Expansion Plans-Journey of Change

As a contributor to N.A.C.M.'s Journey of Change you could be a part of a unique green project. N.A.C.M. will issue tax deductible receipts for any donation. If you would like more information about our Journey of Change or our proposed facility, please contact Bertha at 204-586-8395 to set up an appointment to meet and discuss any questions you might have. While donations of any amount are appreciated, those making a sizeable donation may be mentioned at our opening ceremony or any advertising that we may do before hand as well, as a public thank you. Please check back to the News page to see how we are progressing on this Journey of Change. Please also visit the Fundraising page to learn more about our fundraising objectives and progress.

In 2009, a Ten-Year Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors which would implement major changes to the organizations over a ten-year period. This ten-year plan came about as a result of:

  • Past experiences with upgrading N.A.C.M.'s current facility at 160 Salter Street.
  • Security concerns with the present location. Please see the next section regarding crime statistics.
  • The realization to continuously improve our programs.
  • The need for a physical environment that will be conducive to a culturally based program.

In terms of development in a culturally-appropriate environment, it was inevitably realized that N.A.C.M. would be better off securing property in the near vicinity of Winnipeg and building another facility. It was, at that time, that the organization began to entertain the concept of building a new facility for its various programs and services. At the same time N.A.C.M. realizes the need to acquire land property for its program purposes.

Crime Statistics-Why the need to move

While crime in the north end is nothing new, StatsCan says that Winnipeg, as a whole, is number one in the nation for crime. Several recent reports in The Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Sun both report on this trend. While the crime rate country-wide is at a 25-year low in 2006, Winnipeg has been ranked as the first among Canada's nine largest cities in violent crime, property crime and was ranked second when it came to break-ins. It is reported that "Disaffected youth can find a home in a gang and make money, and that's the fundamental thing that we have to fight." Winnipeg Sun Thursday July 2007 "Peg Crime Capital". Where there is poverty there are gangs, where there are gangs there is prostitution, drugs, violence. the north end or the core-area (area surrounding NACM), is the central locale for all of these things. Many reports, all reporting the same thing, violence, gang activities, shootings, death.

A recent article in The Winnipeg Free Press called "Core-area school has big heart" talks about how the core-area school, despite numerous challenges in the area the students rise above them to help those who are less fortunate than they are. This core-area "school has a number of challenges. If you read about the neighborhood the school calls home, it's usually bad news. There's not a lot of money in the area, there's often crime and some of the kids come from very challenging home situations." In an area where crack houses, booze cans and prostitution runs rampant this school and N.A.C.M. do well to get by.

According to research done by Robin Fitzgerald, Michael Wisner, and Josee Savoie, the neighborhoods surrounding N.A.C.M.'s current location tells, in statistical form, what is already well known, and what is being reported about the area: an extraordinarily high amount of crime for the population. Following is an excerpt from "Neighborhood Characteristics and the distribution of crime in Winnipeg":

"High-need neighborhoods-In this appendix, selected crime (Table 4) are reported for the 30 highest-need NCA [NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERIZATION AREAS] and as an average across the 175 Winnipeg NCAs examined in this study. High-need NCAs were selected based on their socioeconomic diadvantage ranking.
Socio-economic disadvantage is a composite variable derived from five neighborhood characteristics including percent receiving government transfer payments, percent aged 20 years and older without a secondary school certificate, percent in private households with low income in 2000, unemployment rate for population aged 15 and older, and median household income in $1,000s"

TABLE 4 Selected offence types for highest-need Neighborhood Characterization Areas, Winnipeg, 2001.
Table has been reduced to show areas directly around N.A.C.M. (highlighted in light grey), and those not in the core-area.

Table 4

FEASIBILITY STUDY-In May of 2006 a Feasibility Study for the construction of a facility for N.A.C.M. The primary reasons for relocation from 160 Salter are many:

  • Cost of repairs-the general cost of repairs for the present facility at 160 Salter would run into two or three million for a complete overhaul. New buildings would provide for a similar costs. It would be just as well, therefore, to build a new facility.
  • The present building at 160 Salter is quite old and some of its compontents may be too old to repair without incurring an unbearable cost. This would include the old elevator, some of the "steam-heating system" with the old pipes, the deteriorating roof and walls, the need for good insulation, new lighting fixtures, a good ventilating system, etc.
  • The present building at 160 Salter is situated in an area of Winnipeg which presents many risk factors. Some of these include the following: Vehicles have been stolen from the area; There is a gang presence in the area; Employees and clients are both at risk for violence; The destruction of property is imminent and has occured; The area is easily one of drug trafficking and alcohol consumption with a nearby hotel; Cultural functions are not easily performed in the area, etc.

    • NEW FACILITY SPACE REQUIREMENT

    Proposed Facility

    The construction of the planned building will maintain certain advantages as a green friendly project.

    Part of the recommendations is to provide for a landscaping with the development of new trees and the beautification of the external environment. We see the landscaping filled with trees, fresh green grass, a water stream, some rocks, flowers and vegetation. The external environment of the facility will, therefore, be emblematic of environmental protection and the safeguarding of its beauty.

    The internal environment of the facility will also be ripe with environmental life as we would like to symbolize health to the people we service. Some of the perceived internal designs at this point would include abundant plant life within the facility along with a water stream and fountain. The glass doors in four directions would, of course, encompass the external beauty. The facility would be adorned with nature's art and colors which are therapeutic.

    We also see the development of wind energy generator(s) in the future to replace the type of energy which proceeds from damage to the environment. Wind energy will allow for more environmentally-friendly practices for this facility and there will be no dependence, therefore, on the systems which damage wildlife habitats and plant life.

    The building itself, as stated, encompasses major advantages which safeguards any potential damage to the environment. It is "fire-proof" which will prevent any damage to the clean environment. The building is water proof and will not develop "black mold" for the safety of healthy individuals. The facility is also "wind-proof" and will not litter the environment in times of strong winds and tornadoes. The facility is geared to last for centuries, not years as most conventional buildings, and will, therefore, not erode the environment through major repairs to the facility.

    There will geothermal heating and we will be utilizing local materials. In one statement, the development of this facility is a step toward the safety of the local environment and the health of individuals. Geothermal heating, local materials will be used therefore not affecting our local environment

    Donations-repeated from the top

    As a contributor to N.A.C.M.'s Journey of Change you could be a part of a unique green project. N.A.C.M. will issue tax deductible receipts for any donation. If you would like more information about our Journey of Change or our proposed facility, please contact Bertha at 204-586-8395 to set up an appointment to meet and discuss any questions you might have. While donations of any amount are appreciated, those making a sizeable donation may be mentioned at our opening ceremony or any advertising that we may do before hand as well, as a public thank you. Please check back to the News page to see how we are progressing on this Journey of Change.

    Courtesy freepixels.com