The Social Service Department invited Kaitlynn Kavanagh Rice to speak on the topic of Poverty in Canada. Her family was the subject in the NFB documentary NO PLACE CALLED HOME depicting the hardships of the working poor in Canada. Kaitlynn Kavanagh Rice did an excellent presentation on the effects of poverty on families in Canada. She introduced a model which encompasses five aspects to poverty which are sometimes overlooked by the focus on financial aspects of poverty. She went on to describe her own experience and familial experience with poverty and the injustices that often go along with it. The fact that she is a young woman and articulate helped dawson students to relate to her. There is something powerful about hearing a person’s personal story which impacts hearers not only in their minds, but in their hearts. There was a good question and answer period which further clarified issues of poverty, for our students.  Social work students raised 400$ from the bake sale during the intermission which has been donated to Dawson College Financial Aid.  We also invited a reporter from the West Island in Montreal who attencded the workshop and interviewed her . He was impressed with her and her story and left saying he would write up an article for his readers in West Island Montreal. The entire workshop was also filmed for use in Social Service department.  Lastly, the workshop will possibly be a “peace studies activity “ for those in the audience doing a peace studies certificate.

Teacher Comment: The funds donated by SSAP made this event possible. Thank you for your contribution to this necessary challenge for our students regarding poverty in Canada.