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Sex offender post-incarceration program imperilled

  |  communications

Friday, October 07, 2022

By Eileen Henderson and Cliff Yumansky

The Lawyer’s Daily

CoSA (circles of support and accountability) is a pan-Canadian, community-based organization whose mission is to substantially reduce the risk of future sexual victimization of community members. CoSA assists persons released from prison after being convicted of a sexual offence who want support in reintegrating with the community and leading responsible, productive and accountable lives.

Read the full article here: https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/criminal/articles/40258

Communitas needs your valued support!

  |  communications
Communitas logoAnyone who attended our Annual General Meeting last May will have heard the news that our funding for the past 5 years from the Ministry of Public Safety has come to an end.

At the same time our historical financial support from Aumonerie Communitaire de Montreal (ACM) has
also been cut as the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) decided to stop funding Community
Chaplaincy.

As these were our only recurrent sources of funding, it has left us in the position of depending on
donations from our membership and the general public.

The Communitas Board of Directors is of course actively seeking other possible means of stable financial
support, however we would like to encourage any and all support from our members at this time of
uncertainty.

In addition to our annual funding drive in December, we receive sporadic donations from individuals
who come across our work and decide to support it, or who hear about us from friends and/or family
and like what we are doing.

I would like to propose that anyone who wishes to increase their financial support to Communitas do so
by becoming a monthly supporter via our Canada Helps account.
https://communitasmontreal.org/donate/

It could be signing up to donate as little as $5 per month. The fact that it is monthly would allow us to
know in advance how much we can count on. Already we have five (5) donors who have independently
decided to contribute in this way, and it is a big help.

In case you are wondering what practical things your funding would support, we have restarted our
Open Door and Table Talk programs in–person, and so are again spending to purchase food and drinks
after a hiatus due to Covid lock downs. We also have our recurrent costs for rent and
telecommunications – although both of these have been considerably reduced with our move last year
to new offices in the Undercroft of Christ Church Cathedral.

Last but by no means least are the cost of our 2 part–time staff members without whom we would not
be able to accomplish as much.

Our deep gratitude to all the many persons who are already giving generously of their time and their
money to support our work, and be assured that we have already made it through 22 years and will
make it through this hardship as well with your help.

Michele,
President, Communitas

Table Talk is back on the Communitas menu of activities

  |  communications

Communitas is very pleased to announce that after 2 1/2 years, Table Talk returned Friday, June 17 – albeit at a new site in our offices at the Undercroft.

A small gathering of some ten persons enjoyed a lunch of pizza, salad, cinnamon rolls and doughnuts, with tea, coffee and juices, and lots and lots of conversation.

We welcomed first-timers to Table Talk together with people not seen in the years since COVID shut the Friday lunchtime activity down, and oldtimers seen every week at Open Door.

The new space worked well – with a more spacious kitchen in which to work, and we look forward greatly to welcoming others in the weeks to come.

Table Talk won’t be held during the long weekends of St. Jean Baptiste and Canada Day, but will be back the following Friday, July 8, from 12 noon to 1.30 pm. Send an email to [email protected] if you plan to attend.

All are welcome!

Open Door – From the Inside Out – A book celebrating 20 years

  |  communications

Communitas celebrated  20 years of Open Door with the publication of a book entitled Open Door: From the Inside Out, which contains more than 100 interviews with a variety of people who have attended Open Door over the 20 years, as well as other articles and photographs that illustrate this unique activity.

The book is available for purchase for $20 (softcover version) or $35 (hardcover version). Send an email requesting the book to [email protected]. Payment may be made using our online donation page: https://communitasmontreal.org/donate/.

Remembering Douglas Barnes

  |  communications
Communitas members, friends, co-workers and family members gathered on the slopes of Mount Royal Sunday, March 20, 2022, to celebrate the life of Douglas Barnes. He was 62.
Dougie, as he was popularly known, passed away peacefully on January 9th, 2022. A circle, led by Indigenous Elder Tom Dearhouse, heard of how this quiet man touched the hearts of those who gathered. They included his sister, cousin and brother-in-law.
Doug was known for his striking artwork, especially of a bear and an eagle that draws from his traditional beliefs.
He will be truly missed.
The Eagle by Douglas Barnes

Communitas’ Open Door is back to in-person meetings

  |  communications
After a two-year absence, Open Door was back to in-person meetings at Fulford Hall. Fifteen members gathered on March 22nd while another fifteen dropped by virtually on Zoom to hear McGill University Pathy Fellow Joel Grant discuss his work of collaborating with the Indigenous Health Professions Program at McGill to create indigenous storytelling science activities. Grant, a Metis from Alberta, had just completed his Masters of Chemical Engineering at McGill. He has a passion for creating AI art that draws on his heritage as an influence.
 
Open Door meets every Tuesday evening.

Take part in an independent fundraiser for Communitas on February 24, 2022

  |  communications

It’s the virtual watch party on the Food Chain that will be shown on February 24 at 7 PM EST, $5.00 a person, and proceeds go to Communitas. Thanks to Kelly from Completely Inclusive.

Food Chains – Fundraiser Virtual Watch Party

Hosted by Completely Inclusive, this documentary viewing fundraiser aims to educate and entertain. Held monthly and in support of local nonprofits, we explore topics of race, class, sex, and more intersectional topics. Click here to sign up: https://kinema.com/events/food-chains-fundraiser-virtual-watch-party-ihcstm

About the film

This call to arms documentary details the questionable ethics of the food supply industry, pointing out the power of huge supermarket chains to dictate low wages and inhumane labour conditions for farmworkers in the United States.  See the trailer: https://youtu.be/bna0zC4szVs