Issue 128 March 2017 Subscription: a donation towards our work • Mayors’ Dinner April 8th 2017 Guest of Honour: Neil Aitchison • Hacienda Sarria Market Garden CSA sign up and volunteer opportunities • Projects Take Shape at 256 King E. • In Memoriam: Andrew Telegdi • A Blessing for the Streets • Belonging and L’Arche Mayors’ Dinner Neil Aitchison: A Natural Builder of Community By Dave Thomas If you have ever attended the an- Public speaker, advertising nual Mayors’ Dinner, you know who sales rep, actor, comedian, Neil Aitchison is. The long-time host radio host, marketing ex- has emceed 24 of the past 29 May- ecutive, community booster, ors’ Dinners, with his big smile and husband, father, grandfather affable charm and is one of the major and all-around funny guy are highlights of the yearly event. But it among the many roles Neil will be different this year at the 30th has taken on. He has been an Annual Mayors’ Dinner. Neil will be Working Together the Guest of Honour, celebrated for active Rotarian for more than his many years of community contri- 35 years with the Kitchener By Joe Mancini pying the main floor and basement butions. Westmount club. He received This spring at The Working space. This building integrates the Public speaker, advertising sales Queen’s Jubilee Medals in Centre we are working with an ever 8 units of supportive housing on the rep, actor, comedian, radio host, 2002 and 2012 to recognize changing but integrated stream of second floor with a coffee bar that marketing executive, community his community work at home projects that are organized in the will be named Fresh Ground, with booster, husband, father, grandfather and abroad, and last year was midst of highly complicated social new workshop space that will host and all-around funny guy are among named KW Citizen of the circumstances. Here are some ex- myriad of events, with the Common the many roles Neil has taken on. Year. As his Mountie alter-ego amples of our open model that allows Studio and Digital Media Lab space, He has been an active Rotarian for character Archibald F. Inskter for workers, volunteers and partici- with the coved sound and video stu- more than 35 years with the Kitch- at Drayton Entertainment, ener Westmount club. He received pants to design together the best way dio in the basement, the co-working he’s entertained audiences for of accomplishing the tasks at hand. space and the new Bike Pit space for Queen’s Jubilee Medals in 2002 and years. The Arabic Employment Project refurbishing old bikes. 2012 to recognize his community is focused on helping new Canadi- Community Dental is completing work at home and abroad, and last ans enter the labour market but first its pilot phase and now has a full- year was named KW Citizen of the fore starting classes, though, Neil there is a great deal of cultural and time Dental Assistant. Our main fo- Year. As his Mountie alter-ego char- and friends went on a cross-conti- language training and experience cus has been to support the homeless acter Archibald F. Inskter at Drayton nent trip, ending at the Expo ‘67 fair. that is needed. People are learnign population. During the first phase Entertainment, he’s entertained au- This trip helped cement Neil’s life- workplace expectations through we have learned about the intensive diences for years. long interest in travel. working in our community tool proj- tools of a dentistry project while also The third of five children in his During his time at Conestoga, ects and through workshops. working closely with a group who family (and “the only redhead”), Neil’s ability to win people over with Job Café is developing new infra- have trouble accessing dental care. Neil was born in 1947 in Harriston, his genial nature resulted in him be- structure so that we have the ability The bunkies have also been used Ont. He had a happy childhood, and ing elected class president, not once to help people access more day la- this winter and that too has gener- he learned the virtues of hard work but twice. He even had to miss the bour opportunities. ated more learning. The context of early on, helping out at his uncle’s campaign second time around, be- It is now the last week of February increased access to drugs such as farm from the age of 10, and working cause he was on assignment at a ra- and the Resource Centre on Queen crystal meth and fentanyl has had at Canada Packers at 16, making ice dio station out of town. He based his Street is overflowing with people job significant impact on our work at St. cream, cheese and powdered milk. campaign on the slogan “I promise searching. Next week starts the free John’s Kitchen, Community Dental, High school wasn’t his strong nothing” and garnered 87 per cent income tax service where we expect the medical clinic, the Outreach point (he says he failed four times), of the vote. The Conestoga Students to assist over 3000 people with their work, and our supportive housing but his principal saw a lot of poten- Association arranged four annual income tax returns over 2 months. especially for those who have been tial in him, steering him to the new scholarships in Neil’s name. 256 King East is now completing homeless. The work and learning broadcasting program starting up at the renovation phase and is occu- continues. the nascent Conestoga College. Be- continued on page 3 March 2017 Good Work News Page 2 Thirty-Third Year Issue 128 March 2017 Good Work News Good Work News was first produced in September 1984. It is published four times a year by The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen as a forum of opinions and ideas on work and unemploy- ment. There is a circulation of 11,000 copies. Subscription: a donation towards our work. Editors: Joe Mancini, Stephanie Mancini, Jennifer Mains. Contributors: Kyle Murphy, Dave Thomas, Nathan Stretch, Ken Westhues, Fr. Murray McDermott C.R., John English, Jonathon English, Adam Kramer, Rachael Chong, Radha Smith, Daniel Zuccala, Carl Hiebert, Deb Cripps. Access to general labourers familiar with workplace safety Editorial comments, changes of address and new subscriptions should be directed to: Resumes and Profiles - quickly scan for potential employees The Working Centre 58 Queen Street South Kitchener, ON N2G 1V6 Interviews in Arabic/English with the help of a Transition Assistant Phone: (519) 743-1151, Fax: (519) 743-3840 e-mail: [email protected] Up to 2 days on -the-job orientation for new employees in Arabic/English www.theworkingcentre.org Canada Post Bulk #05306256 A phone number you can call when communication is challenging Charitable Registration #13092 9607 RR0001 Ongoing job maintenance/coaching as required On-request problem solving assistance in Arabic/English Dave Berry Doug Jaworski Vrbanovic Craig The Mayors of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge invite you to celebrate... 30th Annual Mayors’ Dinner Interfaith Community Breakfast Wednesday April 26th 2017 7AM in honour of Guest Speaker: Dr. Peter Kuhnert Neil Aitchison Mental Health: Supporting Wellness Saturday April 8th, 2017 in Community Embassy Room at Bingemans Marshall Hall, Bingemans, Kitchener For tickets email [email protected] Cocktails and Auction Preview: 5:30 pm Dinner: 6:45 pm Gifts of Time & Resources St. John’s Kitchen operates largely, on gifts of time and resources. The Kitchen is a thriving community of hundreds of people who gather in a spirit The Mayors’ Dinner is an evening that celebrates outstanding of cooperation and mutual support to produce and share a daily meal, to contributions to our community, and serves as an important connect with a range of community resources, and to explore together the fundraising event for The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen. complexities of daily life. The Kitchen is also a place where people To purchase tickets and for more details are able to connect with Outreach workers who provide support accessing health, call (519) 743-1511x119 income and housing resources. or [email protected] If you are interested in supporting the Kitchen consider volunteering. In You can purchase tickets online at addition to financial contributions please see the list below of items we often need or contact us to learn more. www.theworkingcentre.org/dinner 519-745-8928 or [email protected] Individual Ticket: $100 (includes one tax receipt for $55) • Tea towels, bath towels, • Plastic shopping bags • Mugs • Plastic containers with lids Contributor Sponsorship Package: $250 (includes 2 tickets, recognition in dinner program, and one • Toiletries - razors, • Food items - rice, sugar, jam, tax receipt for $160) toothbrushes, toothpaste, tea, coconut milk, coffee soap, lotion, pads, shampoo, Community Group Package: $750 (includes 8 whitener, vegetable oil, salt, tickets and one tax receipt for $390) • Socks, Shoe laces pepper, spices Page Good Work News March 2017 coach all the officers in the service naire. He served as director of mar- Neil Aitchison: to use humour in their work when keting and development for six years, possible. From that gig evolved his during a period of major growth from most popular presentation topic: one theatre to seven. He is still ac- Builder of Community The Power Of Laughter. Neil con- tively involved too, currently serving veys how essential laughter is for as Board President. Building on his surviving in a stressful world. love of travel, he’s led many fund- continued from page 1 570 AM raising tours for the organization. Mayors’ Dinner This year’s itinerary includes a trip He returned to radio in 1997, CKKW/CFCA/CKCO to New York City in the spring and As the first Conestoga Gradu- hosting the afternoon drive time as his “first wife”) recently celebrat- a cruise from Vancouver to Mexico ate (in alphabetical order) in 1970, show on 570 AM for almost three ed their 45th anniversary, and have in the fall.