Summer 2011.indd - Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre

2 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 3 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 3
The Peacekeepers of the DI Jordan Hamilton
They see it everyday; community, compassion, conciliation, and joy.
They see people in need helping others in need. They laugh, they cry.
They see people at their best, and at their worst. They lend a helping
hand to those who need a hand-up. They are, according to Ricardo,
Team Supervisor, “one big family”. They are the Peacekeepers of the
Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre (DI). They are the DI’s security team.
It’s a job like no other.
Freddy greets clients with a smile, and a warm, friendly, voice. Joel
treats everyone with respect and dignity, always putting the client fi rst.
Dan helps clients transitioning out of homelessness fi nd furniture for
their new home. Togbui uses people skills to resolve issues, and gives
clients a second chance whenever possible. Ricardo makes a point of
remembering everyone’s name. Jeff keeps his cool in the most chaotic
situations. Chris’ smile never leaves his face. Shad has a big voice, big
personality and an even bigger heart. Dale is a strict but fair man – he
lays down the law, with the clients’ best intentions at heart. Creighton
believes that everyone matters, and makes our clients feel welcome.
Mario only has one side – a friendly side – and thrives under pressure.
Scott promises to keep everyone safe; and he is a man of his word.
According to Team Supervisor Ricardo, “Most, if not all traditional security
models are based on the idea of deterring unwanted activities through
fear based motivators. … In an environment such as the DI, this old
school style of security only serves to alienate clients from their homes,
and promotes the idea of us versus them.” Ricardo further explains that
creating positive relationships,
building trust, and exercising
impartiality and fairness is far
more effective than creating
and maintaining a culture of
fear. Security at the DI, says
Ricardo, is a “warm blanket”,
not a “steel baton”.
Ricardo warmly recalls a cold
winter night. He was working
on the fi rst fl oor of the DI when
he noticed three clients sitting
in the corner of the lobby. It
was 1:00am, the group had
only recently arrived at the
DI, and they were hungry –
breakfast was hours away.
Another client came in, a
Chris F
stranger to them. He sat near them and opened a bag of fast food.
Before taking a bite of his meal, the stranger paused, and then asked
the group, “Are you guys hungry?” Ricardo says, “They [then] sat in a
circle like it was a picnic and they shared a meal meant for one.” For
Ricardo, it was a heartfelt experience of generosity, and one that he will
never forget.
Creating positive relationships,
building trust, and exercising
impartiality and fairness is far
more effective than creating and
maintaining a culture of fear.
“
When asked, “Why doesn’t the DI security team carry protective
weapons?” Ricardo says, “Protective weapons are for individuals who
work with dangerous people, and we do not.” Ricardo further explains,
“The attitude that homeless persons are dangerous is one of the most
prolifi c barriers to the reintegration of these people into a [more]
productive community. Carrying weapons would be truly irresponsible
and detrimental to the credibility of the facility.”
Freddy admits that tensions can occasionally increase inside the DI.
“There will be disagreements between a few; however, we keep a
watch on the fl oor cameras” (There are 150 in and around the building).
When the focus is on keeping people safe by keeping the peace, the
intention is always to dispel tension before it rises.
Dan believes that the introduction of new biometrics,
digital bio-metric scanning systems
that facilitate the identifi cation and tracking of
all those entering the DI, has a positive impact.
“By having everyone registered at bio-scan,”
Dan says, “security has reduced the number of
incidents by 60-70 per cent.”
New clients are sometimes intimidated by the bioscan
system and security team members quickly
alleviate their concerns. As Jeff W. explains, “The
Team will fi rst start with a professional, friendly
welcome, and we ask each new individual
to consent to an electronic scanning of their
fi ngertips, which is then encrypted and logged in
our database.” The Team creates a client ID and
attaches the client’s photo, along with the name
Dan W and Joel B
provided and any additional information the client
gives. “We ensure that all information that the DI collects is kept 100 percent confi dential.”
Because of the bio-scan system, says Togbui, “We know who is in the building and can better
identify if someone is barred and what the conditions of thier entry are. This helps create a safer
environment.”
THE BAR REVIEW COMMITEE
The BRC meets once a week to
provide barred clients an opportunity
to appeal their bars.
The DI is a place of many chances
and the BRC is designed to promote
rehabilitation.
Dale S and Mike B with DI Client David
Rhoads
Many DI clients only need help temporarily.
The DI security team is more than pleased to
give assistance. According Ricardo, “We are
a family at the DI”.
Dan says, “It is rewarding to see the
expression on a client’s face who has fi nally
found his or her own home… I feel like
one of the luckiest people on earth to be
associated with the DI.”
They are the DI’s security team. They are
family.
They are the DI Peacekeepers.
Cover: Left to right, front row working back
Jeff S, Freddy C, Crieghton R, Dan W, Mario R, Joel B,
Scott K, Togbui N, Ricardo U
2
The Peacekeepers of the DI
4
Volunteers Corner
6
How You Can Help
7
Ten Years Within the “New DI”
8
Turning 50
10
Maximizing Safety
12
Andy Lockhart: A Man of Vision
13
Meet the Board
14
Economic Boom Could Hurt Calgarians
15
WHERE Book Review
CONNECTION
published by
calgary drop-in & rehab centre
www.thedi.ca
phone: (403) 263-5707
fax: (403) 234-0677
info@thedi.ca
editor:
louise gallagher
editorial board:
debbie newman
isabel ries ferrari, Ed D
alan facey, BBA
rufo creencia
layout & design
paul smith
back issues & subscriptions:
www.thedi.ca/newsletters
© 2011 Calgary Drop-in & Rehab Centre
Publication no. 41261082

4 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION NEC
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Issue 29 Summer mer 2011
| 5
Accolade Reaction
Have you ever gone through a box and wondered what its contents are worth? Well Accolade Reaction Promotion Group (ARPG) has – and they
realized their boxes of unused samples could be worth a lot. They were right! They succeeded in raising over $4,000 through a garage sale
with the proceeds used to sponsor meals at the DI including a BBQ on Friday, June 17th. BBQs are always popular with clients and staff and are
very popular with our volunteer groups. It is this sort of generosity that makes our society richer in heart, spirit and soul.
Karl Sikora, Regional Sales Manager for ARPG, says “Everyone here at ARPG is very
excited to be involved with a great organization like The Drop In Centre as they do such
a great job supporting a number of people in need in the Calgary area.”
You can fi nd out more about ARPG at www.arpg.ca.
Dusk ‘til Dawn Feeding Frenzy
You know the thing about good food? It brings folks together from all walks of life.
It warms them right up and it puts little smiles on their faces”
Lots of smiles is what we saw July 5th when along with Perry McKeogh of TAO Events we
launched our kickoff to Stampede 2011 with our fi rst ever, “Dawn ‘til Dusk Feeding Frenzy”
at the DI. We began the early morning with our traditional Stampede breakfast fi lled with
tons of pancakes and sausages. TransAlta sponsored $1500 towards our lunch service
where we served burgers and hot dogs, and for supper we grilled up 2000 Spolumbos
sausages! We would like to give a HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers
who came out for this great event:
TAO Events Sysco Foods Ltd. Lucerne
Spolumbos Bow River MeatsLtd. Crescent Point Energy
TransAlta Vermilion Energy High Quill
(The Princess and the Frog).
You are Stellar Stella!
Every week, the DI’s Volunteer Department receives an email from Stella C., asking when
we need volunteers the most. No matter the time, and no matter the day, Stella always
makes herself available. Some weekends, Stella volunteers for lunch and dinner. Other
days, she sells the DI’s latest book, WHERE: 50 Years of Ending Homelessness, at kiosks
in malls. If we’re especially short of volunteers, Stella brings additional volunteers with her.
We can always count on Stella to help.
Finally a huge thank you to all the staff who helped out throughout the entire day, from helping
organize, serve and cleanup, we could not have done it without you!
Meal Sponsorships
Meal Sponsorships
May - Aug 2011
These groups and individuals have sponsored meals.
Stella C. helping with WHERE Book Sales
Recently, the Volunteer Department asked Stella why she volunteers at the DI. She
explained, “I love volunteering at the DI because I want to hear the individual stories of
the clients at the DI. I’ve lived my whole life with people generalizing me as the “good
girl”, always smiling, always happy, etc. I grew up hearing from everyone else, family
and friends, how the homeless usually choose to be homeless due to their addictions and
personal problems. However, I know we all have our own individual stories that make us
the person we are today and I desire to hear the stories of the clients from themselves and
not from everyone else’s generalizations. While I may never escape the image of being
the “good girl”, “smiley”, “sunshine”, etc. those who really know me know that there’s
more to me than just the outer appearance, just like there’s more to the clients than just
their outer appearance.”
Stella, thank you for all that you do!
Who Ya’ Gonna’ Call? Stephen Lambert!
Whenever a client volunteer is needed in the CLIC lab (Computers for Low Income
Calgarians), or someone needed to take photographs at a DI event, or to sort
books for the BookNook there’s one man staff know to call! Stephen Lambert. Like
ghostbusters of movie fame, Stephen is just a call away, always willing to pitch in
wherever and whenever needed. And wow! Does he make a difference.
As Alex in the CLIC lab says, “In the past six weeks Stephen has volunteered here in
the CLIC department refurbishing computers for low-income Calgarians. He is also
currently working on a project of creating a large company database to be used by
the DI for soliciting corporate donations. In addition, when I need help for my daily
tasks around the DI, such as installing TV’s, Stephen is very willing to assist me.”
Thank you Stephen! We’re glad we can call on you!
Thank you for making a difference, for fi lling our clients bellies
and spirits.
And thank you for all those who come in to help out, to lend a
hand, to serve a meal and volunteer in countless ways.
You make our world brighter!
• Sikh Volunteer Group
Calgary
• Avison Young
• BP Canada
• Shaw
• Buddhist Tzu Chi
• Stampede Toyota
• Food for Peace
• Temple B’nai Tikvah
• TransCanada Controller
Team
• Brookfi eld Offi ce Properties
• Hindu Society
• Friends of the DI
• Students for Change
• KPMG
• Vindoh Family
• Guyana Canada Cultural
Association
• RBC
• Murphy Oil
• Western Zagross
Resources
• Accolade Reaction
• Sysco
• Shree Sathya SAI Centre
of Calgary
• Enbridge
• Macquarie Capital
Markets
• CompuCom
• Alliance Pipelines
• St. Lucia
• Tao Events
A Big thanks to the band High Quill, who entertained us during the Feeding Frenzy
Personal Hygiene:
• Female Hygiene Products (Tampons)
• Razors
• Tooth Brushes
• Combs
Misc:
• Lg Towels (New or Used)
• Laptops (Windows XP compatible or
higher)
• Desktops (Windows XP compatible or
higher)
• Monitors (LCDs or CRTs)
• Keyboards and Mice
Kitchen:
• Spices (All kinds)
• Pasta (Any types)
• Canned Tomato Products
• Juice Crystals
DI
NEEDS
LIST
Clothing:
• Men’s and women’s
underwear and Socks
• Men’s wear all types,
especially men’s pants
**Anything marked in Red is our
biggest priority for needs**

6 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 7
How you can help the DI
Dave Tod - Manager Fund Development
Did you know…
There are many ways to make
a donation to your favourite
charity?
Most people think of writing a
cheque or using their credit card
but there are many other ways
to support the DI, fulfill your
charitable goals AND save taxes!
In each newsletter I’d like to
Dave Tod, CFRE profile how you might consider
making a donation other than
using your cheque book or credit card. And some ways
may end up costing you nothing at all!
So let me talk this month about donating life insurance.
There are a few ways to use life insurance to make a
charitable donation:
• Make the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre the
designated beneficiary of a new or existing policy.
• Transfer ownership of an existing policy to the DI,
continue to pay the premiums and receive a tax receipt
for the dollar value of each premium paid as well as any
accumulated cash value. Or let the DI pay the premiums
and the tax receipt will be for the accumulated cash
value only. Upon the death of the insured, the DI
receives the death benefit.
• Buy a new policy naming the DI as owner, pay the
premiums and receive a tax receipt for each premium
payment. Upon the death of the insured the DI receives
the death benefit.
By doing this you can create a substantial legacy gift to
the DI for pennies on the dollar. And if you have an existing
policy in effect, you can simply transfer ownership at no
cost to you – AND receive a valuable tax receipt.
If you are interested in exploring this donation opportunity
or other methods (donating stocks/securities, making a
bequest in your will, charitable gift annuities and more)
please contact Dave Tod at 403-699-8269. We will work
with you and your financial advisor to make your donation
the best fit for you.
ArtBeat
Bringing art and music to ALL the people.
Michael Frisby - Possibilities Project Coordinator
The ArtBeat project has been unfolding for the past 3 months
at the DI. It is a natural next step in the development of art
and music programs here at the centre. For the first 5 years
of the Possibilities Project, the focus has been on “client as
participant”, with a core group of DI clients, volunteers and staff
taking part in arts-based projects, events and programs. The
ArtBeat project continues to promote “client as participant”,
but also expands the context into “client as Audience”. In this
way, we are able to provide the benefits of art and music to a
broader range of clients.
ArtBeat involves 2 main areas of development.
1. The esthetic transformation of the NE wall of the 2nd floor.
2. The development of daily arts programs and weekly
musical performance.
music can soothe, heal, inspire and awaken the human spirit.
No culture in human history has ever existed that didn’t have
the power of music, song, story and visual art at the core
of its community. We need live music and beautiful pictures
in our lives and homes. For those who stay at the DI, this
is their home. The 2nd floor is their living room. They have
television, a library (Book Nook), a place to “be” – but there
is no art and music to soothe their minds, bodies and spirits.
By the time Summer has faded to Fall, this situation will have
been remedied. Art and Music programming at the DI is a
vital service. Those involved in the Possibilities Project over
the past 5 years are fully aware of that. ArtBeat will bring
that awareness into the hearts and minds of the entire DI
community.
Ten Years Within the “New DI” Louise Gallagher
In 1994 when Dermot Baldwin became Executive Director
of the Calgary Drop-In Centre, homelessness on the streets
of Calgary was on the rise. Committed to ensuring every
homeless Calgarian received respectful and compassionate
care, Dermot quickly introduced 24 hour service, added an
employment office to help clients find work and hired the
agency’s first social worker, Debbie Newman, who would
succeed him as Executive Director sixteen years later.
At that time, succession planning far in the future, Dermot
along with Debbie and the DI team focused on how best
to meet the needs of the working poor and marginalized
citizens with addictions and mental health issues who
continued to grow in number with the growing economy
and city. As the number of people seeking overnight shelter
grew, an idea formed for a bigger, more purpose-built
shelter that would offer support beyond food and shelter.
Plans were made and in September 2001, the ‘new DI’
opened, heralding a new era in meeting the needs of those
who had no place to call home.
This September will mark the ten year anniversary of the
opening of the ‘new DI”. From a dream - to build a facility
specifically designed to consolidate services from four
facilities to meet the needs of the homeless in an environment
of dignity, giving, confidentiality and respect, the “new DI”
was a state of the art centre of excellence, recognized for
its beauty and innovative approach in providing care and
service to marginalized Calgarians. At the time, the building
was designed to provide sleeping accommodations to 520
people. The dining area could accommodate 450 people
and serve 1500 meals a day. Laundry, hygiene, counseling,
and housing specific floors were opened to ensure the
physical needs of clients, regardless of their condition,
were met in a safe and respectful manner.
Ten years later, while the number of people we serve has
risen (1100 per night, 3500 meals per day), and while many
things have changed in how and what we provide our clients,
the core of the ‘new DI’ remains the same. Dignity. Respect.
Compassion. Care. These are the words we believe in.
While more people have joined the ranks of ‘the homeless’
and many faces have changed over the past ten years,
what hasn’t change is our commitment to meeting the often
complex needs of those experiencing homelessness. What
hasn’t changed is our belief in meeting each individual
where they’re at and providing them opportunities to figure
out where they want to go and how to get there.
Over the past fifty years we have learned that each
person’s journey out of homelessness begins with their
first step through our doors. Through each staff member’s
tireless commitment to greeting every individual with
compassionate care, we have created thousands upon
thousands of opportunities for people to find a way to get
home to where they want to be.
It’s what we do.
Over the past ten years, the ‘new DI’ has evolved to
ensure our service model meets the evolving needs of the
people we serve. Training programs have been expanded
to include a wood-working shop and job certifications.
Medical services have been introduced to provide clients
on-site care appropriate to their individual needs. Leisure
services have been included to ensure spirits and hearts
are fed as well as bodies and opportunities for affordable
housing have been introduced to provide hope for those
moving out of the shelter into a home of their own.
Yet, no matter how much our service model has changed,
or been enhanced, one thing has remained constant; the DI
is a place Where People Matter.
As we continue to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary and
the tenth anniversary of this building called, the ‘new DI’,
we invite you to continue to support our work in helping
those who need a hand, a meal, a place to rest, a place to
call home. Please visit our website, (www.thedi.ca) to find
out how you can sponsor a meal, volunteer your time, or
donate resources to help us make a difference in the lives
of the people we serve and our city. Thank you!

8 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 9
Turning 50 is not always easy. Friends, family,
supporters joke about your middle-aged
status. They call you old, they tease you about
poor memory and hair loss.
But, for the DI, turning fifty is not a joking
matter, it’s a celebration. A celebration of all
that makes this place called the Calgary Drop-
In & Rehab Centre unique, special, effective
and important in our community.
It’s a celebration of people.
The people who come to us
for help. The people who
come to help out.
After fifty years of
serving Calgarians in
need, the DI has proven
its worth and established
its value as a vital partner
in creating a “great city for
everyone”.
At 50 the DI is needed as much today
as it was 50 years ago when it began as the
Calgary Welcome and Friendship Centre
providing coffee and a place to come in from
the cold for transient and ‘down and outers’ in
Calgary’s inner city. Today, the DI is needed to
provide shelter, food, service and support to
Calgarians who cannot find their way home,
without a little help from their friends.
At 50, it’s time to celebrate, and to anticipate
the years ahead. As we continue to evolve with
the changing landscape of poverty reduction
and plans to end homelessness, we shall
continue to provide vital services and support
to everyone who comes to our door. Because at
the DI, no matter our age, we can never forget
that there are people of all ages on our streets
who need our help. And helping them always
was, and always will be, the right
thing to do.
From the launch of our
new book WHERE:
50 years of ending
homelessness, to
our social media
campaign, to
recognition of our
amazing volunteers
and our Class of 50
exceptional people who
make a difference, along with
everyone else, here at the DI, we
celebrate the people who need us and whom
we need to make our difference count in our
communities.
As you can see in these photos of some of
the amazing happenings that have gone on to
celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, your difference
makes our difference count. Thanks for all you
do! You make us a place everyone can count
on, no matter what side of the street they’re on!

10 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 11
Maximizing Safety Calgary Police Service
In January 2011, Inspector Kathy Grant took over command
of the District 1 office, which oversees downtown Calgary.
Like all of the District 1 Inspectors before her, she
recognizes the importance of proactively co-operating with
local agencies.
“Our frontline officers regularly interact with both the
staff and clients of the Drop-In Centre,” says Insp. Grant.
“While this often involves dealing with an issue or solving
a problem, it can also be as simple as saying hello and
checking to see if the person is okay.”
Community Liaison Officer Constable Kutarna
The mission of the Calgary Police Service is to “maximize
public safety in the city of Calgary,” while its vision is to
“work together for a safe community.”
This is reflected in the approach taken by the Service to
ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Calgarians, including
those who are homeless.
It is vital that law enforcement, City partners and social
agencies such as the Drop-In Centre collaborate to maintain
the safety of homeless citizens, while helping them access
shelter or permanent housing.
Every day, frontline officers work with shelters and other
agencies to achieve this goal. For example, the CPS
regularly receives calls for assistance from social agencies
to deal with a number of issues, such as disturbances,
unwanted guests, drugs and assaults.
In 2010, CPS frontline officers attended the DI over 1,300
times.
With this number of calls, it is vital that responding officers
have a good working relationship with Centre staff, including
security employees.
In many of these situations, officers and staff act as
“peacekeepers,” diffusing situations in order to maintain
the safety of clients and guests.
Yet, responding to calls is only part of the approach taken
by the Calgary Police Service.
The Service strives to maintain open, two-way
communication with social agencies. This responsibility
rests in part with the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for
a particular area. Each of the eight CPS districts is divided
into zones, and each zone has a designated CLO. The job
of a CLO is to work with the community to resolve issues of
concern. In the case of the Drop-In Centre, the CLO serves
as an important point of contact between the organization
and the Service.
Insp. Grant adds, “the CLOs and other officers in District
1 work proactively with the Drop-In Centre and other
social agencies. This can include listening to concerns,
responding to issues raised and doing whatever it takes to
ensure the safety of clients and staff alike.”
Constable Kutarna Conversing with DI Clients
From a police perspective, this is not simply a matter of
enforcement, a point well-understood by the CPS, and
reflected in its approach to homelessness.
In 2009, the CPS established the Vulnerable Persons
Unit (VPU), as part of an overall approach to enhance the
safety of all Calgarians. This approach recognizes that
enforcement is only one part of the solution, along with
education and prevention.
As part of the Community and Youth Services Section of
the CPS, the role of the VPU is to co-ordinate the Service’s
response to the issue of homelessness.
The VPU provides resources and training for officers.
Liaising with social agencies, they utilize a team approach
to case management for individuals who are identified as
acute service users. They also assist in developing coordniated
strategic plans in response to various issues,
including winter response, housing and client care.
An component of the VPU is the Police and Crisis Team
(PACT). PACT partners CPS officers with Alberta Health
Services mental health professionals. These teams work
together to find the appropriate care for those who need
help. By having a mental health clinician as part of the
team, clients are provided with a mental health assessment
and the team determines the most appropriate course of
action. Teams also provide assertive community outreach
to the vulnerable homeless population by building a rapport
Constable Kutarna chats with DI Security Staff Scott K.
with individuals and connecting them with appropriate
community services.
“Many of the homeless citizens who run into difficulties
with police have underlying physical and mental health
issues that need the attention of professionals in healthrelated
areas,” says Acting Inspector Curtis Olson of the
Community and Youth Services Section.
“The role of our Vulnerable Persons Unit and the Police
and Crisis Teams is to help link these Calgarians with the
appropriate support. We are currently training our officers,
and working with other agencies, on how to more effectively
do this.”
In 2010, CPS frontline officers
attended the DI over 1,300 times.
The Calgary Police Service recognizes that homelessness
and poverty are larger social issues, affecting people from
all walks of life, cultures and backgrounds. Addressing
these issues is the collective responsibility of all Calgarians,
including social agencies, the City of Calgary, businesses,
residents and police. We must all work together to solve
these community concerns.

12 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 13
Andy Lockhart: A man of action Louise Gallagher
Jeff Kushner who stepped down at the end of the position’s
three year term.
“Jeff did a fantastic job of creating a framework for our future
success with the development of our five year strategic
plan. Now, I have the exciting task of guiding the board in
governing the plan’s implementation.”
Meet the Board of Directors Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society
At the AGM on June 16, 2011 the Board of Directors and officers were appointed for the upcoming year. Stepping down
from the Treasurer position, Richard Bird will continue to serve the DI as a member of the board at large. Having completed
his three year term as President of the Board, Jeff Kushner will also continue to serve as a board member. Thank you
Richard and Jeff for all you’ve done and for your continued service.
Officers of the Board of Directors
One of Andy’s focuses as President of the Board is to
identify ways to capitalize on the DIs known expertise and
to create synergies with other agencies. “Take affordable
housing,” he said. “We have developed a model that works
extremely well. We need to work together to ensure the
success of each individual we house while discovering
ways to get better at preventing homelessness. Prevention
is smarter and cheaper than cures.”
Andy Lockhart
President
Ilona Boyce
Vice-President
Allan MacRae
Secretary
Jason Deliman
Treasurer
Jeff Kushner
Past-President
Collaboration. Cooperation. Collective action. These
are all important values in Andy’s lexicon. He celebrates
the DIs history of ‘rugged individualism’ and believes it
is imperative the agency work towards finding common
ground with others in the sector today. “We can sometimes
seem intimidating because of our success” he says. “As
leaders, it’s important we act with integrity, be open in our
approach and inclusive in our actions. We need to find
common ground without compromising our beliefs.”
Richard Bird
Past Treasurer
Dermot Baldwin
Member at Large
Ted C. Braun
Member at Large
Cindy Eeson
Member at Large
Heather Kennedy
Member at Large
Four years ago, when Andy Lockhart was getting
ready for retirement after a successful career in the
investment sector, he thought about ways he could
give back to the community. A long time board member of
the Big Brothers & Sisters Society of Calgary, he wanted
to give even more. “Calgary has given so much to me and
my family, I wanted to find a place where my energy and
business acumen could make a significant difference,” he
said about his new role as President of the agency’s Board
of Directors.
“Homelessness in Calgary is a big issue,” he said, “and it’s
not going away. For every success, there is someone else
at the start of the downward spiral. We need to be there
to catch people who fall through the cracks. And that’s
what we do every day at the DI. By volunteering here, I’m
doing my bit to end homelessness, as we say at the DI, one
person at a time.”
At the DI’s Annual General Meeting, held June 16th, Andy
was appointed the new President of the Board, succeeding
A priority for the Board, says Andy, will be enhancing
recognition of the DI and what it stands for. We are unique.
Our approach is inclusive. We care for people no matter
their condition, no matter their state of well-being. And in
that caring, we find innovative and constructive ways to
help people get back on their feet.
“There’s good in ten year plans to end homelessness,”
he adds when asked how the DI aligns with the Calgary
Homeless Foundation’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
“We need to acknowledge our differences and celebrate our
similarities. We need to work together to ensure no one is
left out in the cold. It’s the moral imperative and something
we must do.”
Self-described as competitive and impatient, Andy is a man
who likes to take hold and get things done. He fits in well
at the DI. A place where getting things done happens every
day because making the impossible
possible is what we do.
Harold Milavsky
Member at Large
Thank you Karl Leitl
John Schmal
Member at Large
Gordon Sivertsen
Member at Large
After 20 years on our Board of Directors Karl Leitl has retired from the board to enjoy time with
his wife and family. Thank you Karl for walking with us through tough times and good times.
You were a vital member of the team who built ‘the new DI’ and we thank you for giving so much
of your time, energy and expertise to ensure we fulfill our mission to prevent homelessness
where possible, offer care and shelter when needed, and provide opportunities for people to
rehabilitate and rebuild their lives.
Debbie Newman
Executive Director
Karl Leitl Karl Leitl
Retired Board Member

14 | CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011
CONNECTION Issue 29 Summer 2011 | 15
On the Margins John Rowland
For people experiencing homelessness, Calgary’s economy
is a wild card. For those living on the edges of the economic
margin, the Boom Bust economy can be very difficult to
manage as their limited resources provide a different
experience than the rest of Calgarians.
To explain this, I would like to review the last 15 years in
Calgary for the population.
The late 1990’s was a bad news period. Governments
had instituted a series of reductions in programs,
deinstitutionalization and no social housing had been
built since the 1980’s. In addition Employment Insurance
and welfare roles were being cut to balance government
budgets. There was some work, but wages were low.
However this was offset by moderate land costs & rents. It
was a period of gentrification with low rent housing in the
communities such as Inglewood, Ramsey, and Kensington
being torn down, or renovated. This was a time of slowly
increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness,
as the people who lived in these areas were displaced with
nowhere to go to. In this period two emergency shelters
were opened for the first time.
The years 2000 to 2003 were more ‘homeless friendly’. A
combination of two new large shelters being built, plus the
addition of satellite shelters in Sunalta and Hillhurst meant
more housing options for those who had been sleeping
rough. This was also a period where wages were going
up faster than rents. This was a period of hope, as many
people who had been homeless were finding good jobs,
and secure housing. The down side of this period is that
workers were starting to migrate to Calgary which started
to put pressure on the housing market.
The years 2004 to 2007 were also challenging for this
population. There were a lot of jobs, and anyone who
could work, was working. However, having income
did not guarantee housing; rents went up quickly, and
people on fixed incomes found themselves unable to
maintain housing. Developers were buying properties, and
converting rental units to condos, and many people with
housing found themselves priced out of the market. Whole
tracks of low rent housing were torn down in Victoria Park,
The Beltline, and East Village and much of it still has not
been replaced. It was a period where many people reported
that they were working, staying clean and sober, and saving
money. But that was not good enough as landlords had
their pick of tenants, and people who were not viewed as
desirable would be passed over for a better tenant. Many
people became discouraged, and would in a moment of
frustration, gamble or buy drugs with the money that they
had worked hard to save.
2008 to 2010 was when the Boom peaked, then crashed.
The spring of 2008 was a period where there was lots of
work and things seemed to be going well, but as spring
turned to summer, and then fall, the number of people
who found themselves without work or money started to
increase. The peak number of people flowing through
Calgary shelters was in the Winter of 2008 / 2009 as people
who had been working, lost their jobs, then their housing,
and found themselves on the street. Many people who had
been off the streets for several years found themselves back
in the shelters again. There were also a number of people
who became homeless for the first time. The spring and fall
of 2009 saw an out migration from Calgary, as people who
did have housing or employment left to return to the homes
they’d moved away from when coming to Calgary.
The period since the fall of 2009 has been one of a slow
reduction in the number of people seeking housing in
shelters. This has been due to dropping rents, increased
vacancies, additional social housing being made available,
and a gradual improvement in employment. This has
continued to the present.
In Calgary at least, another sustained economic boom would
not be good news for those trying to escape homelessness,
as once again we would likely see rents go up, vacancies
go down with the corresponding discriminatory practices
of landlords when choosing tenants, and many people who
are presently housed returning to the shelters. Booms do
not spell economic gain for people on the margins of our
society.
WHERE Book Review Timothy Wild, RSW
Sadly, all too often, people get lost in policies. We forget the
reality of the faces and too easily trust in our interpretation
of the dry facts. We plan around economically, socially
and culturally marginalized individuals, and see them
as “problems” that require our intervention, plans and
solutions. We view them as “economic liabilities” that
need our attention…before they cost us even more. We
act as experts and they are our subjects. And, through
this process, well intentioned though it may be, we often
forget about the person’s basic humanity and all that that
recognition entails. “We” look through “them”.
But to really solve complex social problems, we must base
our responses in an understanding of the inherent dignity
of each and every person, and act accordingly. We need
to get a better understanding of their hopes, histories and
dreams. We have to negotiate complex realities. The “we”
has to become bigger. Not always an easy or comfortable
task. However, the provocatively titled book WHERE: 50
Years of Ending Homelessness, helps do just that. As noted
by editor Louise Gallagher and co-editor Jordan Hamilton,
the book “tells the DI story in 50 photos, 50 words, 50
voices.”
Using photographs by calgary photographers christina
(plus) nathan, vivid in colour and haunting in black and
white, plus stories, portraits, poems, single words in large
bold font, even entries from staff logs,
the volume weaves a rich tapestry that
illustrates elements of homelessness
in Calgary in general, and the role that
the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre
plays in meeting the needs of some of
our city’s fellow citizens who happen
to be homeless.
And it presents it whole – warts and all.
For example, the poem Broken, written
by Faith, concludes with the lines:
I am beautifully broken
And wonderfully wild.
In a contradictory way, that sums it all
up. Simply put, this is a beautiful piece
of work. It is beautiful in its content. It
is certainly beautiful in its presentation.
And it is beautiful in the role that it will
undoubtedly play in provoking the
much needed transformative social
change in Calgary.
Let’s be clear though, homelessness is not a beautiful
subject. In fact, it is a downright ugly social problem.
We need to look at the interplay of economics, domestic
violence, poverty, addictions, mental health and a slew of
other structural factors. We need to look at the role our
collective political choices have played in causing this
problem. We also need to look at robbed childhoods,
dreams dashed, opportunities lost, relationships smashed
and people broken. The poem Hidden, by Lesley and the
essay Addiction by Grant Fischer both jarringly illustrate
elements of this sad reality. But we also need to look at the
potential of people and the resilience of the human spirit.
WHERE provides that balance, once again, warts and all!
Overall, the book reveals that the DI is a place “where hope
lives, where community connects, where healing begins”.
As noted by one of the contributors to the volume “finding
your voice begins with being heard”. This volume amplifies
the individual voices and, hopefully as suggested by the
Zimbabwean historian Terrence Ranger, will provide “ears
for the earless”. It certainly succeeds in the first part, and
has great potential to achieve the latter. The volume shows
that it is the people that count, and lovingly brings the
individual to the foreground. Not bad, I say.
WHERE: 50 Years of Ending Homelessness is a great book.
The Photos are the creative expression of the DI Story as seen through the camera lens of
photographers christina (plus) nathan.
The Voices are the words of clients, staff, volunteers, donors and those who contributed prose and
poetry that expressed what the 50 words meant to them.
The Book expresses the depth and breadth of what we do at the DI. This book refl ects how much we
do and have done to create value in the lives of the people we serve.
Filled with beautiful photography, expressive words and heartfelt sentiments, WHERE is the story of
the DI as we turn 50.
Visit www.thedi.ca/where to order your copy today.

Where
people
matter
return undeliverables to:
Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre
423 - 4th Avenue SE, Calgary AB, T2G 0C8
(403) 266 3600 www.thedi.ca
(403) 263-5707 info@thedi.ca
41261077