A message from Boyle Street Community Services:
On Nov. 28, Boyle Street Community Services opened the doors of okimaw peyesew kamik (King Thunderbird Centre) to the community for our annual Memorial Round Dance in this beautiful, dignified space filled with love and spirit.
It capped off the first few weeks of service delivery, which started on Nov. 12. More than 800 individuals have visited, totaling over 1,000 visits from youth, adults, and seniors. At a time when daytime supports are scarce, okimaw peyesew kamik has become a lifeline.
We're acclimatizing to our new space alongside our community. With your support, we can continue to scale up the programs and services we deliver out of okimaw peyesew kamik.
Your support ensures that when people walk in, they're greeted warmly and offered immediate services. Whether they connect with services for a few hours or join programs long-term, we provide Edmonton's most vulnerable citizens with dignity. Here, they access essentials — nutritious meals, bathrooms, showers, laundry — alongside cultural and healing supports, housing connections, counselling, and medical care. These services remove barriers and open doors to well-being.
Dignity is at the centre of everything we do. Our programming creates opportunities to start fresh, set goals, and belong.
Building okimaw peyesew kamik was a community effort involving First Nations partners and Elders, neighbours, businesses, design and construction teams, Boyle Street staff, and countless supporters. It took all of us. But the building was never the ultimate goal. It's about what happens inside:
- Duke*, who felt disconnected for years, walked in and said: "I'm home now." Where others saw a trespasser, he found belonging.
- Jessica*, entering a bright new program space, asked: "This is for me?" Yes, because she's worth it.
- John* and Sarah*, an elderly couple sleeping outside, came in one morning and left with housing and wraparound supports.
This is what your support makes possible: dignity, belonging, and hope.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank Edmonton for standing with Boyle Street and the community we serve. Your support made okimaw peyesew kamik a reality. Now we begin the next chapter, turning a building into a community of healing and belonging, where people receive the support they need to live the good life they want.
We can't do this alone. Every donation — every act of support — strengthens this community. Please donate if you can at www.boylestreet.org/give.
There's so much beyond our control these days, but together, we have done so much and can do so much more. From our loved ones to yours, may this season remind us to recognize each other's dignity and celebrate each other's humanity.
Hiy hiy from Krysta Fitzgerald (she/her) and Jordan Reiniger (he/him), the executive team at Boyle Street Community Services.
*Names and identifying details have been changed or omitted to protect confidentiality.