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United Way 2007 Community Builder Award for NCLB

 

EPIC Award 2007

 

 

Minutes of the Steering Committee meeting
20th meeting

 

Date:   Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Place:  Haron Road Sportsplex

Present:

  1. Al Nowaczek, TCW, Ottawa Community Housing
  2. Amanda Thompson, Councilor Diane Deans Office          
  3. Andrea Thompson, Director, Confederation Court Community House
  4. Benoit Tasa, HRSDC
  5. Bonnie Conlon, Councilor Maria McRae’s Office
  6. Cst Rob Cleroux, OPS
  7. Cst. Walter Duhme, OPS
  8. Dan Smith, House Director, Russell Heights
  9. David Loveridge, Director South District Ottawa Community Housing
  10. Don Sucalit, United Way
  11. Euphrasie Emedi, Community Developer, SEOCHC
  12. Gino Uaillancount, YOW
  13. Jan Abid, Project Coordinator NCLB, SEOCHC
  14. Jim Williams, SEOCHC, (Chairperson)
  15. Kelli Tonner, Manager CS/BBBF, SEOCHC
  16. Kim Seguin, Boys and Girls Club
  17. Lenworth Vaz, OPS
  18. Luc Lavictoire. City of Ottawa, Parks and Rec.
  19. Lulu, President Tenants’ Association, Confederation Court.
  20. Michael Justinich, Crime Prevention Ottawa                   
  21. Michael Pranschke, CAS
  22. Mike Dube, City of Ottawa, Jim Durrell
  23. Peter Crosby, Superintendent OPS
  24. Sara Dwyer, Russell Heights Community House
  25. Sargent Dan Longpre, OPS
  26. Shaun Simms, TCW, Ottawa Community Housing
  27. Sonia Luberti, CPS, City of Ottawa
  28. Sue Skinner, South Ottawa Community Legal Clinic
  29. Sylvie Manser, Director, Banff Avenue Community House       
  30. Tammy Hogan, Christie Lake Kids

Regrets

  • Nick Zeis, City of Ottawa, Parks and Recreation
  • Mohamoud Abdulle, Youth Services Bureau
  • Kevin Shantz, City of Ottawa
  • Anne Menard, Executive Assistant, Councilor Peter Hume’s Office



1. MINUTES

It was moved and seconded:

That the minutes of the meeting of the NCLB Steering Committee held on April 01, 2008 be adopted as circulated.
CARRIED

2. NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 01:00 p.m. at South East Ottawa Community Health Centre.

3. PROGRESS UPDATE

Abid Jan presented a report ( via power point) on the following matters:

  City Level

      1. Community Development Framework (CDF) approved by CPS Committee (Going to the City Council for approval on June 25th)
      2.  NCLB in the broader context  of CDF (A short presentation)
      3.  Presentations and meetings with other CHRCs about CDF and  the NCLB approach.
      4.  Workshop on How to implement the NCLB process to be held, July 16, 2008.
      5.  Documents for knowledge sharing and replication, developed with HRSDC support.  So far, the following documents have been drafted: NCLB Strategy; Training Guide for NCLB Coordinators, and NCLB Implementation Guide (Drafts available for feedback and review at: http://www.nocommunityleftbehind.ca/nclb_docs.html ) Committee members were invited to submit any comments as quickly as possible.

South East Ottawa level

      1.  Communities mobilized
      2. Community requests more interaction with service provider
      3.  OPS and OCH - participating in youth and seniors events
      4.  Presentation on crime stoppers, etc.
      5.  Neighbourhood level planning in progress at the community level.
      6.  Results of annual survey to be presented at the next meeting.
      7.  Play structures at Russell Heights and Confederation Court  constructed/work in progress
      8.  Status update:
      9.  Proposal to include Blair Court in the NCLB process. (Feasibility to be assessed and reported on at the next Steering Committee meeting).

 
As a result of the discussion on the above, three committees were formed.

  1. NCLB Documents Review Committee: Michael Justinich, Sonia Luberti, Shaun Simms, Don Sucalit, Sargent Dan Longpre, Abid Jan.

    Decision: The committee will give their feedback on the documents by July 10, 2008. If the members felt they need to meet to discuss the documents further a meeting would be arranged before August 5th to finalize and bring the documents for approval at the next meeting.

  2. Committee for the Neighbourhood Level Planning: Shaun Simms, Al- Nowaczek, The community House Directors, Abid Jan and  a representative from OPS (Sargent Longpre to provide a name for the OPS rep).

    Decision: The committee will sit with the community representatives and identify possible actions/activities to address the prioritized problems and concerns, with lead role and responsibility to be allocated and a monitoring mechanism for accountability. Community Action Plans for the next year will be brought before the Steering Committee at the next meeting for approval.

  3. Newsletter Editing Committee: Abid Jan, Sara Dwyer, Kim Saguin.

Youth Component of the NCLB. Sara Dwyer provided update on the youth program and the upcoming year -end event. The House directors appreciated the positive results of the Youth program.

Decisions:

  1. It was decided to thoroughly review progress and success of the Youth Program under NCLB and come up with a plan for the future, with necessary readjustments so that it could be put forward for possible financial support.

Meanwhile, Russell, Banff and Confederation Court Community Houses will look into their accounts to see if youth activities could be sustained with the left-over funding till additional funding arrangements are made.

4. PARTNERS’ PROGRESS REPORTS

OTTAWA COMMUNITY HOUSING

David Loveridge provided a comprehensive update on the progress in the OCH communities in the South East Ottawa. Accordingly:

  • Banff renewal project was well in progress. Determination of the scope of work would be completed next week.
  • There would be serious disruptions due to the construction work in Banff.
  • He noted one of the indicators of successful NCLB intervention in Banff community: unlike other communities, when OCH gave the community members the option to leave or stay during the upcoming disruptions, the community members responded that they didn’t want to leave the community.
  • OCH has provided matching funds for the construction of play-structures at Russell Heights.
  • Opening ceremony of the Russell Heights play-structure has been timed with the United Way’s Day of Caring next October 2, 2008.
  • Play-structure location has been changed to the front of the community as per the community demand.
  • He suggested using the OCH Healthy Community’s action plan in conjunction with the NCLB community planning template to get the maximum out of the planning process.
  • Other communities were encouraged to come up with project proposals by the October 2, 2008 Day of Caring.
  • The Tenants’ Association at 1455 Heatherington resigned in May, which has led to an increase of social issues. Decisions: OCH and SEOCHC staff to work on re-establishing a TA at 1455 Heatherington as a priority.

David Loveridge highlighted that in the Confederation Court community, OCH had already invested to make the site ready for a play-structure. It had always been challenging to prioritize between providing windows and play-structures. However, if the community could raise 50% of the funds for a play-structure, OCH would provide matching funds.

Decision: Abid Jan will coordinate with Councilor Peter Hume’s office, which is already working on providing a play-structure for Confederation Court, to see if leveraging resources was possible to make the play-structure a reality for the Confederation Court residents.

OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE
Sargent Dan Longpre updated the committee on how in the past OPS specifically assigned two neighbourhood officers to the NCLB participating communities.

OPS recently looked at the role of the CPC officers and decided to make them more involved with the community policing component.

Accordingly Len Vaz and Walter Dhume would be doing the community engagement work, participating in the community events and making presentations, whereas Cst. Rob Cleroux and Cst. TJ, as neighbourhood officers, would support the enforcement component. They would be the main contacts of the CPC officers.

These readjustments were made not to reduce services but to improve their quality and sustainability.

David Loveridge expressed concern that in the past there were two specifically assigned officers for contact and enforcement. A  good and clear working relationship was established.  The CPC officers would need to have the law enforcement component added to their role along with developing community connections and relationships.

Sarget Dan explained that OPS wanted a closer and clear relationship, and access to the people. OPS would make sure to establish constant and consistent interaction  with all partners.

Superintendent Peter Crosby highlighted the need for the Action Plan  to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of all the partners and the community members. This would ensure the accountability component of the overall plan as well.

Cst. Walter presented progress of the CPC officers’ interaction with the seniors and youth in the community. The interaction with youth at Russell Heights and the working on a mini-CPTED around improving the basketball court conditions was noted.

David Loveridge suggested that when youth at Russell heights came-up with a plan in consultation with the OPS officer, the plan should be brought to the notice of OCH for assistance in implementation. United Way’s Youth Action Grant was another possibility suggested by Michael Justinich.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
Kim Seguin informed the committee that BGC has wrapped up its programs in Banff. Program at Heatherington had been a success.  More than 30 youth regularly participated. New Staff was hired for the Youth outreach program (YOW). There were some changes to the program manager functions as well. She introduced Gino as one of the outreach workers for the South East Ottawa region.

COMMUNITY HOUSES
Andrea, Sylvie and Don updated the committee about the progress in their respective communities. Andrea highlighted the positive outcomes of the youth participation in the Amazing Race event. Community clean-up day was another successful event for confederation Court as youth and parents worked shoulder to shoulder – a development which was not seen before.
Sylvie thanked the partners for their immense support. She underlined the need for continuity of the youth program under the NCLB and expressed her concerned over the transition phase till more funding is available for continuing the program.
Don stated that the Basketball court in Russell Heights “is the best bank for the buck.”

ADJOURNMENT
Moved and seconded. The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Carried.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 1:00 pm. at SEOCHC (600-1355 Banks Street).

Signed………………………                                 Date………………….

© 2005-15 South - East Ottawa Community Health Centre
Centre de Sante Communautaire du Sud Est D'Ottawa

Contact: Abid Jan Tel./ Tél: (613) 737-5115 Ext. 2403  Fax/Télé: (613) 739-8199

NCLB matters because neighbourhoods matter