Bulletin - June 2024
From Stone Hearth's record-breaking charity event at Dartmouth General Hospital to MetroWorks receiving an award from ISANS for exceptional immigrant support, these stories highlight the dedication and compassion that drives positive change. Join us on a journey through the latest milestones that celebrate diversity, innovation, and community.
Stone Hearth Success at Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Lobster Dinner
Stone Hearth Catering once again supported the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation by catering their 39th Annual Lobster Dinner Fundraiser. On Saturday, June 15, Fisherman’s Cove was filled with hungry guests ready to enjoy delicious lobster, steak and vegetarian meals. The Stone Hearth Catering team had their most successful year yet, serving 761 people in just 46 minutes.
After the delightful dinner and dessert, the team cleaned up and loaded the trucks. Even our communications team helped by hauling Tupperware and scrubbing the food coolers. While we were busy behind the scenes, guests began placing their bids in the fundraiser’s auction. This year, the funds raised will go towards purchasing an Endoscopic Ultrasound for the Dartmouth General Hospital. We're already looking forward to next year's Lobster Dinner and Auction!
MetroWorks Honoured with ISANS Award for Immigrant Support
Every year, the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) recognizes a business, employer, organization, or individual who has demonstrated exceptional and innovative efforts in welcoming immigrants to Nova Scotia and assisting them in successfully integrating into the community. This year, MetroWorks received this award.
Our CEO remarked, "To have an organization like ISANS, with their expertise and status, acknowledge our work means a great deal to us." All our programs and social enterprises have worked with newcomers and helped them along their journey in Canada. Here are a few words from our team:
Joyce from Cunard Learning Centre
"I see how we transform lives in the classroom. We help immigrants improve their English and their math skills because they will need those to complete high school at NSCC and, if they want, move on to college or university. It's rewarding to see them get well-paying jobs and contribute to our community. I've seen students like Medina, who came to Canada struggling with English, become a travel nurse, supporting her family and achieving her dreams. We're not here to do the bare minimum to help them get by with a minimum-wage job; it's about empowering them to reach their full potential. I'm glad I've been able to help some achieve their dreams." — Joyce Power, Adult Learning Level One Instructor at Cunard Learning Centre.
Dennis from Money Path Atlantic
"I've found that many newcomers struggle to understand how banking works in Canada and how taxes are done. As a newcomer myself, I understand how daunting all the information, or even misinformation, can be. During this tax season, we helped many newcomers file taxes through the CVITP and referrals from ISANS. With the work we do at Money Path, we've assisted newcomers with everything from Canadian banking, credit cards, reading credit reports, and spotting frauds and scams, to claiming GST benefits. With my finance and economics background, I believe finance is a universal language, but it's one we often take for granted. Newcomers, especially those from war-torn countries or refugee camps, might not have had the same opportunities to learn about money. By guiding them through these financial aspects, we help them learn how to manage their income, balance their budgets, and navigate the Canadian financial system with confidence." — Dennis Igbong, Program Facilitator at Money Path Atlantic.
Stacy from Newcomer Women
"We help racialized newcomer women prepare for, find, and retain employment. But it's so much more than just finding a job. Through the Employability Program for Racialized Newcomer Women, our participants learn about life in Canada. They form friendships that become an important part of their social support network. They learn new skills and improve their English fluency, and perhaps most importantly, they gain confidence in themselves and their ability to create a successful life for their families in Canada." — Stacy Milford, Program Coordinator at Employability Program for Racialized Newcomer Women.
Stacy from Newcomer Women
"Many of our newcomers also start their own businesses and create jobs in the community. But of course, the advantages of helping immigrants successfully settle in Nova Scotia go far beyond economic benefits! Newcomers bring with them a diversity that adds to the cultural fabric of life in Nova Scotia, and our lives are richer for it." — Stacy Milford, Program Coordinator at Employability Program for Racialized Newcomer Women.
You can view the full press release on the ISANS website here.
Dave Rideout, CEO and President giving his thank-you speech. The joke that made everyone laugh was “A lot of the times, being a non-profit, we’re all steak no sizzle.”
Way to make the comms team proud, Dave. -the comms team.
Celebrating Summer Solstice at BiHi Farm
The Summer Solstice at Common Roots Urban Farm BiHi is always a special celebration for the community. To mark the longest day of the year, the farm hosted a community meal, live music, face painting, community crafts, and a seed swap.
The BiHi team shared in their newsletter: “We hope you all enjoyed the Solstice Celebration as much as we did. It was wonderful to mark the longest days of the year with so many of you. A big thank you to Stone Hearth Catering for the delicious meal, Big Country for the tunes, the lovely Laura for the wind chime workshop, and the Mental Health Foundation for helping us put it all on.”
The MetroWorks office is already excited for the next events on the farm, having caught the green bug HARD this farming season.
Sweet Times at Woodside Ice Cream Social
This month, the Woodside Urban Farm hosted an Ice Cream Social! Visitors enjoyed ice cream from Dee Dee's Ice Cream and sorbet while engaging in live music, harbour views, snacks, and special activities for the kids. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for this sweet community event!
Stone Hearth Returns to Hope Blooms Market
Last year, Stone Hearth was a vendor at the Hope Blooms farmers market, and we're excited to be back this year! Join us every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. throughout July and August. Our program coordinator and participants will be there, sharing our delicious bread with the community and gaining valuable customer service and sales skills. Thanks for having us again this year, Hope Blooms!
Happy Farewell to Joyce!
Joyce has been with the Cunard Learning Centre for 15 years, serving as our Level One Instructor in the Adult Learning Program. Even before Joyce joined us, she was dedicated to education, working with the Eastern Shore Musquodoboit Valley Literacy Network.
Over the years, she has celebrated many moments, including seeing her students graduate from NSCC and hearing success stories like one student who became a travel nurse. Now that’s she leaves the classroom behind (for now!), you can catch her reading, playing card and word games, or enjoying "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Misérables."
During her farewell party, Joyce shared these parting words: “You meet so many different people and you make a difference. You change people’s lives. Sometimes you don’t know you’ve changed lives unless you meet these people later on in life. Our lives do make a difference here and not many workplaces can say that.”
EDGE Team Takes ASIST Training
The EDGE team demonstrated their dedication once again. During a weekend in June, some of the EDGE team members participated in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). This course is designed to teach people how to intervene and prevent the risk of suicidal thoughts from becoming suicidal behaviours. The EDGE program supports young adults aged 18 to 26 who face personal or life barriers preventing them from securing sustainable employment.
Cunard Wraps Up for Summer
School's out for summer! This academic year, the Cunard Learning Centre worked with 103 students. Special congratulations go to Osman Adam, who continued his studies after completing all his classes at Cunard and recently graduated with his Grade 12 High School Diploma from Nova Scotia Community College.
We’re looking forward to seeing the students again in September. Until then, have a fantastic summer break!
Whether it's the warmth of community gatherings at BiHi Farm's Summer Solstice or the dedication shown by the EDGE team in their suicide prevention training, each story underscores the richness of our collective efforts. As we bid farewell to another academic year at Cunard Learning Centre and eagerly await the return of students in September, let's continue fostering connections and making a lasting impact in Halifax.
