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What's New Archive at SPCRS
Oct 09 - Dec 09 Newsletter
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December 2006 Newsletter
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June 2006 Newsletter
SPCRS in Bloom!
Welcome to Magdalena Sweetgrass
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SPCRS Newsletter March 2006 (PDF - Format)
SPCRS Newsletter December 2005 (PDF - Format)
Take Back The Night 2005
Learning Organization
South Peace Community Resources Society is embarking upon a journey towards creating a Learning Organization. This term refers to new ways of working within organizations that result in a collaborative effort among all employees - each individual contribution is considered essential to the success of the whole and everyone has a voice. The impetus for SPCRS' transformation has been influenced by both internal and external forces. Within the organization we recognize the need for continual improvements in the areas of leadership, accountability, working relationships, connection, team learning, program/service delivery, and both personal and professional development. External to the agency there are new service structure and delivery expectations. SPCRS feels that promoting a Learning Organization culture is essential to learning from and adapting to the external changes and internal challenges that we face.
SPCRS has entered into the process of transformation in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia who will support us in our first steps towards creating a Learning Organization foundation. The process, although ongoing, will begin with a series of learning seminars. We will collectively discuss the concept and philosophy of the Learning Organization and create a shared vision that enables each person to take supportive action when needed, to create new approaches when necessary, and to work as a collective in our continuous efforts to improve. The seminars will also give us the opportunity to explore the administrative and program culture of the organization. The final stages of the project will include evaluation of the process, and based on outcomes, recommendations will be made to ensure continued evolution of the agency.
Reconnect Youth Program
In November, 19 local youth, many of whom were referred by the Reconnect Program, participated in a unique theatre workshop presented by Andrew Burton of Prince George. The youth spent the week exploring a type of theatre known as forum theatre where the audience is given an opportunity to interact with the performers. The youth used this type of theatre to explore current social issues facing youth in Dawson Creek such as sexual assault, teen pregnancy and family violence, just to name a few.
Participants in Street Spirits use their life experiences to create plays that reflect their shared views of issues in society today. They spent the week exploring many techniques to give voice to these serious problems prevalent within our community and around the province. They then performed these plays before an audience assisting the audience members to explore different ways of experiencing life, different ways of identifying and working through shared concerns. The weeklong workshop culminated with an evening at the college where the three interactive skits were presented.
About 60 adults and youth attended. The audience was slow to gain the courage to interact but once they began, the power of this process was apparent. Parents, youth and community members explored solutions, together, to the problems faced by our community. One of the most impressive outcomes of the week, however, was that youth who previously would have been at odds coming from different spectrums of society are now friends and working collaboratively to create change. So, in addition to exploring social issues and learning new theatre techniques, this week was an opportunity for youth, many of whom are considered "high risk", to network with other youth, explore their own creativity and to have their voices heard by members of the community.
Although the weeklong workshop has been completed the youth are committed to continuing this project in the community and continue to meet, identify issues and create plays. So, watch for more Street Spirits Performances in the future!
It has been 15 years since 14 young women, all engineering students, were massacred in Montreal at L'Ecole Polytec. On Monday evening, December 6, 2004, volunteers from South Peace Community Resources Society remembered their deaths by driving in procession behind an RCMP escort car to the United Church. Frost-bite temperatures prevented the usual candlelight march through the streets of Dawson Creek.
Judy Hare, minister of the United Church, once again delivered a thoughtful and compassionate service to remember the 14 young women, as well as the 69 women killed in Vancouver the past year, and the 500 Aboriginal women missing and presumed killed in the last 20 years. Fourteen candles were lit by individual women and men to acknowledge the sadness, the loss, the grief, the distress, the anger, the determination, and the hope that we all share. Prayers were spoken through our tears, and songs were sung together: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Sisters, Let Us Walk Together". Dori Braun graced the church and our souls with her song "Mother Mary".
Due to the cold weather, the turnout was less than other years: around 25 people. Following the service, candles of hope were presented to all. The following message was attached with purple ribbon and paper:
"This candle represents the light that has burned in women through the ages. Women who have suffered through violence, wars, poverty, famine or persecution and who have survived, raised children, cared for others, helped sick and elderly, remained strong in their convictions and acted as a beacon of hope for all women all over the world. Let this candle remind you to be a beacon of hope to those around you."
Thank you to all the volunteers who prepared the refreshments, put up posters, prepared the candles, sang their songs, joined in the service, lit the candles, and cleaned up. A special thank you to Judy Hare for the wonderful service and prayers, for Alice Hanson for playing the organ and piano, to Dori Braun for singing her special song, and to Jane Harper for composing the 14 candle sayings that brought tears to our eyes. May we continue to remember and to work towards true peace.
