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In the wake of unmarked graves, a papal apology and the creation of the National Day of Reconciliation, the issue of repairing relations has been increasingly on Canadians’ minds.  The century-spanning issue of colonization, and what reconciliation could look like, is complex, often leaving community members unsure of where they can start. REACH Edmonton’s 2023 AGM Showcase aims to explore how Edmontonians can contribute to reconciliation in their own lives, through practical actions, featuring guest speakers Cheryl Whiskeyjack and Lewis Cardinal. The event, held June 8 at MacEwan University’s Feigel Conference Centre, will feature short presentations from each speaker, focused on the shared stories of relationships in community, in the context of facing the ongoing effects of colonization. Cheryl Whiskeyjack's   career serving in the public service and vulnerable populations spans over 30 years. Currently appointed as the Public Trustee for the Province, she has worked in the Government of Alberta, Government of BC and in London England. She aims to bring an inclusive and inviting lens to issues around creating connections through open dialogue in difficult contexts. “We want to take an opportunity to call people in and be curious,” says Whiskeyjack. “We’re planting seeds for conversations to happen in community.”   Lewis Cardinal is Woodland Cree from the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in northern Alberta, Canada. His consulting company, Cardinal Strategic Communications, specializes in Indigenous education,  communications, and project development. He is also owner and CEO of Red Earth Blue Sky Productions, a multi-media  production company. Currently, Lewis is Project Manager for kihcihkaw askiy -Sacred Land, in the City of Edmonton, the first designated urban Indigenous ceremony grounds in Canada.   “Reconciliation is an action,” says Cardinal, who will discuss why it’s essential to view reconciliation as an ongoing process, which carries within itself  the spirit and intent of the first Treaty to the modern treaties.    “The intent of Treaty is to  bind us together as family.  It’s all about relationships,” he says. “When you hear Oh Canada  or see our flag there should be a slight  tapping on your shoulder and the question that comes to mind is : Are your relationships in order?” By exploring reconciliation with a multi-generational lens and a focus on personal responsibility towards action in our own lives and communities, REACH hopes to create an informative and explorative space to learn about this issue which has been on the minds of all Canadians increasingly over the past few years. REACH’s AGM is an opportunity to learn about the impactful work of REACH and our community partners. This event is Thursday, June 8th, 4:00 pm  at the MacEwan University Feigel Conference Centre (Room 11-204, Allard Hall, MacEwan University, 11110 104 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1M9). For more information, or to register, click here:   https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2023-reach-edmonton-agm-tickets-602853520107

Local agencies and service providers that help survivors of sexual exploitation are working together to bring awareness to their work in the city and across the province during the 2023 Sexual Exploitation Week of Awareness, May 15-19. The Sexual Exploitation Working Group (SEWG) will kick the week off with a live-streamed proclamation event, followed by two educational events during the week. Creating Hope Society,  a community partner, is hosting a walk from the Legislature to Kinistinaw Park on Thursday, May 18th beginning at the Legislature at 3 pm.  The Sexual Exploitation Working Group is an Edmonton-based leadership group collaborating to raise awareness of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking and its causes and impacts. SEWG has been marking the week of awareness annually since 2004. The Edmonton week  is held during the Alberta Sexual Violence Awareness Month and also aligns with the National Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.  “Sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking affect us all, whether directly or indirectly.  The cost of victimization is high, both to those who survive and to our communities. The role of the SEWG is to keep these critical matters in the public mind,” says Kate Quinn, Executive Director of the Centre to End All Exploitation (CEASE) and Chair of SEWG.  The week will also feature two free, live streamed events over the lunch hours. “We want to engage Edmontonians by providing webinars during this week of awareness,” says Quinn. “It’s important to learn about vulnerability factors so we know how to strengthen children, youth and adults to identify and resist those who may exploit and harm them.  The lunch-hour live streams will feature a presentation about the Canadian Native Friendship Centre’s Protecting Our Sacred Fires  program on May 16.  May 17 will feature a presentation from the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Network on the connection between FASD and risk of exploitation.  All events start at noon, are free to the public, and can be joined at the links below.  For those unable to join live, the recordings will be posted on the SEWG website for viewing at www.sewgedmonton.com .

An agency networking event that was held in October 2022, has expanded to support year-round connections between community-serving agencies.  Resource Connect is an event that aims to bring Edmontonians and service providers together where both citizens and agencies can find each other in one place. In partnership with Edmonton Public Library, the event was a chance for community members and service providers to connect in a mutually beneficial way.  More than 90 agencies participated in the event, and in being surveyed afterwards they indicated their willingness to build on that to create something that would continue to support those connections all year.  Out of that has come an ongoing project to keep community service providers connected to each other and working together.  Starting in January 2023, member organizations have agreed to meet quarterly to explore new ways of working together, collaborating, and finding innovative ways of closing gaps in service.  Additionally, monthly presentations filmed at Road 55 Studios, and live streamed on the internet, give member agencies the opportunity to talk about the work they’re doing in the community.  Anyone who wants to tune in to the presentations or attend in person can do so can do so by registering at https://bit.ly/3ZPztrT “We listened to the community after our event at Stanley Milner Library last fall,” says Kelly Holland, Community Engagement Manager at REACH Edmonton. “Agencies have been clear that they appreciate the creation of these spaces, which support the work they’re doing for Edmontonians in a simple and effective way.  The opportunity to create recorded presentations was so popular with community agencies that presentations are all booked up for the rest of the year. “This is an opportunity for agencies to highlight the work they’re doing, provide opportunities to collaborate, and share resources for clients.” The next evening of presentations at Road 55 and online will be held April 11 at 5:30 p.m. Resource Connect partner agencies also collaborate in communicating their upcoming events to each other and the community through the Edmonton Resource Connect Facebook page.  For more information about this project, and members upcoming events, click here: https://www.facebook.com/edmontonresourceconnect

As online extremism becomes an increasingly challenging issues for everyone in society, a youth-led project is working to give junior high students tools and strategies for addressing this complex issue. The project has roots in a research project started out in 2020, by 16-year-old Henry Kerr, who was a youth advisor to the REACH Edmonton Board at the time.  Henry’s research inspired the formation of the Don’t Click! Youth Group, which is using the survey results and other research to develop youth-led prevention projects. The group has created three presentations for junior high students to teach about online hate and extremism prevention, and to provide practical strategies for addressing these issues. Supported by the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV), REACH Edmonton, and other school leadership programs and city agencies, the ‘Don’t Click’ youth group is continuing this work through presentations in local schools, as well as the creation of the Don’t Click documentary that shares the vision of the project. “We’ll be going into schools and educating junior high students about the project and extremism online, “says Romi Khabra, Project Coordinator and Training Coordinator for REACH Edmonton.  “We’re expanding a bit more into the topic of empathy this year,” she says. “How can we be empathetic and what does that look like?” The project is in contact with public and private schools in Edmonton, working to provide junior high students with information about how to deal with negativity online, whether it’s directed at themselves or someone else in their peer group.  “A lot of our youth are on social media now quite a bit, and especially tiktok,” says Romi. “You don’t even realize it’s happening. If you’re more aware it’s more likely you’re not going to be trapped in that cycle.” During the sessions, the youth are given a chance to ask questions and discuss this complex issue as a group.  “Junior high kids ask thoughtful questions,” says Romi. “Being lonely can be terrible for mental health, and they know this. We’ve heard them talking about the epidemic of loneliness among our youth.”  With young people swimming in a sea of storylines on the internet at younger and younger ages, teaching the basics of fact-checking and understanding the warning signs of a person being radicalized are key for youth to be able to address this issue from inside their own peer groups in an effective way.  For more information about the Don’t Click project, and to watch the documentary, click here: https://preventviolence.ca/dont-click/

As temperatures plummet during the winter months, the risk to community members in crisis intensifies. During this time the demand for services like 24/7 Crisis Diversion drastically increases. Crisis Diversion teams help people experiencing non-emergency crises get to a safe place, freeing up police and emergency medical services to respond to more critical events. By doing this work, the 24/7 Crisis Diversion program contributes to addressing issues of poverty, mental health and addiction by helping people connect with the best available resources to support their needs. “It’s important all year because we're able to support the folks who need support, but not from emergency services,” says Claire MacDonald, Program Manager for 24/7 Crisis Diversion at REACH Edmonton. “The demand is higher in the winter, and amplifies during cold temperatures because the risk is so much higher and the concern from the general public goes up when the weather is extreme,” says Claire.  The Crisis Diversion team was dispatched 3,110 times during November and December, while proactively engaging with 4,869 people in addition to that, by providing warm clothing and transportation if they’ll accept it.  “During those months we had just under 8,000 contact with folks in need of support” says Claire. “This doesn’t include the nearly 6,000 calls to 211+3 that did not result in a dispatch, so we are grateful to the public for their patience as it’s the same operators answering all of these calls.” While the volume of calls can be a challenge, it is positive that so many Edmontonians are concerned about their fellow citizens’ safety.  “We’re really happy that Edmontonians are concerned about the vulnerable citizens enough to call in,” says Claire. “We saw such an increase in need when extreme temperatures hit early this year.” At least eight unhoused people have died in Edmonton this winter.  “Having our extra set of eyes can help mitigate crisis like dying or freezing to death,” says Claire. Enhanced funding from the City of Edmonton in 2022 has allowed the teams to have more Crisis Diversion vehicles on the road during high-demand winter months. “There’s always increased need in the winter, and even though wait times are still high, that has helped to alleviate some of the pressures,” says Claire. “Thanks to this funding, we were able to add two additional vehicles on the road this winter, which run from November to April, when the winter weather is a factor.  While 211 manages dispatch for the teams, a single team does this in addition to answering all calls that come to 211. “We don’t have dedicated staff who only answer the Crisis Diversion  line, but we hope to move that in the near future. Operators at 211 answered 11,763 calls In November and December 2022, about half of which were Crisis Diversion calls. “Providing services to Edmontonians with such complex needs is always a challenge, but the staff on the Crisis Diversion teams work tirelessly to help people the best they can,” says MacDonald. “The compassion and dedication of these team members is unmatched. We are so grateful for their commitment to serving folks who are facing so many multilayered challenges.” The 24/7 Crisis Diversion initiative is a collaborative partnership with Boyle Street Community Services, Canadian Mental Health Association (211 program), HOPE Mission, and REACH Edmonton. There are also stakeholders from Edmonton Police Service and Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services. If you see someone in non-emergency crisis, call 211 and press 3 to reach the Crisis Diversion Team. For more information about Crisis Diversion, click here.

The challenges faced by newcomers to Canada can be varied and complex. For 20 years, the Immigrant Family Violence Prevention Committee has been providing awareness, education and advocacy for service providers.  “The committee enhances capacity, collaboration, and coordination of resources and services to prevent family violence in newcomers and diverse ethno-cultural communities,” says committee chair Naheed Amjad-Minhas, IFSSA’s Programs Lead (Islamic Family and Social Services Association). “Through member agencies, we increase awareness while providing education, consultation and advocacy in the Edmonton area.” Newcomers to Canada experience family violence differently than those who were born here, says education committee co-chair Meital Siva, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Initiatives Team Lead for SACE (Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton).  “Many times sexual violence is happening within existing relationships like family relationships. SACE is on the committee because newcomers, immigrants and refugees experience specific barriers to addressing it. There is an intersection between family violence and sexual violence,” says Meital.   Culture plays a key role in addressing the complex challenges of adjusting to life in a new country, and the stresses that accompany the entire newcomer experience. “We think about violence through our cultural lens. Compared to the dominant culture, it might be spoken about differently in other cultures and even criminalized differently. Support might look different,” says Meital. “Maybe folks are not comfortable with one-on-one therapy, maybe they’d prefer speaking to a religious leader. I don’t want to say it’s a barrier, it’s just different. We have to be aware of it and try to support healthy relationships however we can. There are different ways to address healing.” A key way of addressing these challenges is education.  “There are especially barriers with mainstream providers. Immigrant families come here with so many complex, culturally diverse backgrounds. There are different kinds of cultural values,” says Naheed. “Canada is individualistic. Individual achievements are emphasized. Independence is emphasized. In families that come from collectivistic cultures, instead of ‘I achieved,’ it’s ‘we achieved’.” The family situation is often also different from statistical Canadian norms. Many newcomers live together in large extended families which changes the dynamic of relationships in the home.  The committee is made up of two working groups, an Education Committee and the Influencing Change committee, as well as a steering committee.  The Education Committee is open to anyone who works in the family violence or settlement sectors.  “The Education working group specifically does education for prevention, however, we recognize that intervention and prevention are tied together, so if you want to address one you address the other sometimes,” says Meital.  The second working group aims to close gaps in systems that serve immigrants.  “The Influencing Change committee’s mandate is to advocate for systemic change in the area of family violence in the newcomer community,” says Meital.  “They meet a few times a year. It’s made up of people who have the ability and experience in advocacy and changing systems,” she says. “So they are looking at things like interpretation services for newcomers who experience family violence because they realize there are gaps there.” The years of work show slow but measurable changes in how services are delivered and organizations work together. “I see that mainstream family violence organizations understand that addressing family violence in newcomer communities has to be part of their regular operations. So we’re seeing a systemic change,” says Meital.  Naheed echoes this sentiment. “We are seeing changes, because we do this work for the service providers,” she says. “We do see the service providers becoming more culturally informed about the immigrant communities.”  In addition to doing valuable work in the area of family violence, the committee itself is creating lasting connections between organizations and encouraging across-the-board collaboration. “It’s been such a positive experience on many levels,” says Meital. “We’ve built relationships with other professionals in this field. Based on this relationship, I’ve partnered with Naheed on other projects because we have this history of working together now.” “It’s networking, relationships and understanding the trends in the sector,” she adds. “There are a lot of benefits. Working with each other is the work itself, because we are self-creating, connecting with each other. The process is the goal.” For more information about the committee, click here.

“Everything we do as human beings is in relationship to something,” said Lewis Cardinal, in his address to those gathered at Islamic Family on Oct. 4.  The event celebrated and looked back on the 12 years that the REACH Immigrant and Refugee Initiative (RIRI) has operated in the Edmonton newcomer community.  Aimed at preventing family violence, relationships are the centrepiece for the RIRI project.  The project was founded with the belief that if immigrants and refugees have access to culturally appropriate resources for information and support, they will be more likely to successfully address the stresses and pressures that can increase the risk of family violence.  RIRI used a Cultural Navigator model to support newcomers in the context of their ethnocultural communities. Using this model, navigators gather information on community needs, issues and priorities, while using that information to create safe spaces for communities to share their experiences and access support from other newcomers. This led to the creation of workshops on topics the community itself requested.  These Cultural Navigators were always hired from within the community they intended to serve.  “The solutions have always come from the community from day one,” says Helen Rusich, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at REACH Edmonton, who has been involved with the RIRI projects the entire 12 years.  “People from the community know the language, culture and what kinds of supports would really help.”  Through this model, ten different communities were engaged and 20 partner organisations collaborated to address the needs of the community as the community itself addressed them.  “The partnerships have been tremendous,” says Rusich. “The community has been here and REACH is always willing to listen.” In addition to providing supports on how to navigate the challenging emotional journeys that settling in a new country demands, the project also gave community members support with navigating the bureaucracy that is such a large part of the immigration process.    “The partners walked the journey with us the whole time,” says Jan Fox, Executive Director at REACH Edmonton. “We need to acknowledge just how hard navigating systems can be.” Joseph Luri, one of the Community Navigators for the project, spoke at the event. “Relationships and marriage are a journey,”said Luri. He talked about the pressures facing new immigrants to Canada including employment, trauma, and other stresses.  This is why spaces for men to process their feelings are so important.  “They’re meant to create spaces where you can vent, come back home and then communicate sensibly,” says Luri.  “We have so much to learn about how to address our issues. We are equals, partners, and it was love that brought us together,” he said. “We are only human beings and we need each other.”  The funding for the program is set to run out, and a request for continued support will go before City Council in December.  For more information about the RIRI project, click here [ https://reachedmonton.ca/initiatives/reach-immigrant-and-refugee-initiative/ ].

In its eighth year, the Police and Youth Engagement Program wrapped up another successful year in late-August.  Over the two-week program in August of 2022 six youth coordinators planned the program which was implemented with the help of six volunteers. They worked together to deliver a program by and for racialized youth to 48 participants. PYEP is a youth-led and community-driven summer program. It focuses on relationship building with cultural minority communities and Edmonton Police Service, strengthening youth leadership skills and increasing understanding of LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and Indigenous communities. While each year is a little different, as the youth coordinators plan the program themselves, this year one highlight was when Edmonton Police officers took the youth shopping for new sneakers. “This was a huge thing paid for by the Edmonton Police Foundation,” says Lula Adam, Interim Project Manager at REACH Edmonton, who managed the program and supervised the Youth Coordinators.  “This is the first time they’ve done that as part of their PYEP contribution, they really upped their game and provided shoes for every participant.” This year featured younger youth coordinators and some shifts in community involvement, like more Oromo participants attending the program.  While each year is always a little different, the positive feedback from participants is consistent.  This year, there was additional support from a new PYEP partner. “YWCA Edmonton was a new partner this year,” says Helen Rusich, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at REACH Edmonton. “It was extremely helpful to have a youth development organization supporting this program, with the specialized expertise.”  “A couple of kids told me they felt at home,” says Adam. “They felt so connected in the space after the first week. One of the youth coordinators said it felt like family.”  For Adam, one of the days that stands out was having the youth participate in the Blanket Exercise, exploring the story of colonization from an Indigenous perspective. “For most, it was the first time they ever participated in a blanket exercise. Hearing that story and going through the exercise, watching it was beautiful,” she says. “The facilitator showed them a dance and they followed, that was really lovely to see.” As the program wrapped up for this year, Adams is optimistic that it will continue to grow into a more and more meaningful and impactful experience for everyone involved.  “I hope that we delve more into intentionally designed experiences for the youth when it comes to police, by involving the police meaningfully in the beginning so that connections and relationships are built,” she says.  Youth Coordinators were positive about the chance to interact with police in a positive way.  “I’m impressed by how the cops are doing this program and they were able to bring all these different units out. This surprised me,” says Tamam Ganamo, a Youth  Coordinator originally from Oromo, Ethiopia. “Where I come from, it’s not like this. A lot of these kids, because of where they come from, when they first come here they run away from cops. But now they see that here, they’re friendly.” Adam hopes this positivity can continue to be built on.  “I’m hoping we build on last year and this year and see what else we can do to create more meaningful experiences that both police and youth can benefit from,” says Adam. “We want to provide a more nuanced understanding of what these youth are going through in daily life, so there’s that much more depth in each interaction, that’s one thing I really hope for.” Adam hopes the program will continue to inspire everyone who connects with it. “I want people to walk out of PYEP with inspiring moments to carry with them,” she says. “My hope for this year was to invite, ignite, inspire. Create that little spark.”

When it comes to accessing services around the city, it can be tough to know where to start.  Resource Connect aims to bring Edmontonians and service providers together in a space  where both citizens and agencies can find each other in one place. In partnership with Edmonton Public Library, the event is a chance for community members and service providers to connect in a mutually beneficial way.  “By coming together, we hope to build a stronger community service, become more aware of each other and explore possibilities for increased alignment and support,” says Kelly Holland, Community Engagement Manager at REACH Edmonton.  The event started out at Stanley Milner Library in 2017, and then moved to a few different community venues while the library was closed for major renovations. “EPL has been involved since the very first one,” says Holland. “It has gone around the community and this year it comes back to the initial venue at the newly renovated library. We are so excited to be back after the pandemic put these kinds of events on hold. We’re looking forward to holding it every second year going forward.” The event will feature a farmer’s market-style setup with space for 81 agencies to connect with the community.  “We are able to accept 81 agencies as exhibitors in order for people to be able to social distance and be comfortable,” says Holland.  The event is not just open to community groups and agencies as exhibitors but also education institutions have been invited to come in and give them an opportunity to chat about possible internships or practicums.  “We’ve also invited Edmonton Youth Justice to come to explore different places to serve community service hours,” says Holland.  “It’s a great platform for people to come and look for volunteer opportunities, job opportunities. We’re asking all the exhibitors to bring job postings, volunteer sign ups, and any other opportunities they have available.” Of the 81 agencies attending, 10 will be giving 20-minute presentations in the library theatre about the work that they do. “We want the benefits of this event to flow in both directions,” she says. “It’s a service for everyone.” The event is also in need of volunteers to help set-up, tear-down, and other work to make the event a success.  To sign up to volunteer, click here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/3669896179213120101/false#/invitation To apply to be an exhibitor click here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2022-edmonton-resource-connect-tickets-311482180587 Resource Connect will be held in the basement level of the Stanley A. Milner Library, Friday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit: http://www.resourceconnectyeg.ca/

As an academic, and expert in polarization, Jared Wesley hopes to put his skills to good use on the REACH Board. “I look for ways to make contributions, and this is one of the most interesting and valuable ways to spend my time in community service,” says Wesley. “I’m bringing the perspective of concern for my community, backed up by some of my academic experience and knowledge because I study Alberta politics and Canadian politics in particular.”  As many important social issues have slid into dvisive and polarized debates over the past few years, Wesley feels his expertise can help find the middle ground when it comes to addressing complex problems. “There’s room for finding some workable common ground,” he says. “I see the REACH board as as safe space to have those difficult conversations. I think I can contribute to finding that common ground, since I have expertise in working with groups that, at least publicly, seem to be diametrically opposed.” While opposing groups may not be able to agree on specifics or tactics, Wesley believes they can usually find a way to agree on outcomes.  “I think my interest in this comes from being a member of a biracial family, where you can’t really pick sides because both sides are a part of you,” he says. “My life path is almost a metaphor for the community generally.  We want to come to a consensus on what the major problems are  and how we want to solve them together, and REACH does a good job at that.” Wesley says he’s also interested in the learning and networking opportunities associated with sitting on the board. “I’m interested in meeting people from different parts of the community I haven't had a chance to work with,” he says. “REACH is one board that provides that opportunity. I’m excited to see where the experience takes my own research and how my research in public policy and resources from the University of Alberta can help with the problems REACH is trying to solve.” While Edmonton faces some complex challenges, public appreciation and understanding of social issues is on the rise. “It’s not that the public safety challenges Edmontonians face are becoming more acute, necessarily. We’ve always faced these types of challenges. But they're becoming more salient,” says Wesley. “We’re starting to see more of it, and it’s reached a point where traditionally marginalized communities feel safer to bring forward some of these concerns.” Wesley feels REACH has a role to play in helping the current attention on problems become fuel for solutions. “It's a positive thing and REACH can be a part of mobilizing that energy,” he says. “I think together we can all identify and take steps to solving some of the challenges.”

Human trafficking is often thought of as an international problem, but the unpleasant truth is it happens here. Safer Way Out is a project that aims to develop a coordinated community response that is driven by the needs of victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  The project focuses on the geographical areas of Red Deer, Edmonton and Northern Alberta. In order to ensure the voices of victims are central, the project’s Advisory Circle creates a space for the voices of survivors to be amplified, while guiding the aims of the initiative. “The advisory circle has the potential to help develop more supports for survivors while creating opportunities for survivors to offer recommendations as people with lived experience,” says April Eve Wiberg, a survivor who sits on the advisory circle. “ I add a survivor's voice and lens to the work being done,” says Wiberg. “My lens is coming from an Indigenous survivor’s perspective, as a survivor of commercialized sexual exploitation.” The circle meets four times per year to further discussion and offer recommendations and guidance. Wiberg has been a grassroots advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and all exploited Indigenous people for 15 years, and founded the first MMIWG awareness walk in Alberta. But sharing her own personal story as a survivor took time. “ I didn’t start sharing my own personal connection until 3 years ago. I kind of came out, if you will, as survivor of sexual exploitation but I also had a lot of support from the survivor community,” she says. “I had been observing other survivors courageously sharing their stories and felt I wasn't being truly authentic to my community if I didn’t share my personal story.” Her coming out process began on the world stage with a piece in Al Jazeera English [ https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/5/5/pipelines-man-camps-and-murdered-indigenous-women-in-canada  ]. “I met an Indigenous journalist and she had approached me and said, ‘I know you’re thinking about sharing your story and I have an opportunity.’ I thought, this is it. If I'm going to come out, I'm going to come out to the world,” says Wiberg. “Because I trusted her as a friend and a journalist, I knew she would do a respectful job on a sensitive topic.” Prior to the story, Wiberg had anonymously shared her story with the MMIWG National Inquiry, but this would be the first time she shared her story attached to her name. “All these things led me to becoming a little more comfortable and now I’m sharing my story very publicly,” she says. “I’ve shared it with the media, contributed to documentaries on the issue. I don’t regret it for one second. As a survivor, I suffered in shame for many years.” As she learned more about her own family history, and discovered the proven connections between colonization and exploitation, her own personal story became more clear. “My mother being in Residential School impacted her ability, or inability, to be the mother she had the potential of being,” she says. “Seeing how my family was disconnected as a result of colonization, our culture being stolen from us, I realized this definitely happened to me as a result of many things: poverty, addiction, racism. I’m still learning about my own story.” Wiberg hopes sharing her story with the public, as well as the Safer Way Out Advisory Circle will help service providers create better prevention initiatives, while encouraging survivors to step out of shame and live in community.  “My biggest hope is that by me coming out and sharing my story, it’ll help other survivors find a community where they feel safe enough to share,” says Wiberg. “Our stories are sacred and have value.” “They’re sacred because they’re ours,” she says. “Being that it’s sacred, no one should ever feel that they have to share and I respect those who want to deal with it more privately.” Wiberg is hopeful her story will contribute to the creation of lasting change that helps prevent anyone from experiencing what she did.  “I hope sharing my story with more organizations and  governments, and whoever else is responsible to help vulnerable youth, will help them see the signs of someone being targeted, vulnerable and groomed into that type of exploitation.” While the topic is unpleasant, ignoring it is not an option.  “We’d all like to have our noses in the sand, thinking that’ll never happen to me or my loved ones, that only happens to those people,” she says. “The only way we can combat this is with a collaborative effort and I hope that’s what will happen with the Safer Way Out initiative. This has to continue on because this problem isn’t going away. We have to have hope and work together.” —- If you want to learn more about the Safer Way Out initiative, please visit SaferWayOut.ca . If you or someone you know might be a victim of human trafficking, you can connect with a Safety Network Coordinator at [email protected] . Safer Way Out is funded by Public Safety Canada. Partners are the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), Catholic Social Services, Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), and REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities.

As the summer approaches, REACH Edmonton is welcoming new members to the REACH Board.  Candace Cleveland, a Senior Manager at Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, joined the REACH board at the June 9 Annual General Meeting.    “I’ve been in the social work field for 15 years now and working with Bent Arrow and we collaborate with a variety of different stakeholders and agencies,” says Cleveland. “I realized that to affect real change we need to collaborate and utilize the gifts of others.” “Because REACH is an agency that seeks to bring partners together and expertise from different agencies and organizations it just fits with the work we currently do and long term sustainable community development,” she says.  Cleveland brings a wide variety of experience to the board and is hoping to put it to work.  “Being a biracial person, I think it’s really important that we create equity in the community among a diverse population,” she says. “We should have all voices at the table and everyone should feel valued and safe in the community.” She brings an understanding of intergenerational trauma and more than a decade of work in the Indigenous community.  Cleveland’s career started out as a youth care counsellor, then family support work, kinship and foster care supervision, family and group home oversight and finally she now manages collaborative service delivery.  With first-hand experience at every level of the system families are dealing with, she has a clear understanding of the challenges they face. “I had my daughter at 16, I so decided to help kids realize they have potential, no matter their experience,” she says. Cleveland says she’s looking forward to widening her understanding of the agencies and organizations working with REACH, while bringing the benefits of an Indigenous worldview to the table, especially to the Governance Committee. “I want to support a conversation around traditional governance, where everyone has a key role to play,” she says. “Indigenous communities were high functioning societies before settlers came and changed things.” With all the possibilities and opportunities to learn, Cleveland says she’s excited to get started. “Having an agency such as REACH is integral becaused a lot of time, in the non-profit world, we don’t necessarily know what our neighbours or everyone is doing so it’s essential there are agencies like REACH bridging that gap.”