Coalition staff were thrilled to be present for the opening of Cool Aid's new Olympic Vista supported housing facility for seniors. The lovely new building includes 36 studio apartments with supports, meals and a vegetable garden for residents. A neat aspect of the building is that it was created out of the modular housing used for athletes during the Vancouver Winter Olympic games. Many thanks to BC Housing and Capital Regional Hospital District for making these apartments possible.

Mark Horvath, homeless advocate and creator of InvisiblePeople.tv visited Victoria as his first stop on a cross-Canada trip. Mark will be travelling across the country recording people's experiences with homelessness and is hoping to get signatures from community leaders to commit to ending homelessness in Canada.

We held our 2010/2011 annual general meeting on June 28th, 2011, at the St. John the Divine Hall. We are pleased to say that 120 people attended the event, and had the opportunity to hear Dick Vollet of Vancouver Streetohome, and Dr. Bernie Pauly of University of Victoria speak.

When one of the Streets to Homes follow-up workers discovered her client was an artist, she asked her client to share some of her art with us. The answer was Yes!

Michael Shapcott,  Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at the Wellesley Institute, spent a day of workshops and discussions with various Coalition partners. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He leads the Wellesley Institute’s housing and homelessness practice and co-leads the Wellesley Institute’s social innovation practice.

After a brief introduction by Co-chair Tony Joe, Michael gave a presentation and led a discussion that outlined national innovation and solutions.

On November 9th, 2010, Rock Bay Landing was opened by Hon. Ida Chong and Hon. Rich Coleman, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General (Minister Responsible for Housing). Congratulations to Victoria Cool Aid Society for their beautiful new facility!

Congratulations to Hon. Ted Hughes and Dr. Bernadette Pauly for receiving City of Victoria Honourary Citizen Awards on January 19th. The award is given to recognize and commend service to, and the enrichment of, the Victoria community.

Ted Hughes is a co-founder and original co-chair of the Coalition, and Bernie Pauly, an associate professor of nursing at the University of Victoria, co-chairs our Research, Evaluation and Data working group

Photo #1: (l-r) Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe; Hon. Ted Hughes; Coalition Executive Director Debbie Thompson; Mayor Dean Fortin; Dr. Bernie Pauly; former mayor Alan Lowe; and Councillor Marianne Alto.

Photo #2: (l-r) Coalition Executive Director Debbie Thompson;  Dr. Bernie Pauly; and Councillor Marianne Alto.

Congratulations to AIDS Vancouver Island on 25 years of service. Debbie Thompson, Coalition executive director, and Bernie Pauly, co-chair of our Research, Evaluation and Data group attended the festivities on December 2, 2010. The evening also kicked off the Artists for AIDS fundraising lottery.

A wonderful afternoon of food, magic, singing, drumming and dinner celebrated the culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation at Our Place. Special thanks to Raven the Trickster for his mesermizing magic tricks!

On August 11th, Debbie Thompson visited Salt Spring Island Community Services Society to learn more about its services to people who experience poverty or homelessness. The Society helps people access services and supports in times of need including shelter, food, health, social supports, counselling, education, skill development, recreation, culture, understanding and compassion.

The Society owns and operates Murakami Gardens, 27 suites of affordable housing that is owned and operated by the Society. Pictured on site at Murakami Gardens is Jai Wilson, Community Housing Manager, with Debbie Thompson of the Coalition. The Society also operates a spacious house, owned by BC Housing, that is home to five residents who require subsidized housing.

Rose Henry, Dr. Bernie Pauly and Coalition Executive Director, Debbie Thompson on a road trip to Gabriola Island to meet a community team working with People for Healthy Communities (PHC).

The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness's 2009/2010 AGM, held June 30th, 2010 at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.