Men Are Part of the Solution held their annual general meeting on Sept. 26 at their office. Longtime board chair Oswald Sawh acknowledged both the provincial and federal government in providing funding for MAPS to be able to expand their operations last year with the opening of the Phoenix House for Women. MAPS now provides transitional housing, with in-house programming, for both women and men who are homeless or at the risk of being homeless, wishing to live in a sober living environment. They also provide individual and group counselling for individuals under their Healthy Relationships program. Aside from also acknowledging other funders, including the Thompson Community Foundation, Sawh dedicated this year’s AGM to well-known Manitoban carver Irvin Head, who passed away earlier in the summer.
“In the summer of last year, MAPS commissioned Irvin Head to put together a carving that embodies what MAPS is about,” said Sawh. “We proudly display this carving in our office that captures the Seven Sacred Teachings … truth, respect, honesty, humility, wisdom, courage, and love … and the family unit … a couple cradling an infant to show that healthy communities start with healthy families is shown in the MAPS logo created years ago by our executive director Michele Nichol. It also speaks of the nurturing responsibility that parents need to take on when it comes to their children.”
“Irvin joined his ancestors on Monday, Aug. 15. I remember him telling me that his art helped him with challenges that he faced in his life. He was a friend to many including myself. MAPS would like to dedicate this AGM in the honour of Irvin ‘Muskie’ Head for all that he has given back to Manitoba and Canada through his art but also as a community and cultural leader, a knowledge keeper, a teacher, and an inspiration to many. Irvin’s life and his success over his personal challenges represents what the MAPS organization is about. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit will live through the many lives he touched and the many, many pieces of amazing carvings that he did,” Sawh said.
MAPS staff were also recognized during the meeting.
“I would like to thank our staff for all their hard work they do on behalf of our clients,” said Sawh. “The job they do is not easy … thank you.”
Stakeholders, board members, and funders were present at the meeting including Andrea Hatley from the Reaching Home program administered by the City of Thompson’s Community Advisory Board, Dave Moore, board chair for the Thompson Community Foundation and Coun. Les Ellsworth from the City of Thompson. Board members Heather Bonner, representing the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre, Penny Brenton representing Futures, Giselle DeMeulles representing the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, Dennis Green representing the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, and elder Jack Robinson joined Sawh, Nichol and transitional housing manager Tracy Dawe. Sawh and Green were re-elected as residents-at-large to continue as board members along with the other corporate-designated members.
