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Random Acts of Kindness Day

The Victoria Foundation is promoting their annual Random Acts of Kindness Week. What used to be a day, is now a week, and we couldn't be more thrilled. The staff have been making sure they are doing additional acts of kindness this week and people are feeling good. Tod...
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Podcast Season 2/E8 – Bill

In this episode, Blake sits down with Bill, the enigmatic facilitator of the Intensive Journaling program offered at Umbrella. Bill shares the profound impact that the Intensive Journaling process had on him and how he has adapted the program to meet the needs of individu...
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Devin Retires

Devin Lynn has been a manager at Island Health for many, many years. Devin has been a huge supporter of Umbrella and a mentor to Sharlene. Today, we celebrated Devin and his retirement this Friday. There was great turnout, yummy food and stories that showed the type...
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Goodbye Laura

December was a sad month for Umbrella and the SURF team. Laura resigned to attend full time school in January and continue her work in this field. SURF started with Laura and she brought an incredible amount of knowledge, history, empathy and support to the clients they...
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Albina Team

One of the transitional housing sites Umbrella works at, Albina, is staffed by two of Umbrella's finest - Josh and Sean. Alongside our friends at Our Place, this site has incredible residents, lots of engagement and participation and a whole lotta  fun. On Christmas, th...
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Thank you Courtnall Society

Umbrella is incredibly grateful to be a grant recipient from the Courtnall Society again this year. Bruce and Cassie came to Umbrella's office to present Jake with the funds. We were told to apply the funds to the area of most need, and because Umbrella is ramping up ou...
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Thank you Times Colonist

Yesterday, Ian from the Sovereign Order of St John delivered a generous check, on behalf of the Sovereign Order and the Times Colonist to Evan at Umbrella. These funds will be used to offset the rising costs of food at our recovery houses, which allows us to continue to ...
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Our Anawim Tree

Every year Anawim generously donates a Christmas tree to Foundation House, and this we got this beauty. Sharlene and Evan headed down to Anawim to meet up with Terry and pick the perfect tree. It isn't Christmas at our houses without Anawim! Thank you!!
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Christmas Party 2023

Last night was Umbrella's annual Christmas party. Well, it was more of a dinner, we aren't really partiers! Our emcee Blake faced his arch nemesis "the only works half  the time microphone" but nailed the emcee duties as always. Santa made an appearance, he had thinned...
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Podcast Season 2/E6 – Eileen

  In this episode, Blake speaks with Eileen as she shares her story about growing up with addiction in her family and how it shaped her substance use challenges. Eileen's story is one of resiliency, self-discovery and transformation. Listen to Eileen's powerful story h...