Although Connie Krahenbil and Cory Young, a couple that has been very involved in different aspects within the city of Thompson for many years, now live in Winnipeg, Krahenbil is still working with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Thompson.
She was up on Oct. 23 to be part of the Thompson Homeless Shelter's annual general meeting and the annual general meeting for CMHA in Thompson.
Total revenue for the year that the CMHA in Thompson saw from the government was $524,638, while the revenue that the organization itself funded was $182,781. Total government-funded expenses were $538,239, while CMHA funded expenses came in at $182,031. The CMHA was left with a government-funded surplus of $3,665 and a CMHA-funded surplus of $750.
In Krahenbil's executive director's report, she says the 2008/2009 fiscal year was very stable and allowed staff to continue their hard work with the board focusing on sustainability. Some funds the CMHA had were spent on $16,000 in new furniture for McGill Place through a grant from Services Canada and another $14,000 from the Thompson Community Foundation went to the Connections Clubhouse for furniture and flooring.
This past year the CMHA opened the Connections Clubhouse Gym; implemented a portable housing benefit program through the Province of Manitoba; secured funding for additional housing support in the transitional housing unit; and took part in the second year of the graffiti cover-up program.
Jason Stoltz, program co-ordinator at the Thompson Homeless Shelter, says many improvements have happened at the shelter in the past year.
Renovations that took place at the shelter were funded by the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy (TUAS) and completed by Burntwood Custom Builders. These included extra security features, a staff office space, a new laundry room, a renovated public bathroom area for clients, a new panty and coffee centre and additional sinks and toiletries for both men and women.
The total revenue for the Thompson Homeless Shelter this year was $459,394, and the total expenditures were $410,435, leaving an excess of revenues over expenditures of $48,959.
Mayor Tim Johnston, who was present at both annual general meetings, says he is very impressed with the way the CMHA is running the Thompson Homeless Shelter and pointed out that he will miss working with Krahenbil, extending his congratulations to her on her new position in Winnipeg with CMHA's Manitoba Division.
Krahenbil says that although she'll be 739 kilometres away from Thompson, she will still be very involved with what happens at the Thompson CMHA until her replacement is hired.
"I'll be working with the CMHA on a more provincial basis, and a lot of that is sort of policy development and other thingsI'm still in the family, and that's a part of the position that I am really looking forward to," she enthuses. "The other days, Mondays and Fridays, I'm going to be really focused on CMHA Thompson."
Krahenbil says leaving the Thompson CMHA has been a hard decision for her after working five years with the organization.
"Whenever a change happens there are always a pro and a con. So there are lots of pros, but one of the biggest cons, probably number one, is that I'm leaving my family here," she says. "I consider my clients my family, and the Homeless Shelter has become one of my favourite places to be."
The closing date for applicants to submit their resumes for the position of executive director at the CMHA in Thompson was Nov. 2.
