StreetTalk “Thunderbay” youth have their say.
Tanner and Tim’s story “Sound quality is a bit poor with the wind oops”
I met up with Tim at lunch on Sunday in the shelter in the soup kitchen, Not to be confused with me but another Tim a lively lad now with a life full of hope, Tim shared his story with me of how he ended up staying in his friend Tanners shed for a couple of weeks to get away from a worsening home situation, eventually he came to realize that the Homeless shelter was his only option for him, he spent a month in the shelter and got connected with The Children’s Aid Society’s Outreach Youth Worker “Marcel Nigro” they have helped him get himself on his feet and find him somewhere to live and prospects for a better future, Tim has his own dreams of being an actor and he told me that he is creative and is looking to utilize these gifts.
Thank you Tanner “Have and Tim for allowing me to interview you both for the RamblingRat Project, you are ambassadors for youth.
Youth Outreach Services “Thunderbay” Children’s Aid Society www.thunderbaycas.ca
I met up with Marcel Nigro who works for The Children’s Aid Society and has been working in the local thunderbay community with street youth for the last 14 years as an outreach worker he is totally committed to his work and has some good ideas of how he would like to create a youth street directory for youth all over Canada to give them access to all their essential needs and rights. What a great idea Marcel.
I would like to thank Marcel for hooking me up to speak to the local street youth community.
Mission Statement of Youth Outreach Services “Thunderbay”The Outreach Program strives to assist marginalized youth to improve the overall quality of their lives, physically, socially and emotionally. |
An Overview
The Outreach Program was developed to meet the diverse needs of youth at risk who have a variety of issues that are not being met. The fundamental purpose of the program is to enhance all aspects of these youths’ lives, including their physical, social and emotional development. The Outreach Program’s aim is to reach youth who have “fallen through the cracks” of traditional service programs, connecting them with services that they may be unaware of or have had difficulties accessing. The Outreach Worker’s challenge is to guide and support these youth back into the use of traditional and non-traditional supports and services. Through the use of these supports, youth at risk will be able to achieve a more productive and meaningful lifestyle.
Shelter House “Thunderbay”
We made a stop over the weekend to visit Shelter House in Thunderbay Ontario Canada, We arrived on Sunday and was lucky to be invited into the Shelter by operations manager Wojciech Czupryski, i was shown around and had lunch with many of the homeless local folk in the city, the soup kitchen that day was manned by the volunteer police trainee’s and they had made a good job of preparing the days food which is donated from the local community.
Shelter House Thunder Bay
Shelter House began its operation in 1980 under the name Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter, when several concerned individuals recognized a need to provide overnight shelter against the cold winter nights. It was originally built to service a ‘temporary’ homeless problem. In 1984, Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter became incorporated and was relocated to the corner of Victoria and Simpson Streets. This building was constructed by volunteers on a limited budget, using donated materials. Upon completion, 28 male beds and seven female beds were available. Two youth focused dorms for 5 males and 5 females.
Our Mission
Shelter House is a temporary and transitional service that exists to provide short term relief to those people in need of shelter, food, clothing, and to support access to the resources and services these people require in order to improve their own capacity to meet their basic needs.
Shelter House is guided by the following principles and values:
1. There is a collective responsiblity to help people in need.
2. All people have self worth and are deserving of respect and dignity
3. All people have the right to adequate shelter, food and clothing
4. All people has the right to make choices about their lives.
5. Both the individual and the community benefit from our work.
6. Poverty, injustice and oppression are social problems not a result of individual failings.
7. Through our work we can affect change to eliminate poverty, injustice and oppression.
8. We do not work in isolation to affect this social change.
The Vision of Shelter House is to create a caring community whereby people are able to meet their basic needs.
We work to ensure that:
Peoples basic needs are met
People who are homeless or a risk of homelessness are supported to move forward in ways that they choose.
The community, governments and policy makers are more aware of the root cause of poverty and homelessness and the resulting impact on people and our society.
Shelter House …
acts as a lifeline for hundreds of men, women, and youth. People come to the Shelter to have their basic needs met. These men, women and youth are often struggling through an emotional or financial crisis. Shelter House is often their last hope for help and assistance.
To contact Shelter house their web site is www.shelterhouse.on.ca
I would like to thank Shelter House for inviting me and allowing the press to raise local awareness into youth homeless issues. Thank you Cal and Lucus
Executive Director:
Cal Rankin
E-mail: shed@tbaytel.net
Marketing & Development
Lucas Jewitt
E-mail: marketing@shelterhouse.on.ca
MacDonald Youth Services “Winnipeg”
Tim Dennis visits the MacDonald Youth Shelter in “Winnipeg”
Tim Dennis is traveling the world to raise awareness and support for the challenges facing street kids. Tim, who hales from Scotland has been in Canada since November 2008 spreading the word and doing it while driving a home on wheels throughout his travels “for the kids”. While meeting with the media and staff at the MYS campus Winnipeg, Tim shared timely information and made us all even more aware about the risk kids take when they head to the streets and some of the reasons they do it. Tim was also impressed with out own YRC and the work we do at MYS.
MYS takes this opportunity to wish Tim all our best in his travels. Should any one want further information about MYS contact www.mys.ca or this link about todays events with photos.
Click the below link to see more of Tim’s visit to MacDonald Youth Services
www.mys.ca/newsevents-releases.php?entry_id=2359
History
MacDonald Youth Services (MYS) was established in 1929 under the official name of Sir John MacDonald Memorial Hostel, A magistrate and advocate for youth,Hugh John MacDonald would often go out of his way to find jobs for young offenders and was known to give homeless offenders tempory shelter in his own home.
After his passing his legacy is continued in honor of his name, 75 years on and providing services to youth families and the community.
Youth Resource Centre and Shelter
The YRC/Shelter offers short term, overnight,emergency shelter to youth 12 to 17 years old. Crisis intervention counseling, case management, food, clothing and hygiene needs are all services offered to youth 12 to 20 years of age on a walk in basis.
RamblingRat benefiting streetKids International
I would like to thank all the staff at the MacDonald centre for allowing me to visit your facility and having so many press and TV people trudge around, it was obvious that this is a very clean friendly and well run shelter.
Special thanks for setting this up
Leila Dance
External Relations Specialist
Macdonald Youth Services
175 Mayfair Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3L 0A1
ph: 204.949.6527
fax: 204.284.4431
leila.dance@mys.mb.ca
Cynthia Drebot Coordiator cynthia.drebot@mys.mb.ca
Bruce Henry Camera and Video and for being my accommodation sponsor for Winnipeg.
Davin Elementary School “thanks guys”
Today i have been very lucky to speak in two great schools in Regina, this was implemented in conjunction with streetKids International, i would like to thank all the young people and teachers and streetKids International for being so supportive of the expedition.
The Leader Post “Regina”
Dylan the Rat raises social awareness
Tim Dennis and students.
The Grade 8 students in Kathleen Woodhouse’s class at Davin School got a visit from a rambling rat on Thursday afternoon.
Dylan, a travelling animated rat, was part of a presentation by Tim Dennis, who represents Street Kids International. This organization is non-profit, operates in more than 60 countries, was founded in Canada and is dedicated to raising awareness about the needs and rights of street youth.
In May 2008, Dennis sold his home and farm in Dalbeattie, Scotland to initiate funds for the project. He’s travelled through Europe, Russia and Japan so far. He travels in his Toyota Landcruiser.
“I was actually getting a lot more out of doing positive things with kids, than I was doing a normal job,” he said of his decision to start working with children.
Dennis introduced himself to the kids as a lover of life and then shared a video from Street Kids International. Afterward, he answered questions and provided some personal insight through his own experiences meeting street youth in various countries.
When Dennis saw the opportunity to travel and to work with street kids living in poverty in different countries and work with youth projects, he jumped on it.
There are 11,000 street kids in Canada, said Dennis, 1,500 to 3,000 of whom do not get a bed to sleep in every night, leaving them at risk for drugs, prostitution and abuse.
Dennis speaks to privileged kids about food, water and shelter and what they really need in life.
“The essential things,” he said. “And a sense of self — to think about what they really want in life and what they’re going to get out of life.”
Woodhouse said Dennis’ presentation ties in with a project the class had been working on about getting past stereotypes that started with a book called from Me to We by Craig Kielburger.
Woodhouse was eager to have Dennis speak because she thought it was an excellent way to tie in another organization. She wanted the students to see the idea of helping others as well as how doing social justice activities are happening in other places.
“So we had Me to We which is Craig Kielburger as a 12-year-old,” she said. “And we have Tim who’s in his 30s and he’s doing this thing with another organization, Street Kids International. So how can we incorporate these two ideas? And maybe we want to work with one, but maybe we can create our own thing on our own scale.”
The class reaction was positive, said Woodhouse, who is looking forward to Monday’s class when they will discuss what they can do as a class in Regina to help.
The Rambling Rat made an earlier stop on Thursday, visiting with a Grade 7/8 class at Coldwell School. Dennis’ travel log can be found on his website (www.ramblingrat.com).
BY SAMANTHA MACIAG, THE LEADER-POST
I really enjoyed connecting to the young people yesterday it gave a real boost to see them take such an interest in the issues of other youth from around the world, they really liked the way that the expedition unites kids from all over the world, and i was overwhelmed at how they supported me giving me encouragement. I feel that they all learned something about themselves and know “life is for living”
Thank you for inviting me to your schools.
From Tim Dennis
Leatha Bird
Coldwell School
Kathleen Woodhouse
Davin Elementary School
“Help for Help” The Richard Meic story
Richard Meic gets a tow!
I was driving back to my sponsors house last night and saw a car broken down in rush hour Regina, turns out he was a good person in need, i offered my help with which he more than deservers for all that he gives too.
Tim Dennis
I’ve spent the last few months complaining about what’s wrong with the world. Now it’s time to focus a bit on what’s good about the world. This is a wonderful tidbit, because the complex sequence of events was quite uplifting to get caught up in. I do mean caught up, because sometimes the Universe just ticks that way. Tick, I turn onto one of the busiest roads in Regina; properly, I might add, so I’m in the far left lane of three lanes. Tock, the engine dies when I try to accelerate. Tick, that’s okay, I just start it up again. Tock, I don’t think so, she won’t turn over. I have to mention that I love my battery, it’s still going strong after all my attempts to get the car running. I complain a lot about quality, but motomaster batteries, I have to say, are really good batteries. In the midst of the periodical, helpful honks, advising me exactly what some of the drivers thought of my unfortunate predicament, there was one guy who stopped. I didn’t even notice at first, in my iron determination to push my car the 200 meters to get her off that road. Need I also point out that in rush hour traffic, pushing even a 1991 Ford Taurus across three lanes of traffic was a very grim prospect… I was going to worry about that when I got close to the intersection.
I looked up in time to see someone, who’s name turned out to be Tim Dennis,just rounding the passenger side of an SUV, stopped ten feet ahead. He asked how I was doing, to which I replied I was tired. We had a pleasant conversation. He fetched his towrope as I read the back of his truck. The “Rambling Rat” logo was on the back and I was starting to get the idea of what this man was all about. He describes himself simply as someone who helps people. Maybe it was the way he said it, maybe it is something more subtle, but just that short interaction gave me a deeper understanding of his nature. He was like me. I am the kind of person who will stop at every stranded car to make sure everyone is okay, I hold doors open for everyone, I pull out extra change to cover the person ahead of me at the store if they’re short… I help people. My occupation is in IT and I resolve problems. Sure I get paid for it but it’s something I do anyway. I help because it’s nice to be nice, and being helpful is its own reward… you get the idea. It is the way I am and the way I expect others to be, and it’s not hard to do.
Until yesterday I was beginning to feel like my family were the only ones on this Earth of that mindset. But yesterday, yesterday my friends, I was towed out of a very bad situation by someone just like myself. I was stunned stupid. I’m not kidding, I went through the whole situation in a kind of half daze. Whatever stress I would have felt about the car itself faded to non-existence upon meeing Tim. You see his primary function appears to be helping streekids worldwide. Rambling Rat is a world tour he started in 2008 (the year of the rat) and he is raising money for streetkids. Only after checking his blog did I find out that this man seems to be a magnet for good people. By his own admission he is always meeting like-minded people wherever he goes.
I highly recommend following his progress around the world, read about his adventures and by all means if you see him, say hi… because the Universe put you there for a reason.
You can follow Richard Meic’s blog at: www.uannanews.blogspot.com
It was really lovely to meet you Richard i am happy you got home safely it was a good day for me too yesterday. Tim
“Medicine Hat” Alberta
I’m in Medicine Hat after briefly staying in the very friendly town of Brooks. I will be leaving today to make my way over to Regina in the next province.
I have had an productive time in Medicine Hat but feel a little rushed doing all the media and video blog because i am committed to getting to Regina tonight to speak in two schools tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone that has helped me and made me welcome, i feel so much happier in the smaller towns and seem to get a lot more done, people have more time to talk and i think they are closer to nature, thats my feeling. I can’t tell you how brilliant the web site www.couchsurfing.com is if you have never tried this form of sharing either your home or travelled like this then it is well worth a look, it gives such a sense of community to the traveller, Tim and Blair have been so good to me the people i stayed with that are now my friends.
Calgary
Today RamblingRat has featued on www.globaltv.com I have met up with CJ and Dylan Wilkins also working to benifit StreetKids International. I would like to thank the brothers for looking after me in Calgary and i have handed back the fuel can that they lent me in Germany, this fuel can i have carried around 7 countries and now it is back with Dylan.
Country Hills Toyota have been kind enough to sponsor me with fuel, thank you to Farid Shivji www.chtoyota.com
I would like to thank Pipe Stone Travel Store Mr Jim Broadhead for arranging with Tilley to replace my Tilley hat. www.travelstorecalgary.com and thank you to all the team at Tilley www.tilley.com
Ice Road Crossing “Invermere”
Great fun today crossing the Canadian Lake Windemere at Invermere British Columbia.
The lake can be used in the winter when it freezes to get to other villages that would take longer to reach by road or would not be accessible by road in the summer.
The lake is also home to the www.tobycreeknordic.ca and that is the Toby Creek Nordic ski club and i spoke with Trail representative Joe Hildes who tells me that the 15klm trail for skaters and skiers is the largest of its kind in the world, but that has still to be officially confirmed.
I did a talk today at the Open Doors Rocky mountain school which is an alternative school in Invermere,
A really good bunch of kids with enthusaism for life, I want to thank Christine and Robin for letting me speak at their school.
RamblingRat Expedition use’s Puncture safe Gel inside the vehicle tires on our expedition vehicle, it prevents punctures and prolongs the life of the tires. Having travelling from the Uk and covering nine countreis we are using the same tires that we left with. Also the tires have been studded twice with snow studs and the car found itself in a ditch and a huge hole in Russia that broke the front axle, and have had temperature differences from plus 43oC to -50oC and are still rolling.
Thank you to Dave Matthew’s for being a RamblingRat sponsor. www.pro-edge.co.uk
“Invermere” Video blog
I am now in the lovely small town of Invermere in British Columbia Canada, and tomorrow i am doing a talk at the Open Doors Rocky Mountain alternative school. Also i am going to drive over a frozen lake to the town of Windemere that should be an experience.
Thank you to Nelson Toyota’s Cal Renwick for sponsoring me and also thanks to Tarynn, Jody and Erin from the “Sugar Shack” they kindly let me stay at their wonderful home.
I would like to share with you links to the websites of the two bands that came to “The Sugar Shack”
First, Glenna Garramone www.glenna-g.com and Jeff Andrew www.jeffandrew.ca
they are both outstanding and worth a look. Also check out “The Sugar Shacks” Jody who is Miss Qunincy
Where is Tim?
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Dangriga, Belize