The Alongside Hope Indigenous Partnership Program promotes partnerships based on recognition, respect, and support for the rights and wellbeing of the Indigenous partners.

Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions are invaluable and contribute to the rich tapestry of Canadian society. Supporting Indigenous programs helps preserve and revitalize these cultural assets, ensuring they are passed on to future generations.

Mapping the Ground We Stand On

In 2015, following the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Alongside Hope developed a narrative and a process called “Mapping the Ground We Stand On.” The resulting workshop explored Indigenous presence and Settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island/Canada.

Piloted at Alongside Hope’s National Gathering in the fall of 2015, this “education for reconciliation” resource was further developed and delivered in parishes and other venues. In 2019, Alongside Hope launched a new five-year strategic plan. The fifth goal is “Mutual Reconciliation: We will accompany and support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the priorities of Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada.” In 2019, a decision was taken by Alongside Hope to train a national network of Mapping Exercise facilitators.

Bring a Mapping Exercise to your community

The map of truth and reconciliation in Canada is still very much incomplete. Alongside Hope remains committed to being part of the journey towards finding a more complete map.

Each ecclesiastical province group has been equipped with a large floor map of Canada and is ready to bring this education for reconciliation resource to you. It is ideal for a synod, clergy retreat day, youth gathering, or Indigenous awareness event in your parish or community.

Archdeacon Terry Caines wrote that “during the annual clergy Lenten retreat, under the guidance of Canon Tom Mugford, an Alongside Hope representative, clergy of Central NL took part in a meaningful Mapping exercise designed to create reflection, awareness, and shared learning. Through visual storytelling and guided discussion, clergy looked at key moments and stories that have shaped our nation’s history, including lesser-known and often overlooked experiences.

The exercise encouraged clergy to engage more deeply with the historical truths of our country, including the lasting impacts of colonization and the experiences of Indigenous communities across regions such as Newfoundland and Labrador. By visually tracing these histories, clergy gained new insight into how past events continue to influence present-day communities.

Beyond education, the Mapping exercise created sacred space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and collective growth. It offered an opportunity not only to learn, but also to listen—strengthening relationships and deepening commitment to reconciliation, compassion, and informed ministry within our communities.”

If you would like to host a Mapping Exercise for an Anglican entity, Alongside Hope will cover any travel costs for our volunteer facilitators. Local hosts are asked to cover any costs associated with the venue or refreshments and provide tech support. Non-Anglican entities are asked to cover both travel and hosting costs. For more information on the Mapping Exercise cost structure, please contact Abdi Ali aali@alongsidehope.org.

Information taken from the Alongside Hope website (alongsidehope.org)

The post A Journey Towards Reconciliation appeared first on Anglican Life.

As we continue our ongoing work of Truth and Reconciliation within our country and within our Anglican Church of Canada, I would suggest making plans to offer the Alongside Hope Mapping Exercise in your parish or region.

In the wake of the release of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, Alongside Hope’s former Executive Director, Adele Finney, spoke with public engagement staffer, Suzanne Rumsey, about how Alongside Hope might create an education piece in response. Adele and Suzanne, together with Esther Wesley, former Coordinator of the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation, developed a narrative and a process called “Mapping the Ground We Stand On.” The resulting workshop explored Indigenous presence and Settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island/Canada. Piloted at Alongside Hope’s National Gathering in the fall of 2015, this “education for reconciliation” resource was further developed and delivered in parishes and other venues. In 2019, Alongside Hope launched a new five-year strategic plan. The fifth goal is “Mutual Reconciliation: We will accompany and support First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the priorities of Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada.” In 2019, a decision was taken by Alongside Hope to train a national network of Mapping Exercise facilitators in Winnipeg. Filmmaker Tim Wilson joined the training to document that process and produced two videos, available on Alongside Hope’s YouTube channel.

It would be an excellent idea to show one or both videos to your vestry or perhaps at coffee hour after service some Sunday to generate interest. You might decide to host a special Alongside Hope Coffee Hour, including a small bake sale, pamphlets, special envelopes and displays—most of which are available from head office or your Diocesan Rep—and show the mapping video, too.

If your church, like mine, doesn’t have internet to watch YouTube, contact Janice Biehn at Alongside Hope to send you the videos to download onto a laptop. When you are ready, go to the Mapping Exercise page on our website, https://alongsidehope.org/mapping-exercise/, to request a booking. In Newfoundland and Labrador, we have our own mapping exercise facilitator, Canon Tom Mugford. It is strongly recommended that you ask at least one month before you hope to hold your event.

This is a powerful learning exercise and strongly recommended for all who take truth and reconciliation seriously, and perhaps especially for those of us who don’t yet!

In addition to the Mapping Exercise video, Alongside Hope has other short videos available on YouTube or otherwise to bring awareness to your Parish on such topics as “What Alongside Hope Means to Me” and Nurse Itelvina’s story about the huge difference having a solar suitcase means to a rural health clinic in Mozambique.

Since it is still just the first of March, it is not too late to register for the Alongside Hope Lenten Resource: Wild Paths of Peace, written by the Anglican Communion’s permanent representative at the United Nations, Martha Jarvis. In this season of global unrest and conflict, it will do well to consider paths of peace this Lent. Sign up via the Alongside Hope website:
https://alongsidehope.org

May your Lenten self-examination prepare you for a glorious Easter celebration!

The post Learning For Lent: The Mapping Exercise and The Lenten Resource: Wild Paths of Peace appeared first on Anglican Life.

It’s an area of stewardship that many churches aspire to strengthen but rarely find the right moment—or the right tools—to begin. Resources from secular charities don’t always translate to a faith-based context, and conversations about wills and bequests can feel awkward or out of place in the life of a congregation.

“We often hear from parishes that they want to start the conversation about legacy giving, but they’re not sure how,” says Michelle Hauser, Development & Communications Officer for the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC). “That’s exactly why we created the Legacy Talk Parish Toolkit—to make it easier, more natural, and more spiritually grounded.”

Rather than focusing on financial targets, Legacy Talk connects legacy giving to gratitude, discipleship, and hope for the future of the Church. Each seasonal toolkit aligns with the rhythms of the liturgical year, offering clergy and lay leaders reflections, bulletin inserts, sample messages, and practical templates that can be adapted to any parish setting.

Begin with Vestry Season: Planning with Purpose

Annual Vestry Reports and planning meetings provide a perfect opportunity to integrate legacy giving into the parish’s financial and spiritual vision.

For example, the Vestry Season Toolkit offers a Parish Council Checklist—simple, concrete steps that can help normalize legacy giving as part of a parish’s ongoing stewardship practice: Add legacy giving as a standing item in stewardship conversations; Include a legacy paragraph in the vestry report;
Ensure your website or bulletin mentions bequest options; Publicly thank legacy donors when appropriate.

“For many churches, the checklist is a great place to start—it helps parishes move from ‘we should do something’ to actually feeling confident about making legacy giving part of their spiritual DNA.”

From Lent to Christmas: A Year of Gratitude, Growth, and Faith

Across the seasons of the Church year, Legacy Talk offers practical ways to weave legacy giving into parish life—always grounded in faith rather than fundraising.

During Lent, parishes are invited to reflect on what they treasure and why, exploring legacy giving as a spiritual practice rooted in love and intention.

The Easter to Pentecost toolkit celebrates growth and gratitude, encouraging churches to see legacy gifts as seeds of faith—planted today to bless the Church of tomorrow.

In Ordinary Time, the focus shifts to steady, everyday stewardship through simple reflections and conversation tools that keep faith communities engaged year-round.

As All Saints’ approaches, parishes are encouraged to remember, honour, and plan—giving thanks for those whose generosity built the Church we inherit and asking, “What legacy will we leave?”

Finally, Advent and Christmas offer a natural moment to express gratitude and hope, reminding us that every generation helps “prepare a place” for those who will follow.

“It is our hope that using Legacy Talk as a guide will help parishes build a rhythm of gratitude and generosity,” says Hauser, “and that 2026 will be the year more church communities feel inspired to take that next faithful step—turning good intentions into lasting impact.”

To explore or download the full series, visit the Anglican Foundation website: anglicanfoundation.org/legacytalk.

The post Planning With A Purpose: Getting Your Legacy Program Off On The Right Foot in 2026 appeared first on Anglican Life.

Canada

The ecclesiastical province of BC/Yukon are ready to respond to wildfire emergencies with a $50,000 grant from Alongside Hope.

After the Jasper wildfire, the Diocese of Edmonton partnered with the Jasper Employment and Education Centre to offer critical support in employment, immigration and emergency assistance to more than 1,500 evacuees, including temporary foreign workers and their families.

440 people participated in 30 “Mapping the Ground We Stand On” workshops across the country. Through this hands-on exploration of the Doctrine of Discovery, participants deepened their understanding of what it means to live in right relations.

Cuba

5015 families received training to increase their resilience to disaster.

Mexico, Peru, Ecuador

342 indigenous midwives were supported to improve health service delivery and reduce maternal mortality.

Colombia

Grupo Comunicarte developed more than 400 radio programs with local youth, promoting environmental protection and sustainability, and reaching approximately 3,750,000 people.

Ukraine

More than 300 people living with disabilities developed critical social skills, especially challenging in times of war.

Gaza

18,205 patients have been treated at Gaza’s Al Ahii Hospital since the beginning of the current conflict.

Nepal

1990 flood-affected individuals received food relief in Kathmandu.

South Sudan

9,510 people received monthly food relief.

Uganda

6,730 adolescent girls and young women received training in entrepreneurship skills, resulting in increased knowledge and interest towards starting and managing businesses.

Two school campaigns provided sexual and reproductive health rights information and knowledge to 833 students. This resulted in better awareness of gender rights, menstrual hygiene, reduced absenteeism, and the formation of two new school health clubs.

Kenya

11 shallow wells were built this year, for a total of 99 since 2019, providing water to 25,000 people a day.

ECLOF serves more than 40,000 low-income entrepreneurs and farmers, primarily women. Last year, with support from Alongside Hope, 570 farmers were trained in sustainable dairy and agriculture practices, leading to an increase in yields and household income.

Zambia

593 adolescents attended weekly group meetings and learned about safe sexual behaviours, alcohol and drug abuse and children’s rights.

Zimbabwe

4,857 farmers revitalized and preserved local biodiversity.

The Philippines

747 people benefitted from the rehabilitation of two local drinking water systems damaged by typhoons.

Read more about the work of Alongside Hope at their website alongsidehope.org.

If you’d like you can donate today online at alongsidehope.org/give-today or by calling 1-866-308-7973.

As I wrote in an article a year or so ago, don’t forget the World of Gifts is about more than just Christmas!

God bless you all for your continued support of Alongside Hope!

The post Alongside Hope’s Global Impact appeared first on Anglican Life.

This year we heard of the amazingly generous donations to the Resilience Fund (over $500,000); the diverse events that made up the Wild Ride over the summer months; and the heartwarming response to the Solar Suitcase campaign, which reached its goal of $320,000, enough to bring light sources to 49 health clinics in rural Mozambique and Madagascar to enable safe labour and delivery of newborns. This is all thanks to donors like you and me.

This summer I took a leap and became an Alongside Hope monthly donor. The amount you give can be as little as $10 per month, or as much as your heart and your situation allows. I am so happy with my decision! In a busy life, it’s one less thing to worry about; and I can rest assured that my support for Alongside Hope doesn’t get lost in best-laid plans that fall by the wayside. I know that my “regular” support is taken care of, and I can still respond to special appeals or seasonal projects that speak to me. Best of all, Alongside Hope knows my donation, and that of other monthly donors, is coming and can budget accordingly. I encourage you to consider this giving model as well. You can set it up easily on the website or by telephone.

The final two days of our time together focused on the crucial work of Reconciliation. We were privileged to be joined by Archbishop Chris Harper, Indigenous Anglican Archbishop of Canada, as well as members of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) and other special guests. From the perspective of right relations, we considered where the Anglican Church has come from and where it is at, where the Indigenous Anglican Church has come from and where it is at, and where Alongside Hope has come from and where it is at. A lesson learned from the Mapping Exercise is that we must not force Indigenous people to always be the teacher; those of us descended from settler peoples have a responsibility to learn.

We were encouraged to nurture right relationships through sitting together and deeply listening, listening to understand. An important aspect of this deep listening is in the telling of our stories one to another. And isn’t that what the Eucharist is all about? Gathering the people, telling the story, and breaking bread to bring us into right relations with God and with one another.

As The Rev’d Esther Wesley, former Director of the Anglican Healing Fund, was about to begin creating the Mapping Exercise with Suzanne Rumsey, Alongside Hope’s Public Engagement Coordinator, she observed, “I need to get to know you better if we are to be partners. And you need to get to know me better if we are to be partners.” As we continue the work of Truth and Reconciliation within the broader Canadian society and within the church, may we not lose sight of the importance of learning, building kinship, and going forward in a spirit of humility and respect. This does not have to be daunting, but it does have to be done. And we can start small. Read a book by an Indigenous author in your book club in 2026. Attend a powwow if you can. Show up at one of the events sponsored by your local Indigenous Friendship Centre or association. Offer to pour the tea or clean up. Keep showing up and keep talking to people and listening to their stories. Then tell those stories to others and get them engaged. Jesus himself modelled this for us.

As we enter the season of Advent and celebrate Emmanuel, God-with-us, let us allow the Light of Christ to illuminate the path forward and transform us all for the sake of the Kin-dom. God bless us, every one!

The post Reflections From Alongside Hope’s 2025 Fall Gathering appeared first on Anglican Life.

After several years of uncertainty, a diagnosis of young-onset dementia came as a shock. “Since there was no family history, it was so unbelievable,” Gig said. “She was just one year older than me.” Regina’s first concern was how to tell her elderly parents and teenage children about her terminal illness.

Determined to understand the disease, Gig joined the Alzheimer Society’s First Link® Program, connecting with staff and other care partners, including Roseanne Leonard, whose journey resonated deeply. Shirley Lucas, CEO of the Alzheimer Society, explains that First Link’s® Learning Series is a 15-week program designed to help families navigate dementia. The education program includes information about understanding the dementia diagnosis, legal and financial planning, and accessing community care.

Regina quickly turned her diagnosis into advocacy and joined the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s. Additionally, in 2017, she formed her own team—Regina’s Roses—with a vision of unity and awareness. “I want my team to be big, I want us all to have the same colour t-shirt, and I want them to know there are young people with dementia,” she told her family. Her goal was to show that dementia affects people of all ages, and to inspire others to speak up.

Since then, Regina’s Roses has walked every year, with family and friends rallying under her banner. For Gig, continuing the team’s efforts is about transforming hardship into hope. “Jeannie would be proud that we didn’t give in and become angry,” she said.

Regina’s legacy is one of courage and compassion—encouraging others to seek support, breaking the stigma around dementia, and advocating for dementia-friendly workplaces and health care settings. “There’s still a lot of stigma associated with a dementia diagnosis,” Gig said. “We need to change that.”

Through her advocacy, Regina showed that even in the face of a devastating illness, it’s possible to move forward with purpose—and to inspire a community to do the same. Her story reminds us that dementia doesn’t discriminate by age, and that awareness, education, and compassion are powerful tools for change.

Now it’s our turn to carry that torch.

Whether you’re a care partner, a friend, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is here to help. Their free educational sessions, support programs, and community initiatives are designed to empower, inform, and connect.

Join the movement. Break the stigma. Be part of the solution.

As a Church newspaper with many older readers, I recognise the importance of education when it comes to the realities of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While this article is not directly related to the ministry of the Church, when I was asked if I would consider including it in this issue, I spoke with the Anglican Joint Committee officer, and we both agreed that it is valuable information for our community. Understanding dementia not only helps us support those who may be living with the disease, but also fosters compassion, awareness, and preparedness within our congregations and families.

– Emily F. Rowe
Editor, Anglican Life

The post A Sister’s Journey appeared first on Anglican Life.

Bishop John was elected Bishop in 2016, but has been painting for 25 years. “I started painting when my wife encouraged me to ‘stop talking about trying to paint, and try it!’” he says.

Most of his paintings are done in oils and acrylics, but Bishop John also uses water colour techniques of pulling colours from berries and grass, and even did a painting that incorporated mud from the River Jordan.

For Alongside Hope’s Christmas cards, Bishop John offered up several options, all widely liked by staff. The two selected images are titled It Happened in Bethlehem and Winter Light. Both images call to mind the everlasting light of Jesus.

“It Happened in Bethlehem is one of a series that has much to do with my relationship with people before and after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem,” he says. “On one hand this painting represents light and hope in the sky over Bethlehem. Bethlehem is of course in the background as there was no room in the inn. On the other side, it represents (in a very deep way for me these days) explosions of violence that push grace into shadow.”

Winter Light is a “mental composite painting,” says Bishop John. “In central Newfoundland there are several small farming communities. These are beautiful spots, some inland, some by the sea. What you see here are both places. I carry them in my heart.”

Bishop John’s subject matter ranges from Newfoundland seasides dotted with colourful dories, to local wildlife and still life. “I choose a wide variety of colours, and pay attention to value and tone. Colour then can come alive and speak through the eye then into the imagination and hopefully…the heart.

“I constantly explore new genres and types of painting and paint in as many styles as I can. My art comes from places and people that have affected and still affect me. Peaceful, frantic, light, dark, heartbreaking, inspiring and hopeful. Some [images are] painted with confidence, others with a tentative heart; just like life where each story, tear, laugh and encounter contains beauty, truth, challenge and possibility.”

You can view and purchase Bishop John’s paintings online at newfolkart.ca. He has participated in four public exhibits with each one selling out. Money raised from these sales has been primarily given to charity and outreach. Proceeds from the sales of Alongside Hope’s Christmas cards will support families and communities around the world in need.  Support the work, and spread the word!

To order your cards, visit the Alongside Hope’s website at: alongsidehope.org/Christmascards2025.

The post Bishop Watton’s Cards for Alongside Hope appeared first on Anglican Life.

Some people like math and numbers, and some don’t. Numbers, however, can tell a story of what an organization values and accomplishes. They can reveal the scope, effectiveness, and vision of a charitable organization like Alongside Hope (formerly called PWRDF).

Magnitude of Alongside Hope Ministry

Statistics of Alongside Hope’s work listed in its 2024-2025 annual report reveal the extent of the organization’s work. In that fiscal year, Alongside Hope

• worked with partners in 30 countries internationally and in Canada on 53 projects

• improved the lives of 288,292 direct participants through training and by providing access to resources such as clean water

Number of Direct Participants

Direct participants who benefited from Alongside Hope partnerships included:

• 342 Indigenous midwives in Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador were supported to improve health service delivery and reduce maternal mortality

• 593 adolescents in Zambia attended weekly group meetings focused on safe sexual behaviours, alcohol and drug abuse, and children’s rights

• 5,015 families in Cuba received training to increase their resilience to natural disasters

• 18,205 patients have been treated at Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital since the beginning of the current conflict

• The Ecclesiastical province of BC/Yukon received a $50,000 grant to respond to wildfire emergencies

Effectiveness of Programs

While the sheer number of participants is impressive, the 2024 report for Charity Intelligence Canada also cites the effectiveness of individual programs.

• programmes in Guatemala resulted in improved food security for 375 Tzeltal Indigenous families, with half of the families achieving self-sufficiency in producing grain, vegetables, and fruit

• the Goat Seed project in East Africa improved the retention rate of community health workers to 97%

Doubling Alongside Hope’s Fundraising Efforts

Alongside Hope has long had ways of doubling donations, often through an anonymous donor. Two recent examples are matching of donations up to $250,000 for the Resilience Fund (in light of substantive USAID cuts) until June 30, 2025, and matching of donations up to $150,000 for the recent Solar Suitcase project until October 31, 2025.

Doubling Your Tax credits: Two Tax Advantages for One Gift

Alongside Hope also welcomes legacy gifts and reminds donors of two tax advantages when they donate stocks or mutual funds: first, you don’t pay taxes on the capital gains, plus, you receive a charitable receipt. For further information, contact planned.giving@alongsidehope.org.

The Power of One

Big numbers in and of themselves don’t necessarily change the world for the better. Contributions by a single individual can also make a significant difference: e.g., the two paintings by Bishop John Watton of Central Newfoundland, for this year’s Alongside Hope Christmas cards. It Happened in Bethlehem represents light and hope, but also the violence that pushes grace into the shadows, while Winter Light recalls the beauty of farming in Central Newfoundland. And if the postal workers’ strike is over by the time you read this, there will still be time to send these cards to family and friends.

The post Do Numbers Matter? appeared first on Anglican Life.

This year’s meeting was held from September 19th -21st^, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, in Lake Melville. Friday was a travel day, as some had to drive over 500 kilometers to get there. We gathered in prayer Saturday morning to share and learn together from and among our parishes, through guest speakers and activities, and then to end the weekend officially with Sunday worship. In addition to our bishop and executive archdeacon, we were thrilled to welcome several guests this year. The Rev’d Kudzaishe Alois Manenji, a fellow priest in the parish of Forteau, a part of the diocese of Western NL, accepted the bishop’s invitation to join us in fellowship. He serves the parish there across the communities of Forteau, L’Anse au Clair, L’Anse au Loup, and Capstan Islands. Only 140 kilometres away from Lodge Bay and closer to Southeast Labrador than any parish within the archdeaconry, it was nice to meet our neighbour, “Father K,” and learn of his ministry and experience of Labrador.

Our other guests helped us to grow and learn more about the work of the Indigenous Church, and how we can support and encourage each other in our shared faith and ministry. The Most Reverend Christopher Harper, our National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, joined by his wife, Tracy, was a source of inspiration and had us weeping with laughter and tears as he shared the story of their life, his ministry, and the story of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, their faith, and identity within the Anglican Church of Canada. He told stories with humour and grace to endear and to challenge, to educate and question, to call us to prayer and to action in reconciliation. Tom Mugford, Canon for Indigenous Ministries and Advocacy, helped us reflect on our time with Archbishop Harper, and on our place within God’s creation exploring the history of Indigenous presence and Settler arrival in Canada through “Mapping the Ground We Stand On,” a workshop from Alongside Hope.

Saturday ended with a reflection on the Gospel using the Gospel-based discipleship pattern of prayer from the Indigenous Church. Our weekend ended officially with a call to action from our Archbishop in his Sunday sermon: a call to love and action in serving each other as part of God’s family, and celebrated through the ordination of Paul Saunders, who was made a Deacon. The hospitality of St. Andrew’s through the use of their space and hosting us for lunch and nutrition breaks on Saturday, and a parish lunch following worship on Sunday, was a gift to us all. Being a part of their joy in celebrating their new Rev’d Paul was a blessing.

While our clergy and delegates made their way home that afternoon, Bishop Sam, Archbishop Harper, Tracy, and I prepared to travel to Rigolet. Rigolet holds a unique significance within the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador: though there are many Indigenous people in our diocese, it is the only Indigenous parish here, and is situated within the settlement area of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and a member of the Anglican Council of Indigenous People. We flew into Rigolet on Monday morning where we toured the community, making a special visit to the local K-12 school, Northern Lights Academy, and spending the afternoon there, joining the combined Kindergarten to Grade 4’s in their Inuktitut class, and then the grade 7’s in their religion class. It was a delight to be with such friendly and inquisitive young people and watch them learning about their culture and history. The evening was spent with the community as we shared a pot-luck meal and worship, the service of Holy Eucharist being especially blessed through Archbishop Harper’s preaching and a holy time of prayer, including the laying on of hands in prayer by both bishops. It was a gift for all those in attendance to then invite our bishops and Tracy to allow us to circle them, and pray for them in their ministries.

Tuesday in Rigolet included some home visiting, a tour of the local women’s shelter, Kirkina House—of which St. Timothy’s is a partner in its operation under “The Rigolet Partnership Against Family Violence”—and a stop at the Strathcona Museum and Net Loft historic site where artifacts, records, and displays are kept. The craft shop was a popular stop along the way to see the handiwork of local craft producers. Helping at the school through the local school lunch programme was a hands-on activity that day, as hairnets and gloves were donned and we assisted in preparing honey-garlic ribs and vegetable rice in take-out containers to be distributed to all children—a twice-a-week programme ensuring all children have access to a hot, nutritious lunch.

A 30-minute flight on a Provincial Airlines Twin Otter took us back to Happy Valley-Goose Bay that evening, and early flights for the bishops and Tracy took them all home on Wednesday. Archbishop Harper’s first trip to the Archdeaconry of Labrador was jam-packed, and it did indeed include bakeapple and partridgeberry jam. Whether it was the jam or the people, or maybe both, he’s looking forward to his next visit with us…and so are we.

The post Big Weekend in The Big Land appeared first on Anglican Life.

This has been a very challenging summer all across our beautiful country, and especially here in our own province off Newfoundland and Labrador. It was so devastating to hear how many people were forced to leave their homes, not knowing if they would have a home to return to.

In 2023, in response to unprecedented wildfires from coast to coast, Alongside Hope established a separate fund for in-Canada emergency response. This was to enable them to respond quickly when a diocese asks for support, rather than waiting to raise funds for individual disasters.

How does Alongside Hope decide where and when to respond (since we know that they cannot respond to all domestic emergencies)? A decision as to whether or not to respond will depend on several factors: the severity and impact of the emergency; the presence of other agencies responding including the government; the extent to which additional support is needed; the time and abilities of the diocese to engage; and Alongside Hope’s available resources. Efforts will be made to ensure duplication is avoided, effectiveness is increased, and that all of us work together to be the best stewards of the resources that are entrusted to us.

What is an emergency? Emergency is the term Alongside Hope and other agencies give to situations during or following a disaster when the lives and livelihoods of many people are threatened. Most emergencies in Canada occur through natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or fires. The objectives of Alongside Hope’s In-Canada Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidelines are as follows:

• To provide a framework to help Anglican dioceses in Canada be prepared to effectively respond to emergencies in their dioceses

• To support dioceses and parishes to better leverage other national, regional and local resources to enhance their preparedness and response should there be an emergency

• To clarify how funds raised by Alongside Hope can be accessed and reported back to Alongside Hope

Suggested services that dioceses may offer for relief and recovery response

• Distribute relief items such as food, water, hygiene kits, gas, clothing, etc.

• Provide a place of refuge from extreme cold, heat waves and storms

• Act as a temporary relief shelter

• Provide a gathering place and emergency services such as washrooms, charging stations, etc.

• Lead prayers, offer emotional support

• Prepare a list of professionals to provide counselling for post emergency/disaster victims

• Invite these professionals to speak in parishes and gatherings organized by parishes

• Organize post-traumatic workshops/sessions for families and communities

Expenditures and activities that may be included in a relief or recovery response budget

• Diocesan/parish staff and/ or volunteer honorariums related to relief and recovery response

• Transportation, vehicle rental, logistics, etc., pertaining to the project/ response

• Gift cards for use by displaced individuals/ families for the purpose of purchasing food, water, emergency supplies, needed materials destroyed by the emergency or displacement due to a particular emergency/disaster

• Emergency accommodation

• Building materials

• Goods or services directly provided by the diocese/ parishes, or jointly with other agencies or outsourced to local specialized agencies

• Counselling and post trauma supports

• Locally identified long-term recovery activities that may help rebuild community assets and increase community resilience

For more information, read our Alongside Hope In-Canada Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidelines or our In-Canada Emergency Response booklet (as single pages or spreads).

The post Alongside Hope: Ready to Respond appeared first on Anglican Life.