymont
Jean McGale
John and Valerie McGregor
Katrina McGuire
Ms. Joan McIntosh
Kathleen McIsaac
Karen McIvor
Cindy McKenna
Florence McKeown
Ann McMillan
Lois McNabb
D.E. McNally
Jack and Betty McNeill
Margaret and Gerald Merner
John Andrew Mildon
Ian Miller
Patricia Miller
Mr. Francis Mitchell
Ms. Hannah Mitchell
Don Moffatt
Caitlin Moilliet
Reg Mooney
Tom Moore
Richard and Sheila Moulton
Sheila Moulton
Kelly Mowat
John Mullin
Joan Mullowney
Patrick Murray
Victor Murray
Joe and Margaret Newell
Susan Newlove
India Nicholls
M. Nicholson
Jennifer Nightingale
Mr. Timothy Noordam
Marilyn Norman
Dr. André Nyhof
Mr. Michael and Judith W. O’Cain
Patricia O’Connor
Keith Ogilvie
Don Olsen
Danny Parker
Janet Parker
Ms. Judy Parker
Shaun Paterson
Tanya Pattullo
Bernie Pauly
James Pauly
Rene Peloquin
Denton Pendergast
Douglas Perkins
Mary June Pettyfer
Agnes H. Phillips
Dr. Laura Phillips
John and Yvonne D. Pigott
Laurel Pilon
Brian H. Pinch
David and Shari Poje
Ron and Juliana Polstein
John Pope
Jennie and Karl Preuss
Sheila Price
Rod Pringle
Mrs. Mary Ellen Pyrch
Naz Rayani
David Rayner
John Reese
Andrew Reid
Marian and Joseph Reilly
Richard Rhodes
Cathy Riley
Harold Robinson
Marg Rose
Dr. Michael Ross
Esmee Rothschild
Beryl Roundhill
Felicia Rozon
Sharon Russell
Alan Rycroft
Gisele Samson
Dr. Bruce and Tricia Sanders
Amalia Schelhorn
Peter Schieldrop
Fritz Schulze
Kaitlyn Scott
Ms. Lorraine Scott
Elizabeth (Libby) Seabrook
Andrea Segsworth
Stacy Sellsted
Constance Shafer
Kelly Sharman
Lorrie Shaw
JR Shaw
Dr. Peter Sherk
Heidi Sherwood
Muriel Sibley
Dr. Charles and Mrs. Janet Simpson
John and Frances Simpson
Joan Skillings
Cheryl Skoreyko-Parker
Roger Watson Smeeth
Betty Ann and Ray Smith
Helen Smith
Lynn Gail Smith
Sharlene Smith
Jill and Eliza Bates-Smith
Jennifer and Paul Sobkin
Rebecca Sorensen
Liz and Jay Spence
Bonnie Stacy
Eric Jordan
Edward Steele
Dr. Patrick Stel
Sarah Stender
Michael Stephen
Dana Stephenson
Linell Sterns
Lillian V. Stevens
Hugh and Margaret Stevenson
Paddy Stewart
Gordon and Joan Alston-Stewart
Kathy Stinson
Shirley Stinson
Melanie Storvick
Sue and Carl Stovel
Doug Strangeland
Steve Strugnell
Gord and Nancy Stuart
Mrs. M.J. Stubbington
Dr. Catherine Stubbs
Dr. Stephen Sullivan
John and Jean Sylwester
Gwynfor R. Symmons
Tim Taddy
Rob and Jean Tarr
Brenda Taylor
Noel Taylor
Penny Tennenhouse
Christine Terry
Marilyn Thomas
Dr. Gillian Thompson
Lois Thompson
Nancy Tienhaara
Jim Tighe
Nita Townsend
Eileen Trevis
Susanne-Elizabeth BertschingerTschopp
Tara Tudor
Marilyn Van Imschoot
Yvonne Van Ruskenveld
Chad Vandermolen
Judie Vanin-Roth
Judyth Venables
Cheryl Vickers
Pat Vickers
Lorenz Villa
Sharon Walls
Jacob Wan
Brenda Webb
Drs. Rivian and Brian Weinerman
Marjorie Welchframe
Ida Wellwood
Ron and Dana West
Joan and Craig Wharf-Higgins
Michael Whitfield
Elinor Whitney-Griffiths
Sara Wield
Claudia Wilimovsky
Rainer Willeke
Elizabeth Willekes
Dr. Richard Williams
Mrs. Margaret Wilmot
Anne Wilson
Kristi Wilson
Ms. Susanne Wilson
Charlann Winking
Randy Wong
Eleanor Wood
Mr. Robert Woodhead
Elizabeth Woods
Jack Woodward
L. Wooton
Debbie Wright
Louise Wright
Martin Wright
Paula Young
Liz Zazula
Chris Zemanek
27
HOW YOU CAN HELP END HOMELESSNESS
This year, Cool Aid is embarking on an ambitious plan to build or re-purpose 360 apartments for people who have
been homeless. We need to raise $4 million from people, foundations and corporations by 2018 to make this
possible (which we believe will result in $45 million in government funds).
Here are some ways you and your organization can help:
• Make a donation and/or timed pledge
• Get others to match your gift
• Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ & other social media
(VicCoolAid is our social media “handle”)
• Sponsor a room, floor or entire building
(naming opportunities are available)
• Invite Cool Aid to make a presentation to
your organization
• Leave a Legacy through a bequest in your will
• Provide in-kind construction goods or labour
• Create a donors consortium by bringing others
onboard
• Mention the campaign in your newsletter,
advertisement, etc.
• Let others know about our Help End Homelessness
campaign
• Put on a Help End Homelessness event or
activity to raise money and profile
• Contact your elected representatives and let them
know ending homelessness is a priority
• We are sure you will think of other ways
to help…
Building Homes, Lives and Community
28
102-749 Pandora Ave., Victoria BC, V8W 1N9
Alan Rycroft 250-383-1977 • [email protected]
Kathy Stinson 250-383-1977 • [email protected]
250-383-1639 fax • www.CoolAid.org