By Debbie Crosby ICCS Storytelling volunteer It’s not every day that one has the privilege of meeting a hero. I’m grateful that I did recently, in the Island Crisis Care Society Offices above the Nanaimo Bakery. Reese, a soft spoken, well dressed young man had...
By Sheila Backman, ICCS storytelling volunteer The Japanese do not discard their broken pottery. Instead, they mix gold dust with lacquer to make repairs. The break becomes part of the piece’s history and the gold lines running through make the object even stronger...
By Alexandra Soanes, ICCS Communications intern Clients with Island Crisis Care Society are blessed to be able to have safe and secure shelter, food and care. Yet at times, having access to another service or support – something as simple as a haircut or as...
We are well into cohort 2 of Project Rise. The six participants have finished their workshops and training and most of them have found work placements. I am connecting with 5 of the participants to ask them what drew them to Project Rise, how they...
It is impossible to describe a typical day in Newcastle Place. Born as it was in a flurry of action with the quick dismantling of Nanaimo’s Tent City in 2018, and the rapid pulling together of “temporary” accommodation for its former residents, Newcastle began in...
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]ICCS’ new employability program, Project Rise, is currently running with its first cohort of six client participants. I sat down with each of the participants to ask them how they are doing, what drew them to Project Rise and what their hopes are for the...
We are excited to announce that Project Rise has launched on Monday, April 4th, with its first cohort of 6 client participants! Project Rise will offer training and work placements for people who have experienced homelessness – breaking down barriers to employment and community connection, and...
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On a winter day in December last year, I drive out to Orca Place in Parksville to meet up with two participants of Project Rise. The new ICCS program aims to deliver pre-employment and employment skills training as well as work placement opportunities to people...
It is that time again! The Coldest Night of the Year will soon be here! What is the event: Coldest Night of the Year is a Canada wide walk and fundraiser, aimed to help people come together in community and think about issues of homelessness and precarious...
It’s a sunny October morning when I go to meet six Project Rise participants along with their project coordinator and a workshop facilitator at Orca Place in Parksville. Project Rise is a new ICCS program that aims to deliver pre-employment and employment skills training and...