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Booth University College Focuses Community Attention on Canada’s Promises to Help Finance the Millennium Development Goals
Booth University College Launches New Business Education Program
(Winnipeg, Manitoba –September 3, 2010) – For nearly three decades, Booth University College, a well-established Christian university college in Winnipeg has
Announcing The Salvation Army Booth University College
(Winnipeg, June 17, 2010) – The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba has passed legislation changing the name of Booth College to The Salvation Army William and Catherine Booth Un
Booth College Celebrates National Volunteer Week (18-24 April 2010)
21 April 2010
Booth College Celebrates National Volunteer Week (18-24 April 2010)
Since William Booth’s publication of In Darkest England and The Way Out in 1890, The Salvation Army has promoted volunteer engagement for purposes of community transformation that is both permanent and immediately practicable. The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental provider of social services in the world with more than 4.5 million volunteers. To kick-off National Volunteer Week 2010, The Salvation Army’s Booth College hosted its first annual Service Learning Forum to call together volunteers from other community organizations and problem-solve a pressing issue for the community. This year, Booth College partnered with Winnipeg Harvest, a local food bank that distributes food to more than 48,000 people each month across Manitoba, almost half of whom are children. “Yes, today we are addressing questions about food security,” said President Donald Burke in his opening remarks. “But we are also here to address questions that come down to the core of what kind of community we want Winnipeg and Manitoba and Canada to be in the coming years.”
Caption: Guest speakers David Northcott (Winnipeg Harvest), Major Karen Hoeft (The Salvation Army Booth Centre), Paul Thomas (University of Manitoba), Dan Wiens (Mennonite Central Committee) and Rita Chahal (Manitoba Chamber of Commerce) With moderator Jim Cornelius (Canadian Foodgrains Bank)
The forum was designed to stimulate community involvement and widespread interest, engagement and participation around a social issue. The 2010 Forum topic was Food Banks in the City: The Imperatives of Justice and Mercy. The first hour framed the debate via brief presentations from five panelists directly involved in the issue. This year’s panelists were: David Northcott, Executive Coordinator of Winnipeg Harvest; Major Karen Hoeft, Assistant Executive Director of The Salvation Army’s Booth Centre; Dr Paul Thomas, Duff Roblin Professor of Government at the University of Manitoba; Dan Wiens, farmer, food activist and representative of the Mennonite Central Committee; and Rita Chahal, General manager of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce. The second hour helped with the transition to community involvement as attendees hear from local high school students and food bank volunteers and users. Sisler High School students presented a mock debate around why people use food banks and two food bank users/volunteers from Winnipeg Harvest told their story. The third hour was devoted to community interaction. People lined up at the microphones, eager to contribute comments or ask panelists penetrating questions. The morning flew by and people indicated in their evaluations that they were eager to return next year for more.
Caption: Guest speakers David Northcott (Winnipeg Harvest) and Major Karen Hoeft (The Salvation Army Booth Centre)
Caption: Student paper presentation to winner Marlisa Vergara of Sisler High School. Award presentation made by Major Al Hoeft (The Salvation Army Booth Centre) and alum of Booth College.
More than 70 people were in attendance from a wide array of community non-profit organizations such as St Mary’s Food Bank, Agape Table, Siloam Mission, Selkirk Food Bank, Kildonan Community Church Food Bank, Elohim Adonai Charity Centre, Abundant Life Lutheran Church, Grace Community Church, Westminster United Church of Winnipeg, West Broadway Community Ministry, and Nor-West Community Health Centre. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission had a booth for the community. Several legislative representatives were in attendance.
National Volunteer Week honors the millions of Canadian volunteers who contribute to the betterment of their communities. Booth College has developed the Service Learning Forum as their way of honoring Canada’s volunteers in a manner appropriate to an institution of higher education in The Salvation Army tradition. The topic for the second forum will be announced on our website this summer.
Caption: Forum organizer Dr Sherrie Steiner, Booth College Behavioural Sciences Program Chair and Director of Booth College's Urban Service Learning.
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