WE ARE FEELING PROUD! Here are some recent accomplishments by our residents and staff.
CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) has announced its decision. After a rigorous review of our buildings, programs and policies, BHF has been awarded a three year international accreditation (the maximum possible). CARF surveyors made several recommendations for improvements which are being implemented and also commented on some strengths, including “a very strong practice with regard to medical practices [including] on-site psychiatric nurses”, “safe and homelike transitional housing”, “a strong commitment to culturally sensitive programming, and the perseverance, dedication and sound judgement of its executive director, management team and Board of Directors”. We appreciate the feedback and support of the CARF surveyors and we are very proud of our staff, our residents, and our leadership for the hard work that led to this recognition.
June 21 was graduation night for the St. Norbert Adult Education Centre. Twenty students received the mature student High School Diplomas, cheered on by teachers, friends and family and honoured by the Brown Bear Spirit Singers. SNAEC is operated on-site at BHF by the Manitoba Institute of trades and Technology; the student body is mix of BHF residents and adults from the surrounding communities. Well done, grads! 
The BHF Cardio Club is a group of staff, residents and supporters who meet several times a week, building physical strength and stamina, personal confidence, and a commitment to healthy living. On June 17, several members of the club ran the half marathon while the others cheered them on. We are impressed and inspired by their successes.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY
As a (w)holistic therapeutic community, BHF is almost self-contained. We have our own residences, daycare, school, sweat grounds, and recreational spaces. But we also value connections outside our T.C. They increase understanding and support for the work we do, they help open doors for program graduates, and they allow our staff and residents to share their strengths and gifts with others. Here are some of the ways we are strengthening those connections.
BHF Outreach staff have been organizing events where current residents, staff and program graduates get together to enjoy one another’s company and volunteer to help others. Recent events included assisting at the Gizhe Waa Ti-Sii-Win Service Delivery Expo in May and helping out at Siloam Mission.
The Brown Bear Spirit Singers, BHF’s traditional drum group, are invited to sing at many different locations and occasions around Winnipeg. We are proud that they will be part of the 2018 Canada Day celebrations at the St. Norbert Farmer’s Market, honouring Canada and honouring the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene people of Treaty One territory, and the homeland of the Metis Nation.
We learned this year that BHF is not only home to adults and families working to overcome addictions – it is also home to so
me birds who need a very particular habitat. One morning in June, Tim Poole from the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative, visited our Kindergarten – Grade Six classroom to tell us about these birds and how important it is that we preserve a safe habitat for them. The children are excited to keep their eyes and ears open for the chimney swifts as they come and go from their nests in our old brick chimneys.
As always, our sincere thanks to all our neighbours, donors and funders. Your support means so much to us. Thank you in particular to Dunn Rite for their very generous and tasty donation of chicken. Thank you as well to Families Together for donating games and building blocks to our daycare.