We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to each and every individual who has supported and helped fund Arrowhead Clubhouse this year. Without the support of our community, we could not carry on. In 2023 The Clubhouse gratefully accepted a whopping 910 donations. Thank you.
Our Christmas Appeal
Dear Friends of Arrowhead,
Thanks to our generous community, for over 30 years, Arrowhead Clubhouse has been a place of hope. Not only a place where people living with mental illness on the Sunshine Coast can come to learn skills but also a gathering place where relationships are built in a safe, stigma-free environment. Your donations have helped to maintain this vital frontline service not only through a world pandemic that challenged each of our lives and communities, but continue to lift us as we navigate uncertain times.
In the past two years:
• Our membership has grown from 235 to 315 members.
• Our hot meals served to the community have grown from 7,000 meals to 10,000 meals!
• Over 80 employment positions have been secured by the members.
• 43 members have secured housing.
• We have helped 16 members into off coast rehabilitation facilities.
At Arrowhead, our members find encouragement, unique opportunities, and a sense of ownership and belonging. We provide services (for those who might face barriers to access) such as skills training, art, drama and music workshops, advocacy, a dentist program, internet access, free laundry, showers, and dry clothes. This coming year we continue to work towards our pre-pandemic goal of increasing service from five days a week, to also opening one day during the weekend. We know there is a need, as one member put it, “my Mental Health doesn’t get better at the weekends”.
Please consider donating to Arrowhead this season and truly make a difference in your immediate community. Your gifts to the Clubhouse are an investment in our members and your community’s success and well being. To learn more about Arrowhead Clubhouse and our amazing and vibrant members, please watch our 2-minute video at: https://arrowclub.org/
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Happy Holidays!
Foye, the Staff and Members of Arrowhead Clubhouse
Two ways to donate:
By Credit Card/Online: Arrowhead Clubhouse is overseen by Sunshine Coast Community Services (SCCSS). You can donate online at www.sccss.ca/get-involved/donate Please select “Arrowhead Clubhouse” from the options. A tax receipt will be sent to you at the end of the year.
By Cheque: Please make the cheque payable to “SCCSS” and put ‘Arrowhead Clubhouse’ in the memo section. Mail your donation to Arrowhead Clubhouse, PO BOX 676, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0. Please provide an email and/or phone number and a tax receipt will be sent to you at the end of the year.
2024 Staffing Update
Dear Community Partners,
I update the website today with an Arrowhead Clubhouse staffing update.
Having worked as Project Lead here for approaching 7 years, I am going to take an unpaid five-month sabbatical (January to May 2024). My family and I are going to take some time away from the coast and take our children traveling. As I have assured the Clubhouse members, I dearly love my job and will be back at work in 5 months!
This is not a spur of the moment decision; I, and my manager, have been planning it for over a year. Which means Arrowhead is ready for the change (I would not go if it were not). Logistics are all in place and the amazing Jill Stones will be stepping into the Project Lead role. Everything at Arrowhead will continue as normal.
Jill Stones’ contact details are - Cell – 604-865-1449, Email – jstones@sccss.ca
Should you need to talk to the Manager of the SCCSS Community Action and Engagement Team, Carey Rumba’s contact details are - Cell 604-865-0268, Email – crumba@sccss.ca
If you have any questions about logistics, please do not hesitate to reach out to me during the coming month.
Take Good Care,
Foye
Arrowhead Annual Art and Bake Sale
>>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 :)
Clubhouse Canada Coalition and MAiD
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
Arrowhead Mural Grand Reveal
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
ARROWHEAD ANNUAL GARAGE SALE
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.
