Longest Night of The Year

One of the reasons why I chose to work at Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) after I got my Medical Office Assistant Diploma was to give back to a company, that had given so much to me when I was a teenage street youth.

The bad thing about being a person with my diagnosis of borderline, and working with vulnerable people, is that I feel. I feel SOO much and SOO deeply!

So when it came to three "clients" (PEOPLE!) I hurt ALOT when I lost them.

Without trying to disclose too much confidential information. One person, got off the streets, and found an apartment. Then he found out he had terminal lung cancer. He had just re-connected with his father. 3 days before he passed away, I went with the physician to his home. I cut his nails and it took him a while to recognize me, but when he did he had the most amazing wonderful smile on his face.

When he found out he had lung cancer, and he was going to die. He asked me to go to the movies with him. I could not, as much as I wanted to, it was a breach of the rules at work. I shouldn't have listened, you deserved MUCH MORE than that, but because of my selfishness, and the thought of getting fired because of "rules", I did not. For THAT, I am SO sorry!!!!

After I saw him, that same day another client who was an alcoholic. Had drank a bottle of Draino the week before. I went to the hospital to visit him. Unfortunately, EMS revived him. And for a year after that, the draino ate away at his organs. He suffered for 1-year before he died. He was such a brilliant man and served in the Canadian Military.

The most beautiful ceremony I have ever attended was with the employees of CUPS. Three members of the Downtown Outreach Addictions Program (DOAP), a nurse at CUPS, a friend of the deceased, and I gathered at the service. His favorite song "What a Wonderful World" was played. We went to the graveyard. When I go to the graveyard today. I cannot find him, his marker is missing and there is no "place" to go and see him.

So when I stood at tonight's memorial at the Longest Night of the Year, I payed my respects to them. As many others who gathered with me did.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation and the committee members did a wonderful job bringing honor and memory to these people. Reading each names of people who were listed. As others joined at the celebration, dozens of more names went up.

We didn't spend enough time there. THEY DESERVED TO HAVE MORE TIME!!! We lit our candles, (or turned them on rather).

As I left the scene bawling, I walked through the Suncor Energy building, my candle still lit inside my purse. I can't turn it off, to turn it off.....means they're gone. And they are NOT, they are in my heart, thoughts, and mind.

I wanted to SCREAM at the security guard locking the door. DON'T YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE FUCKEN FREEZING TO DEATH?????? DO YOU CARE?????

But I honor these people often, when I see a reminder of them......I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you.

It's a reminder too, to be grateful for the home I have now. I forget sometimes that I lived out of a car for 9 months, and I forget how hard life was when I didn't have a home.

Thank You to every one who joined. It is something that never should have to be done, and there are WAY too many names on that list!! WHY CAN'T WE DO BETTER?

Amber Cannon.

Random Acts of Kindness

I was asked to be the feature blogger on Vibrant Communities website, you can find my recent blog here:

 http://www.vibrantcalgary.com/vibrant-resources/blog/random-acts-of-kindness/


Thank You all for reading.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016!

Amber Cannon.

Why I hate Christmas

So you like Christmas do you, or even love it? 

Tell me why? Is it because you spend thousands of dollars to light up your house and buy decorations, and buy extravagant presents for you family? 

Well.....this is exactly why I hate Christmas. Not because of the fancy lights or decorations. But because I work in retail, and I see and hear people complaining of the price of some stupid decoration that they don't even need, when I can't even put dinner on the table sometimes. 

Really people, when have we become so selfish? When did we feel the need to show off and waste billions of dollars every year on useless things when there are children in poverty one block down from you? 

And with the economic times that we are having, so many people are feeling that now. 

I would be happy to have a board game, just one board game, and get together with my family for one day with no chaos. Just spend that time with each other and be.....in the moment. Enjoying ourselves. With lots of laughter and food to fill our bellies.

To not have to stress for months before it and try to come up with the money to provide presents for my son and family, to not have to wonder about if it’s good enough for him.

What I would have given to be able to see my son’s eyes light up when he got that Christmas present from me, from “Santa”. Thankfully, I had my parents that were able to do that for him.

But many people don’t. They have to try to explain to their children after Christmas why Santa brought them a $20 present, while his/her school friend got an Xbox or Playstation. Does Santa not love them enough to do that? Have they been bad?

Maybe if we take out all the lights, decorations, even half of them. There really would be “Enough For All” in Canada and elsewhere.

Amber Cannon

My #yyc community....Why I love my 'hood Lincoln Park

I was asked by an MRU student today what makes our community different from others in Calgary?

I answered with, because we care about each other. We don't judge, we don't condemn, we don't live in hate or anger. We accept them for their religion, faith, ideas, and struggles.

We care for one another. We look after each other.

We are so culturally diverse. My next door neighbour from Nepal, next to them from Afghanistan, next to them a single mom from Australia, Rowena from the Philippines, Tangie from Nova Scotia, a lady who is an alcoholic.

We look out for one another. We don't shun people, we love them....through every thing they go through.

We drop what we're doing. We share our food, dreams, ideas, struggles, successes, and failures.

We look out for the kids. Instead of turning a blind eye to what they're doing and say in our heads "It's not our child, it's not our problem." We tell the child they are doing something wrong and educate them on it.

When a neighbour has a fire, we contact everyone we can to try and find the number for the person who lives in the unit.

We shovel our neighbours walkways and give them rides to places. We invite them into our homes for coffee, or just to sit and cry on the sofa, because we need someone to be there for us.

This is my #yyc community. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Amber Cannon.

Halloween 2015

In my 8 years of living in my place, I have never seen so many children in my "hood" on Halloween night.

So this Halloween was fantastically phenomenal! Some of the local ladies decided to decorate the resource room for a spectacular haunted Halloween house for the kids.

With some funding from resources this would not have been possible.

With some teenagers volunteering, and armful of crafty, talented, resourceful people, they decorated. And turned the place into a wonderful area for young ones and older children, so all could enjoy.

Kids came, and played games. They got spooked, and scared, and laughed so hard!!!

I met a new neighbour, which would not have been possible if not for the haunted house.

I am so very proud of the hard work these girls have put in to make this a fantastic event for the kids. And the local teenagers for helping out. As well as some volunteers from the church.

I've never taken my son trick or treating in my neighbourhood. We are low-income, so we go to the middle-class houses for that. I know how hard it is for me to maintain food in my own house, let alone feed other people's children. And besides, candy and chocolate are a treat. A rarity in our lives.

So Thank You. For bringing fun back into the 'hood, and making it a great event to spend Halloween in the "hood".

It was fabulous! And Fantastic! Thank You!

Rowena

Rowena was born on a very tiny island called Lubang Island, in Mindoro Philippines in 1963. She is the middle child to two brothers and 5 sisters. Her dad was a contractor and Mom raised the children. Rowena finished High School and went on to College to receive a degree in Business Management and a Secretarial course.

She moved to Hong Kong China in November of 1989. She wanted to support herself. At this time her father was losing his memory. She was only planning to stay there for 2 years, as a contractor as a nanny. She ended up supporting her family at this time. She was the primary “bread winner”. She stayed for 15 years in Hong Kong.

In April 2005 to June 2005 she went home to see family in Philippines before coming to Canada.

In June 2005 she applied to come to Canada as there was contract work here as a nanny. Her work visa came through and she looked after a family of one child. When she came the employer told her she had to cut her contract after 15 days of being here. She needed to look for a new employer.

She found a new employer in September of 2005 to a family of 4. two boys aged 8 and 10. In 2008 her immigration papers expired because the family refused to fill them out for her. In April of 2008 she found out she was 2 months pregnant with a man she had met in 2006.

In May she was kicked out of her employer’s house because of her pregnancy. She moved in with her baby’s father.

Rowena was 26 weeks into her pregnancy when Amanda was born. She was 1lb, 12 oz. Kept in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 7 ½ months. She was born with Down syndrome, hardening of the lower chamber of heart, lung hypertension, and asthma.

At 3 ½ months she had heart surgery.

In May of 2009 Amanda’s father drove Amanda to the police station with no car seat and on his lap. He walked into the police station high on drugs and informing police that there are dead people in the living room of his home and Rowena’s life was in danger. Police surrounded her house, with dogs and guns drawn. Ordered Rowena out of the house. Police drove her to the police station to get Amanda and sent him to the hospital for help. They found a pellet gun in the car.

In June of 2009, they were evicted from her home. Rowena called child services and they moved them to the Sheriff King Home. They were now homeless. Amanda was receiving daily injections for the blood clot she developed after heart surgery.

After spending 7 weeks at the Sheriff King Home they moved to Margaret Chisholm. In April of 2010 Amanda’s Godfather learned they were in a shelter, and he felt an obligation to her. They moved into their home for 9 months, until the Godfather moved to a new city. At this time Amanda became sick and had to spend 3 weeks at the Hospital.

She met a friend who needed a sitter for her child while she worked. Rowena moved in to watch the child and looked after him. With no money and no immigration papers, she could not claim Alberta Works. She did receive $62 dollars every 3 months for GST as she did file her income tax. The “friend” was abusive. Called Amanda ugly and stupid, even slapped her. Rowena moved out.

The saga continues for a few years - moving 5 times almost every year.

In August of 2011 she moved back into Margaret Chisholm, and sought help from the Calgary Catholic immigration services.

Rowena was now facing another eviction from the centre, as it is a temporary shelter. She applied for Calgary Housing Company (CHC) and was declined, told her file would be reviewed in one year and there was no space. She would be left on the streets, with a child with health problems, Amanda was now on oxygen and using a CPAP at night. She was desperate and went to the CHC to beg for help. (This is when she broke down in tears, while I interviewed her.)

She got her immigration papers in June of 2012. After meeting with the Immigration Officer. The officer asked her why she should let her stay in Canada, Rowena’s reply was:

“If you wish to send me back, that's fine with me. But Amanda will deteriorate, there is no help in my country for a child like Amanda. She is a Canadian Citizen."

In August Rowena received a call from CHC to tell her they have a place for her to look at. They asked her to come and look at it and if she liked it she could take the unit. She responded with, “I like it already, it’s a home!” August 21^st Rowena received the key to her and Amanda’s new home.

Amanda is now 7 and doing well despite her many health issues. She has vision, pulmonary, dental, cardio, immunology, sleep clinic, nutritionist appointments that are always ongoing. She is still fed through a G-tube. She is a delightful girl with many giggles, smiles, and LOVES to dance.

Rowena has now finally been able to see a Doctor for her own ongoing health issues. And recently had surgery to repair her ear. She has this message to everyone who might be going through the same things:

“Be strong, have faith. Have faith in God and yourself. You will make it, it is hard even though all the negativity is staring at you. I strongly believe in the power of mind, positive thought."
Her motto - "Never surrender.”