>>UPDATE: In total we raised $530 at today's Art and Bake Sale. $300 for the members (selling art was Suzy, Gord, Earl, Phil and Nan) and $230 for the Clubhouse. Thank you to everyone who supported us!<<
Our annual Art and Bake Sale is happening Thursday December 14th! Be sure to stop by and find unique, one-of-a-kind cards, paintings, jewelry, crafts and gifts! Also, there will be baked goods for sale too. Yum. See you at the Club :)
The Canadian Coalition of Clubhouses is comprised of Clubhouses in Canada whose main purpose is to serve the psycho-social needs of Canada’s chronically and persistently mentally ill and to advocate for member entitlements. Collectively our coalition has historically served over 20,000 members who have struggled with persistent mental health issues in communities across Canada.
Several psycho-social rehabilitation agencies in Canada (“Clubhouses”) solicited the views of hundreds of their members and have written a letter in order to voice serious concerns over the pending MAiD legislation and regulations particularly with respect to the MAiD eligibility of persons suffering solely from a mental health diagnosis.
It is our understanding that no significant sample size of mental health patients/clients or consumers of mental health service if any, were solicited directly for their views on the pending legislation. This absence of input from people with lived experience with mental health issues is both stigmatizing and vacuous.
Additionally, the overwhelming consensus is that the current health system crisis both provincially and federally in terms of services and funding, makes it difficult if not impossible, for people to receive the care that would assist them to recover from their mental health challenges and decide appropriately if MAiD is right for them.
Accordingly, as a Coalition of Clubhouses across Canada, we do not support MAiD for persons with mental illness as the sole determining factor until and unless the health system crises are resolved.
Below is the letter submitted to House of Commons
September 26, 2023
M.P. House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,
The purpose of this letter is to voice serious concerns over the pending MAiD legislation and regulations particularly with respect to the MAiD eligibility of persons suffering solely from a mental health diagnosis.
Our concerns are two-fold. Firstly, it is our understanding that no significant sample size of mental health patients/clients or consumers of mental health service if any, were solicited directly for their views on the pending legislation. This absence of input from people with lived experience with mental health issues is both stigmatizing and vacuous. Secondly, and in light of the foregoing, several psycho-social rehabilitation agencies in Canada (“Clubhouses”) did solicit the views of hundreds of their members. The overwhelming consensus is that the current health system crisis both provincially and federally in terms of services and funding, makes it difficult if not impossible, for people to receive the care that would assist them to recover from their mental health challenges and decide appropriately if MAiD is right for them. Accordingly, as a Coalition of Clubhouses across Canada, we do not support MAiD for persons with mental illness as the sole determining factor until and unless the health system crises are resolved.
Background
The Canadian Coalition of Clubhouses is comprised of Clubhouses in Canada whose main purpose is to serve the psycho-social needs of Canada’s chronically and persistently mentally ill and to advocate for member entitlements. Collectively our coalition has historically served over 20,000 members who have struggled with persistent mental health issues in communities across Canada. Our evidence-based psycho-social rehabilitation model reduces hospitalizations of members and improves the trajectory of positive mental health outcomes. Our rehabilitation model is based on the 37 Standards proffered by Clubhouse International. Those Standards are appended to our submissions. In addition, the recent empirical research underpinning our claims of reduced hospitalizations and improved mental health outcomes is also appended to our submissions.
Please find a list of Canadian Clubhouses supporting the content of this letter below.
Sincerely,
Criss (Cristina) Habal
Executive Director, Progress Place
Co-Chair, Clubhouse Canada
576 Church Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 2E3
416 323-0223 ext. 241
Foye Hatton
Project Lead, Arrowhead Clubhouse
5554 Inlet Road, Sechelt, BC, VON 3A3
Mike Tibbles
Executive Director, Connections Place
103-1803 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 5C3
Dee Tyler
Executive Director, Oak Centre
24 Dorothy Street, Welland, ON, L3B 3V7
Dave MacDonald
Executive Director, Pathways Clubhouse
315 - 8111 Granville Avenue, Richmond, BC, V6Y 1P5
Frank Kelton
Executive Director, Potential Place Society
210, 308 11th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 0Y2
We’re excited to let you know that the grand reveal of Arrowhead Clubhouse’s new mural will be taking place on Tuesday, September at 11:30 am.
We’d love it if you are able to join us for the unveiling and to share a BBQ lunch.
The time has come!
The Arrowhead Clubhouse mural is going to be revealed at 11.30am on Tuesday 12th September. We will also be putting on some music and firing up the BBQ (free hotdogs for all). Everyone is invited to see the new message of hope, love, and community.
Our Paintillio mural was painted over five days in July. Thirty members, four local artists, and six staff contributed to the design, with more than 20 people stopping by to pick up a brush and add their flourishes. At its heart, this collaborative effort is about elevating community and promoting acceptance. The mural not only serves as a means of beautifying the Arrowhead garden, but also to break down the stigma about mental health in the community and make the space more welcoming.
Alongside the mural sits a message crafted by Clubhouse members that sums up the challenges those living with mental health challenges face, reading, “Life here is not all rainbows and unicorns - it has its dark, painful, and at times, tormented moments. We created this mural to blow away the dust, beautify our building, welcome people into this magical, judgment-free space, and reduce stigma regarding mental health challenges. If you need someone to talk to, please come in and say hello - we will welcome you with open arms”.
We hope you can all come along on Tuesday 12th September to see the culmination of our hard work and share some food in the Arrowhead garden.
The Staff, Members and Volunteers of Arrowhead Clubhouse
Our annual garage sale is happening Saturday September 23rd!
Come shop with us at at our community garage sale. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever!
Multi-table event with all variety of items including: toys, knickknacks, plants, jewelry, artwork, CD’s, DVD’s, clothing, electronics and more.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd
9am-2pm
5554 INLET AVE (across from the Post Office)
Money raised will go towards the Members Fund which contributes to outings, special events, art programs and investments in our garden.
Do you know we have a monthly magazine? Created by the staff and members each month. Check out the August Edition - click CLUB SANDWICH.
Arrowhead Clubhouse would like to offer a huge Thank You to the District of Sechelt’s CIP Grant Program. It was so great to have Mayor Henderson and Councillor Bell pop into the Clubhouse this week to get a tour and deliver the cheque. This will go along way to providing support to our members. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
May 1st to 7th is Mental Health Week. The theme this year is MY STORY. “Collectively and individually, we have multiple layers and stories that make us who we are. Our different, yet equally valuable, stories can be used this year to share one key message: universal mental health care is important and needed now!” - https://www.mentalhealthweek.ca/
Why not come down to Arrowhead Clubhouse on Wednesday 3rd May (11.30 to 1.30pm) to grab a burger and hear about our story – embracing collective decision-making and peer support while providing support to over 300 members, for over 30 years.
Our address is 5554 Inlet Ave, Sechelt… follow the smell of yummy food!
We encourage you to also share your story by using hashtag #MyStory & #MentalHealthWeek to shine a light on your personal journey, a program you offer or use, and how your community supports the mental health of others.
We look forward to hosting you at the 2023 ARROWHEAD OPEN HOUSE.
We are honoured to provide services and support each other on the unceded, ancestral and traditional lands of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation and the Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
