News
Anniversary Street Fair a Big Success!
Attended by approximately 1500 fair-goers of all ages, YWCA Regina's Anniversary Street Fair on Saturday, June 12, featured a day filled with live local entertainment on stage--including three bands, a magician, Aboriginal drummers and dancers, cheerleaders, and belly dancers.
Musicians included Annette Campagne (a veteran of the popular francophone band Hart Rouge), roots band Living in the Boom Times, and the blues-rock cover band Alley 14. Rounding out the stage entertainment was magician Pat Roth, an Aboriginal drumming and dancing group coordinated by Simon Moccasin and Kevin Bear, and a bellydancing ensemble led by Darla Goettler.
2010 marks the 100th anniversary of YWCA Regina; a further event will take place in the fall (date TBA) at which the time capsule, sealed for 25 years, will be opened, added to, and resealed. Please submit suggestions for items to include in the time capsule to Executive Director Deanna Elias-Henry.
Singer-songwriter Annette Campagne with clowns at the Street Fair. (More photos.)
Soul Sisters Benefit Raises Support for Kids in Transition Shelter
The Eighth Annual Soul Sisters Dinner and Concert, presented by The Room, happened on Thursday, June 3, 2010--and for the second year running was held at Regina's Bushwakker Brewing Company.
With proceeds designated toward the development of outdoor play space at Kids in Transition Shelter (KITS), the evening raised a total of approximately $7000 from admission tickets, raffle proceeds, 50-50s, a silent auction, and individual donations.
Regina roots band Black Drink Crier, fronted by Cam Wensel, kicked off the entertainment part of the evening, followed by country music duo Foxx Worthee, featuring the vocals of Crystal Smith and Nicole Ecarnot.
YWCA 29th Annual Women of Distinction Award Recipients Announced
The Honourable Bill Hutchinson, Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations, joined 2010 Women of Distinction committee Chair Katrina Swan, YWCA Executive Director Deanna Elias-Henry and various other government representatives and community leaders on Thursday evening at the Conexus Arts Centre to celebrate the 29th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner. Sixty-nine outstanding women from Southern Saskatchewan were nominated this year in 12 categories.
The following recipients were announced:
Education and Mentorship
Stephanie Carlson
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Deanna Ratcliffe
Leadership and Management
Vianne Timmons
Science, Technology and Environment
Michelle Yaskowich
Circle of Friends
The Smiling Mask
Wellness, Recreation and Healthy Living
June Zimmer
Young Woman of Promise
Jenna Gall
The Arts (Jacqui Shumiatcher Award)
Doris Knight
Community Leadership and Enhancement
Barbara Hildebrandt and Dionne Warner (tie)
Contribution to a Rural Community
Sandra Fowler
Cultural Heritage
Mary Kolitsas
Lifetime Achievement
Joanne Crofford
“In this, our hundredth anniversary year at YWCA Regina,” Executive Director Deanna Elias-Henry stated, “it is especially exciting to celebrate women who in their own ways are making history by their contribution to their communities.”
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is nationally recognized as one of the most prestigious events honoring women in Canada. Across Canada, 23 Women of Distinction Awards are held annually. This event is an opportunity to publicly pay tribute to these women who have earned our admiration and respect.
The Women of Distinction Awards is YWCA Regina’s most significant fundraiser. Funds raised fund crisis support programs offered by the YWCA, such as the Isabel Johnson Shelter, the Kikinaw Residence, the Children Exposed to Violence program, the Big Sisters program and My Aunt’s Place, a shelter for homeless women and their children. This year, with over 600 people in attendance at the Gala, total revenues were $131,065.
SaskTel Pioneers Support Isabel Johnson Shelter
SaskTel Pioneers, a network of current and former telecom employees along with their partners and families, recently provided a financial gift of $625 for the needs of the residents of Isabel Johnson Shelter.
“Isabel Johnson Shelter would not be able to carry on its important work without the support of the community,” Deanna Elias-Henry, Executive Director of YWCA said. “We very much appreciate the concrete way the Sasktel Pioneers have shown their interest in the needs of shelter clients.”
Isabel Johnson Shelter, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provides a safe and supportive temporary living environment for women and their children fleeing partner abuse--offering counselling, advocacy, information, and referral.
SaskTel Pioneers are dedicated to making a contribution to a variety of community needs, to providing value to their partner organizations by contributing to their strategic priorities, and to creating rewarding fellowship opportunities for their members. There are 12 clubs across Saskatchewan.
For more information, visit www.sasktelpioneers.com.
Record-breaking Support from Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund!
In February, the Isabel Johnson Shelter received the exciting news that donations to the 2009 Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund exceeded the previous year--by a whopping $40,000!
In 2009, Leader-Post readers contributed a total of $178,000 to be divided among four Regina women’s shelters--SOFIA House, Transition House, WISH House, and the YWCA Isabel Johnson Shelter. Each shelter received a much-needed contribution of $44,500 from the 2009 campaign (as compared to $34,500 in 2008).
“We’re overwhelmed at the generosity of the Regina community,” YWCA Executive Director Deanna Elias-Henry commented. “And we are very grateful for the vision and leadership that the Leader-Post has demonstrated in making the Christmas Cheer Fund a success since 1992.”
"Through the shelters' twice-a-year reports to the Leader-Post,” Editor-in-Chief Janice Dockham said, “we know that they are using the money where it's needed most--from replacing beds to fixing furnaces."
In 2010, the newspaper will develop new community partnerships to expand the Christmas Cheer Fund into a year-round effort. While the campaign will continue to be concentrated around the Christmas season, volunteers in Cheer Fund t-shirts will be showing up at community events throughout the year.
Since its inception, the Christmas Cheer Fund has raised almost $1.6 million.
City Candidates Asked for Response to Critical Housing Needs
Prior to Regina’s municipal election on October 28, 2009, YWCA Regina asked candidates for mayor and city council to indicate what actions they would take to respond to the city's critical need for affordable housing.
The following question was forwarded to candidates:
“Regina is booming--but the downside is a severe shortage of affordable housing. With vacancy rates at .7% and annual rent increases averaging more than 11%,* those who are most vulnerable are being left out in the cold--including many women and children. If you are elected, what actions will you propose to City Council to respond to this critical need?”
For a complete list of candidates and their responses, click here.
* Statistics cited are from the CMHC Rental Market Survey, released in June 2009.