Archive for year: 2017

When the shelter first opened in 1991, Sheila Swasson – the Director at the time – remembers the misconceptions.

A police officer once came to the shelter, with information about a woman at risk. He didn’t know if the shelter could do anything, because the woman hadn’t been physically assaulted yet.

“It just goes to show you that at that time, the issue of family violence was in existence, but yet, maybe the scope of it wasn’t fully understood,” she said.

Swasson, the manager of the shelter today, has worked at the shelter for 23 of its 25 years in existence.

“[The Police] didn’t look into when a woman is threatened, when she feels that her well being is threatened, or financial abuse, or emotional abuse, sexual assault – all these things,” she said. “I believe we’ve done a lot of work in that area, where we’ve increased that awareness, through education in our community.”

On December 6, the 25th anniversary of the Haven House was celebrated at the bingo hall. It was intended to be “something different.”

With the performance of a skit by Anita Olsen-Harper, a cabaret singer, and the honoring the council that helped bring Haven House into existence over two decades ago, the evening certainly went above and beyond. It was meant to pay tribute to the shelter, and everyone involved.

Over the years, the staff have had their share of emotional moments.

“There are moments that are difficult,” said Swasson. “But then there are moments that are at the other end of the spectrum – where we see the personal growth, and we also see the healing that [clients] overcome while here, or while working with us. Where they feel empowered to make a better life for themselves.”

Swasson sees many former clients out in the community, but one – who also attended the 25th anniversary – comes to her mind.

“When I see this woman in our community, and she’s doing so well, I’m just like ‘wow,’” Swasson said. “I would like to feel that we’ve contributed to that as well, in some small way we made a difference. “

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You may have noticed a giant electronic billboard in Listuguj recently.  Hopefully you learned something from it as well.

On November 29, 2016 Listuguj had the new electronic message board installed, complements of Listuguj Community Social Services.

Over the past few years Listuguj Community Health Services (LCHS) has been working on getting the electronic message board. The idea had been pitched to Health Canada for years. It was finally able to move forward this year.

“I wanted the community to see all of the possible programs and activities that are being offered,” said Donna Metallic, the Director of the LCHS.

The message board is centrally located, in hopes that everyone in the community will see it regularly. It will help keep people informed – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The idea isn’t entirely new.

“The first time I went to Mashteuiatsh up north they had a message board when you enter their community”, Metallic said.

Directly under a beautiful statue – a monument welcoming people to the community – there’s  screen, with a feed of all the activities going on. It was only for one directorate. Metallic immediately recognized how useful it could be for Listuguj. For all of Listuguj.

“I thought, ‘This is beautiful.’ It’s a beautiful way to showcase the happenings in the community,” she said. “What better way than to display it on a board in the middle of the community.”

The sign came from Pattison Sign Group in Edmunston, New Brunswick. The sign was made in Edmunston, and delivered and installed, with the help of Mic Mac Electric.

Metallic used a similar sign in Kanehsatake. It was modified to showcase the LCHS logo.

“I wanted to be able to have that on the sign,” she said. “I also wanted to showcase that the Health Center is an accredited organization, and it was a lot of work with staff and accredition coordinator that put us on the accreditation path of quality services that we provide to the community.”

The sign adds another level of communication for the community.

“I would like to see each of the directors use that sign to promote their activities,” Metallic said. “I want it to be used as much as possible, so that when you’re driving by – at any given time – then you will know what is going on.”

The sign will start to generate revenue starting January 9, 2017 for any additional information please contact the LMG IT/Communications department at sign@listuguj.ca