NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2022

The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations is a membership organization for the civic sector in the Northwest Peace Region, serving charitable and non-profit community organizations in the City and County of Grande Prairie and beyond.  Our member agencies and clients represent a broad region. They range from; small rural agricultural groups to large agencies providing services to families and individuals in distress, through to indigenous agencies, cultural agencies, sports groups, and more.

I was reading the obituary of a very dear wonderful friend. As I read through it I was somewhat taken aback by how his family had summed up his life. They had written, “He sold chickens”. They acknowledged his wife, gave a brief history of his early life, listed his survivors and predecessors, and ended with a short list of career placements.

“He sold chickens.” It made me stop and think. For over thirty years he had been my friend, my mentor, someone who I relied on.  Nothing in the obit indicated how brilliant and accomplished he was: holding two master’s degrees and receiving several distinguished awards from both the civic and private business sectors. Nothing was stated about how remarkably influential he had been in finance and public administration. His business acumen was such that his services were always in demand. He sat on business development boards, owned his own successful consulting firm, as well as managed a long and renowned career in First-Nation Administration. He wrote and published several articles in his fields of study. After he retired, he became fluent in Spanish and volunteered in South American countries, setting up cooperatives for Indigenous farmers. He was respected and admired by those that knew him including his ex-wives (there were a few). All of this, yet, little of which was in his obituary.

Yes, he did sell chickens on Saturday at the farmers market; it was his hobby, then I realized it wasn’t just a hobby for him; it was his passion. This wonderful, talented, intelligent man who had achieved so many things in his life was in fact always happiest out in his garden and tending to his chickens. The accomplishments and accolades were just part of his life, not that important in the long run of things.  The chickens, he loved, therefore they were notable.

As we emerge back into our lives following the restrictions of the last two years it is easy to get caught up in the ‘work’. My friend’s obituary (as morbid as that seems) was a reminder to take some time to enjoy what you love to do. Find your passion, all the rest will work out.

Cheers,

Carol-Anne

The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations is inviting all local non-profit and charitable organizations operating in Grande Prairie and area to take part in a survey of your organizations for the purposes of compiling a comprehensive composite of the sector. 

Our non-profit & charitable sector encompasses hundreds of small, medium and large organizations dedicated to providing service, programs or supports to their identified user groups. At one point or another over the years, most have participated in surveys for a variety of surveyors measuring different components of organizational viability.  

However, local data regarding the strength, breadth and diversity of the Grande Prairie and area non-profit and charitable sector is not readily available, consistent or comprehensive. In light of the challenges the local sector recently faced and is, still facing there is a need to formulate a comprehensive baseline picture of the local sector. The baseline will assist in focusing on the long-term viability and structural adaptability of our local organizations immediately and into the future. 

The compiled data will be made accessible to local organizations, private and public funders as well as other research initiatives. The combined results can be used to foster sustainability, identify social and infrastructure issues, assist in local decision-making as well as providing specific supports for marketing and fundraising as well as tailoring processes towards better results. 

The survey will be administered in eight sections over a period of eight weeks. Your responses to the survey will be kept confidential. Each interview will be assigned a number code to help ensure that personal identifiers are not revealed during the analysis and write up of findings. There is no compensation for participating in this survey. However, each participating organization who completes a section of the survey will have their name entered into a random draw with the chance of winning $500.00.  Complete all 8 sections of the survey and gain one extra chance. Maximum of 9 chances.  

Please note: The COVID-19 crisis accelerated the number and frequency of survey requests from all levels of government, advocacy groups, funders and others. Provincial and National surveys clearly indicate that their operations, financial and human resources and ability to function at previous levels has been damaged. Through anecdotal stories, facilitated local surveys and plain common sense, it is apparent that our local and regional organizations have also been impacted. Impacts of the COVID-19 crisis will only be explored as a component of the overall survey. 

We hope you will join us in completing this very important project. Please watch your email and social media networks for more information and launch date.  

The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations would like to welcome our newest members:

Filipino Association of Grande Prairie & Area

Clairmont Community Garden Society

Care Human Services Ltd

Thank you for joining the Association!

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is a time in Canada to celebrate and thank volunteers.

Every year National Volunteer Week is celebrated across Canada to recognize and thank volunteers for devoting their time and energy to causes that benefit our community. NVW is also an opportunity to promote the sector & the benefits of volunteering to individuals and society.

During the Pandemic, many non-profits reported increased demand for programs and services while lacking resources to provide them. Half reported pandemic-related losses in revenue. Despite these challenges, organizations, staff and volunteers continue to deliver programs, providing necessary and lifesaving support. Non-profits, their staff, and volunteers enrich our quality of life by promoting mental and physical health, social equity, education, the arts, sports and recreation, the environment, child development, senior care, and much more.

This year the Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations (the Association) wishes to celebrate and recognize the volunteers and not-for-profit organizations in our community that make a difference.

For this year’s NVW:

The Grande Prairie Chamber has allocated 60 booths to local, not-for-profit chamber members for their Spring Business Showcase. Providing opportunities for organizations to network and promote their operations, services, programs and upcoming events.

We encourage businesses throughout the area to help celebrate the voluntary sector. E.g. stopping by the booths with coffee, a shout-out on Social media etc.

Member Agencies celebrate NVW. Send shout-outs to your volunteers, have a party and share your impact stories on your social media. Use the hashtag #NVW2022 and @VolunteerGP so we can share your celebration!



Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for upcoming announcements.

NEW WEBSITE

With the start of the new year we launched our new website at www.volunteergrandeprairie.com. We would like to thank nine10 Incorporated for their work in designing the new site. It is now easier than ever for all non-profit organizations to post Volunteer Opportunities, share their community events & recognize their Volunteers!

Our Member Agencies can log into our Members Area from there they can access resources, templates and courses that is exclusive just for them.

Capacity Development Through Diversity & Inclusion

Drop Date: TBA

Service Delivery: Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations, Partner Agencies and the wider community of the Northwest Peace Region.

We here at Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations recognize that best practices continue to change as we move forward. As such, a need has been identified throughout the Northwest Peace Region for capacity building within the non-profit/charitable sector to address Diversity and Inclusion.

Through collaboration, research, training, and education, this project fosters integration of cross-sector non-profit and charitable community services. Participants explore their own value systems, beliefs, and biases and how that may affect perception of other people and groups. Participants are encouraged to ask questions of each other in regards to differences that exist between her/his culture and other cultures, values and beliefs.

This project highlights:

• A Canadian focus with emphasis on our Northwest Peace Region
• Indigenous communities and their histories
• Growing diversity through international immigration
• Disability Awareness

Following the completion of this project organizations will be better able to:

• Access and address their own biases, staff and volunteers’ model genuine sensitivity and respect.
• Create and utilize policies and procedures that are sensitive and inclusive.
• Recruit and engage with diversified and inclusive Board of Directors.
• Engage with their client community in assessing needs and planning programs.
• Recognize and respect the needs and preferences of the individual client.
• Maintain a commitment to cultural competence.

To register for the waitlist please Email: cdcoordinator@volunteergrandeprairie.com

Please include your organization's name, number of participants, contact name, phone number & email.

This conversation saves lives

Just like physical health, everyone has mental health. Yet this topic is often seen as taboo and conversations surrounding it are cut short.

Let’s open conversations around mental health. Let’s work to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Let’s learn how to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Let’s all learn how to say, “I can help.” This is a conversation that can save lives. Connect can help you start the conversation.

Connect builds awareness through public education. It is designed to “Connect people with knowledge and tools to save lives” through presentations, workshop training, and public displays or events.

Source: https://www.sp-rc.ca/programs/connect

Source: https://www.sp-rc.ca/programs/youth-groups

In Grande Prairie and area, training is 9 core modules. Other additional modules can be added upon request if training time is set aside. Once a week, once a month, or a variety of combinations.

Source: https://www.sp-rc.ca/programs/community-helpers

FEBRUARY 2022 VOLUNTEERS OF THE WEEK

Seniors Outreach nominated:

• Danny Antonio
• Trudy Wynnychuk
• Albert Zatelny
• Cindy Barrington
• Dennis Fedeyko
• Jean Zatelny
• Emil Stredulinsky
• Dennis Stredulinsky
• Daisy Morgan

Wolverines Wheelchair Sports

Association nominated Ben Morphy

Richelle LaCoste & Wembley & District Agricultural Society nominated Jamie Querin

Meals on Wheels nominated:

• Patrick Cochrane
• Joan Cochrane
• Leanne Germann
• Pam Pfliger

Centre for Young Parents nominated Kira Borman

Grande Prairie Centre for Newcomers nominated

Elizabeth Cendana

Jamie Querin & the Wembley & District Ag Society nominated

Renee Corrigal

The Alberta Healthy Living Program (AHLP) offers free workshops to help adults better manage their chronic conditions. Monthly workshops are offered virtually (by Zoom) to all those living in Northern Alberta. Visit www.healthylivingprogram.ca for more information and to register.

Reminders - Due to the number of no shows during past Meet Me at the Mall events, organizations failing to attend their scheduled time slot will be charged $150.00 no-show fee. Participants must follow all Prairie Mall Guidelines.

March is Music Therapy Awareness Month in Canada. 

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is a discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.

Music Therapy Scope of Practice

The services performed by a certified music therapist (MTA) include the application of music therapy interventions within the context of a therapeutic relationship. This relationship is developed through music-based, verbal, and/or non-verbal communication. Certified MTAs use music to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains. They conduct client assessments, develop treatment plans, implement therapy processes, and evaluate progress. This scope of practice includes a range of procedures, actions, processes, roles, and responsibilities that a certified MTA can safely and effectively perform.

Who benefits from Music Therapy?

Music therapy is used with individuals of various ages, abilities, and musical backgrounds in clinical, educational, community and private practice settings. There are various medical conditions, living conditions and goal areas that might lead to someone accessing music therapy.

Source: https://www.musictherapy.ca/about-camt-music-therapy/about-music-therapy/

Music for Wellness

Learn the ways you can use music to positively impact your own health & wellness.with Kelsi McInnes, BMT, MTA (Certified Music Therapist).Useful with diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, MS, and ALS.

Source: https://gpcare.ca/music-for-wellness/

Pace in partnership with GPRC Continuing Education offers leading-edge training in best practice, designed for community members, professionals, students, first responders, and front-line workers in our region. For information on their upcoming courses visit https://pacecentre.com/calendar/category/community-support-training/ or www.gprc.me/pace. 

The Association acknowledges the homeland of the many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis people whose ancestors have walked this land since time immemorial. I am grateful to work, live and learn on the traditional territory of Treaty 8.

Disclaimer of Liability: This newsletter contains links to third-party service provider websites. Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations is not responsible and assumes no liability for the content or materials available on any linked third-party sites.