The Victoria Cool Aid Society has been building hope, lives and community in the Capital Region for 40 years, since 1968, through a wide range of programs including supported housing, community health and dental services, emergency shelter, and a casual labour pool for adults who are homeless or in need of help.
A short film about Cool Aid's history & philosophy
A historically-focused, 28-minute documentary about Cool Aid people, services and buildings was filmed in 2008 during Cool Aid's 40th Anniversary. The video will be aired on Shaw television, shown at Cool Aid presentations, and is now online. Two smaller versions will be produced, i.e. 30-second public service announcement (PSA) and a 3-minute webcast.
The North Park Neighbourhood Association will present a good neighbour plaque to Cool Aid’s Next Steps Transitional Shelter on Wednesday, June 17, at 3 pm at the shelter (2317 Dowler Place), to mark over a year of good relations in the community. The Neighbourhood Association, shelter residents and Cool Aid staff will celebrate with food donated from Alzus Family Restaurant and live music. Other North Park residents and the media are welcome to attend.
“The success of our Good Neighbour Agreement shows that if we all work together, there is a place for everyone in our neighbourhoods,” said Don McTavish, manager of shelters for Victoria Cool Aid Society. “Our neighbourhood includes social services, businesses, renters, homeowners and those without homes. It’s our neighbourhood and we’re proud of it.”
The Capital Regional Hospital District, the United Way of Greater Victoria, TELUS, and Coast Capital Savings have recently committed $710,000 towards the ACCESS Health Centre, a one-stop health and social services center for people struggling with homelessness, addictions and mental health issues. ACCESS is a joint project of the Victoria Cool Aid Society and AIDS Vancouver Island, costing $5.3 million to reconstruct the ACCESS building at 713 Johnson Street.
“This brings the total amount raised for this project to $ 4.2 million,” said Kathy Stinson, executive director of the Victoria Cool Aid Society. “We are thrilled to be so close to our goal of $5.3 million for the project, which will allow us to offer improved health and social services to vulnerable people in our community.”
Beacon Community Services, in partnership with the Victoria Cool Aid Society's REES Network, is opening an exciting new Thrift Shop. We are recruiting new volunteers today! Volunteers with diverse abilities and experience welcome.
A new periodical called Cool Views has just been published by the Victoria Cool Aid Society to highlight its many health, housing, shelter and support services for community members who are homeless and vulnerable. You can pick up Cool Views online or contact our office to have one or many mailed to you or your organization.
The premiere issue has a focus on Cool Aid's community health services and the new ACCESS Health Centre now under construction on Johnson Street downtown. The following stories can be found in the very first issue of Cool Views:
you
are here:
RSS
Feed 
