Ka nâkateyimiwehk – Protection; keeping something from harm

We got first word of the impending pandemic through the news: China and Italy were experiencing something extreme and it was on its way around the world. We watched as the virus made its way to Canada. By the beginning of March, Alberta saw its first presumptive case. Our immediate response was to meet with residents to explain the pandemic and how it may impact their lives and the delivery of service from staff at Ambrose Place. We didn’t even know what it was or what the future of our service would look like, but we, as frontline workers, had to stay strong. The next step was to secure personal protective equipment (PPE), toilet paper, cleaning supplies and food – before the masses scooped everything up. The news said supplies were depleting from grocery stores and barren shelves confirmed it.

Visitors were no longer permitted at Ambrose Place and our residents were confined to their units when they were home. Medication and food were delivered directly to resident units, which put workers at the forefront of close contact.

At the beginning of the isolation orders, many of us were very scared considering a few residents were in and out despite orders to remain in place and we were making contact with each resident every day. All activities were put on hold, but we continued to smudge the building and pray for our residents, staff and community. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) updates were posted for residents to stay informed, but the updates kept staff informed just as well. The updates made us both more and less scared at the same time; contraction numbers were climbing, but the information available was growing as well. 

A consistent communication plan was established with our partners, Alberta Health Services (AHS) Mental Health & Addictions and Homeward Trust, including weekly video calls to provide guidance about the OCMO updates and interruptions. Part of the communication plan included access to PPE inventory, access to additional resources to support residents in place and provide access to funds for additional costs incurred due to COVID-19. Our needs increased throughout the pandemic and our partners were an integral support to the health and safety of everyone at Ambrose Place.

Figure 1 Masks made by Ambrose Place residents to protect against COVID-19

Although we never officially had a case, we were declared an outbreak site as we met the OCMO requisites of two or more residents and staff with matching symptoms. This was often the case as many residents that use substances commonly experience mild cough, runny nose and temperature changes. The clarification of the definition of an outbreak caused us to fall under more stringent rules for reporting, yet staff had to continue business as usual, the new usual. Being placed in the eye of the storm every day is frightening, but our residents are family and their safety is worth the risk. 

After being declared an outbreak site, the next step was to establish a new internal protocol to refer each staff and resident symptom to the Lead LPN/Health Manager who then works with the Executive Director. This created a stronger sense of control and confidence in each situation. In hindsight, this support should have been implemented earlier, but we are all learning how to respond to a pandemic of this magnitude.

As of June 1, we began moving to a new sense of normalcy. This includes a new manner of dining in the cafeteria: each floor now dines separately, at half hour intervals, to a maximum of 14 residents per mealtime. The morning smudging ceremony now sees a maximum of seven residents per session, over two sessions daily. Some residents still keep to their units for mealtimes and remain fearful of going out. Our strategies of masking, social distancing and keeping hands and surfaces clean provides a sense of protection at Ambrose Place. We are still nervous about the virus, but we have more control over our facility and a little more confidence in our response. We will be ready for the next one.

Ambrose Daniels’ legacy lives on through Ambrose Place

Edmonton has the highest concentration of urban Indigenous Peoples living in Alberta and the second largest number of urban Indigenous People living in a Canadian city. With an Indigenous population of over 50,000 people, First Nations, Metis and Inuit account for 5.5 per cent of the city population (2016). Unfortunately, the number of Indigenous Peoples living without a place to call home is 56 per cent of the total homeless population in Edmonton. This goes without saying that the homeless population of Indigenous Peoples is represented disproportionately within this number. 

Ambrose Daniels was one of them. 

Daniels was born and raised in the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement 125km northeast of the city. Affectionately known as “Uncle Smurf” by family and friends, he was surrounded by a supportive network of community members. He worked in his trade until health complications forced him out of work and eventually led him to using substances to cope. 

Ambrose Daniels made his way to Edmonton to live with a new-found family in an inner-city apartment. There, he showed great generosity in providing a warm place to sleep for those without a home. His generosity, unfortunately, led to an eventual eviction notice and subsequent homelessness. Housing units were difficult to access as an Indigenous person living with an addiction and shelters were nearly always full. Living with health and substance abuse issues, Daniels had no support on the streets of Edmonton. His situation led him to contract pneumonia without a warm place to rest and recover. He passed away at the age of 51.

The unfortunate irony of his homelessness is not lost, but the love and support shown by Daniels toward his time living homeless and his eventual passing inspired the creation of Ambrose Place. Although he struggled with issues of his own, Ambrose Daniels accepted those that needed a warm place to sleep as a friend and without judgement. His memory and legacy are honoured through the work of those at Ambrose Place as they continue to provide housing for those similar to Daniels.

At Ambrose Place, there is no pressure to immediately quit substance abuse, but there is a sense of community that encourages healthy living, which leads to residents choosing healthier habits. If a facility like Ambrose Place had come to Edmonton sooner, Ambrose Daniels and many more like him may have been able to survive or at the least could have passed comfortably, feeling loved and at home.

Gathering Place shuts down after local business owners appeal permit

The Gathering Place/Mawacihitowin Otah, a local community space for Edmonton’s homeless population, is closing its doors after a group of local business owners and the Fort Road Business Association appealed NiGiNan’s permit allowing operation in the former Transit Hotel.

“We are deeply saddened to temporarily close down the Gathering Place. It’s our goal to limit the disruption to these crucial services, especially with winter just around the corner,” said Carola Cunningham, CEO of NiGiNan Housing Ventures. “NiGiNan Housing Ventures strives to build positive relationships with our neighbours in any community we develop low income housing or provide services. We have a proven track record with what we’ve done in McCauley with Ambrose Place - unfortunately in this case, we were not provided the opportunity.”

NiGiNan was approved for a City of Edmonton restaurant permit, as advised by the planning department, to run the Gathering Place in the old restaurant space of the Transit Hotel. Letters were soon sent out to community members and business owners in regards to the permit. At that time, the Fort Road Business Association along with a few local business owners hired a lawyer and brought NiGiNan to the appeal board. NiGiNan’s permit was revoked as of September 19, 2019. 

“It’s our priority to work with our partners and the community to find a space to continue offering the services provided by the Gathering Place,” said Dave Ward, Executive Director of NiGiNan Housing Ventures. “What we’ve learned through our work with Ambrose Place and our other housing projects is that patience and compassion goes a long way. Our model is working - we provide emotional, spiritual, physical and mental support in a culturally sensitive environment. We are contributing to a stronger and healthier Edmonton community everyday.”

The Gathering Place opened up in the former Transit Hotel in November 2017 to provide people experiencing homeless a place to connect with loved ones, have a hot meal or just take a break from the constant battle of surviving on the streets. In August 2019, NiGiNan surveyed the community members accessing the Gathering Place and found that out of 579 people queried, only 105 people were experiencing homelessness. The remaining 474 people were considered working poor - Edmontonians who were unable to afford both food and rent. Many of the patrons were single mothers with children stopping in for breakfast before heading to school.

NiGiNan Housing Ventures is a registered non-profit charity formed to address particular housing needs and requirements of primarily Indigenous people living in Edmonton. NiGiNan is dedicated to providing affordable housing and permanent supportive housing opportunities for individuals and families of native ancestry, who have not been successfully served by any other organization in Edmonton.

NiGiNan's first development, Ambrose Place is one of the most successful programs and housing complexes for Edmonton's formerly hardest to house Indigenous persons.