The wall quilt depicts a variety of local flowers representing the 9 founding tenant agencies and took Lippert over 200 hours to  make. The quilt is now hanging in the Orillia Common Roof lobby for everyone’s enjoyment and will later be installed  in  the 1^st floor atrium to make space for the Living Wall.

The Grand Opening festivities, themed to celebrate families, will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will include greetings from local dignitaries, plaque installations, plus  building tours starting at 3:00 p.m. to showcase  tenant programs, an art work display, community kitchen cooking, and native drumming.

The New Path Foundation  event is open to the public and invites community members to attend in anticipation of the Family Day Holiday later in the week.

And so the fact remains that there are numerous groups, all doing good work for our community, out there competing for support dollars so that their programs or services can survive.

A lot of energy, time and people power is expended to research possible funding sources, build a proposal, and apply to the funder with follow-up. Usually even more resources are required to run an event. The rate of success can be directly related to the ‘talent’ that your office employs for writing, publicity and engagement and the time that can be devoted to it.

Most of the human service organizations that I have been involved with would far rather focus on the work that they do rather than ‘fundraise’ to see that it happens. The Common Roof model is a vehicle to help these organizations sustain their program while assisting with their operating budget.

To become a Common Roof partner an organization provides capital funds to accomplish building retrofits. This partner designation provides opportunities that ensure high visibility and affordable space and more importantly future sustainability and potential growth for the agency. What this means is that they are able to participate in a 10-year fixed rate plan and once the mortgage is paid they receive an unrestricted grant equalling 60-65% of their rent.

Nadine Ritchie, Coordinator of the Orillia Housing Resource Centre believes this is a great opportunity. “The benefit for us and for our clients is that we can focus our energy on the work we do, front-line services assisting people to find appropriate housing and less time on fund raising.”

However, fundraising does do more than just raise funds; it provides an opportunity to advertise your group’s vision and mission for those who need the services. Fundraising helps to engage the public about your program; helping to build a volunteer base. Fundraising efforts publicize the need filled by the organization’s mandate and can strengthen the bonds of the people doing the good work.

New Path Foundation has been fortunate to be the recipient of several funding opportunities for the Orillia Common Roof facility since the project started last year. One of the most fun and effective fundraiser for getting the word out about this project was the Orillia Winter Carnival’s Polar Bear Dip that took place in February.

Records of numbers of people came out to brace the cold waters of Lake Couchiching in support of our Common Roof Community Resource Centre and Couchiching Jubilee House’s new ‘house’.

Common Roof ‘chilly dippers’ included 9 Orillia Parks & Recreation aquatics team, New Path staffers Michelle Vennard and Doug Moore with family member Nick and friend Ely who all did a chillingly fine plunge. Media both before and during the event helped to create even more excitement and special thanks goes to Rob Reid of Swisssh Radio.

Jim Storey presenting his pledge of $2500 to Neville Twine of New Path Foundation

However, New Path had a sponsor in the Common Roof corner that got the funds rolling in for this ‘fundraising’ event. Jim Storey, Bradanick Construction’s general manager and contractor for the Common Roof retrofit pledged $2500 to the dippers and challenged others to offer support as well. This challenge started an internal fundraising frenzy and along with pledges from the community dippers resulted in an overall total raised of $9695 for the Common Roof.

Thanks to all who participated, donated or produced to the dip’s efforts the Common Roof is now a house hold name in Orillia.

Other fundraiser events this month by New Path Foundation include: Expand the Reach initiative with speak by Theo Fleury ‘Don’t Quit before the Miracle’, Tuesday, June 7 at 8p.m., Georgian Theatre in Barrie.

Not Just Jazz, Music, Mirth & Magic, Friday, June 17 at 7p.m. South Shore Centre, Barrie. Both events are to support children/youth mental health. For tickets see www.newpath.ca

Common Roof construction is ongoing and should be completed in July with various groups taking residency at the 169 Front St. S property in August. There is space still available for your agency to have a home within the Orillia Common Roof. Contact Laurie at the Orillia New Path Foundation office at 705-259-7663 for information about the Orillia Common Roof Project.

Glen Newby, President and CEO, and Ken Edwards, Director of Finance and Administration, along with Laurie Herd, Orillia Common Roof Coordinator, presented at the recent NonProfit Centres Network (NCN) conference in Los Angeles, California on May 9 – 11, 2011.  The NCN is a bi-national network of non-profit organizations which have realized, understood, and taken the first steps at ensuring agency sustainability through the use of shared space and shared services.  New Path, through the Common Roof projects, has been active on this network for a number of years, attending conferences regularly throughout the United States.  This past presentation focused on New Path business tools and assessment considerations that help determine the viability of going to scale and building the Orillia Common Roof.  The New Path team joined up with the United Way of Greater Houston, which has also successfully accomplished some similar initiatives throughout Texas.  The team was very pleased that over sixty Canadians attended this conference, more than ever in the past.  There is no question that the movement towards multi-tenant facilities is well underway now in Canada.

The NonProfit Centres Network has also just released the first-ever assessment of organizations sharing facilities across the US and Canada, and have documented evidence of what we have known for sometime about the Common Roof:

 “Significant improvements in overall effectiveness and efficiency, ultimately yielding greater impacts for the communities we serve”.

New Path’s Common Roof projects were active participants in this research.  The Executive Summary will be available soon at http://www.nonprofitcenters.org.

Glen Newby has been invited to sit on the NCN Steering Committee for the next three years to help further support and help guide future directions.  Perhaps one day the NCN conference will be held here in Southern Ontario.

Young people, who participate in sports, music or the arts, have unique relationships with their coach for these activities. Our goal is to create a “tool-kit” that would provide coaches with resources to better assist the youth they work with, and therefore capitalize on the close relationship. We hope this means that young people exhibiting mental health problems will receive the support they need earlier. 

We don’t yet know what the “tool-kit” will be, or what will be in it.   It could include a book of resources/phone numbers, mental health information/facts on early identification and intervention, how to approach coaching from a youth engagement model etc. We won’t know until we hear directly from the coaches, and that’s why we’re asking them about their experiences on the front lines. 

New Path Foundation and New Path Youth and Family Services will be celebrating the launch of this initiative with an event on Tuesday, June 7th 2011, Theo Fleury – Don’t Quit Before the Miracle.  Theo Fleury is a former NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medalist. Recently, Theo fascinated readers with his #1 bestseller, “Playing With Fire”. Now he is one of the country’s most in-demand keynote speakers. He shares funny stories behind the scenes with the game’s biggest stars. Theo tells jaw-dropping anecdotes of living hard at the top of the NHL, the crash that followed, and finally his comeback and redemption. Theo knows what it takes to become a champion, build a strong team and overcome incredible odds. His presentations entertain, motivate and inspire.

Details for this exciting event are as follows:

                                  Tuesday, June 7, 2011
                      Georgian Theatre, Georgian College
                                               Barrie, ON
                       8:00 pm – doors open at 7:30 pm

                              General Admission Tickets
                 Adults $20    Youth (24 yrs and under) $5

Tickets are available at the following locations:
Common Roof Barrie 705-725-4970
Common Roof Orillia 705-259-7663
New Path Barrie Office 705-733-2654
New Path Orillia Office 705-325-6161

For further information about this project or event and tickets please contact: Lisa Cluett, 705-458-4338 ext. 248

Construction continues at 169 Front Street South as the building expands and also becomes more delineated within while tenant areas and shared space for work and programming are refined.

Some programs offered require unique space features like a kitchen modeled after one at home. And although future development of the Common Roof Project campus includes a teaching or skills kitchen within its plan on the adjacent property the tenants set to move into the building at 169 Front St. S. this spring require specialized program space now.

Addressing this need presents design challenges as a staff lunch room area now becomes a working program kitchen which breaks out into larger meeting space. With collaboration and focus by the partner tenants, the design team and the builder these changes have been made facilitating the efficient use of this shared component. 

Partner tenants will be better able to service their clients through programming delivered in an area that works the best. Of course there are other community groups that New Path Foundation has been working with who also require kitchen space.

The Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group provides information and workshops through partnerships with local agencies, businesses and individuals about nutrition, food preparation classes, kitchen skill development and budgeting while developing a sense of family and community through food programs. OCKRG also works to provide assistance to community members who take advantage of cooperative food programs such as the Good Food Box.  “I really enjoy the food I receive in my Good Food Box but sometimes I need some help as to how to prepare it.  What do I do with a 5-pound bag of beets?” asks the writer of this article.

So while they are a ‘virtual’ kitchen they do have resources that need a home such as their mobile kitchen case. OCKRG can provide home economists that travel to various locations for workshops and they bring the tools they need. The Common Roof is really a community centre in that now some of these programs can be delivered in this new, modern, bright facility accessible to any number of community groups; who will benefit from both the use of the facilities as well as the resources existing by the Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group.

Epicure Donation to Orillia Common Roof

New Path Foundation partnering with OCKRG has mutually benefitted the groups as they expand resources by way of successful funding proposals. One being $500 worth of quality cookware provided by the Epicure Foundation.

The Common Roof kitchen becomes better equipped providing more opportunities to expand kitchen programs both with Common Roof tenant partners as well as community organizations. Opportunities exist to further extend the reach to new partners possibly with students of Georgian College or new programs at Lakehead University such as Humanities 101. The Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group through their resource home economists will offer new programming with the Orillia Parks and Recreation Department this spring.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when you consider that the kitchen and meeting space located in the Front St. S. building will be dwarfed by the kitchen and food area, as well as recreation and sport facilities planned for Phase 2 at the adjacent Queen St E property.

Design plans that include a working resource kitchen and a multi-purpose room will further increase recreational, sport, educational and therapeutic options within the city creating expanded services while nurturing community partnerships.

Green initiatives, such as raised garden beds and a green house are being investigated to further enhance current community projects surrounding food rights and poverty issues.

The Orillia Common Roof project offers numerous and varied opportunities providing all community members access to; services, diverse activities, work, and play within safe, accessible, professional, visible and affordable facilities.

… a Community Centre bringing services and resources home via the kitchen.

Contact Laurie at the Orillia Common Roof office at 705-259-7663 or visit www.thecommonroof.ca for information about the Orillia Common Roof Project.

Construction continues on the Common Roof building and as tenant improvements and shared components are finalized the New Path Foundation office continues to work with agencies that need a home while investigating funding dollars to help accommodate them.

Orillia Winter Carnival committee announced that the Orillia Common Roof current build and Couchiching Jubilee House are to be the recipients of Polar Bear Dip pledge monies. Both very worthwhile projects that deserve lots of community support.

New Path Foundation, the lead agency for the Orillia Common Roof Project will direct these receipts toward a shared asset in the building currently being retrofitted at 169 Front Street South. The funds will be used for the development and installation of a resource area in the lobby of this building and will be utilized by clients, agency associates and community members. This resource will provide access to information and services available within the facility, the community, and the region and so on.

Bradanick’s Jim Storey stepped forward and offered to pledge $2500 to New Path Foundation for this Common Roof shared community resource. Orillia Parks & Rec Aquatics crew; the Twelve Frosty Flippers are the Chilly Dippers for Project Common Roof who will take the plunge at Couchiching Beach on Sunday, February 13^th at 2:00 p.m.

Jim is challenging other members of the local building trade sector and all community members to support the OPR Frosty Flipper Crew and donate to the cause.

Contact Laurie at the Orillia Common Roof office at 705-259-7663 to make your pledge or visit www.thecommonroof.ca
and do not forget to buy your Orillia Winter Carnival Button; enjoy the winter wonderful event running February 11,12,13 at the Port of Orillia and Couchiching Beach Park.

Laurie Herd                                                    
Project Coordinator                                        
Orillia Common Roof          
Tel: 705.259.7663               
lherd@thecommonroof.ca    
www.thecommonroof.ca 
www.newpath.ca

Members of Bradanick Construction review plans

A community-based project such as the Orillia Common Roof will bring many people and services together within a newly expanded and retrofitted building. Future visions for this area also include developing the adjacent property campus style which will create a stimulus for development and economic growth while further expanding land use capabilities and increasing local property values.

While, the Common Roof is more than just a building as it provides a venue for people to come together efficiently, the bricks and mortar structure is integral to the success of the operation as a whole. Having a technical team for design, engineering and construction who understand the values adopted by New Path Foundation and what they set out to accomplish with this Social Enterprise project for non-profit human-service organizations are vastly important.

Enter Jim Storey, General Manager of Bradanick Construction Services the local company who aggressively pursued this project as a great winter build opportunity. Being able to provide jobs to local trades were the initial considerations. Confidence in what New Path Foundation is doing to help the community through the Common Roof model provided additional impetus.

“We’re very excited to be working with New Path Foundation on the Common Roof Project and are very happy to be able to work in our home town; as are our trades delighted to be working locally. We have on any given day up to 20 workers on site during various phases of construction and the tender process has resulted with the majority of these trades operating out of Orillia and district. ” said Jim.

Cooperative weather this fall has helped Bradanick and crew to expedite site work preparation aiding the required demolition and construction phases to be moving ahead as scheduled, giving confidence in meeting the target completion date of March 31, 2011.

Representatives from the Stimulus Fund are given a tour of the Building

Almost 1-year ago to the day  Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton and Barrie MPP the Hon. Aileen Carroll presented just over $2.5 Million to New Path Foundation president and CEO Glen Newby and the foundation’s board chair Wendy Fairley as an investment in this local Common Roof project under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

At that time Stanton stated that, “This funding to New Path Foundation for renovations and upgrades to the proposed building and site will be completed by March 31, 2011 with the result that Orillia Common Roof clients will receive greater service while increasing the capacity to supply the important needs of our citizens. This project will strengthen our area’s economic advantage while boosting employment now and into the future.”

The positive implications remain true today.  The development of this project meets with the Provincial mandate to infill existing municipally serviced properties and to renovate older buildings rather than expanding into the outlying areas where new services are required. It means great things for the City of Orillia and the businesses that surround this community centre. There will be positive impacts and economic benefits relative to developed sites as compared to empty and underutilized locations.

New Path Foundation also supports this mindset as it is interested in providing an effective and efficient home to various non-profit organizations while building equity for children’s mental health needs with real estate for sustainability and ensuring a green environment.

The Common Roof model of a multi-tenant community centre fosters an atmosphere enhancing collaboration. This act of working together has already begun for Jim Storey. “We have a great repore with the consulting team of Steenhof Building Services Group and Douglas Hamilton Design as well as the client; New Path Foundation and we understand the expectations of quality as a requirement for fast track type construction.”

New challenges will be created and welcomed for the builder and the rest of the team as new tenants come on board and their requirements and needs are addressed within the basic architectural design of the existing building as well as the schedule of the project.

“We have a good handle on what we’re doing and what’s required to meet the construction timelines and anticipated opening of the building.” said Jim.

To learn more about the Orillia Common Roof project or to get involved please contact:

Laurie Herd
Project Coordinator
Orillia Common Roof          
Tel: 705.259.7663               
lherd@thecommonroof.ca 
www.thecommonroof.ca          
www.newpath.ca

Project Designer Douglas Hamilton, Steenhof Building Services rep Meagan Hawkins and New Path Services Manager Peter Nagora are part of the team working together to make the Common Roof project a reality in Orillia.

The Orillia Common Roof™ is taking shape through leadership of New Path Foundation and community collaboration augmented with the support of local governments, business representatives and the City of Orillia council and staff. This process has been ongoing for more than 2-years and the results are quite gratifying with the purchase of 2.5 acres of property at 169 Front Street South and Queen Street East and a remarkable building design; but the Common Roof is more than just a building.  It is a platform to build relationships thereby creating tremendous social benefit.

The Common Roof™ has been described as a sustainable, affordable and highly visible facility that enhances the mission of partner organizations. It allows efficient use of resources through shared space, services and infrastructure, and provides opportunity for cross organizational and cross sector collaboration.

So while there has been much effort in developing the bricks and mortar side of the project a higher degree of energy has been directed to engaging community agencies, committee members as well as education and business representatives and governments of our community and the region and by association those individuals they assist.

A number of individuals representing more than a dozen local groups and organizations have been working with New Path Foundation since 2008 to make the Common Roof Project in Orillia a reality.

Since office /program space is frequently the second largest budget item for human service organizations after salaries and this together with irregular and variable market rents  as well as a reliance on fund-raising for operating dollars presents the impetus  for these agencies’ desire to be involved in the Common Roof™.

Nadine Ritchie Coordinator of the Orillia Housing Resource Centre has been involved with the planning, collaboration and development of the Orillia Common Roof project since the initial “Under One Roof” committee meeting, predecessor of the current collocation venture. Nadine continues to work with the team confident that her organization will flourish as a result. Nadine says, “Being part of the Common Roof, Orillia will allow our non-profit organizations to share operating expenses thereby reducing these expenses within our budgets. In the case of the Orillia Housing Resource Centre this is a very small operating budget. The benefit for us and for our clients is that we can focus our energy on the work we do, front-line services assisting people to find appropriate housing and less time on fund raising.”

The benefits of sustainable costs, long term financial planning, increased visibility and the capacity for future expansion all lead to enhanced program service and delivery for agency clients, our community residents; who also are also our friends and family members.

These individuals will experience travel time and cost savings with access to ‘one-stop shopping’ for services in fully accessible facilities conveniently located in a central location on a public transit route featuring newly developed sidewalks, extensive parking and access to the trail system.  A broader client demographic is reached within this model where a wide range of service providers are able to work with individuals and families that include young, old and those in between.

Projected image of the Orillia Common Roof upon completion

The property at 169 Front Street South has been revitalized and currently the existing building is being retrofitted further expanding land use capabilities while increasing local property values. Area businesses will benefit from improved accessibility to the vicinity through redeveloped infrastructure and increased customer base potential with proximity to this multi-tenant facility. It is estimated that when fully operating more than 100 staff, clients and visitors will go through the Common Roof doors daily.

Business neighbors, Lisa and Jerry Kostur of Orillia Bakery and Deli located across Queen Street from the future centre, can appreciate this potential and welcome the Common Roof to their neighborhood saying, “This kind of project makes sense for all the organizations that will be involved; and provides another opportunity to bring people to the area.”

A community-based project such as the Orillia Common Roof will bring diverse people and services together in one campus format; nurturing community partnerships, expanding services and enhancing community programs.

This area improvement will offer stimulus to future development, is a catalyst for expanded recreational activities, educational and training opportunities and economic growth. It will furnish healing opportunities to troubled children and their families while providing a clean new environment to accommodate this human-service centre for our Community.

Over the next few months follow our journey as the Common Roof Orillia Project takes shape physically; relationships continue to build forming a community within our Community.

To learn more about the Orillia Common Roof project or to get involved please contact:

Laurie Herd, Project Coordinator
Orillia Common Roof
Tel: 705-259-7663
lherd@thecommonroof.ca
www.thecommonroof.ca
www.newpath.ca

Designer Douglas Hamilton reviews site plans

It has been a little over two years since New Path Foundation took the helm of the Common Roof project in Orillia working with many non-profit agencies as well individuals, business members and all levels of government as well as installing a full time staff person, Project Coordinator Laurie Herd to operate the Orillia office.

The need for a collocation facility in Orillia was identified through dialogue between several local agencies prior to that time and New Path, a public foundation with a volunteer board of directors, was invited to take over the development of the project due to skill and experience. The Common Roof ™ in Barrie has successfully been operating a multi-tenant model since 2006 with plans for Phase II currently taking shape.

The Common Roof is a sustainable, affordable and highly visible multi-tenant facility that enhances the mission of partner non-profit organizations, allows efficient use of precious resources through shared space, services and infrastructure, and provides opportunity for cross organizational and cross sector collaboration.

A suitable site with existing building was identified, at 169 Front Street South and purchased and is now being developed with local contractor, Bradanick Construction Services Inc. who are pushing forward with a retrofit of the existing 12,000 sq ft building, in filling the 2^nd floor and adding a third. All this to be complete by March 31, 2011 as per the requirements of the stimulus funding support dollars offered by both the federal and provincial governments.

The reality of a building for such a worthy project requires the expertise and creativity of someone who can translate the concept of the model and the vision of the agencies involved while addressing their specific needs. Designer Douglas Hamilton’s name came to the fore as the logical candidate for the job.

Hamilton came out of semi-retirement and jumped into this project because as he says, “I believe that this is a very important project. I believe in what New Path Foundation is doing in developing this facility and the reasons behind it; also for the tremendous value that the Common Roof continually provides to partner organizations, tenants, clients and to the community as a whole.”

Hamilton is familiar with New Path Foundation business as his design company worked on the New Path Services building on West Street North back in the ‘90’s. He got to know the people working there and how effective they were in that environment supporting their clients.

Jump ahead to 2005, when Hamilton was New Path Foundation’s choice in developing the Common Roof, a new social enterprise collocation facility located at 165 Ferris Lane in Barrie. This experience helped to further establish a working relationship with the foundation while also nurturing others such as with Steenhof Building Services Group who currently manages the Orillia project.

Hamilton maintains that form follows function. A retrofit venture such as 169 Front Street South requires getting the highest use capabilities with the budget available to ultimately provide the best use of the structure as well as building on the successes of past projects.

Over the next few months the community will watch as this facility takes shape. A functional, accessible, light filled building will make a statement on this corner of Orillia. As Hamilton suggests, “The ‘building’ is only a means to an end and is nothing more until it becomes a safe and secure home for those who need it; a place to build relationships, a place for people, a Common Roof.”

To learn more about the Orillia Common Roof project or to get involved please contact:

Laurie Herd, Project Coordinator
Orillia Common Roof
Tel: 705.259.7663
lherd@thecommonroof.ca