HALIFAX, September 1, 2010 – CIBC celebrated its $100,000 commitment to The Salvation Army in Halifax with a donation presentation at the CIBC Barrington and Duke branch. CIBC’s donation will go towards repairs and upgrades beginning this year to The Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope on Gottingen Street. The funds will help restore The Salvation Army’s flagship social services facility including the Booth Centre, home to a 40-bed men’s shelter and a 19-bed rehabilitation program for men with addictions.

“CIBC’s outstanding gift to our Operation: Building Hope capital campaign has made a huge difference,” says Major Larry Martin, Divisional Commander, The Salvation Army. “The critical repairs and renovations taking place this year at our Centre of Hope on Gottingen Street were made possible by leadership level gifts like the one made by CIBC. We couldn’t do this without their support, and we greatly appreciate CIBC’s partnership in making our community a better place for all citizens.”

Over the course of its lengthy history in Halifax, CIBC has made a difference by supporting a wide range of community-based organizations. In the past three years alone, the bank has contributed $650,000 to local organizations including the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre Foundation, capital campaigns for local universities and colleges, the YMCA and The Salvation Army, among others.

“At CIBC, we are committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients,
our employees and our communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of our employees,” said Sylvain Vinet, Senior Vice-President of CIBC Retail Markets for Eastern Canada.

“Terry Gardiner, CIBC’s vice-president for the Atlantic region, is a great example of how our employees are involved in the community,” Vinet continued. “Terry has served on The Salvation Army’s capital campaign cabinet and is Chair of the Advisory Board, overseeing the work of transforming the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the community.”

-Ron
Ron Zima ADpPR
Fund Development & Public Relations
The Salvation Army – Maritime Division
ron_zima@can.salvationarmy.org
DIRECT: 902-456-2550

According to a new study at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, barriers of all kinds are standing in the way of homeless people accessing health services in Canada.
Competing priorities, including finding shelter, food and employment, are cited as factors that can delay seeking medical attention. Also, many people have had a hard time finding a family doctor, but that’s also more difficult for homeless people, particularly for those whose provincial health card was lost or stolen, as reported by a number of people in the study.
And, even if a homeless person does have a family doctor, transportation costs can prevent them from getting there for an appointment, The study also reports that some homeless have had negative experiences with health-care professionals and were made to feel unwelcome and stigmatized. That often results in a person who, although they have needs, is reluctant to seek care because they had such a bad experience the last time.
In addition to our publicly funded health-care system, should we provide special systems of care for those who are particularly disadvantaged?

Friday the 13th of August was blessed with beautiful weather – yet again – for The Annual Transcontinental “Tee Off For The Kids” at Granite Springs golf course near Halifax.

15 teams and 60 participants had a ball, beef buffet, and unbeatable golf while raising over $16,000 in support of sending kids to Scotian Glen Camp. Check out the on-line photo album of the fun HERE.

Terry Mounce and his Transcontinental team have now raised close to $60,000 over four years of organizing this extraordinary tournament – hosted once again by delightful duffer Bill Carr.

Golfers opened their hearts and their wallets on and off the course. Lori Smith, with Transcontinental customer service, had no trouble stuffing The Salvation Army course Kettle with an extra $400..!

Maritime Divisional Commander Major Larry Martin thanked all of the participants and accepted the funds on behalf of The Salvation Army’s Scotian Glen Camp.

Let there be no doubt about the value of these dollars – an investment in the spirit and development of children from across the Maritimes. Have a peek yourself. Click HERE and HERE.

-Ron
Ron Zima ADpPR
Fund Development & Public Relations
The Salvation Army – Maritime Division
ron_zima@can.salvationarmy.org
DIRECT: 902-456-2550

A British Columbia woman recently took to the streets to raise awareness about homelessness. From Friday to Sunday she had nothing but the clothes on her back, a sleeping bag, a backpack, a roll of toilet paper and a video camera with her.
People walked by her that were very kind, so kind it could bring tears to your eyes and others were really mean. Some wouldn’t look at her. Some had nasty comments. Some had an air of she’s dirty, she’s stupid, she should get a life.
Sylvia says the majority of street people suffer from mental illness and drug abuse, and others just don’t have enough money, despite what they get on welfare.
One homeless man told her he can choose either accommodation or food, and he chooses to eat.
Sylvia met people that changed her life. People no different from any of us, they were just down on their luck.

When vandals hit the Salvation Army High River’s only delivery vehicle last month, staff and volunteers decided it was the last straw for the van. The organization couldn’t afford to repair the windshield and correct the significant mechanical problems on the 200,000-plus kilometer cube van.

After the incident was noted in the local paper, businesses banded together to replace a smashed-in windshield and broken transmission for basic or no costs.

You know you have a community when it takes care of its own.

So many of us have attended some kind of summer camp. What kind of camps did you attend when you were younger? Do you have treasured memories? Friends that you keep in touch with? What was your favourite activity?

Now’s your chance to remember the good ole’ days of summer and tell us your best camp story.

In an affluent society like ours, people don’t want to have to seek food assistance. For many Canadian’s experiencing difficulty, it’s humiliating and they only do it when they are absolutely desperate. They park their dignity—their pride—at the door to get food.

There are heart-breaking stories of parents not wanting their kids to know they went to a food bank because it was embarrassing. When unforeseen economic struggle quickly turns to crisis, reluctantly asking for food gnaws away at human dignity and dignity is something everyone really wants.

According to Food Banks Canada 2.7 million people will experience household food insecurity at some point this year. Unforeseen economic struggle can very quickly turn to crisis. Salvation Army reports show the need for food banks and feeding programs to be greater than ever. Currently, the Army operates more than 275 food banks and feeding programs from coast to coast. The majority of clients who visit don’t want to be there. It’s essential that they obtain adequate food, with dignity.

People’s lives change when they’re treated with dignity.