There once was a wonderful Life Skills meeting
With hugs and laughter and farewell weeping
Workshops and lots of meaningful talk
Guitars, singing and a sunny walk
To mark a 30 year Homecoming, with a Celebration greeting!
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Alberta:
Glenn Severn
BC:
Rod Paynter,
Devra Poitra,
Debra Scheidel, Colleen Zeller, Dave Zeller
Manitoba
Renee Fortier, Ruth Murdock, Colleen Robinson
Ontario:
Paul Bagordo
Saskatchewan:
Dori Britski, Frances Buchan, Glenis Clarke, Jean
Esson, Roz Fyrk, Lillis Lawrence,
Jack Mitchell, Cecil Russell, Althea
(Tia) Shynkaruk, Veronica Stokalko, Marilyn Waldner
Thirty years ago the NewStart Life Skills training began in Prince Albert, Sask. On May 15 – 17, twenty-five Coaches "gathered" at the Marlboro Inn in P.A. just a couple of blocks from the original training site. They came from Timmins, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Prince George, Kamloops, Nelson, and all over Sask.
We started things off on Friday with a social evening complete with good company, guitars, singing, snacks and plenty of laughter. Paul Bagordo and Rod Paynter are talented guitar players/singers, and Jack got in there with his harmonica. There was Frances with her wooden spoons and a "Song in Her Heart" and Jean was harmonizing beautifully. Oh, what a fine start to the weekend!
Saturday morning began with introductions and hearing Jim Vicharyous describe how the Life Skills movement began in the late 60’s. Paul Curtiss, from Prince Albert, joined Jim for our Saturday morning breakfast. Jim and Paul were co-facilitators of the NewStart group presentations and group training. Jack Mitchell and Jean Esson added more memories so we were able to create images of how it was. Dori presented Jim with a sweatshirt and honorarium in appreciation for the time spent with us.
In the afternoon, we reached an agreement on a format for the rest of the weekend BY CONSENSUS! Who says consensus is painful? We decided in less than an hour how to structure that afternoon, evening, and Sunday in a way that all participants could support. Paul Bagordo facilitated a thought-provoking workshop on principles and values on Saturday. On Sunday, a meaningful workshop was presented by Devra Poitra and Tia Shynkaruk combining their wisdom and skills. Devra began with "Mindfulness" and Tia ended with a "Healing Forest". Thanks to Ruth from Winnipeg, we all participated in a beautiful closure exercise.
We had two CALSCA meetings – Part One on Saturday evening and Part Two on Sunday morning. On Sunday morning committee work was distributed. There was humour and a sense of productivity. Rod Paynter will continue hosting a chatline on the CALSCA website on the first Sunday of every month from 2 to 4 p.m. (Sask. time). The next one will be on June 7 so please log on to see what’s going on in other parts of the country. The 1999 CALSCA Gathering will be hosted by Prince George’s True North Life Skills Association on the May long weekend.
I would like to extend Thankyou's to all who attended the gathering. Special thanks to Tia and Roz for listening to me whining about how I did not want to be RESPONSIBLE for anything. Well now that it has been deemed as mighty successful, I’ve decided that it’s ok. to have responsibility! Thanks to our agency, PERC, for their generous donations of the fax and Xerox. Have a warm and happy summer everyone.
Sincerely, Dori Britski, 1998 CALSCA Conference Co-ordinator
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