Committee wins community leadership award
Homeward Trust Media Release - Feb 3, 2009
Contact:
Kalpana Robbins
Director, Communications and Fund Development
Homeward Trust
, 780-496-2632, 780-700-2620
E-mail
Edmonton - Homeward Trust is hosting the fourth annual ROOPH Awards at the Westin Edmonton. The ROOPH Awards recognize outstanding organizations and people in housing and this year the competition has been fierce.
The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister for Human Resources and Skills Development, said, “These awards are a great way to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that focus their time and energy on addressing affordable housing and homelessness initiatives in Edmonton. The federal government recognizes the importance of housing in improving the lives of individuals and families. That is why we continue to invest in housing and homelessness programs in communities across Canada, in close partnership with levels of government, First Nations, and the non-profit and private sectors.”
“I commend staff and volunteers of Homeward Trust for their ongoing efforts in highlighting the need for affordable housing,” said Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. “The ROOPH Awards are a great opportunity to recognize the innovative work that the Edmonton community has done to address this issue.”
Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel said, “On behalf of City Council, congratulations! I hope you take pride in a job well-done day after day. With your help, we will end chronic homelessness.”
The key note speech was delivered by Wendy Edey, Director of Counselling at the Hope Foundation of Alberta. She reminded us that we can talk about hope and reality at the same time and still have both. “People do more things and they do them differently when they have hope. They show compassion for those less fortunate than themselves and this is the key to our growth and development as a society.”
“I am delighted with the quality of nominations we have had for the ROOPH Awards. It is a testament to all the good practice that we have in Edmonton to fighting homelessness and creating affordable housing,” said Susan McGee, Executive Director, Homeward Trust. “It is also our privilege to rename one of our awards in honour of the late Larry Shaben, who was a past trustee and a government minister. He was instrumental in setting the ROOPH Awards and we are honoured to award the Larry Shaben Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Housing Sector.”
“Today is also Toque Tuesday, a day to wear your toque with pride and show that you care about ending the cycle of homelessness. Volunteers from Direct Energy will be out downtown selling toques – the money raised from this goes to local homelessness charities. This year the funds will go to the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, which works with troubled teens to get them back on the right path. We’re also going to be selling toques at the Edmonton Oilers game tonight courtesy of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and at West Edmonton Mall on February 3 and 7.”
“We invite you to purchase a toque from one our volunteers or from Homeward Trust, please call 780 496 2630 or www.homewardtrust.ca/raisingtheroof.”
ROOPH Award Nominations (bold denotes winners):
Outstanding Leadership in the Housing Sector
Patricia Bencz – Our House Addiction Centre
Jill Kelland and Marcia McKall – Alberta Health Services
Edmonton Committee To End Homelessness – Linda Hughes, Chair
Partnerships for Success
Realtor Community Foundation – Jill Didow, Executive Director
Homeless Connect Edmonton – Ione Chalborn, Cliff Higuchi, Kenn Bur, Susan McGee
Housing Support Services HUB – Kourch Chan, Executive Director, E4C on behalf of the partnership
Outstanding Service for the Aboriginal Community
Larisa Kreider
Aboriginal Housing Action Circle of Wicihitowin
Faye Dewar
Exceptional Volunteerism in the Housing Sector
Barrie Reeder
Les Umperville
Tana Vae
Jennifer Chambers and Margaret Currie
Katie Lambert