Latest news with #KenoraDistrictServicesBoard
CBC
03-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Amid rising demands, the Dryden Food Bank in northwestern Ontario seeks support to expand
Social Sharing More than 600 people accessed the Dryden Food Bank last month, which Al Huckabay says speaks to the growing need to expand the facility in order to keep up with demands. Fewer than 7,400 live in the northwestern Ontario city. However, its food bank serves a number of surrounding communities and First Nations. "The demand has been steadily on the increase, and especially now with the economic situation within the country," said Huckabay, manager of the Dryden Food Bank. "We're finding because of the cost of food, what we're able to purchase with our dollars is becoming less." The food bank has entered the second phase of Project Hope, a $1.5-million plan to relocate from 62 Queen St. to 158 Grand Trunk Ave. and renovate the building to create more space. Its immediate goals are to increase the food bank's capacity to accept and distribute food, improve operational efficiency, and enhance safe food handling practices, Huckabay said. Looking further ahead, the organization has three key aspirations: Improving strategies to address poverty in Dryden. Expanding its local community partnerships, including with the Kenora District Services Board, Northwestern Health Unit and Dryden Regional Health Centre. Working with the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) to create a satellite hub in Dryden for food distribution. "We see ourselves really partnering with community groups that are perhaps doing service in the community that we're not offering — but if it is connected with food, we want to be there and help them out in that way," said Huckabay. Part of its long-term vision is to become a community hub, similar to Roots Community Food Centre in Thunder Bay, which offers food as well as a number of workshops and programming activities, he explained. "That is really a true, great description of what we want to become in this area," Huckabay said. Promoting healthier lifestyles About one in four households in the Northwestern Health Unit's catchment area face food insecurity due to financial constraints, according to the 2024 Real Cost of Eating Well in Northwestern Ontario report. A family of four spends more than $1,500 a month on groceries, the report says, a seven per cent increase from 2023. Education on healthy eating is another big part of what the Dryden Food Bank hopes to do, through installing a community kitchen. "We want to be able to teach [clients] and show them, in working with other groups and agencies in town, how to take food and have healthier lifestyles," Huckabay said. The renovations are hoped to begin in August, but the food bank still has a lot of fundraising to do. While the bulk of the project is to be covered by government grants, it's still looking to raise at least $915,000. The organization is planning a fundraising event at the end of May to help build momentum, Huckabay said. Despite the rising cost of living, Huckabay said the community has continued to show its support. "[We are] very thankful for the way in which the community of Dryden and the businesses and retail stores have really come alongside us and helped us out, to make sure that we've got the food on our shelves to be able to give to people," he said. The Dryden Food Bank is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Hampers can be booked between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. by calling 807-223-3881, with pickup between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
CBC
14-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
How northwestern Ontario election candidates plan to tackle homelessness and addictions crises
Social Sharing With hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and opioid-related death rates that far exceed provincial averages, there's a lot at stake in the provincial election for residents in northwestern Ontario. At least 550 people are experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, according to the latest point-in-time count conducted in the fall. Further west, 500 people are known to be homeless in the Kenora District Services Board's catchment area. Homelessness in northern Ontario has grown four times faster than in non-northern communities in the last eight years, and new research suggests the region's rates could more than quadruple over the next decade, as reported by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. As for the opioid crisis, the Thunder Bay district has the highest opioid-related death rate in the province, according to the latest information from the Office of the Chief Coroner. At a rate of 78.16 deaths per 100,000 population, that's more than five times the provincial average of 15.7 deaths per 100,000 population. WATCH | How Thunder Bay election candidates plan to address homelessness, addiction: How Thunder Bay, Ont., election candidates plan to address homelessness and addictions 1 hour ago Duration 2:44 With the provincial election only two weeks away, the CBC's Sarah Law checked in with candidates in Thunder Bay's ridings to learn their plans to address homeless encampments and the opioid crisis. Here's what they shared, and what residents want to see from their next MPPs. CBC News asked all the candidates in northwestern Ontario how they plan to address homelessness and the opioid crisis in the ridings of Thunder Bay—Superior North, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, Kenora–Rainy River and Kiiwetinoong. Responses were received from 12 of the 16 candidates by deadline. Click through the photo gallery to read a synopsis of each of their responses. CBC News interviewed three residents in Thunder Bay with differing views to learn more about what they want to see their next MPPs do to address these issues. Here's what they shared. Removing encampments, ramping up treatment Aldo Ruberto says he's used naloxone to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses around his office countless times. The chair of the Fort William Business Improvement Area says homeless encampments and public drug use have had a negative impact on local businesses. He says he wants to see the removal of encampments, the elimination of public drug use and stricter consequences for drug dealers through the courts. "Our city's talking about [how] we want to grow our city, et cetera. Well, before you do that, let's address the elephant in the room here," Ruberto said. "Let's clean up the city and let's help these individuals, but we can't allow that behaviour to continue." He feels hopeful about the new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub set to open in the city this spring. The hub will essentially replace Path 525 in Thunder Bay, the only remaining supervised consumption site in northern Ontario, which is set to close at the end of March. While HART hubs will not allow supervised drug consumption, safer supply, or needle exchange programs, they're intended to provide wraparound support — meaning care that meets clients' needs for housing, health care and other social supports — as well as primary care, counselling and employment training. "I believe the hub is going to be a good thing in a sense that it's more treatment-oriented," said Ruberto. "I hope that it leads to recovery for a lot of individuals." Consistent funding, harm reduction approach Bonnie Aggamway sees the issues through the lens of lived experience. The substance use health co-ordinator for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario is more than three years into recovery from addiction. She says consistent, reliable funding for organizations that are working on the front lines of the crisis is essential. "Because they didn't give up on me and those programs stayed in place, I was able to get where I am," Aggamway said. "I think that's a huge testament to what's possible … when you keep funding the right programs and keep those things running." Aggamway fears that the closure of Path 525 — which she says helped keep her alive — could have a devastating impact on people who use drugs. She wants the next provincial government to bring back supervised consumption services because she says abstinence-based models don't work for everyone. Because they didn't give up on me and those programs stayed in place, I was able to get where I am. - Bonnie Aggamway, substance use health co-ordinator, Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario "Not everyone is going to do things the way that the government thinks that they need to do them," she said. "We don't force people to do things or to make change if they're not ready." She also wants to see more transitional housing, detox and treatment beds and wraparound services, she said. "Support the people that are doing the work. Trust us, we know what we're doing." Post-treatment services, continued support Carolyn Karle's work is motivated by the loss of her daughter, Dayna, to an accidental overdose in 2021. She founded the DEK Foundation — which stands for Dayna Elizabeth Karle — in hopes of opening a post-treatment recovery home for women. After Dayna completed addiction treatment, Karle said, there were few supports in place to help her maintain her recovery. "I swear they're set up to fail," said Karle. "Wraparound services. That's what they need to continue on. They can't forget us." She compared the situation to when her husband had cancer and received follow-up appointments for years after he went into remission. "They kept checking him and checking him and checking him," she said. "Our cancer centre is something to brag about. Our addiction support, we should be ashamed of ourselves." Karle said she wants to see Thunder Bay's next MPPs bring more detox, treatment and post-treatment services. As for housing, she said outreach work at the city's encampments must continue. When it comes to the HART hub, Karle said she's cautiously optimistic, but worries about whether current Path 525 clients will feel comfortable going there. "In a perfect world, yes, we can make everybody quit using drugs, but I don't think it's possible. I think the street people that grew up in poverty and have so much trauma, they must feel like they're getting dumped," she said of Path 525's closure.
