Niagara College has received two grants totaling $105,000 through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The fund, administered in collaboration with the United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, provides financial support to charities and other qualified organizations adapting their frontline services to support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants are a welcome boost in support of NC students experiencing food insecurities and for the College’s Recreation Therapy program that is committed to positively impacting seniors living in Niagara’s long-term care homes.

Stocking up NCSAC’s Nourishing Minds Grocery Card Program

The Niagara Community Foundation has generously awarded a $50,000 ECSF grant to the Nourishing Minds Grocery Card Program at NC to provide vital support to students facing food insecurities due to COVID-19. The program, which is run by NC’s Student Administrative Council (NCSAC), provides students in need with $50 electronic grocery cards to assist with the cost of groceries and other necessities.

Prior to COVID-19, students experiencing food insecurities were referred to Nourishing Minds by the College’s counselling services or financial aid. In response to an increased need during the pandemic, NCSAC moved its grocery card application process online to help students quickly, safely, and discreetly. Emergency funding was initially provided through community donations and a transfer of college operational funds, and since mid-March, more than 2726 grocery cards have been distributed to students.

“Through the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), the Niagara Community Foundation is proud to deploy these vital funds to our partners at Niagara College for their Nourishing Minds Grocery Card Program,” said Bryan Rose, executive director, Niagara Community Foundation. “We are all keenly aware of the negative impact that COVID-19 has had on all members of our community. Balancing tuition payments and basic necessities like rent, groceries and transportation is difficult for so many in ‘normal’ times, let alone during a pandemic. These funds will go a long way in ensuring that Niagara College students have the resources they need to keep moving forward with their education while knowing they have some help to put food on their tables.”

In addition to the ECSF grant, TD Insurance, the College’s alumni affinity partner, has generously donated $10,000 in support of the Nourishing Minds Grocery Card Program by redirecting funds that would have been earmarked for event sponsorship supporting NC.

Thanks to the recent contributions, NCSAC will be able to continue the program to provide students with grocery cards on an emergency basis, and to further the program throughout the coming year.

“The grant received through the support of the Government of Canada and the Niagara Community Foundation and the generous donation from TD Insurance, highlights the commitment our community partners have towards student well-being at Niagara College,” said Tom Price, NCSAC president. “The combined contributions will ensure the viability of the NCSAC Grocery Card initiative, allowing us to continue tackling food insecurity during these challenging times. To date, the extraordinary relationship between NCSAC, Niagara College, and our community partners has seen substantial funds redirected to the Nourishing Minds Fund since March 18, 2020.”

Support for Recreation Therapy program a win-win for students and long-term care residents

NC’s Recreation Therapy program has also received funding for its efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Way of Niagara has generously awarded NC with a $55,000 ECSF grant that will help cover the cost of materials for a project aimed at combating isolation and loneliness in long-term care homes.

The project will engage second-year Recreation Therapy students who will provide comfort and companionship to residents living in Niagara’s long-term care homes. Students will connect virtually with residents through one-on-one meaningful interactions to provide stimulating therapeutic activities, and cognitively and socially stimulating programs. The individualized programming works to reduce the boredom, loneliness and isolation being experienced by the residents who have been separated from their loved ones due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“Since our in-home programming had to stop as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this grant allows us to continue offering vital programming to residents in ways that meet public health requirements and keeps residents engaged and healthy,” said Carol Phillips, associate dean, School of Community Services. “Through the project, our students will gain an applied learning experience while supporting long-term care residents who will benefit from the connections and customized activities being provided. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

Residents from the Niagara Regional Housing site in St. Catharines participate in the Cyber Seniors program with NC rec therapy students in August 2019 when the program was delivered face-to-face.

Students, who are trained Cyber Senior facilitators, will teach residents how to use iPads and facilitate activities that are created specifically for individual residents’ needs, abilities, and interests. Examples include asking “All About Me” questions to develop their life histories and writing letters and emails as part of a Pen Pal project or to send to family and friends.

Through their DementiAbility Methods training, students will also provide Montessori-inspired activities created specifically to provide stimulation and joy to those with dementia. Examples include asking residents to reach into a bag of knitting and sewing materials to guess the items or playing instrumental music and asking residents to guess what type of instrument was played.

Each student will interact with approximately eight residents per week during their 14-week academic term and it is anticipated that over 5,600 meaningful interactions will be provided over the course of the project.

“Supporting the well-being of seniors in long-term care homes through this pandemic is such an important issue in Niagara,” said Frances Hallworth, executive director, United Way of Niagara. “Companionship is a major contributing factor to our overall health, and seeing our loved ones in long-term care homes suffering from the effects of isolation has been difficult for everyone. United Way is pleased to be able to grant $55,000 to Niagara College’s Recreation and Therapy program in support of its ‘combating isolation and loneliness for seniors’ project thanks to the Emergency Community Support Fund.”

“We’re very grateful to the Government of Canada and our valued community partners for assisting students in need and supporting the great work of our Recreation Therapy program and our Student Administrative Council,” said Niagara College president Sean Kennedy. “This generous funding helps our passionate and dedicated faculty, staff and students respond to challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented for our community.”

Finding comfort in the middle of a global pandemic looks different for everyone.

While some have turned to activities like baking, yoga or binge watching a favourite show, others have relied on the unconditional love and companionship provided by their furry friends, especially at a time when human-to-human interaction is limited.

This was apparent in the latest webinar from NC Development and Alumni Relations dubbed ‘Yappy
Hour.’ Co-hosted with Community Employment Services (CES), the August 12 live Zoom event provided an opportunity for NC alumni and staff, along with their four-legged companions, to socialize virtually and discuss all things dog-related. Professional dog trainer Celine Loguasto, who operates Celine’s K9 Training from her property in Niagara-on-the-Lake, joined the conversation.

Celine Loguasto, Master Trainer and owner of Celine’s K9 Training.

“We did trivia during our last connecting-themed webinar and this time we wanted to do something fun with pets in mind,” said NC’s alumni engagement officer Jana Boniferro, whose family unit consists of Basha, an eight year old German Shepherd, and Charlie, a six year old King Cavalier Spaniel. “We’re busy taking care of our families, but we also have our fur babies too, so it’s great to get some valuable advice from someone who has been working with canines for over 25 years.”

Loguasto did just that, offering training tips and alleviating the participants’ concerns about new habits and behaviours picked up by the pups with changing household routines during the pandemic.

With new work-from-home situations, many participants have been spending more time with their dogs and have noticed patterns of attachment and separation anxiety.

Jennifer Gammon has experienced this with her 10-year-old Cockapoo Murphy. Although she began working from home long before COVID-19, she says Murphy has struggled with separation anxiety ever since and never leaves her side when they are together – she doesn’t mind the company from her trusted sidekick, though.

For those concerned about how their dogs will react when they return to work outside of the home, Loguasto put their worries at ease. She assured the group that their pups will likely go back to the routine they had before, especially older or trained ones.

Michele and Gwinney

Michele O’Keefe, NC’s associate director of athletics and recreation, plans to sign her six month old Shih Tzu Gwinney up for training with Loguasto. She welcomed Gwinney into her home in April for companionship and found the webinar helpful.

“I’m very new to the world of puppies and to hear from an expert like Celine as well as other dog owners made me feel better with some of the decisions I’ve made with my pup so far,” said O’Keefe. “Gwinney has been a great addition to my life and helps me get out of my head. She seems to be a happy puppy with a fun personality.”

Madison Garratt, who works at CES, has managed to find the “pawsitives” in the current situation. She has enjoyed spending more time with her two year old German Shepherd Ginny and creating special memories together. “I live near the Falls, so we’ve had a few fun photo shoots when there was literally no one there a few months ago,” she said.

It’s clear that for this group of canine enthusiasts getting through the dog days of summer, and the COVID-19 pandemic, is more tolerable with the presence of a furry friend.

“This pandemic is very serious, but if we can find silver linings in it, it’ll make it easier for all of us,” said Boniferro. “We know our fur babies are a breath of fresh air and so comforting to us, so it was nice to talk doggies for over 90 minutes!”

Development and Alumni Relations’ webinar series focuses on the three pillars of wellness, learning and connecting.

For information on upcoming offerings in the series, held bi-weekly on Wednesdays, visit NC’s alumni Facebook page here.

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