SSVP CANADA - February 8, 2023 | Dear Brothers and Sisters, Following the SSVP National Council Board Special Meeting held January 28, the National Council Board of Directors welcomes our new interim President, Pierre Morissette, and interim Vice President, Linda Dollard. Both have been appointed by the Board, and both have graciously accepted the positions until September 30, 2023. Our past president, Joseph-Claude Bédard, has resigned his position effective January 22, 2023. READ MORE | ELECTION - NATIONAL PRESIDENT We are currently looking for interested individuals (full members) to apply for the position of president of the National Council of Canada. If you are interested or wish to make a nomination, keep an eye out for our next newsletters. We will soon publish the procedure for nominations. Please pass on the information. The Election Committee | | COUNCIL GENERAL INTERNATIONAL | A CIRCULAR LETTER FULL OF EMOTION, IN A FAREWELL TONE A Circular Letter written by brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, 16th President General International of the SSVP, as he has been doing since the beginning of his mandate. The President General speaks of the importance of succession at the Council General and gives some advice to the Vincentians. READ MORE | | “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” YES, YOU. In the First Reading this past Sunday, Isaiah tells us what constitutes a good fast, one pleasing to God. “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom will be like noonday.” (Isaiah 58: 7-8,10) READ MORE | | GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME The National Advocacy Circle is comprised of Vincentians from across Canada that are interested in Social Justice. Our intention is to identify advocacy issues for our fellow Vincentians and suggest actions we can take for the benefit of our neighbours in need. We are presenting a series of articles promoting the consideration of a Guaranteed Basic Income to address the needs of Canadians living in poverty. Please share this information with your conferences, councils and parishioners. | | THE DEBATE GBI is a universal program with astronomical costs that will increase taxes - The basic income model advocated in Bill S-233 and C-223 is “income-tested,” which means only people living at or below the poverty line would receive a basic income.
- Bills before parliament and the senate recommend programs funded by both federal and provincial governments. Costs of existing social assistance and other programs funded both provincially and federally would be used for GBI.
READ MORE | WESTERN REGION - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Work of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul continued last year as more of a Catholic parish outreach project led by members of our Society at their parish/conference. The reasons why this SSVP North of 60 project needs to move from a Vincentian leadership to a parish outreach program are best demonstrated by our young parishioners. When the youth of the church get involved in the collection of used hockey equipment, the zoom discussions with Arctic students, and the whole parish family supporting the request for food and household items, we see the true value of helping those in need. To see our parish youth painting a mural on the sea cans that will be shipped to the Arctic, is a lasting memory. READ MORE | | PROJECT – NICARAGUA IMPROVEMENT TO A WATER SUPPLY SYTEM This article presents a community project that was realized in Nicaragua in 2022. It involved the improvement of a water supply system for 36 families – 151 persons of the Cerro Rota and Mata de Cana communities, Télica-León, Nicaragua. Both are isolated rural communities where people are living on subsistence agriculture, raising poultry and livestock, without electricity service. The project was developed by FUNDACCO (Fundacion Accion Comunitaria), the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Nicaragua, and submitted to the National Council by Roots of Change Foundation, St Albert, AB, the SSVP partner for projects in Nicaragua. READ MORE | | The National Housing Committee invites you
to join Vincentians across Canada for a Housing Solutions Webinar Saturday February 11, 2023 at 1:00 EST REGISTRATION | | Two of our guests, Louise Coutu, Executive Director of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Greater Toronto Central Council, and Larry McKenzie, an affordable housing developer in London Ontario, will share their insights and perspective on how they have created affordable housing solutions and supports. If you are wondering what your Conference’s first steps might be, Bob Buckham, Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Coordinator of Service and Justice, will provide a road map to help you connect with the agencies in your community. READ MORE | QUESTION What is a full member? | ANSWER 1.4.1.1 Full member A full member is defined as any person of good will, desirous of living his or her faith by loving and serving persons in need and who has successfully completed the screening and risk management procedures required by the National Council of Canada for full membership. He or she accepts and engages in formation and training as proposed by the Society, and participates regularly in the meetings and charitable activities of the conference or council in which he or she has been received, in accordance with the principles set forth in the International Rule. The full member has voting rights at meetings in accordance with the Canadian Statutes, accepts missions and tasks requested by the president and may be elected or nominated to servant leader positions at any level of the Society’s structure in Canada, if a Catholic. | | 3.5 SCREENING AND RISK MANAGEMENT The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a charitable organization committed to the protection and safeguarding of - the vulnerable persons* it serves;
- its members;
- its volunteers;
- its employees.
The Society has a moral, ethical and spiritual obligation to appropriately screen and train its members, volunteers and staff. It is legally required under the principle of “duty of care”. This responsibility is part of the risk management framework. ** All members and employees of the Society, at any level, who regularly or occasionally have contact with and serve vulnerable persons, must successfully meet screening requirements, complete orientation and training, and abide by applicable internal policies and procedures approved by the National Council of Canada. *** The screening process for all full members includes the following: - completion of a membership application form;
- a police record check;
- a screening interview of the applicant;
- interviews of applicant’s references;
- signature of a service covenant/confidentiality agreement;
- orientation and training on risk management, abuse prevention, discrimination and harassment.
* Vulnerable persons are those who are in a position of material or emotional need, who are sick, or who are physically or mentally handicapped. ** Since there is an inherent degree of risk in serving persons in need, the Society must take reasonable measures to reduce any risk. *** See the National Council Operations Manual for more information on the screening process. | Conference financial annual contributions to National was increased to $300.00 annually in a motion passed by the members at the September, 2022 AGA. It is still expected that these contributions should be sent to the next higher council who will then send them to National Council. Annual contributions are expected from all conferences and councils who are in a financial position to contribute. | We are always looking for Vincentian testimonials and conference/council activity stories. Send your stories to share with Vincentians across Canada to editor@ssvp.ca. If you received this from a friend, you can subscribe to receive our newsletter directly. SUBSCRIBE HERE | Society of Saint Vincent de Paul - National Council of Canada 2463 Innes Road Ottawa, ON K1B 3K3 | | | | |
