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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Vol.8 • Issue 49
Rosemont school fosters entrepreneurs See Page 11
Nelson welcomes new ambassador See Page 3
za.ca
w.itzapiz 573 | ww 50) 352-3
(2
now available @ nelsoncu.com/eTransfer
Check out our wide variety of pet foods, treats and toys!
Christmas Train comes to Nelson
So Much More Than AFamer’s Store
More than just a farmers store
524 Railway St Nelson (250) 352-5375
Perfect for
The CP Holiday Train chug-chug-chugged into Lakeside Park Monday evening, opening on either side to bathe the community with festive neon lights and entertain them with Christmas favourites. Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak appeared, as well as Santa, while hundreds of families stood in the chilly night air. See more photos page 2. Jamie Reichert photo
Shelter can’t meet cold weather demand BILL METC ALFE Nelson Star
Plum sapphire, 14kt yellow gold and diamond set. Designer: Brian Ingham at Ted Allen’s
431 Baker Street , Nelson, BC Phone: 250-352-5033
Glen Darough 250.354.3343
Alan Tarr 250.354.8489
Nelson’s Stepping Stones homeless shelter was full throughout November, so it turned 24 people away. How do you turn a homeless person away from the only 24-hour shelter between Kelowna and Calgary in the winter? What do you say to them? “We do a brief assessment at the door, get their name, look them in the eye, get a sense of where they are at
Ali Watt 250.551.5235
Barbie Wheaton 250.509.0654
RHC Realty
100% Locally Owned & Independently Operated
Dave Buss 250.354.9459
right now. Are they cold, fearful, intoxicated, or stone sober and in shock?” says Mike McGaw of Stepping Stones. He says they then find out what services the person is already using, whether they are connected with mental health or addictions services, whether they have an income. They might make referrals to the transition home or to other outreach workers in town depending on the situation. “Sometimes we have to just look
David Gentles 250.354.8225
Personal Real Estate Corporation
Julie Wilson 250.777.4202
Laura Salmon 250.551.8877
them in the eye and say, ‘We’re sorry, we are full and we cannot offer you a place to stay right now,’” McGaw says. “So then we troubleshoot: do they have a couch to stay on, can they get themselves to a community [Trail or Grand Forks] where there is an emergency shelter?” Or they give them a tent, blanket, or sleeping pad. Stepping Stones can’t keep up with the demand for these. “We never have enough tarps and
Lisa Cutler 250.551.0076
Lorne Westnedge 250.505.2606
Luke Mori 250.551.4917
tents,” says supervisor Marjie Hills, “but not many people part with their tents and we don’t have a budget to purchase them so we are always looking donations of tents and sleeping pads. “And we give out a lot of food,” says McGaw. “We have ready-to-eat food that we can give someone to take away so sometimes this is as good as it gets.
Tamara Jenkinson 250.354.3714
CONTINUED ON A10
Trevor Jenkinson 250.354.8409 Property Manager
250.352.7252 Merry Christmas From Our Homes to Yours! www.rhcrealty.com
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