October 7, 2011

A Thanksgiving Message from your MP

 

Dear Constituents,

As I head home to Victoria this Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on all that we have to be thankful for. We are going through difficult political times, but I am thankful for living in an inspiring, progressive community that I take pleasure in representing. I am grateful for the resilience of our community, where people come out to events and take part in the kind of dialogue and activism that can only make us stronger.

 

Homelessness Action Week

Next week is Homelessness Action Week (October 9-14) and I encourage you to take part in a local activity and show your support for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. On Oct. 14, I will be participating in a discussion at Project Connect, an annual event at Our Place (919 Pandora Avenue) where Victoria service providers and volunteers have planned a special day of free services (such as haircuts, foot care, ID replacement and tax help), information sharing and a barbecue lunch for people in Greater Victoria who are homeless or living in poverty. Donations are still needed to purchase socks, gloves, toques, scarves, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products and other essentials for the ‘survival packs’ that will be distributed at the event.

Also planned is a discussion and screening of Home Safe Hamilton – a documentary about how Canadian families live with the threat and the reality of homelessness. This event is.co-hosted by the Community Social Planning Council and the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness Oct. 12, 7-9 p.m. at the Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St. On Oct. 13, the two groups are co-hosting End Poverty: Action Learning Event, a discussion for action on homelessness with speakers Brendan Reimer of the Canadian CED Network and Shauna McKinnon of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, Garry Oak Room.

Full details of all of these events are available on the Coalition’s website at http://www.solvehomelessness.ca/news.html?n=228 .

 

Arts and culture

The strength and positive impact of arts and culture in Victoria also gives me a sense of gratitude and admiration. Not only do arts and culture contribute to our social well being and our community’s identity, but a recent study found that the sector generated $170 million in economic activity for our region. I am also pleased that the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria is celebrating its new home at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre with a Housewarming Gala this evening, Oct. 7, 6:30 to 10 p.m. 3220 Cedar Hill Road.

 

Mental health support for our children

Monday Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day and this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. To mark the occasion, Members of Parliament wore an orange ribbon in the House of Commons in solidarity with all those who suffer from a mental illness and their families.

One of my priorities this fall is taking action to promote better services for children and youth suffering from mental health illnesses. Parliament is not sitting next week and I have scheduled several local meetings with community experts to talk about this issue. I hope to get their advice and ideas on how to make the system work better for youth and their families in Victoria.

I believe the federal government has an important role to play in ensuring that youth receive the health care they need. I will be working with Libby Davies, the NDP’s Health Critic, as we plan an approach for the 2014 renegotiation of the Canada Health Accord between the provinces and the federal government. It is essential that mental health is on the agenda, and that we develop a coherent strategy to tackle gaps in mental health services.

I learned of the troubling gaps and shortages in services for these youth from many of my constituents who shared their families’ troubling experiences. As I move forward on this issue, I hope that you will continue to contact me to discuss this issue, and hopefully to propose ideas for positive solutions that I can take to Ottawa.

 

Canada World Youth event

Also on the subject of youth, I want to highlight an event I hosted in Ottawa as Deputy Speaker on behalf of Canada World Youth. The event brought together MPs and youth from across the country who have participated in CWY’s programs.

These programs focus on education through volunteerism and exchange and embody the notion that participation is sometimes the best way of learning and growing.

It is through this kind of international dialogue and youth empowerment that we can build a stronger global community. I am hopeful that many of the youth will go on to become leaders in their communities and perhaps in politics.

Investing in youth, whether through organizations like CWY or through improving mental health care for youth, will go a long way toward giving youth the tools to achieve their full potential. Having the voice of youth at the table can only be good for Victoria and for Canada.

 

More local activities

Some of the other local activities coming up next week include:

On Saturday Oct. 8, 2-5 p.m., Cinder Block Gallery is hosting an Open House. The new Victoria artist-run gallery and studios are housed in the former Newman Hall at 1580 Cook St.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, the city will be bursting with energy as more than 14,000 participants take part in the Victoria Marathon.

A lunchtime talk Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 12:10 p.m. at UVic called Food, Farmers and Climate Chaos. Ditdit Pellegrina, an agronomist and farmer activist from the Philippines, will speak about ecologically-centered solutions for farmers adapting to a changing environment. Soc. Sci. & Math Bldg • Room B215.

Urban Roots: When Everything Collapses Plant Your Field of

Dreams, a documentary about Detroit’s remarkable inner city urban

farming phenomenon, Wed. Oct. 12, 7 p.m. Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.

James Bay Neighbourhood Association Meeting, Oct. 12, 7 p.m. New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies St., featuring a presentation on the Fisherman’s Wharf facility plan and marina development strategy.

Internationally-recognized Zambian global health advocate Carol Nyirenda will speak Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at UVic’s Soc. Sci. & Math Bldg. Room A-120, hosted by UVic’s Centre for Global Studies and Results Canada.

Rwanda Today – Hope After Tragedy. An evening of discussion, music and food at the Monterey Recreation Centre, Friday Oct. 14, starting at 7 p.m.

Municipal Election 101: UVic’s Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy, Michael J. Prince, will be part of an expert panel Saturday Oct. 15 regarding the upcoming municipal election. The community public forum “The Future is Local: Make Your Vote Count Now!” takes place from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the Michele Pujol room of UVic’s Student Union Building.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, The Land Conservancy presents Special Places, an evening with Dame Fiona Reynolds, director-general of England’s National Trust. Starts at 7 p.m. at St. Ann’s Academy Auditorium at 835 Humboldt St.

 

November events

As a heads-up for November, I am planning two public events. One will focus on crime and justice and the Conservatives’ proposed Omnibus Crime Bill that has raised many concerns for Canadians. In the other, to be held Nov. 12, 2-4 p.m. in my downtown community office (970 Blanshard St.), I will be asking for your input on the issues that matter to you, and on my submission to the federal finance minister in advance of the 2012 Federal Budget. Please check my website, www.denisesavoie.ca.  For more details in the coming weeks, or call my office at 250-363-3600.

 

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Denise