Stories
Farewell to our Executive Director
IJC's Executive Director, Hank Dixon, is retiring on August 1, 2023.
Hank has provided invaluable leadership to IJC over the last seven years, both as Executive Director and as former Program Director of Open Circle. During his time as ED, Hank has guided the organization through significant restructuring and development with an incredible amount of compassion and wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to IJC’s staff, volunteers, board directors, and participants. We are deeply grateful to Hank for his thoughtful leadership, dedication, and vision. He will be dearly missed at IJC, and we wish him all the very best in retirement.
At our AGM this past June, Hank shared the following words:
I have experienced a few work transitions in my life and the following quote on success is what I have tried to achieve at those transitions:
“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — that is to have succeeded.” – A. J. Stanley
It is my hope that as I leave IJC, I am leaving it a better place. Although there has been lots of growth since I moved into the Executive Director’s role, it has never been my primary goal to achieve growth. My desire, formed by years as pastor and prison chaplain, has been to help shape IJC into an organization where both staff and participants feel valued, respected, and honoured. A workplace and an organization which strives to make the world a better place for everyone.
Building, growing, changing
It was a cool wet day in Nova Scotia as we made our way to a small place outside of Truro Nova Scotia. Every since I heard about it I wanted to see it, the building of the Schooner Lena Blanche. My wife Linda and I had returned
Community, responsiveness, opportunity
We believe in growth and nurture it as much as possible. Recently a participant reached out to me. They had moved from a very intensive form of support to living with someone in community. It took a long time for them to get there, and a lot of
Connections, healing, hope
Spring is an essential time for growth, prosperity, and transition. The change of seasons brings about nicer weather, gardens, and friendly faces; a reminder of the importance of connections with the earth and the people whose time we appreciate and value. We have settled into the new season
Hibernation, belonging, blossoming
It’s spring, it’s about to be summer, change is in the air, as always. It’s wet, there are new spring smells and breezes and there’s the long light, and the pandemic is not over, and we have not recovered from it, but some of the rules are changing,
Excitement, adjustments, flexibility
Greeting and happy spring from the CoSA team! We are excited to finally see the changing of seasons, and with it, reflect on our own growth. Coming out of a very hard period for programs due to Covid-19, CoSA has been reflecting on new ways our program can
Statement of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of Canada
The discoveries of unmarked graves at former Residential School sites continues to challenge us to confront a nation’s past in which innocent lives were stolen from their families and communities. We grieve with all Indigenous Peoples who endure the irreplaceable losses of lives taken from them and offer
Gail Schellenberg Training Centre
In gratitude for Gail Schellenberg’s lifelong commitment to education, Initiatives for Just Communities (IJC) is naming the renovated training space at the El’dad offices the Gail Schellenberg Training Centre. Gail served as the executive director for Initiatives for Just Communities from 2014 to 2020, when health issues intervened.
Roger Jackson – An Alternate Obituary
Dear readers: This obituary is written by Ken Penner, with input from Tai Jackson, in response to a story/obituary written for the Winnipeg Free Press by Danton Unger on Sept 4 about Roger Jackson. Roger was my friend. I’m sorry that’s he’s gone. He had requested that I
CoSA continues
Following the guidelines set out during Covid-19 has given Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) staff the challenge of connecting with core members and circle volunteers in new ways. Natalia Ilyniak, program director for CoSA in Manitoba, tells of a couple of ways they have found to maintain
Jessica’s guide to staying well during Covid-19
Jessica is a presenter for Visions and Voices, a part of the Touchstone FASD program. Visions and Voices seeks to increase awareness in communities in order to reduce the stigma of FASD and to encourage healthy living. Presenters are role models who are willing to share their stories
Life with FASD
Lisa is a presenter for Visions and Voices, a part of the Touchstone FASD program. Visions and Voices seeks to increase awareness in communities in order to reduce the stigma of FASD and to encourage healthy living. Thank you Lisa for sharing your story. Good day everyone! My
Appreciating each other during Covid-19
Covid-19 has created challenges for all of us. In some ways, our world seems a bit unfamiliar. We live with more worry, anxiety and uncertainty around us. Our routines have been altered – we can’t spend time with some of the people whose company we enjoy, and basic
Connecting
Connecting The call came in at 8:00 in the morning. His first words, after I said hello, “Hank, is it ever good to hear your voice.” Phil (name changed) was calling from the minimum at Stony Mountain. It was the first time we had spoken since the Institution
El’dad Summer Participant BBQ
Thank you to all of our sponsors Walmart Progressive Superstore Hanover Dental Co-op Clearview Gas Canadian Tire Sobeys Staples First Choice Convenience La Cocina Enns Brothers Chicken Chef
“Everyone should experience it.”
It is not the kind of statement you would expect from someone who just finished visiting a person in prison. John has been a volunteer with Open Circle for two years and was moving on so he could dedicate more time to other things. He voiced his comment
Building, growing, changing
It was a cool wet day in Nova Scotia as we made our way to a small place outside of Truro Nova Scotia. Every since I heard about it I wanted to see it, the building of the Schooner Lena Blanche. My wife Linda and I had returned
Community, responsiveness, opportunity
We believe in growth and nurture it as much as possible. Recently a participant reached out to me. They had moved from a very intensive form of support to living with someone in community. It took a long time for them to get there, and a lot of
Connections, healing, hope
Spring is an essential time for growth, prosperity, and transition. The change of seasons brings about nicer weather, gardens, and friendly faces; a reminder of the importance of connections with the earth and the people whose time we appreciate and value. We have settled into the new season
Hibernation, belonging, blossoming
It’s spring, it’s about to be summer, change is in the air, as always. It’s wet, there are new spring smells and breezes and there’s the long light, and the pandemic is not over, and we have not recovered from it, but some of the rules are changing,
Excitement, adjustments, flexibility
Greeting and happy spring from the CoSA team! We are excited to finally see the changing of seasons, and with it, reflect on our own growth. Coming out of a very hard period for programs due to Covid-19, CoSA has been reflecting on new ways our program can
Statement of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of Canada
The discoveries of unmarked graves at former Residential School sites continues to challenge us to confront a nation’s past in which innocent lives were stolen from their families and communities. We grieve with all Indigenous Peoples who endure the irreplaceable losses of lives taken from them and offer
Gail Schellenberg Training Centre
In gratitude for Gail Schellenberg’s lifelong commitment to education, Initiatives for Just Communities (IJC) is naming the renovated training space at the El’dad offices the Gail Schellenberg Training Centre. Gail served as the executive director for Initiatives for Just Communities from 2014 to 2020, when health issues intervened.
Roger Jackson – An Alternate Obituary
Dear readers: This obituary is written by Ken Penner, with input from Tai Jackson, in response to a story/obituary written for the Winnipeg Free Press by Danton Unger on Sept 4 about Roger Jackson. Roger was my friend. I’m sorry that’s he’s gone. He had requested that I
CoSA continues
Following the guidelines set out during Covid-19 has given Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) staff the challenge of connecting with core members and circle volunteers in new ways. Natalia Ilyniak, program director for CoSA in Manitoba, tells of a couple of ways they have found to maintain
Jessica’s guide to staying well during Covid-19
Jessica is a presenter for Visions and Voices, a part of the Touchstone FASD program. Visions and Voices seeks to increase awareness in communities in order to reduce the stigma of FASD and to encourage healthy living. Presenters are role models who are willing to share their stories
Life with FASD
Lisa is a presenter for Visions and Voices, a part of the Touchstone FASD program. Visions and Voices seeks to increase awareness in communities in order to reduce the stigma of FASD and to encourage healthy living. Thank you Lisa for sharing your story. Good day everyone! My
Appreciating each other during Covid-19
Covid-19 has created challenges for all of us. In some ways, our world seems a bit unfamiliar. We live with more worry, anxiety and uncertainty around us. Our routines have been altered – we can’t spend time with some of the people whose company we enjoy, and basic
Connecting
Connecting The call came in at 8:00 in the morning. His first words, after I said hello, “Hank, is it ever good to hear your voice.” Phil (name changed) was calling from the minimum at Stony Mountain. It was the first time we had spoken since the Institution
El’dad Summer Participant BBQ
Thank you to all of our sponsors Walmart Progressive Superstore Hanover Dental Co-op Clearview Gas Canadian Tire Sobeys Staples First Choice Convenience La Cocina Enns Brothers Chicken Chef
“Everyone should experience it.”
It is not the kind of statement you would expect from someone who just finished visiting a person in prison. John has been a volunteer with Open Circle for two years and was moving on so he could dedicate more time to other things. He voiced his comment
