Elizabeth Fry’s annual Christmas online auction will provide ongoing support of our Volunteer and Court Programs in 2022.

The EFry Volunteer program has supported our core programs for the past 55 years. Volunteers learn valuable skills for their own professional development as well as give back to the community through their support of marginalized peoples engaged in the legal and justice system.

Volunteers provide assistance on the court floors and court house to support navigation, assist with court matters through securing and referring to legal and community resources, assisting with understanding the court processes as well as assist with filling out of legal documents and legal filing.

Additionally, volunteer youth mentors provide ongoing and meaningful relationships to community youth who have limited resources and absent or removed caregivers in their lives. They assist them with both engagement in prosocial activities as well as with resources and supports to address their legal matters.

Volunteers also are pinnacle in providing support at the main office by providing assistance with programs, direct client support and administrative support.

We currently provide support to Calgary Indigenous Court, Domestic Violence Court, Case Management Office -Criminal Court, Traffic and Bylaw as well as Youth Criminal Court. In addition to Calgary, we serve the rural areas of Okotoks, Cochrane, Canmore and Airdrie. Legal advocacy support is provided to both Calgary and the community of Morley (Stoney Nakoda First Nations).

Our goal is 25,000 for 2021. Please join us between December 3-15th, 2021 to support these valuable and meaningful services.

Transitioning from 2019 into a new decade moves us closer to our 55^th anniversary in 2020. We would like to say thanks to all those individuals, agencies, supporters and collaborators for all your contributions over 2019. In particular, our organization would not be able to deliver the number of services and programs without the incredible staff and volunteers who consistently provide support to those who require our services and programs.

In 2019, we expanded our services into Eden Valley and Strathmore, and participated in the collaboration with the community and Alberta Justice and Solicitor General on the development of the Calgary Indigenous Court. We currently coordinate the Community Case Management Table, which contributes to the healing plans for those attending Indigenous Court. We conduct this work in partnership with other community partners who participate in the process and add value in reducing the gaps and increasing access to services and programs to address trauma, addiction and emotional and mental wellness.

As we move into 2020, we are reminded of the importance of empowering others who have had challenges that have lead them to systemic criminalization. We believe in the importance of building connection through community and contributing to increasing access to options and opportunities through the work we provide. Everyone deserves a chance to develop their true potential. We hope that you remain interested in our work, please feel free to connect and visit the organization. We will be celebrating the opening of our Indigenous Healing Room, the advancement of our services into Siksika and Lethbridge in January will be our next exciting advancements.

If you are interested in knowing more about volunteer opportunities or would like to support our organization please explore our website for further information. We are also seeking support with new or old, clean and in good condition winter jackets, socks, underwear, and winter gear.

From the EFry Family to your family – Have an amazing Holiday Season!

The summer months at EFry were exciting as we started off the season with our Annual General Meeting with Elder John Chief Moon Sr. providing ceremony. EFry provided an oral report of our services and supports back to the community.

Throughout the Spring we completed the development of the Sohksipaitapiisin Indigenous Justice Program and Community Case Management Table graciously funded by Family and Community Support Services to assist Indigenous peoples who are involved in the justice system. The Case Management Table has been linked up with Calgary’s Indigenous Court which formerly opened on September 4, 2019. On September 24, 2019, a formal naming ceremony was conducted by Elder Clarence Wolf Leg Sr.

In collaboration with Miskanawah, August celebrated a week long language cultural camp in the Kananaskis with families and singles supporting the teachings from both the Cree language from Miskanawah and Blackfoot language from EFry’s language instructor Monica Chief Moon.

Several funding initiatives occurred in the summer months including our connection to the Shaw Charity Classic Birdies for Kids where the EFry Board of Directors worked towards bringing awareness and donations into the organization through their individual and collective efforts including wine and trivia nights.  In addition, we conducted an online auction to finalize the efforts of this initative. We exceeded our goal with these efforts.

Benevity of Calgary selected EFry as one of 6 organizations for the Rock the Causebah charity event in June, this support assisted us with sponsored donations and further awareness of our organization.

As we close the summer, we do so in recognition of the National Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2019. This day honours those that attended Indian Residential Schools and builds awareness around this important history throughout Canada.

Written by Selwynne Hawkins

For people who have been recently incarcerated, access to a stable job reduces the chances of recidivism and is a key factor in successful integration into the community. But, even after an offender has “served their time,” they continue to face stigma and discrimination for mistakes they made in the past. This stigma manifests itself in many ways, making it difficult for people with criminal records to find employment.

In a year-long project, the Research and Evaluation team at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary performed a qualitative analysis to investigate the barriers people with criminal records face in their search for employment.

Barriers to finding and securing employment

Most employers require criminal record checks for job applicants. A clean record is taken as an assurance of good character. However, the implications of a criminal record check are not always clear or transparent. In some cases, a prior offence that shows up on a police information check is unrelated to the job application at hand or occurred when the individual was younger or in a challenging phase of their lives.

Larger employers often have policies in place for hiring people with criminal records, while often smaller employers may not always have a policy in place. Employers without policy surrounding criminal records are more likely to reject applicants with criminal records, as they are lacking knowledge of best practices for addressing criminal records within their own organizational context.

Unlike the human rights acts of Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, the Alberta Human Rights Act does not protect against discrimination based on criminal record. For Albertans with criminal records, a criminal record can be a significant barrier to securing employment. Even after someone with a criminal record has secured employment, they may still face stigma and discrimination in their workplace should this record become known outside of the employer.

Without access to sustainable employment, individuals tend to find ways to secure some means of financial support by being forced to work in dangerous conditions and/or end up working under the table for less than what would be available to them should they be working legitimately. They work without benefits, the security of WCB, and without vacation pay or overtime pay as required by law.

Some of the recommendations we learned from the research were that we need to start addressing these barriers, with accessible information and education for employers. This education will assist them in implementing changes to their human resource policies regarding exclusionary practices around criminal records. It will open up possibilities for employers to have more meaningful and open discussions around criminal records. Secondly, and a much larger challenge is to address changes in legislation requiring employees to investigate past criminal records on a criteria that includes length of time since the record was incurred and whether the record has relevant risk to the position being hired.

What can your workplace do to give women a chance at integrating successfully with employment and providing them with the independence they need to avoid becoming recriminalized?

JACKSON ECKES

Jackson Eckes is a recent graduate, with a Criminal Justice degree, who hopes to one day have a career helping youth. He first heard about the Elizabeth Fry Society during his post-secondary education and became involved with the Society in June 2018, when he started with the Youth Mentorship program. He has worked with this program both as a volunteer and a practicum student. Attracted to the Elizabeth Fry Society because it helped him make a positive difference in someone’s life, Jackson supports clients in court matters by providing them with the necessary legal information and knowledge of court processes, as well as building positive relationships with at-risk youth to provide emotional support and encouragement in while they work to stay out of trouble and reintegrate into the community.

What has working with the Elizabeth Fry Society taught you, both in your personal and professional life?

My perspective has opened up more than anything. Working with The Elizabeth Fry Society during my practicum has given me the chance to get a feel of what it was like to get some experience in the field of legal work. I learned a lot about the legal system, court processes, communication skills, time management, patience and logical reasoning during my practicum.

Why do you believe the Elizabeth Fry Society is important for our community?

The Elizabeth Fry Society offers many resources and programs that support rehabilitation and reintegration into society of individuals involved with the legal system.

How has your role with the Elizabeth Fry Society changed you as a person? How do you think it has changed or impacted those who’ve come to its doors seeking help?

It is rewarding to know we are making a difference in someone else’s life by showing them court is not as serious or intimidating as it might appear and to offer referrals for people who need it (legal representation, counselling, disclosure, etc). I always felt like I was making a difference no matter what I was doing. The role was important for me because it was not only required for me to graduate, it gave me the experience I need to help me out with my future career.

Beading on the Path to Healing

Written: by Wes Lafortune

Elizabeth Fry’s Indigenous Program Coordinator, Barbara Smith gently cups a tiny beaded moccasin in her hands adorned with wolf willow seeds. It conjures up memories of her own childhood on the Piikani Nation where her grandmother first introduced her to beading at the age of nine.

Barbara later relocated to Calgary but spent many hours on the Nation with her grandmother where she learned more about their culture.

“All I knew is that I loved this woman,“ recalls Barbara.

Her respect and admiration of her grandmother’s beading piqued her own interest in learning the craft. She apprenticed the skill by learning basic stitches until she established her own unique signature beading style.

That introduction to traditional beading has led Barbara on a long journey of learning and becoming an accomplished and well known skilled beader in her community. Many dancers are wearing Barbara’s work on their regalia on the powwow scene.

Barbara eventually brought her skill to the offices of Elizabeth Fry Society in Calgary where for the past five years she has shared her wisdom and taught hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women alike how to bead and create cultural crafts including pouches, necklaces and moccasins. The women not only learn how to bead, but learn the history behind the craft and gain cultural pride as they master their own personal skill.

“It can be entrepreneurial,” says Barbara referring to the finished pieces which

are highly prized and valued in both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community. Yet what is obvious when listening to this proud Piikani woman talk about this tradition is not about commerce, but the healing that occurs when women, many who have experienced significant trauma in their lives, join this group and and find a place of acceptance.

“They build a safe place,” she says. “It’s our community.”

“I owe a big thanks to The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary in helping me become the person I wanted to be and am currently,” Dovena said. “And to be the mother I am today.”

Dovena first came to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary in 2008, when her caseworker mentioned the organization. She participated in a program the organization hosted at the time, and over the next ten years, Dovena came into the office for food, toiletry items, or just to talk.

“I always felt safe and connected with the staff. They were always so kind to me and accepted me.” Dovena said.

Knowing that the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary works in partnership with Calgary community agencies to provide safe, affordable housing for women, Dovena came to the organization seeking assistance in finding a place to call home after completing her sober living program. Shortly after she moved into her new home, she knew the next step in her journey was to enter the SAGE program.

The SAGE program is a 12-week program that provides a cultural foundation and supports women through experiential learning and expressive activities like photography. Participants are empowered and equipped with skills to help them on their path towards accessing training, education or employment.

“Through the program, I learnt that I am not very good in making eye contact with other people until I trust them,” Dovena said. “I am getting better at this. The program helped me become more self-assured, I did not give myself enough credit before and would always second guess myself.”

“I enjoyed coming in the morning seeing the staff member of the program and being able to talk with her about what was on my mind, before the program started for the day.”

At the SAGE program, she felt a connection with her fellow participants as well.

“We had some similarities which we could relate to with one another,” she mentioned.

“I have grown in my confidence and am comfortable enough with myself now to stick up for myself. Having the dedication to complete SAGE was a huge accomplishment,” she said.

Another great moment for Dovena occurred in February, when she gave birth to her son. Dovena does not currently have custody of her three other children, but she is in the process of changing this situation. Dovena’s eldest daughter, who is very protective of her youngest sibling, wishes to come home and live with her mother permanently. This may occur as soon as July. For her two other children, the process will take a bit longer, but she is grateful for a renewed connection with them. “They fear that I will not come back when I leave after visiting them, but they know that I am making a home for them and it is a matter of time we are all under one roof together,” Dovena said.

When asked what family means to her, Dovena says, “being together, showing love for each other and sharing time together.” She explained that she and her four siblings were all separated at a young age as their mother was unable to take care of them. So the sole essence of having a family together under one roof means a great deal to Dovena.

In September of 2019, Dovena will begin a new chapter in her journey of recovery and stability by going to back to school to upgrade some classes. Her ultimate goal is to become a social worker in addictions counselling.

“The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary was a great support for me,” Dovena said. “If the staff didn’t have what I needed they would go to great lengths to find it. The resources they directed me to were priceless. They were my home away from home.”

There is a stigma associated to mental illness that causes one to become more isolated and further into their anxiety, depression or other disorders. It is not as simple as working through the issues or triggers like “relax, everything will work out in the end” when said, can cause further frustration for the individual. Without support, mental illness can take a toll causing negative consequences for actions that are often uncontrollable and end up redirecting life in an undesirable direction.

Due to self-harming myself and attempted suicide I have had to be admitted into two hospitals in the span of six months. There were safety concerns that I would attempt suicide again. While in the last hospital I had an altercation with another youth and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon at the age of 15 years old. I was put on probation for a year.

My relationship with my family is not the greatest so my Probation Officer suggested a mentor would perhaps be beneficial for me. With previous counselling I always felt judged and I would retract from their guidance. Saying YES to receiving a mentor was the best decision I made, as this has been the most supported I have ever felt!

My mentor is my rock supporting me emotionally, mentally & physically – no matter the mood I am in. The conversations I have with them has really opened my mind to understand different perspectives and learning what different decisions I could be making to better a situation. I do not take my mentor for granted with the wisdom they share. I have noticed that I make more informed decisions and am making serious changes in my life for the better.

The support I am receiving from my mentor has enabled me to actually be more confident in public areas. I used to be removed from society and it was paralyzing to go out in public places. I even have been going to the gym which is a big deal for me, I would never want to touch the equipment others previously used.

Recently, I got into trouble with the law again. While at a store, I had a terrible episode resulting in me being charged with theft under $5,000.00. With my illness I have periods which render me incapable of controlling myself. With this incident I have been referred to another program which focuses on my mental health.

My mentor, my rock, has been with me at every court hearing and legal aid meeting pertaining to the recent charge. Never giving up on me and seeing me through this detour in my life.