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Victoria Cool Aid Society
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On January 25, Cool Aid invited 120 individuals in Victoria to participate in Cool Aid’s second online funder and partner survey.
The attached summary of survey results is an easy and informative read. In addition to a synopsis of the survey results, it includes comparisons to our 2009 survey and a sampling of “take away” reflections and questions we are exploring as an organization. The report concludes with an outline of where to go from here.
The bottom-line: survey respondents gave Cool Aid a very strong rating on overall performance. We also received very favourable ratings on Organizational Leadership, Partnering & Collaboration, Client Advocacy and Client Service Experience (4 of the 5 survey themes). While respondents also gave a fairly positive rating for the Learning from Others theme, there is room here for Cool Aid to improve.
It is heartening to know that Cool Aid is well regarded by our key stakeholders. But regardless of how well Cool Aid scored in any category, there are always lessons to learn and improvements to make to ensure that we continue to meet the needs and expectations of our clients, partners, funders and other stakeholders.
A special thanks to those funders and partners who took the time to complete the survey and help Cool Aid improve its work.
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 Everyone can do something to help those in our community who are homeless and vulnerable. The Victoria Cool Aid Society invites you to donate your empty bottles anytime in May 2012 at Bottle Depot outlets at 655 Queens Avenue, 4261 Glanford Avenue or 3961 Quadra Street.
Simply place all of your bottles in one of the yellow bins outside these Bottle Depot locations during May, and Cool Aid will receive the full refund.
Save time, save the environment and help end homelessness. Thank you.
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...and raise $$$ for Every Step Counts
January 23, 2012 - This time of year we can start to run out of steam with New Year's Resolutions. So Cool Aid has an offer to help make Every Step Count for you and for our clients. (The Every Step Counts running and walking program, launched by the Victoria Foundation, has helped to empower and support over 300 men and women who experience challenges with mental health, addiction, poverty, social isolation and other barriers.)
What about committing to a little personal challenge to keep you on that straight and narrow walking and running path?
Cool Pledge Prizes!
- Raise $150 - Every Step Counts running/walking toque
- Raise $250 - Every Step Counts wind-up flashlight radio
- Top Pledge Collector Awarded personal walking/running shoe fitting by Rob Reid and choice of a Spring or Fall Clinic at Frontrunners
Create your own mini Every Step Counts team and join us for a monthly open session to see just what we do. Also if you are running for the team, come out for a post-TC10k BBQ with the whole Every Step Counts team, wonderful food and great live music!
For more information please contact Gillie Easdon:
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, 250-882-5261, or www.CoolAid.org/esc. |
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 March 21, 2012 - University of Victoria students will lead an art procession of works from the Legacy Gallery on Broad Street to the Access Health Centre on Johnson Street to kick off the second installment of art at the clinic. The installation includes landscape photographs, screen prints, drawings, and paintings by artists such as Courtney Milne, Torrie Groening and Roy Vickers from the University of Victoria Art Collection.
This two-year project began in 2011 by UVic History in Art professor Dr. Carolyn Butler-Palmer as an exercise in the development of art in community health and well-being. Dr. Butler-Palmer worked with more than 20 art history students, members of the Access Health Centre staff, and University Art Collection Staff to design an art installation for the clinic.
The Art Procession will leave the Legacy Gallery at 1 pm on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012, and will make its way up Yates to Douglas Street, then follow Douglas to Johnson St. Our destination is the Access Health Centre at 713 Johnson St., Victoria B.C., and our estimated time of arrival is 1:15 pm.
Media Contacts:
- Dr. Butler Palmer (Williams Legacy Chair and Assistant Professor in Modern and Contemporary Arts of the Pacific Northwest) at 250-721-7943
- Irene Haigh-Gidora at 250-385-1466 or
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- Cheryl Robinson, Legacy Gallery Secretary, at 250-381-7645
Website for Access Health Centre: www.CoolAid.org/health and www.AccessHealthCentre.ca
Website for the Legacy Gallery: www.legacygallery.ca |
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Hi - I'm Shannon and in 2002 I lost my caregivers that I had, Pat and Jan Downey, as they had moved and I had lost my place were I was living. I was in and out of jail over on the mainland and I got back to court as the court was the one flying me back and fourth to the mainland as the court wanted to see if I could get into 24-hour care but there just was not any 24-hour care for me.
So the court called Sandy Merriman House and I went there. I was scared when I got there as I had a disability and I was scared being around street people that used drugs as I have never used drugs before.
Well I got a room and I had to share with 4 others and then when a room with one bed came up they moved me into that. I remember some of the staff that worked there that I really took a liking to and I wish I knew were they were today. One was Candace and one was Anita and I really took a liking to them.
There was one day I was sitting in the kitchen and one of the residents came up to me and asked me to go and ask the staff if I could have 6 Atavans for her so I went to the office and I said I need 6 Atavians now and the staff said well go and get a drink of water and come back and take them and I said I can just take them and they told me no.
So I went back to the kitchen to tell this person and she said go and try again so I went back and I tried again and this time the staff asked me to come into the office and they asked me is someone trying to get something from you and I said I can not say or I will get hurt. The staff told me to tell them who it was and then sent me up to my room and they dealt with the person.
While I was staying at the Shelter I got a case worker named Chris and I wish I knew how to call him and get in touch with him as I miss him. Chris helped me find an apartment and I moved in to my apartment and it was good and then I went from that apartment to Medewiwin on the Gorge and then I went into EMI and now I have Seven Oaks with me.
Without Cool Aid to get me the support I needed and the doctors I needed I would not be here today. Now I have a job and I have my own place and I have a cat named Milo. I volunteer 2 days a week at Beacon Thrift Store on Pandora with Trish and I just love it. I keep hoping one day my dream will come true and Trish will have a paid job for me.
Thanks Cool Aid for every thing you have done for me.
Shannon |
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