April 2009

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Horizons of Friendship in Alberta – April 2009

April 23, 2009 in Articles by linda

Patricia Rebolledo, Executive Director, Rona Donefer, Foundations & Program Development Officer and Cathy Wenuk, Board Member visited Calgary and Edmonton from April 13^th to 19^th.

They meet with long-time Horizons’ supporters, new friends interested in Horizons’ work, foundations and other organizations working in Central America and Mexico.

Donor Appreciation – Calgary, April 14th.

Top from Left: Gerry Watkins, Penny Young, Rona Donefer, Murray Young, Front Row from Left: Patricia Rebolledo, Faye Watkins, Cathy Wenuk, Cathy Ashford.

Rotary Club of Calgary -April 14th

Murray Young invited Patricia, Rona and Cathy as guests at the Rotary Club of Calgary Lunch. We were warmly welcomed by fellow Rotarians and met members of the World Service Committee. They are now considered financial support to our Regional Project to End Violence against Women in Central America.

Meeting with long-time donor Theodore Bruseker and wife Annette.

Theo has been a loyal supporter of Horizons of Friendship for almost 20 years. It was a pleasure to meet him and Annette. “I’m glad to help people help themselves”, he says of his support to Horizons’ programs in Mesoamerica.

Thank You to Jean Major

Jean has been a staunch supporter of Horizons of Friendship since its inception. She is the sister to co-founder Father Tim Coughlan, mother of Board Member Cathy Wenuk and former Alberta representative for Horizons until 2006. Jean is still busy networking to encourage support for Central American and Mexican communities.

Donor Appreciation – Edmonton, April 17^th

We met with monthly donors Jacqueline Villenueve (top left), David Whitson (bottom right), and Sonia Varela (not in photo).

Wild Rose Foundation, April 17^th

We said a sad good-bye but a huge thank you to Wild Rose Foundation’s, International Development Program staff, from left: Lia Watkins (Administrative Assistant), Jackie Switzer, (Consultant International Development Program).

As of April 7^th, the Alberta government has cut Wild Rose Foundation from the provincial budget. Horizons of Friendship received funding ($25,000 annually, as a match to funds generated from Alberta donors since 1982.

Jackie and Lia provided excellent encouragement and support to Horizons of Friendship over the years. We will miss you!

Meetings with organizations in Calgary & Edmonton

The Fig Tree Foundation – Paul Gomes, Director
The Calgary Foundation – Kathryn Waslen, Donor Grants Administrator,
ITLMA Foundation, Janet & Howard McLean – Co-Directors
CAWST - Paul Earwaker, International Technical Advisor
Cause Canada- Bev Carrick, Executive Director & Roland Vanderburg, Program Director
Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters – Carolyn Goard, Director Member Programs and Services

Horizons letter to Premier Stelmach

April 21, 2009 in Articles by linda

April 17, 2009

Honourable Ed Stelmach

Office of the Premier

Room 307, Legislature Building

10800-97^th Ave

Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Premier Stelmach,

Horizons of Friendship is the only Canadian charitable organization working exclusively in Central America and Mexico. Since 1973 we have worked with local partner organizations on community development projects in a concerted effort to address poverty and inequality in the region. Canadians from coast to coast, including Albertans have generously contributed to Horizons’ self-help projects for the past 36 years, demonstrating how much they care about the wellbeing of their southern neighbours.

Financial support from Alberta has gone beyond individual and community support. In 1982, Horizons of Friendship started receiving support from the Alberta government through its Agency for International Development and since 1994 through the Wild Rose Foundation.

We are highly appreciative of the long standing support of individual Albertans and the Wild Rose Foundation to Horizons of Friendship’s projects. The generosity of Albertans has brought positive results to over 1,200 projects Horizons has supported since its inception. The living conditions of impoverished families have been improved through application of organic farming, promotion of intercultural approaches to health, education and governance, reconstruction following natural disasters, and the strengthening of micro-enterprises and agricultural co-operatives. Horizons is working with all its partners on regional projects that combine training, citizen participation and sharing of best practices to address violence against women, HIV/AIDS pandemic, migration, and the rights of Indigenous and Afro-Descendant populations.

Our Albertan supporters tell us that it is important for them to contribute to making the world a better place. They gladly contribute their own funds and are highly motivated that Wild Rose is matching their contributions to fund projects that improve the social and economic conditions of the poor in developing countries.

Horizons of Friendship has maintained excellent relations with representatives of the Wild Rose Foundation and has visited the office several times. In 2006, Horizons of Friendship registered in Alberta as an extra-provincial not-for-profit corporation and has an Albertan on its Board of Directors.

For 2009 Horizons of Friendship presented two regional projects for financial consideration by the Wild Rose Foundation: Ending Violence against Women in Central America and the Central American Citizens HIV/AIDS Observatory.

Last week we received a letter from Pat Blakney, Wild Rose Director, stating that our request for funding was declined due to limited resources the Foundation has available to give. We are profoundly disappointed with this decision. This is especially difficult at a time of economic crisis when Central American neighbours are counting on the generosity and goodwill of Canadians to help them break the cycle of poverty.

We are dismayed to learn that the Alberta government has decided to eliminate The Wild Rose Foundation. While we appreciate the challenges of reducing expenses and managing a deficit budget, we also wish to express the clear desire of our Albertan supporters that their government address global poverty at a provincial level by continuing to support effective sustainable community development projects through reputable Canadian charitable organizations such as Horizons of Friendship.

To learn more about the positive impact of Horizons of Friendship’s programs please contact me at prebolledo@horizons.ca or 1-888-729-9928. We also invite you to visit our website at www.horizons.ca.

Sincerely

Patricia Rebolledo Beth Chetner

Executive Director Alberta Board Member

Horizons of Friendship Horizons of Friendship

Writers & Friends Literary Evenings, Port Hope

April 17, 2009 in Events by linda

On November 21, 2004, Trinity College School’s new headmaster Stuart Grainger and Monica Grainger (third from right) welcomed Writers & Friends’ 10^th Annual contributing authors Paul Quarrington, Kate Taylor, Richard B. Wright and Farley Mowat along with master of ceremonies David Macfarlane and Horizons of Friendship board member Dr. Paul Caldwell.

Horizons of Friendship member of the board, Dr. Paul Caldwell joins Writers & Friends master of ceremonies Anna Porter (front row, left) and authors Michael Crummey, M.G. Vassanji and Claire Mowat at Horizons’ 11^th Literary Evening, Nov. 13, 2005.

Gathering on stage at LeVan Hall, Trinity College School, following Horizons’ 12 th annual literary evening on November 19, 2006 were participating guests Farley Mowat, Writers & Friends founding contributor and author of Bay of Spirits; Linda Diebel, author of Betrayed: The Assassination of Digna Ochoa; Camilla Gibb, author of Sweetness in the Belly; Joseph Boyden author of Three Day Road; Horizons Executive Director Patricia Rebolledo, and Writers & Friends master of ceremonies, Ian Brown.

Writers & Friends 2007 Lucky “13 th” Literary Evening featured Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Elizabeth Hay (Late Nights on Air) along with biographer Anna Porter, (Kasztner’s Train), Horizons’ partner from El Salvador Transito Ruano, Horizons’ Executive director, Patricia Rebolledo, and authors Noah Richler (This Is My Country, What’s Yours?) and Linden MacIntyre (Passage From Innocence).

On November 9, Writers & Friends founding contributor, Farley Mowat toasted the success of the 2008 edition along with Stuart Grainger, headmaster of Trinity College School, host to Horizons’ annual fundraiser and Horizons Executive Director Patricia Rebolledo who thanked the evening’s contributors, authors Dr. James Orbinski, An Imperfect Offering, Charlotte Gray, Nellie McLung, Helen Humphreys, Coventry , Richard Gwyn, John A, and Ian Brown, master of ceremonies.

Writers & Friends organizing committee volunteers and Horizons staff members are joined by Horizons of Friendship co- founder Christine Stewart (back row, centre) and board member Dr. Paul Caldwell following the 14^th Literary Evening in Port Hope on November 9, 2008.

What role for Canada in the Americas?

April 15, 2009 in Uncategorized by community

15 April, 2009

A Civil Society Prescription for Canada at the 5th Americas Summit, Trinidad, 17-19 April, 2009

The 5th Americas Summit represents an important crossroads for Canadian policy in this hemisphere. That’s the message in a statement from the Americas Policy Group (APG) of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, released today.

The APG comprises some 40 organizations, including human rights groups, churches, labour unions, development organizations and research institutions with decades of experience in the region.

”The Summit provides Canada an opportunity to signal a shift towards a clear priority for human rights and broad-based development over the rights of private investors in the Americas,” says Rusa Jeremic, Co-Chair of the APG and Global Economic Justice Program Coordinator for KAIROS.

The APG statement reviews changes underway in the hemisphere and finds Canada’s policies risk placing this country on the wrong side of a crucial divide – between policies that reinforce inequalities and promote a military approach to security issues, on the one hand, and policies that support economic justice, fair trade, democratic development and corporate accountability, on the other.

Canada’s promotion of NAFTA-style trade agreements and Canadian investment, on the pretence that human rights and democracy will “trickle down” as a consequence, is giving the country a bad name in the region.

The APG statement presents recommendations for Canada’s policies in four key areas: Trade and Investment; Canadian Extractive Industries; Security; Democracy and Human Rights.

”The people of the Americas expect better of us,” says William Payne, APG Coordinator. “We can’t afford to let them down.”

Click here for the APG Statement and a contact list of Civil Society Representatives attending the Summit or available to comment on the paper and Summit proceedings.

For more information, please contact Northumberland County residents:

Bill Fairbairn – Latin America specialist

Horizons of Friendship

Tel: 905-372-5483 x21

bilito@horizons.ca

Rick Arnold – Hemispheric integration specialist

Common Frontiers

Tel (Canada): 905-352-2430

Tel (Trinidad and Tobago): TDC

comfront@web.ca

Peter Puxley

Media Relations – Canadian Council for International Co-operation
613-241-7007 Ext. 327
ppuxley@ccic.ca, www.ccic.ca

Writers & Friends Grand Silent Auction

April 3, 2009 in Events by linda

Grand Silent Auction, Writers & Friends April 5, 2009

Preview of some offerings

Writers & Friends Grand Silent Auction is an important component of our gala afternoon fundraiser on behalf of Horizons of Friendship and partners in Central America and Mexico. The generosity of Writers & Friends

2009 participating writers Gil Adamson, Adrienne Clarkson, Dan Hill and Paul Quarrington is complimented by donations from artists and special donors. For your consideration, a partial preview:

Jane Derby, Kingston artist and graduate of OCAD. Her donation is Crevasse, Oil on lath and plaster, 14″ x 14″, AVP $750, reserve bid $ 300. Jane enjoys working with lath, “an integral and often exposed part of decaying frame farmhouses around Kingston. The intent is to reveal this history and to contemporize its austere beauty”. Her work is in the Arte Povera tradition, “a modern movement in Italian art which explores a wide range of materials beyond the quasi-precious traditional ones…Materials are deliberately chosen for their “worthlessness”, partially as a reaction against the commercialization of the art.Jane is represented by the Sandra Whitton Gallery.

Andrew Gregg, head of art at Trinity College School and artist who is represented in collections in Canada and abroad. His painting “Petroglyphs and Pencils“, oil on board with found objects, 24″ X 36,”is designed to evoke thoughts about ancient tribal symbols. It is based on an actual petroglyph found at the Petroglyphs Provincial Park east of Peterborough. Value $ 1200; reserve bid $ 800. Andrew is represented by A.K. Collings Gallery: www.akcolllings.com.

Phillida Hargreaves, fibre artist and member of Kingston Fibre Artists, whose creations in fibre and texture are inspired by nature, including “details of nature expressed in a more abstract form.” She has been exhibiting and selling fibre art since 1989 and has recently exhibited at the highly regarded quilt festival in Houston, Texas. Her focus continues to be” how fabrics refract and absorb the light”. Her donation is “Green Ice Cave” 26.5″X 18.5″ AVP. $ 400; reserve bid $ 200. “The water had hollowed out a small cave; I used straight lines in this design to emphasize the sculptural nature of the ice.” www.phillidahargreaves.ca

Dan Hughes, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art in 1991 and of the New York Academy of Art in 1995, from where he was awarded the top scholarships in 1993 and 1994. He studied in Florence during 1990. His work is in major public and private collections in North America, Germany and Britain. He exhibits with Edward Day Gallery in Toronto and has been exhibiting with Jill George Gallery since 2000. He participated in ‘Directors’ Choice’, a three person show in May 2002, a two person show with Robert Fawcett in 2004 and a solo exhibition in June 2008. His donation to Horizons are two sketches, “Back Studies” # 2 and # 4, graphite on paper, AVP. $1500; Reserve bid $600 for each sketch. www.edwarddaygallery.com.

Tony Urquhart, resident of Stratford, Ontario and member of the Order of Canada. A pioneer of Canada’s abstract expressionism in the 50’s, he is an artist whose work is found at the AGO, the National Gallery, MOMA, the Victoria & Albert, etc. His works are recognized as combining “the surreal, the mythic and the symbolic”. His donation to Horizons is a pen & ink drawing on prepared paper, Amy’s Mausoleum 21″X 17.” Suggested value $ 1200; reserve bid. $ 800. For more information www.tonyurquhart.ca.. Tony is represented by A.K. Collings Gallery: www.akcollings.com.

A 2009 dream holiday retreat, a Week in the South in the Aveyron district, Midi Pyrenees region of France. Located in the quiet hamlet of La Pradines, 15 mins. from Najac, 90 mins. from Toulouse airport, your pied a terre (for up to 6 people) is a fully restored 18th century farmhouse with three bedrooms , two with queen beds, one with double beds. Living area with fireplace, dining/kitchen area, bathroom with shower. Superb view from the terrace overlooking the Viaur River Valley. Countryside includes plateaus, wine growing areas, mediaeval hill top towns with relatively few tourists. Selected availability April to October 2009; 2010 by negotiation. Priceless. Suggested bid $ 950.00.

Toronto the Beautiful: Two hour art and architecture walking tour of cultural district of Toronto for up to fifteen people, followed by a wine and cheese reception at Edward Day Gallery. Donated by Betty Ann Jordan and Mary Sue Rankin. AVP = $500 + $300 = $800.

Guadalupe Rojas Alvarez, of Costa Rica, artist and illustrator; painting AVP. $ 400.

Authors, Musicians and Artists Join Supporters in Horizons of Friendship’s Benefit April 5th

April 2, 2009 in Events by linda

Writers & Friends All Together!

The Friends of Horizons committee is delighted to announce that there are only a few tickets left for this Sunday’s “Writes of Spring” at Kingston City Hall. It’s Horizons’ 13^th annual fundraising gala in Kingston, and for those lucky enough to have tickets a more memorable afternoon would be hard to imagine.

Four of Canada’s most interesting authors are contributing to Writers & Friends on behalf of marginalized communities in Central America and Mexico. You will meet Gil Adamson, outstanding young novelist and 2009 Canada Reads finalist (The Outlander); Adrienne Clarkson, Canada’s former Governor General and respected biographer (Norman Bethune); acclaimed singer- songwriter and memoirist Dan Hill (I Am My Father’s Son) and award winning novelist, screenwriter and musician Paul Quarrington (The Ravine).

A rare treat is in store for those who enjoy Writers & Friends’ tradition of live music. Dan Hill and Paul Quarrington will play for Horizons’ supporters in both solo and duet performance.

Visual artists as well are contributing to Horizons’ Writers & Friends Silent Auction which will also feature donations of gift certificates, services and select baskets of Central American art and craft. Works by well known artists Dan Hughes and Tony Urquhart along with donations from Andrew Gregg, Jane Derby, and Phillida Hargeaves as well as the offer of a week’s stay in the south of France may be previewed on Horizons website www.horizons.ca.

If you are not able to attend Writers & Friends, you can still place your bid. We invite you to contact Horizons of Friendship with your proxy bid amount for the item of your choice by Friday April 3rd at 5 pm; please call 1 888- 729- 9928 or email info@horizons.ca . For more information on Writers & Friends, call 1 613 546- 9199.

Support for Writers & Friends is particularly important to Horizons of Friendship during a period of funding uncertainty. Your contribution is welcomed either by purchasing a ticket ($ 110; tax receipt $ 90), or by a donation of your choice (fully tax receiptable). To enquire about ticket availability, please contact Horizons at 1 888- 729- 9928. For more information on the work of Horizons of Friendship, visit www.horizons. ca.