Wood's Homes Blog

In the realm of human services, we have the simultaneous challenge and benefit of working in a field in its relative infancy.  We can look back at our foundations and see (perhaps more than most other sciences) just how far we have come in the last century. Furthermore, the subject of our science and work is constantly changing — western civilization and the people who live in it are very different from how they were even a couple of decades ago.  

Last month, I talked about the importance of instilling a sense of home in our children that they can carry with them throughout their lives.  This month, I’ve been thinking about some of the ways in which separation can be a rite of passage for children (and their parents) resulting in positive feelings of independence and self-esteem, while still invoking a sense of connection. 

Ever wonder what the true definition of a great partnership is? At Wood’s Homes, we think we know the answer – a mix of commitment, support, hard work and great chemistry. These are the ingredients we share with our friends at Vermilion Energy, whose staff demonstrated their passion for our work once again at a recent Day of Caring!

I am writing today to express my deepest gratitude to all those who work so diligently to make Wood’s Homes the prestigious agency that it is.

And hearts live in bodies, not in buildings. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about homelessness recently; the ways in which people become homeless and, perhaps just as importantly, how they might remain homeless for long periods of time throughout their life span...

On a daily basis, you may feel like you are overwhelmed by the demands of the day. From being given one too many jobs to do at work, to the daily needs and wants of children, to too many appointments and jobs to do when there is just so little time to do it in.  At times like these, when you’re most stressed, it’s the small things you do for yourself that become the most expendable, to the detriment of your own mental and physical well-being. 

Rainy days can be a letdown for our children. Those long hours stuck inside can easily cause restlessness and boredom. Fortunately, the internet is here to help. Thanks to kid-friendly websites, you can easily create fun activities that can keep your children educated and entertained no matter the weather.

Last week, Wood’s Homes held its first-ever Spring Feast and Friendship Dance, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day! 

Leading up to the event, organizers came together to smoke a pipe with Indigenous Elders and ask for prayers for our community. They were dedicated to making sure the celebration properly incorporated Indigenous culture, inviting Treffrey Deerfoot, a Siksika storyteller, to support us in the raising of our Blackfoot Teepee, teach us and guide us as we learned about his culture...

Throughout the years, Exit Outreach has had many different homes, but the longest home we’ve had was on 7th Avenue SW. Our program moved there in 2006, and wouldn’t have been able to do so if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Central United Church and donors Norman and Valerie Van Delinder, who graciously allowed us to live rent-free for 10 years. We started in the basement of this building and worked our way up, eventually utilizing the entire space for our EXIT Community Outreach program.

As the school year comes to a close, our team thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reflect upon all of the amazing things our clients have achieved over the past nine months. From the loud and proud celebrations to the seemingly inconsequential moments, the students at the Children’s Village School (CVS) continue to amaze us with their perseverance and drive.