CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Dec. 16, 2016) - This winter, on Wednesday, December 21st in Olympic Plaza, Calgary will hold a city-wide memorial service for those who have passed away while experiencing homelessness in our city. Coordinated annually by the Client Action Committee (CAC) at the Calgary Homeless Foundation, this memorial, called the Longest Night of the Year, will give a place for many to remember those they have lost. For most individuals who have passed, this candlelight memorial will be the only commemoration of their lives lost due to homelessness. The Longest Night memorial service is open to every Calgarian.
| WHO: | Louise Gallagher, Director, Marketing & Communications, CHF John Gibson, Client Action Committee Member, CHF Nigel Kirk, Client Action Committee Member, CHF Phil Burke, Client Action Committee Member, CHF |
| WHAT: | The Longest Night of the Year is a memorial coordinated by the Calgary Homeless Foundation's Client Action Committee, a volunteer committee of individuals either currently experiencing homelessness or who have lived experience of homelessness. There will be a blessing, singing and drumming provided prior to a name reading as well as a minute of silence for those who have been lost. |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, December 21st, 2016 |
| 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | |
| WHERE: | Olympic Plaza 228 8 Ave. S.E. Calgary, AB |
| Agenda | |
| 5:00pm | Event Start. Guests invited to write down names of those they have lost. |
| 5:30 | Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC), Blessing |
| 5:35 | Welcome, Louise Gallagher, Director, Marketing & Communications, CHF |
| 5:40 | AFCC, Singing & Drumming |
| 5:50 | John Gibson, CAC Member, Poetry reading |
| 5:55 | CAC, name reading |
| 6:05 | Minute of Silence |
| 6:07 | Nigel Kirk, CAC Member |
| 6:11 | Phil Burke, CAC Member |
| 6:15 | Curtis Passmore, Non-denominational prayer |
| 6:20 | Louise Gallagher, Invites others to share |
| 6:25 | Louise Gallagher, Closing Remarks |
Media are invited. There will be interview and photo opportunities following the event.
About CHF
The Calgary Homeless Foundation is a catalyst and enabler for Systems and Service Agencies to optimize client success. CHF focuses on four strategic pillars of work; Research and Development, Community Mobilization, Funder of Outcomes and Impact, and Public and Political Will. CHF addresses gaps and identifies best practices to improve the system of care. Through mobilization of collective impact, CHF is committed to moving forward in partnership with the many homeless-serving agencies, the private sector, government partners, the faith community, other foundations and all Calgarians to end homelessness in Calgary. For more information, visit www.calgaryhomeless.com.
About the Client Action Committee
The Client Action Committee (CAC) is a volunteer committee of individuals who have experience of, or are currently experiencing, homelessness in Calgary. They are a committed group of Calgarians who consult on a bi-weekly basis with the Calgary Homeless Foundation to provide a lived experience voice and perspective. Not only do they play an advisory role within CHF, they have coordinated multiple events for the community such as the 2015 Mock Election, the annual Longest Night of the Year memorial, have both attended and presented at the 7 Cities Conference of Housing and Homelessness on the benefit of client committees and have consulted on the federal National Housing Strategy.
Contact Information:
Darcy Halber
Communications Specialist
403-615-7607
darcyh@calgaryhomeless.com
www.calgaryhomeless.com