Discovering Hope in Canadian Communities

Canada is grappling with a growing homelessness crisis, forcing an increasing number of people into life on the streets, shelters, tents, or worse conditions. With the rising cost of living and soaring inflation in 2023, experts warn that Canada faces an alarming and escalating homeless crisis that demands urgent attention and comprehensive solutions. Factors such as skyrocketing housing costs, economic disparities, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the homelessness crisis across the nation. Families, veterans, youth, and vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted, with many forced to live on the streets, in shelters, or in substandard housing conditions. This crisis […]

Welcome to The Friends Who Help. My name is Lionel, and today, I wanted to introduce you to the most influential person in my life—the woman who inspired me to start the Friends Who Help Support Group for the Special Needs Community. Her name was Malca Naomi Poizner, my mother. She was a devoted teacher who dedicated herself to her high school students, a caring caregiver to her family, an active and dedicated member of her community, and an inspiring soul to her children. At the age of 50, she left the teaching field, having decided that our schools had […]

A coalition of parents and students in our local school district have announced plans for a walkout to express their views on recent changes to the school curriculum. The organizers say the protest aims to draw attention to what they describe as controversial topics being introduced in classrooms. The planned walkout, scheduled for next month, is expected to see students absent from classes while parents gather outside school buildings. Organizers hope the action will prompt a community-wide discussion about the content being taught in schools. “We believe that certain topics are better addressed at home by families,” said one of […]

In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged across Canada’s urban landscape: the proliferation of homeless tent encampments. From Vancouver to Toronto, Halifax to Calgary, these makeshift communities have become a stark reminder of the nation’s growing housing affordability and homelessness crisis. Once confined to a few isolated areas, tent cities have now become a common sight in parks, under bridges, and along riverbanks in virtually every major Canadian city. The reasons behind this surge are multifaceted, including skyrocketing housing costs, stagnant wages, mental health issues, substance abuse problems, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Vancouver’s Downtown […]

In a remarkable display of community spirit and athleticism, our recent wrestling event, “Takedown for Takeout,” not only thrilled spectators with high-flying action but also made a significant impact on our local food bank. The event, held at the Community Center last Saturday, brought together wrestling enthusiasts, local athletes, and compassionate citizens to tackle a pressing issue: hunger in our neighborhood. The brainchild of local wrestling coach, Mike Rodriguez, and food bank volunteer, Sarah Thompson , “Takedown for Takeout” was more than just a series of matches. It was a call to action, urging attendees to bring non-perishable food items […]