Candace Sutherland has overcome some insurmountable odds in her young lifetime. At the tender age of 17, Candace has experienced a childhood rife with poverty, dependence of food banks and a brief stay in foster care.  Born into a family with a developmentally delayed mother and schizophrenic father, Candace never celebrated Christmas like other children her age did.  At 8 years of age, Candace’s life changed drastically when a government agency diagnosed her mother with her disorder and placed Candace in custody.

Fortunately, Candace’s aunt and uncle moved to Manitoba and gained custody of Candace and her two older brothers.  With the backing of a stable family life, Candace thrived and soon began running after school.  By the age of twelve she was running distances of ten miles and has since then competed in numerous marathons and long distance prize races.  Putting her talents to good use, Candace is now using her running skills to help raise awareness about marginalized people in Canada and her hometown of Winnipeg.  Candace reflects that “Many times on my way to train I would see lots of people at soup lines.  Sometimes I noticed children in line and this would give me flash backs of when I went to those places to get food.  I decided that is what I wanted to do with my running skills – use running to help bring awareness to what is happening to our people.”  Candace adds, “I have seen them come to me sick from cancer, diabetes, sick from poverty, sick from heart attacks and strokes.  I have decided to run across Canada to try and make life easier for people who suffer from these terrible causes.”

On Monday, March 8, 2010, Candace will begin her journey to run from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia to raise money for The Salvation Army and three other charities: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canadian Diabetes Association, and Canadian Cancer Society.  The cross-country trek, which is called “Vision4Hope”, is expected to take between eight months and a year.

Donations can be made via the teen’s website at www.candacesutherland.com

The one day Kettle tent-raiser was a success with The Salvation Army Regina raising $2084.65 for temporary shelters in Haiti. Customers donated generously to the kettles on Saturday February 27, 2010 at all seven of the Liquor stores in Regina.

The money will be used to purchase UN-approved tents for The Salvation Army relief camps in Haiti. Each UN-approved tent costs $500 and The Salvation Army will be able to purchase four tents.

A big thank-you goes to all the volunteers, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the generous customers who made donations for helping to make this a success.

Captain Steven Cameron said “The Salvation Army in Regina is very thankful to the people of Regina for their outpouring of support to the people in Haiti.  The money that was raised will really help provide adequate shelter to those without homes during the rainy season in Haiti.”

The kettles are a familiar sight in Regina stores and malls at Christmas, but The Salvation Army brought them out again for a one day tent-raiser because of the urgent need in Haiti.  The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority have agreed to host The Salvation Army kettles in their Regina Liquor stores. 

The minister in charge of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Christine Tell, urged Regina customers to continue to show the enormous heart of Saskatchewan People by donating to the Haiti event.

Right now, in Haiti there are more than 200,000 homes severely damaged or destroyed and 1.2 million people homeless or displaced by last month’s earthquake. The Salvation Army has signed an agreement to purchase tents, approved by the United Nations, for temporary housing. These tents will be used at relief camps in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and surrounding areas.

Many of the tents provide sufficient housing for a small family or group of four people. “In January, the United Nations designated The Salvation Army as a “lead agency” for Haiti’s disaster relief work. Since then, the organization has set-up a number of operations providing basic care, including housing, clean water, medical services and basic hygiene products.

To date, The Salvation Army has $5.0 million in donations from the Canadian public, and more than $200,000 in donations were raised through the Army’s Text-to-Donate program. 

General donations to The Salvation Army’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund can be made by visiting www.tents4haiti.ca, calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), or by mailing or dropping off your donation to The Salvation Army, 2240 13^th Ave, Regina, SK, S4P 3M7.

For further information, please contact:

Captain Steven Cameron
Community Ministries, Haven of Hope
Tel: (306)757-4600
Cell: (306)530-0572
___________________________________

Pamela Snider
Public Relations and Development
Southern Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 757-3111 ext 222
Cell: (306) 551-2230
Fax: (306) 352-0906
E-mail: pamela_snider@can.salvationarmy.org

Catching the wave of Olympic spirit, Heritage Park Temple decided to host its own celebratory event in honor of the Olympic flame passing through the city. With some creative thinking on the part of the event coordinator, Paul Deacon Jr., it didn’t take long to transform the corps parking lot into a local street hockey rink. Although it was initially feared that frigid Manitoba temperatures would impact the event, the Lord had other plans, giving us a balmy plus 4 degrees for this outreach event. Some of the players even put on their summer shorts for the occasion!

At the end of the day, there was evidence of new contacts made from within the neighborhood and plans quickly afoot for another invitational event to take place over the upcoming spring break. The weekend culminated with a worship service on Sunday morning which focused toward the opportunities and blessings of sports ministries in The Salvation Army. Captain Les Marshall (Divisional Secretary for Public Relations and Development) spoke about how sports ministries had become the means through which he was nurtured in his faith and ultimately became aware of his call to officership. Members of the Generals Hockey Team were also present for this service giving their support and awards were presented for the community tournament. Major Keith Pike offered a devotional challenge highlighting the importance for everyone on God’s team to “put on his full armor.” (Ephesians 6: 10)

One young gal from the HPT Kids Klub ministries was fortunate enough to be selected as the model for this occasion and proved it takes a special person to be able to wear Major Pike’s hockey gear! Overall, this weekend gave all who were involved a reminder of the value of sports ministries in The Salvation Army and the incredible opportunity we are have to use sports as a means of reaching into our communities. Heritage Park Temple remains committed and determined to keep building on this foundation

For our special Week of Compassion for Haiti, the Salvation Army kettles were stationed at shopping malls and stores across Saskatoon.
More than 200 volunteers donated over 600 hours of service to the campaign, including the 72^nd Saskatoon North Cub Scout Troup. Thursday evening, the Cubs rang bells at the big kettles and carried hand-held kettles through the Lawson Heights Mall. The youngsters also chose to donate their Cub Scout dues to the kettle campaign. Thanks to them, and all our volunteers that day, the Saskatoon kettles collected $5,943.50. The Saskatoon Salvation Army’s Week of Compassion for Haiti six-day grand total was $30,448.40.Saskatoon’s generous citizens of all ages continually astound us with their support.

Thank you for helping the people of Haiti.

On February 7, 2010, the congregation at Winnipeg East Community Church said “Happy Birthday” to the oldest member of their congregation. Jaring Timmerman celebrated his 101st birthday with three more generations of Timmermans at his side. Please join with us as we wish Mr. Timmerman many more years of good health.

Photo (L - R): Barbara Brose, Ruth Timmerman, Janet Timmerman, Donna Klassen, Jaring Timmerman, Don Timmerman, Mark Timmerman,Brent Timmerman, Trish Timmerman, Breanna Timmerman, Walter Klassen

Winnipeg, ON January 13, 2010 – The Salvation Army is mobilizing resources to respond to the destructive earthquake that struck the Caribbean island of Haiti on Tuesday. The country is paralyzed and many are without power, clean water, and food after the quake all but destroyed the city of Port au Prince.

The Salvation Army in Canada is sending an immediate $100,000 USD and a fundraising campaign has begun to support the humanitarian response.

“We are compelled to do whatever we can to help the victims of this terrible disaster”, said Commissioner William Francis, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army for Canada & Bermuda. “Our prayers are with the people of Haiti and we will continue to respond in the best manner possible.”

The country’s infrastructure has been shattered and many of The Salvation Army’s buildings and facilities have seen significant damage, but personnel on the ground responded immediately, offering as much assistance as possible, including some shelter, food and clean water. The organization’s administrative compound is being used as an emergency operations centre with people sleeping in the parking lot.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) is standing by to assist the public with Health and Welfare requests from individuals seeking information on family members in the affected area of Haiti. To submit a request, please go to www.satern.org and click on the “Health and Welfare Information Request” link.

The Salvation Army began its work in Haiti in 1950. Currently, services offered include 3 medical facilities, social service institutions and dozens of schools serving more than 10,000 children.

Please support The Salvation Army’s relief effort in Haiti.  Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by visiting our website, www.SalvationArmy.ca, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area.  Donors should specify their gift to the Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country.  The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 119 countries around the world.  The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. 

When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community

News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Captain Tiffany Marshall

Associate Divisional Secretary for Public Relations and Development

Prairie Division

MB Communications Representative

203-290 Vaughan St

Winnipeg MB

Office 204-975-1002

Cell 204-781-9053

Email - Tiffany_Marshall@can.salvationarmy.org 

As you are well aware, the annual 2009 Christmas Kettle Campaign has come to a close and we would like to thank all supporters for their generous donations of both time and money.

This year, with your help and support, we were able to raise $1.14 million dollars throughout the division which has already supported numerous families this past Christmas and will continue to help people in need for months to come. 

Considering the economic climate and challenges that people are currently facing, once again Canadians have chosen to support The Salvation Army and for that we are humbled, extremely grateful and affirmed by the trust and faith people have in us and of the work that takes place each and every day all year long. 

We would also like to thank all of our kettle volunteers who stood for hours at a time inside and outside stores and malls throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North West Ontario. We could not have run this campaign without your support.

Once again, on behalf of The Salvation Army - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

With only one day remaining in this years campaign, we would first like to thank all of our kettle locations who were so generous in providing us with a place to have a kettle for the last 30 days. 

We would also like to thank all of the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly on the kettle providing thousands of hours of service.

Thirdly, we would especially like to thank everyone who contributed financially. 

Without these three components coming together, The Salvation Army would simply not be able to do what it does each and every year without this support.

As soon as the financial returns from this years campaign have been tabulated we will be sure to post the results as soon as possible.

Now from our family to yours we would like to wish each of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR and may the true meaning of the season sink deeply into your heart and may your life be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

The Salvation Army Serves up Hope to Winnipeg’s Inner City

Residents Over the Christmas Season

(Winnipeg, Manitoba – December 16, 2009) – While most Manitobans are cranking up their furnaces and boosting dead car batteries, there is another section of the population struggling just to survive in these bone-chilling temperatures.  With each drop in the mercury, the challenges faced by the residents of The Salvation Army Booth Centre, an inner city emergency and transitional shelter increase.  Booth Centre Ministries Executive Director, Major Al Hoeft says, “On any given night, we have the capacity to accommodate over 350 individuals. However, with the frigid weather we can expand our capacity to include an additional 50 mats.  It is our goal to ensure that we have sufficient capacity so that anyone choosing to seek refuge has an option.”

Not only is the Winnipeg Booth Centre providing emergency shelter every night of the year, but this Wednesday an army of volunteers will descend on the downtown centre to spread some Christmas cheer to residents of the centre, their friends and family, as well as other community residents.  A team of festive volunteers and dignitaries will be serving as many as 1,200 of these very special guests.  In preparation for this event, Salvation Army staff will be busy roasting four dozen turkeys, peeling 200 pounds of potatoes, steaming over 170 pounds of vegetables and serving up 250 pies for dessert as they host The Salvation Army’s Annual Christmas Dinner.

Media are invited to meet the many volunteers as they host this year’s Salvation Army Christmas dinner on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at Winnipeg’s Booth Centre (180 Henry Avenue).  Serving will continue until 8 p.m.

On December 3, the 3rd annual Hope in the City Carol Festival was held at Winnipeg’s Pantages Playhouse. This year, the guest ensemble was The Air Command Band. The band delighted the audience members with traditional sing-a-long carols, big-band style, and even added some international flavour. The handbell choir from Winnipeg East Community Church and the Community Ventures Drama Group also entertained during the evening. Music before the program and during the intermission was provided with a brass ensemble from the College for Officer Training and a vocal ensemble from Heritage Park Temple. This event keeps growing, so be sure to watch for the 2010 Carol Festival.