IN THIS ISSUE
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Free Winter Fun
Ideas
Words of
Courage
and
Wisdom
Winter
Word Search
The “Art”of
Empowerment
Upcoming
Events and
Workshops
November 22 - January 7:
Outdoor Festival of Lights
Science North. Tour the grounds
every Monday to Friday from 5 to
11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday
from 5 p.m. to 1a.m. On December 25th, 26th, and 31st, the lights
will be lit between the hours of
5p.m. and 3 a.m.
cook-off, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, snow playground, skiing,
bonfire, and torchlight parade.
December 1, January 15, February 2, and March 2: Rainbow
Routes Hike Club. For more information call 705-674-4455 ext.
2474.
Special Holiday Public Swimming Schedules: City of Greater
Sudbury pools offer special public
swim sessions during the holidays.
Contact your community pool for
details.
Ramsey Lake Skating Path. This
seasonal Skating Path extends
from the Sudbury Rowing and
Canoe Club to Science North.
Heated change facilities are located at both ends of the Skating
Path. For more information, please
contact the City of Greater Sudbury at 311 ext. 2437.
February 15-16: Sudbury Winterfest. Head down to Moonlight
Beach for skating, fireworks, chilli
You aren’t a product of
your childhood – you are
a product of your future.
You can always make
choices and change your
future. It takes time so
don’t ever stop trying to
develop yourself. Letting
your past control your
future is not good. You
can make change when
you’re ready to understand. You need to learn
to love yourself before
you can break any negative cycles. After 20
years, I know this. I am
outside of that tornado
now so it’s easier for me
to see. When you are
inside the vortex, you
Tim Horton’s Free Public Skating. Celebrate the Christmas holiday season with free public skating at your local arena. Visit a Tim
Horton’s location for a schedule
of dates and times.
Public Skating during March
Break: City of Greater Sudbury
Arenas offer special public skating sessions during March Break.
Contact your community arena for
schedules.
Tobogganing: There are various
hills in the Sudbury area. Adanac
Ski Hill and Capreol Ski Hill both
have groomed toboggan runs.
I AM
I am a soul of the universe, who
stands strong and proud;
I wonder where the world will take
me;
I hear if you believe in yourself,
amazing things will happen;
I see birds, trees, clouds and
bees;
I want the world to hear my voice;
I am a mother and a cat owner;
I pretend things are ok when
they’re not sometimes;
I feel overwhelmed and sad sometimes;
I touch groceries and money at
work;
I worry about my children, friends
and myself;
I cry rarely, cause it solves nothing;
I am a soul of the universe, who
stands strong and proud;
I understand life throws curveballs;
I say hi to all the customers at
work;
I dream of the world hearing my
voice;
I try to smile everyday;
I hope life treats people kind;
I am a soul of the universe, who
stands strong and proud.
- Amanda
think it’s normal. You
have everything you need
within –just allow yourself to take the journey
and don’t give up.
Knowledge and learning
is power, these are your
tools to change. Counseling helps but the social
aspect of coming to EMPOWER groups is like
being a part of a family.
If you stop coming to
group you can always
start again when you are
ready. It has been a
place of hope, an oasis.
- Florrie
Artist: Courtney
The EMPOWER Newsletter contributions are created for
and by women at risk. Their words are honest, direct, and
hard-hitting; they are their life experiences.
This Program has been funded by the Status of Women Canada
WORDS OF COURAGE & WISDOM
“ Start by
doing what is
necessary;
then do what’s
possible;
and suddenly
strand of grass alone
is easily destroyed,
broken, or torn. You
can pull on this braid
will all of your might
The Elizabeth Fry
and it will not break
Society has asked for apart. There are many
a story. The only one I strands of sweetgrass
could think of was the braided into
‘sweet grass’ teachbecoming one.
ings. The teachings
While we are here at
are too many.
the District Jail we
I will concentrate on
can try to be strong
its use. To cleans our alone. Try! If we all
mind, body, and spirit stand together we are
through prayers. The
united and become
braid is lit and the
healthier. We are less
smoke will send our
likely to become
prayers to the creator. broken.
The greatest teaching
of the sweetgrass
braid is that one
- Bernadette
Forever Friends
(Dedicated to my Friend)
I love you so much, you’re
always there for me.
I’m so glad I met you, I can now
finally see;
How to turn a negative in a
positive with a smile on my
face;
Always laughing together, even
though we hate this place;
Encouraging one another, to do
the best that we can;
Hoping you always remember
that I’m your biggest fan;
I’ll be there for you forever, this
I promise you;
A shoulder to lean on always
and to cry on too;
I just want you to know, friend,
that I’m here till the end.
Thank you for being you, you’ll
always be my best friend.
- Natalie
you are
doing the
impossible.”
- St. Francis of
Assisi
Snowflakes
Ice Skating
Winter
Gingerbread
Coat
Evergreen
Reindeer
Fireplace
Cold
Jingle
Sparkling
Silvery
Hibernate
February
Wintertime
Stockings
December
January
Blanket
Toboggan
Icicles
Cardinal
Sweater
Sledding
Skiing
Additional
Programs and
Services Available
at the
Elizabeth Fry
Society
*Bail Verification
and Supervision
*On-going Support
*Court Support
*Jail Visitation and
Programming
*Release Planning
In our “Handling Stress”workshop we
practiced mindfulness by creating and
meditating with our own paintings. Meditating is a way of experiencing our inner
and outer worlds while staying grounded
in the present moment. By focusing of our
thoughts, mindfulness
practices can
help us become more aware of our feelings and how we react to specific situations. With this self-awareness comes the
opportunity to make healthier choices.
For our paintings we chose colours that
appealed to us for different reasons.
These are some of the results! Claire
chose red because it’s the colour of her
birthstone, black because it’s her favourite colour, and purple because it was a
colour she liked when she was younger.
*Community
Reintegration
*Housing Support
*Outreach
*Volunteer
Opportunities
*Student Placements
*Public Education
Artists: (top, l - r) Kayla, Melissa (bottom) Claire
Words to my Mother
Don’t judge my choice between these friendly boys, I am not a child and no I don’t run wild.
My threat was to pack up and leave. To enter the world and succeed, So mom, please let me
be. I said I would move on, I have made my choice and now I’m gone.
Mommy I trust you, do you trust me? I love you for you, love me for me. These lines I write I wish
you could read. Because, dear Mom, I am continuously in a state of need.
You spoke words of wisdom, always pure and true. My last words I hope will continue as I do.
I wish I would have stayed; ‘Cause my consequences now are never left unpaid.
My only wish is to say Mommy I love you everyday. I want you to know that you are my mommy, and I will always love you. Just remember Mommy even though I am all grown up and
gone, I am still forever and always your little girl, no matter what.
And you are my Mommy and I will always love and cherish you. You truly are an angel, my
guardian for life. “I love you.”
Love your only daughter,
Courtney Sallows
XO
Dedicated to Kim Johnson, my mother
The Following
Volunteer
Opportunities are
Available
*Board of Directors
*Court Support
*Jail Visitation
*Arts & Crafts Jail
Program
*Reception
*Maintenance
*Fundraising
The
E.M.P.O.W.E.R.
Program
aims to build the
capacity of
marginalized
women, youth and
aboriginal women
and youth in
Northern Ontario,
who have
experienced
violence and
either are, have
been or are at risk
of criminalization,
to respond and
make informed
choices to
enhance their
self-efficacy and
economic
prosperity.
The program
promotes growth
and leadership,
aims to reduce
re-offending,
contribute
towards reducing
the rates of
violence against
criminalized
women and
youth and, offer a
sense of empowerment previously
sought
unsuccessfully
through former
lifestyles.
E.M.P.O.W.E.R.
ADULT (women 18+)
E.M.P.O.W.E.R.
YOUTH (youth 12
12--17)
Drug and Alcohol Awareness
How to Live Independently
November 29, 2012— January 3, 2013
January 2, 2013—January 23, 2013
Peer Leader Program
Girls That Love Too Much
January 2, 2013— March 20, 2013
January 30, 2013— February 20, 2013
Anger Management
and Communication
I am Beautiful, I am Me
February 27, 2013— March 20, 2013
January 10, 2013— February 7, 2013
Colour it Up! and Food Skills
January 10, 2013— February 14, 2013
Building a Positive Self-Image
February 14, 2013— March 14, 2013
LOOKING FOR A SAFE SPACE TO
PARTICIPATE IN POSITIVE ACTIVITIES?
Want to help develop a peer support group?
Come and check out our basement drop-in
space! Ask the EMPOWER Program about
upcoming activities.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT ELIZABETH FRY:
26th Annual Poinsettia & Festive Plant
Fundraiser and Open House!
Wednesday, December 12 and Thursday, December 13, 2012
from 11:00am— 5:00pm. Our beautiful plants make excellent
gifts while also helping to support programs and services for
women and families in our community.
Become a Mental Health First Aider!
Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to
a person developing a mental health problem
or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as
physical first aid is administered to an injured
person before medical treatment can be
obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate
treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.
Join over 38,500 mental health first aiders across Canada!
Dates: March 27 and 28th, 2013 Please call us for more information or to register.
Would you be willing to share your experiences and
wisdom with other women? We are always looking for
stories, poems, artwork, photographs, or anything else you
want to share in upcoming publications like this one!
Interested? Contact the E.M.P.O.W.E.R. Program.