Community Connection October 2010 Newspaper North Central Visionary Edition
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Community FREE Community Connection October 2010 Newspaper North Central Visionary Edition Contaminated land that once housed a service station could support life. Contain Used and abandoned shipping containers could Yourself ! be transformed into serviceable housing. Lost souls living in cars or crates could find a new home and renewed hope in a North Central Regina visionary village. The concept of container housing has been successful in other centres – Great Britain, France, Germany, Thailand and across the U.S. Serving Due to a growing trade deficit in the as take-out delis, student U.S. shipping containers have been housing or luxurious, energy- piling up in seaports for years, creating efficient multi-floor homes. a rusting eyesore for the communities Shipping containers offer a around these freight terminals. It’s not sturdy compact shelter that can cost-effective to ship them back empty be ‘shipped’ off the property or to exporting countries. One hundred made to be permanent. thousand of them sit empty, unused in A project in Germany using shipping containers the United States. for temporary homeless youth housing. The steel containers are approximately 400 square feet of space that can be fashioned To illustrate the difference it could make to with dividers for sleeping and human beings, Ray asks you to think about New construction isn’t permitted on contaminated washroom areas. They are the first thing that you see when you open land, as the excavation would disturb latent chemicals ventilated with a door and your eyes in the morning. This becomes underground, so the containers are placed on pylons. windows and have a ceiling your interpretation of the world. If you see a fan in the bathroom. There is a tidy room, filled with creature comforts, even The standard measurement for a steel shipping container common pipe for water access beauty, the world is hopeful. At the very least, is 40 feet long x 8 ft wide, 8.6 ft tall. and all heating is electric. To you see a roof over your head, a private space ensure coziness, blue spray to think your thoughts, to make plans for your It has been nicknamed the ‘strongest box in the world’, insulation with the proper day. In the evening, it’s a sanctuary with a warm made to withstand the open seas for shipping goods R-factor for our prairie winters blanket, a soft surface. around the world. would be used before cladding the exterior. The containers Pie in the sky? You have to dream before Innovations in modular furniture and space-saving folding would be ‘staged’ in a central something happens. It’s been tried in Vancouver furniture can make the most out of small spaces. location and delivered to a site. to overwhelming response, not the least of which is its considerable cost-effectiveness. What about in Regina? There are inquiries to Ray Van Dusen is a concerned make, engineers to consult. There’s a need to citizen in Regina. Retired from establish how the pylons will sit on Regina soil. the Regina Police Services, Building codes, fire regulations and standards he’s seen his share of sorrow need to be met. Not to mention zoning and in North Central. “North Central availability of vacant lots. Can you see it? has a future, we just have to create it. Take away the labels and we’re a community INSIDE of people with basic human P2 Community Voices needs and human rights.” P3 NC Gardens Update “Community could take owner- Welfare Rights Housing Registry ship. We could be put in charge of rentals, renovations and P4 Dear Auntie turn the money back into the School Report Card community. There is no reason P5 Regina Realtors & NC Youth why these container homes 100 recycled container student housing. French Newo Yotina Friendship Centre couldn’t be built, managed and architecture firm olgga architects has designed a student used by inner city residents. P6 North Central Shared Facility housing complex called ‘crou’ constructed from 100 There is much untapped talent recycled shipping containers. located in le Havre, France P7 Scott Collegiate in North Central.” the individual shipping containers are stacked on top of one another, each signifying a different student’s room. P8 North Central Portraits The project would create jobs, NC History Project including a management team www.zerocabin.com employing people to do laundry, P10 Letters to the Editor www.conexconnection.com housekeeping, etc. A lifeskills Community Calendar http://video.bobvila.com/m/21320565/converting-steel- class component would be shipping-containers-to-housing.htm included. P12 Go Green Murals 2 NCCA Community Connection Community Voices October 2010 fter a gap of 32 years, a North Central football team was resurrected in 2005. That was the year that Brandon Brooks moved to Regina from Denham Springs,A Louisiana. While waiting for his paperwork to clear in order to start working here, he looked around to see what needed doing. “All I was able to do was volunteer,” he said. “so I wanted it to be what I loved best.” As a former college player, Brandon approached the Regina Minor Football 1475 Athol Street League to offer his services as a coach for a team in the inner city, “…Because I 543-0011 believe that’s where the talent is at!” The team was originally called the Peewee Blues. In the first year the North Central Lakers started the season with 60 players and ended with 20. This fall, 40 came out and they now sit at 28, so the numbers of focused youth are improving. Brandon tells the youth “if you’re not committed, you won’t succeed.” That original group of 20 remained committed for their full span of eligibility (ages 13 to 15). Their willingness to continue as team players has seen them move ahead into other sports or excel at football. The starting quarterback at Martin Collegiate is a former “ t the heart of this – we want to have a positive impact NC Laker, Timothy Stonechild. Aon youth who come here. We want them to feel safe.” Myles Ledesma now plays says Albert Rapley. This summer Souls Harbour Rescue football for Athol Murray Mission opened Zeike’s Place Youth Centre. Albert Rapley, College of Notre Dame. the centre’s Manager, has faith that this vision of a haven will draw young people in. The game builds character. It gives individual young men At Zeike’s Place you’ll want to hear the story behind the the clarity to see what they name. Before the centre opened in August, Souls Harbour can achieve with teamwork held a contest to find a name for the new facility. Zeike is and establishes ownership. short for Ezekiel – the prophet who raised dry bones back Coach Brooks demands to life. Add to that a subtle connection with “Pile o’ Bones” total commitment from rebirth as Regina. And then there’s the centre’s home. St. serious players. He begins Andrew’s United Church on Dewdney and Athol – was by visiting schools in North once a vibrant house of worship. It was forsaken, due to Central speaking to fellows an aging member demographic. With a vision of renewal, in the 13 to 15 year range. Souls Harbour has breathed new life into this gathering “If I can recruit 3 youth from place. It has raised the dry bones of a building and hopes each school, I consider that a Elias Deserly, Coach Brandon Brooks and Myles Ledesma to re-energize our community’s youth as well. success.” photo by Christy Penner, October, 2009 Some youth live in circumstances or homes that make it “Last year we tried something dangerous to hope. They need a focus to revitalize their new,” Coach explains. “We took in youth from the South end of the city. There was dreams. And there are those adults who see more than reluctance at first, but they came together for the love of the game.A team uniform meets the eye in these young folks. They wish to touch is the great equalizer – when you see the helmets you see a team. That support the lives of youth in a positive way, to show how healthy rose up to include family members and we had a winning year! Since many of relationships are started and nurtured. “They are here them have reached their upper age limit for the division, we had to start over this to help draw out the good in young people,” says Albert year.” Rapley. “And we need more of them.” This year’s team is very young, but Brandon sees massive potential. “They’re also Rapley is looking for passionate individuals who want the funniest bunch of kids I’ve ever coached!” he laughs. That’s a good sign. They to work with the programs in place and the inspired folk need a sense of humour to learn to face adversity and challenges. In his job as who wish to start new programs. Community events are a jail guard at the Regina Correctional Centre, Brandon Brooks sees the result planned to recruit role models – all ages, men and women. of men who could not take responsibility for their lives. “Youth need discipline. If They are needed to mentor the youth in a ‘no-gang’ you’ve made a mistake - own it, fix it, and you’ll mature.” zone. Volunteers are trained in what to look for; youth are informed of what to abide by. Having run programs at the Now the Lakers are in mid-season with 3 win – 2 loss record. They’re fighting for Core-Ritchie Centre and the Dojack Centre, Pastor Rapley their playoff lives.