Immigration Hall, Shaw TV, Janelle's interview

Check here for Shaw TV's coverage of the grand opening of Immigration Hall.

(Well done Janelle! We'll miss you!!)

Immigration Hall Opens

Susan McGee, Executive Director Homeward Trust, Ben Henderson, City Councillor-Ward 4, Tim Uppal, MP Edmonton-Sherwood Park, Naresh Bhardwaj, MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie, Bruce Reith, Executive Director Hope Mission

Press Release

Hope Mission is proud to debut the grand opening of Immigration Hall with the Hope Street Festival. This historical building, located at 10534 – 100 St, will offer 44 apartment suites. Responsibility and accountability are held in high standards and everyone living there will be paying rent, as well as respecting their property and their neighbours.

This exciting new facility is opening the same year Hope Mission is celebrating its 80th year of services to Edmonton's inner-city community.

Along with transitional and recovery programs, Hope Mission offers a variety of services to homeless and disadvantaged men, women and youth such as meal services, emergency shelters, youth programs and Rapid Exit, a division of the Housing First project.

The Government of Canada, through funding to Homeward Trust, invested $5.4 million to purchase the building and to renovate and redevelop Immigration Hall. The remaining funds of approximately $3.9 million were contributed by Alldritt Developments, Alberta Housing and

Urban Affairs, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the City of Edmonton Housing Branch & Heritage. The total cost of the building and redevelopment was $9.3 million.

"Our government is supporting many Canadians with housing needs and is fulfilling our commitment to help those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty," said Mr. Tim Uppal, Member of Parliament for Edmonton–Sherwood Park, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "Through this investment, the Hope Mission and Homeward Trust Edmonton will be able to help people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, by providing supportive housing and services."

"We are excited that this project is ready to open its doors. It is very fulfilling knowing that a historic property has been redeveloped for such a worthwhile purpose," said Susan McGee, Executive Director, Homeward Trust Edmonton. "Immigration Hall will contribute towards our efforts in ending homelessness by providing permanent homes for people and an opportunity for a fresh start."

Homeward Trust is a not-for-profit organization that uses a community-based approach toward the goal of ending homelessness in Edmonton. Its primary role is to coordinate response to housing needs by working together with local agencies and all orders of government

H1N1 flu clinic targets homeless people

In today's EdJournal, with comments by Janelle. All about today's activity surrounding H1N1 vaccination of homeless people at the Immigration Hall's grand opening.

Immigration Hall Press Release

Friday's here...and here's one more reminder: Press release

As we all know, Steve is by far the most humble and ‘out-of-the-spotlight’ as one can be; however, this past week I have let all of our staff know about an award Steve is being honoured with.

This afternoon at City Hall, Steve will be presented with the 2009 Spirit of Edmonton Award. This award ‘honours the unsung heroes and heroines of our city who have unselfishly boosted civic pride and whose efforts embody our community’s true spirit.’

By not only raising awareness about homeless, poverty and injustice, Steve also puts faces and names to personal stories he shares on his blogs and editorials in The Edmonton Journal. He introduces his readers to his daily encounters of people he meets, acts of kindness he witnesses or poetically reflects on the symbolism of some in adamant object that prompts a favourite memory of times that have passed.

His dedication to his continuous journey to give voices to those who are often ignored, shine a light into an otherwise dark alley of our city. As we may get angered or jaded by local politics, events, bad drivers or our infamous weather, Steve reminds us why we call Edmonton home by reminding us all about the hidden beauty in everyone, everything and, yes, even our weather.

Congratulations on this recognition Steve, for no one is more deserving of this than you.

Past recipients of this award are international award-winning artist Yew Wei-Lee and Bruce Hogle, CTV veteran and Canadian Association of Broadcaster's Hall of Fame inductee.

*** Steve will be at City Hall this afternoon and will receive this award from Mayor Mandel. It will be recorded and shown at the Eskimos football game tonight.***

One Meal One Hope

A wonderful idea from the folks at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission.

Get some volunteers, go downtown, hold up cardboard signs and show people just how they can help the hungry and homeless.

Returning Home

It is incredible how fast time flies. I never could have imagined how quickly a year can pass you by. It feels like yesterday when I was waddling around Hope Mission with a snack in one hand and a de-cafe latte in the other, hiding in my office and crying uncontrollably for no reason, forgetting everything at once due to “pregnancy brain” and all the other physical and emotional rollercoaster rides many of you witnessed … and may have, in fact, stopped some of you from wanting kids any time soon. (And for that, I apologize).

Maternity leave was the most incredible, and many moments the most challenging, time in my entire life. Lucy June Pauline Johnston was born at 4:37 am on August 9th. She weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 8 oz; so for those of you who remember how huge I was, she was indeed a BIG baby.

I can’t even remember how old I was when I discovered the comedic legend Lucille Ball. I Love Lucy has been of my favourite shows my entire life, so when we discovered we were having a girl, there was no debate on what we were going to name her. June and Pauline were my two grandmothers, both of whom have passed away.

The comedic namesake's humour has passed over to my daughter. She has the feisty determination, and stubbornness of her mother, appreciation for music like her father, and her own sense of humour is already coming into its own.

I want to thank you all for the warm welcome back! I also want to say how deeply I appreciate all of your patience with me while I was pregnant. Pregnancy certainly is not easy, so your encouragement, compassion and support for those months mean more to me than you can understand.

When I came into the business office on Tuesday, I felt like I was coming home. Like any proud Momma, I've attached some pictures below.

Thank you all again so much!

xoxo
Janelle





















Running away from mom - Almost 1 year.












Sunkissed - 10 months










Pout! Pout! Pout! - 10 months












Already a lady, as she clutches a friend's purse. - 9 1/2 months.
















Pink tutu! - 6 months

Doing yoga with mommy - 7 months.

Hope Mission Royalty

On Monday we were graced by receiving, as Lindy put it, “some Hope Mission royalty.” That is, the children of Hope Mission’s founders, the Edwardsons.

Left to right (In front of Edwardson Place): Ross Edwardson and his wife Delores, from Whiterock, BC., Dagmar (Edwardson) Cunningham, from Edmonton, and Rev. Paul Edwardson from Redding California.

Above: The staff and families of 1930’s-era Hope Mission. Front row: Paul, Ross and Ray, or Ray and Ross (twins) and behind Ross (or Ray) is Dagmar. Hillie Edwardson is behind Paul and Harold is at the back--left.

As I was touring them around Paul told the story of the time the author of “The Old Rugged Cross,” George Bernard, stayed with them. They were driving to the original store-front Mission with a large pot of soup. That was before they got the CNR rooming house, so late 1929 or early 1930. Those days Hillie made soup at home and transported it to the Mission. Anyway, they hit a hole and the pot tipped and the soup spilled all over the inside of the car. George Bernard eventually got to speak, perhaps sing, but it was a hungrier night than most. There’s a moral in there some where.

You should know that Dagmar, Paul and Ross, hold the Mission very close to their hearts, and pray for us and this ministry always. Hope Mission is obviously still in their veins. They grew up in its sights, sounds and smells--grew up stepping over men bunked out in their hallways as they were on their way to school.

I’m glad some of you got to meet them. I’m hoping we can get them back here for the opening of the Immigration Hall. Either way, they send you their love and prayers.

Belgrade to Edmonton--a reclamation journey

Belgrade to Edmonton--a reclamation journey

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