The Reader is the quarterly newsletter of People, Words & Change. We welcome stories and articles by our learners. People, Words & Change Heartwood House 202-404 McArthur Ave. Ottawa, Ontario K1K 1G8 Tel: 613-234-2494 info@pwc-ottawa.ca www.pwc-ottawa.ca Bus #14 stops in front of the building and there is street parking available. Feedback on the manner in which PWC provides its services to people with disabilities, and any other services, is encouraged and appreciated.

all DECEMBER 2018

2018

In this issue:

PWC News!

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

Community Resources and Events

Word Games

PWC News!

PWC celebrated its 40th anniversary on November 9 with an event at

Heartwood House. CBC Radio One’s Doug Hempstead was there as the

emcee and Yuk Yuk’s comedian Don Kelly had us laughing with his stand-up

comedy. Special guest Phil Jenkins (PWC’s first coordinator!) revived a song

that he composed for PWC many years ago called Alphabet Soup. Mayor Jim

Watson awarded PWC a proclamation which was read aloud that night by Kae

McColl (a former PWC Executive Director and board member). Good Eats

provided delicious finger food and Broadhead Brewing Company was on site to

sell their specialty craft beer.

We are very grateful to the event sponsors for their generous support: Iceberg Networks Corporation, Dykhuizen Foundation, Ottawa Special Events, SandBay Entertainment, and Broadhead Brewing Company.

We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to all who donated items for our silent auction: Bel-Air Toyota, Datsun, El Camino, Elgin Beer Project, Flora Hall Brewing, Happy Goat Coffee Company, Elizabeth Hay, Doug Hempstead, Hey Sugar Candy Co., Jérôme Photographer, NAC, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Special Events, Scentimental Flowers & Gifts, Ruth Secunda, Spaceman Music, St. Louis Grill, The Lieutenant’s Pump, The Record Centre, The Stalk Market, VIA Rail, and Yuk Yuk’s.

Finally, a big thank you to the volunteers who helped with organizing, setting up and cleaning up. We couldn’t have done it without you!

PWC News!

Upcoming Workshop on Financial Literacy for Learners!

PWC is pleased to offer the Money Matters workshop on financial

literacy in January 2019! The workshop, designed by ABC Life

Literacy Canada, will be led by experts from TD Bank Group and will

cover topics such as basic banking and spending plans (budgets).

Stay tuned for more details!

A special welcome to our new computer instructor!

We would like to introduce Maura O’Reilly to People, Words &

Change. Maura recently took over as PWC’s Computer Lab Instructor.

She has been an educator for nearly 20 years, in Canada and abroad,

teaching both children and adults a variety of subjects. Her favourite

skill to teach is reading. Maura believes literacy is life-changing and

that working with our learners to bring computers into their lives is a

fun and rewarding job.

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

To Make Tea

I put water and milk in the pot.

I add a mixture of ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.

I add 2 spoons of tea leaves.

Then, I put it on the stove and boil it and then turn off the stove.

After this, I strain the tea into a thermos.

-Saynab

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

Christmas in Colombia

Colombia has a holiday every month. One of the most popular

holidays is Christmas. We start the Christmas celebration on December 7

with "The Candle Night." That night each house is decorated with candles,

street lamps, and the nativity scene. Also, that day, we put up the Christmas

tree. We invite our neighbours and friends over and we eat our meals

together. We make special dishes like empanadas, arepas, bunuelos, and

natilla. Also, we dance and pray for the good of our family and friends.

In addition, we have special celebrations from December 16 to

December 24. On each of those days, the kids read a particular story from

The Book of Nativity. They also sing Christmas songs. At the end of each

day we eat and dance together. On December 24, at midnight, we celebrate

the birth of baby Jesus with fancy meals of turkey and some other special

dishes. We also give gifts to the kids. On December 25 we relax and enjoy

our time with family at home. I love to celebrate Christmas with my family.

Now I am living in Canada and I especially miss my family at this time of the

year.

-Francy

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

Christmastime

Christmas is rapidly approaching in just eight weeks from now. The family has already been deciding where and when we will have dinner. The people who are coming are my mother, stepdad, brother-in-law, sister, my little brother, and myself.

We will be doing the cooking at my sister’s Airbnb home located in Sandy Hill. Mom has decided to buy the turkey. My sister, Shelley, brother-in-law, Robert, and I will prepare a traditional Christmas dinner.

Mom and Mark have also decided to not do any Christmas shopping. Instead, they will give us cash. That will be very helpful in being able to buy presents for the family.

I am looking forward to seeing my little brother who is flying in from New York. I don’t know how long he will be here. He will be staying at the Airbnb home with my sister and brother-in-law. They have the two-bedroom upper duplex for four days. My brother-in-law, Robert, is coming up from the 23rd to the 27th of December. It will make my sister happy to see him, as well as myself, even though it is only for four days.

Christmas is for families and we are all happy just to be together.

-Christine

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

Dear readers,

I want to share with you my trip to Africa. On June 19th, 2017, my family and I went to Kenya. I was so excited to see my family back home there and my mom, dad, sister and brothers too. The last time I saw them was back in 1994. I was so happy to go back home. My three children were so happy to see their grandmother and they saw their uncle, aunt and cousins too. We visited the African savanna and we saw many animals. We saw zebras, giraffes, rhinos, baboons, ostriches and many more animals. My husband and the kids went to Mombasa beach. They had lots of fun without me. I stayed with my mom because she was my vacation! They asked me everyday “mom when are we going back?” I can’t wait to go back to Kenya again. It was an amazing trip. I want to say thank you to George Macdonald for giving me your time no matter the weather. And I want to say thanks for reading my story.

Sincerely, Fadumo

Café in Mombasa, Kenya

Fort Jesus, Mombasa

Now I Can! PWC Learners Write

Politics in Eritrea

I am Eritrean Canadian. I love Canada and, of course, Canadian people. It is a country with freedom of speech and democracy - a country of which all Canadians are proud.

However, I also love my homeland, Eritrea, and I think of my country every day. It would be a dream come true if Eritrea became a democratic country like Canada.

Eritrea is a country located on the northeast coast of Africa. It gained independence from Ethiopia after 30 years of struggle. There were no families who did not sacrifice to gain their independence in 1991.

Today, Eritrea is called Africa’s North Korea because the leader, Isaias Afwerki, has ruled the country for 27 years. There is no constitution, no freedom of speech, nor democracy in the country.

Eritreans all over the world are deeply concerned more than ever before about their country and will never stop until Eritrea is a free and democratic country, ruled by the people. It is time to wake up and face the truth and join your brothers and sisters to help free Eritrea and its people once again.

-Sara

Community Resources and Events

Do you need or know someone who needs a place to hang out or get a meal? The following places have free meals, snacks and drop-in available.

Out of the Cold/In from the Cold Programs *Call or check www.cominfo-ottawa.org for exact times

Centre 7 – South Minister United Church 15 Aylmer Ave., 613-730-6874 Knox Church 120 Lisgar St., 613-238-4774 Parkdale United Church 429 Parkdale Ave., 613-728-8656 St. Margaret Mary Parish 7 Fairbairn St., 613-730-5265 The Ottawa Mission 35 Waller St., 613-234-1144 Shepherds of Good Hope 233 Murray St., 613-789-8210 The Salvation Army 171 George St., 613-241-1573 St. Joe’s Supper Table – St. Joseph’s Parish 151 Laurier Ave. E., 613-233-4095, ext. 0 St. Joe’s Women’s Centre 151 Laurier Ave. E., 613-233-4095

Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa 211 Bronson Ave., Suite 309A 613-237-7427, ext. 111 Centre espoir Sophie 145 Murray St., 613-789-5119 Jericho Road Ministries – Coffeehouse 400 Clarence St. E., 613-567-5134 The Well – St. John the Evangelist Church 154 Somerset St. W., 613-594-8861, ext. 57 Women’s Line: 613-594-2843 Carlington Community Chaplaincy 1465 Caldwell Ave., Unit 102, 613-728-9933 St. Luke’s Table - St. Luke’s Anglican Church 760 Somerset St. W., 613-238-4193 Drop-in Centre: 613-234-6287

Free Things to Do in Ottawa in Winter

Go and see the Christmas Lights across Canada show!

Stroll around Ottawa’s downtown to see thousands of twinkling lights,

and head to Parliament Hill for the magical Winter Lightscapes

multimedia show projected on Centre Block (Dec. 5-Jan. 7).

Enjoy the Christmas lights display in Confederation Park!

Go skating on the Rideau Canada Skateway or on the Sens Rink of

Dreams (beside City Hall)!

Go tobogganing at these locations: Bruce Pit, Conroy Pit, Green’s

Creek, Windsor Park, Vincent Massey Park, Hog’s Back, or

Seneca Avenue!

Go to Winterlude in February!

Visit the new Ottawa Art Gallery or the Âjagemô art space (free)!

Enjoy free programming at the National Arts Centre! The NAC offers

events for all ages including Toddler Tuesdays, Seniors Pop-up

Painting, music shows and meditation.

Visit the RCMP Musical Ride Centre! The RCMP invites visitors to

tour the stables and Visitors’ Centre.

Go to any of the following museums for free on Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.: The National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Nature!

Visit these museums for free between 4 and 5 p.m. every day: The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum!

Visit the Bank of Canada Museum (formerly the Currency Museum

of the Bank of Canada) which reopened on July 1, 2017 in a

renovated building. People of all ages can create their own avatar

and learn about the important role they play in the economy through

hands-on interactive exhibits. Admission to the museum is always

free!

Community Resources and Events

Writing with Winter Words

Use Those Adjectives and Nouns!

1. Look at the pictures on the next page.

2. Choose one or more adjectives from the list (or think of your own) and write one sentence about

each picture. You can also use the nouns that match the pictures. For example, “The puppy is

cute in his soft red sweater.” Your tutor can help you.

3. For a more challenging activity, write a story using as many of the pictures in your story as

possible.

Examples of Adjectives

*Remember that adjectives are words that describe nouns

white majestic magical adorable playful naughty curious

serious brown grey funny cute red tall

Nouns that Match the Pictures

*Remember that nouns are the names of people, places or things.

You might think of others too!

cat puppy Santa gnome deer

ice ball pine trees Arctic fox ice

tree rock snow wreath

ornaments forest woods mushrooms

gifts sweater blue sky Christmas tree

Writing with Winter Words

Winter Word Search

Find the winter words below.

The words might be down or across.

Winter Word Search - Answers