Submitted by Paul Gauthier

1.  Saskatoon Restorative Action Program Inc.

How We Got Started
A team of educators, administrators, students and community members designed a Restorative Justice Program in 2002 to address the violence, intimidation and bullying that had escalated to the point of affecting everyone at Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon. They sought funding to have a full-time Restorative Justice Facilitator at Mount Royal.
 
 
After being turned down by several funding agencies, three community agencies created a consortium to bring the idea to fruition. The three-year Restorative Justice Pilot Program was funded by the Rotary Club of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Public Schools and the Saskatchewan Community Initiatives Fund. Its goal was to reduce violence and bullying while developing a positive school culture and strategies to address issues that stood in the way of students being successful in school.
 
During the next three years, the program expanded to include strategies not only to prevent conflict but it also disengaged students to reconnect with the school and their social network.
 
In 2006, this became known as RAP (Restorative Action Program), and a dedicated facilitator hired.  RAP is effective in reducing violence, resolving conflicts, teaching leadership, life skills and helping all youth become good citizens of the community.
 

RAP Today
Today RAP is operating in nine high schools throughout Saskatoon and is supported by all five of Saskatoon’s Rotary Clubs. These clubs contribute financially and have representatives who are Board members on the Executive Committee of RAP.
 
 
RAP is also financially supported by both school Boards in Saskatoon, government and community agencies, as well as businesses and individuals. The long-term goal of RAP is to have a Facilitator in every school in Saskatoon.

2. King George Community School Partnership


The Rotary Club of Saskatoon has a

partnership with King George Community School located in the inner-city of Saskatoon through the development of their community room, Christmas market and reading program. The school has about 150 students, with approximately 65% of aboriginal ancestry, and includes many other multi-cultural backgrounds.
 
Since King George has a Community School Coordinator and is a hub for educational, social, recreational and cultural activities for the King George neighbourhood, the Rotary Club of Saskatoon provided funding and hands-on support to build a community room in the school and purchase a drum and teepee for cultural activities at the school. 
 
Since 2015 The Rotary Club of Saskatoon has also hosted an annual Christmas market in late December.  We collect items for the market throughout the fall to provide the kids with an opportunity to “shop” for gifts for their families.  Rotary volunteers spend the day in a morning or afternoon shift to help the kids shop and wrap gifts for their families. 
Improving students’ reading comprehension skills is a major focus.  The club provides a one-on-one reading opportunity to Grade 1 and two students to help support the School’s goals of having the students read at their grade level.  We volunteer to read one morning every two weeks for a couple of hours starting at 8:50 am. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon is happy to partner and support this inner-city school in Saskatoon.

 

3. Westmount Elementary School

Westmount Community School has a Community School Coordinator and is a hub for educational, social, recreational and cultural activities for the Westmount neighbourhood. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon provided funding for a new commercial stove to help cook hot meals at breakfast and lunch for young students in the school. With a nutritious start to the day and fuel for learning at lunch, we are supporting the students and the teachers to get the best results for their educational efforts.
 
We are also looking at providing additional support for the school as we identify additional opportunities to work with them.
 

4. Friendship Inn

Vulnerable people find safe sanctuary at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, a community centre that evolved from a soup kitchen. The Inn is committed to being responsive and compassionate, and to fostering a sense of belonging among children, youth and adults who experience poverty, with a no-questions-asked policy. At the Inn, people have access to breakfast, lunch, a family worker, as well as information on topics ranging from health to the law. Programs such as a weekly cribbage tournament, tutoring for kids, and parenting classes are available.
 
By eliminating the stress of securing two meals, individuals and families can focus on other relevant issues such as securing housing, finding employment, creating healthy relationships and education for themselves and their children. Those seeking meals and other services at the Inn include individuals and families struggling to survive on a fixed income, people experiencing addictions and mental health issues, single mothers and fathers, senior citizens and new immigrants.
 

The Friendship Inn serves between 200-350 meals each day at breakfast, and between 400 and 700 meals for lunch. The Inn depends on volunteers to keep staffing costs low. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon volunteers two days a year at this hands-on opportunity. Great fellowship as well!
 
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