Last month, schools throughout the St. James-Assiniboia School Division partnered with grassroots Indigenous organization Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK) to collect new, unopened packages of socks, mittens or gloves, toques and scarves for Winnipeg's underhoused residents. Students, caregivers and staff collected hundreds of items for the month-long collection drive, aptly named Socktober.

Norman Gould is the Vice-Principal of Stevenson-Britannia Elementary School. The school served as a final collection point for items.

“This initiative was embraced by students, staff and the business community. It is going to make the upcoming winter months more bearable for those in need. Homelessness touches so many marginalized groups," he said.

According to the most recent statistics from 2021, 1,127 people are experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg. Sixty-six percent self-identify as Indigenous, while 71 per cent identify as male. Homelessness can range from individuals accessing shelters and transitional housing, to other forms of chronic, unsheltered homelessness.

In SJASD, Socktober was spearheaded by Education as an Additional Language (EAL) staff, along with members of the Indigenous Education Team.

“Thank you to the entire St. James-Assiniboia family of schools for taking part in this initiative. This small act of love can make a big difference in the lives of our unsheltered relatives living on the streets of Winnipeg," said Senior Years EAL Support Teacher Jennifer Doyle.

SJASD would like to thank OPK for partnering with the Division on this project, especially representative Rebecca-Lynn Laquette and OPK volunteer and renowned community activist Mitch Bourbonniere. Mitch is a founding member of the original Bear Clan Patrol, and volunteers with the Mama Bear Clan, Drag the Red and other community groups.

Way to go SJASD!

Picture captions:
Top right:
Socktober collection day. (From left): EAL support teachers Dina Coutris-Hrousalis and Jennifer Doyle stop for a smile with Rebecca-Lynn Laquette (OPK) outside Stevenson-Britannia Elementary School on November 3, 2022. 

Bottom left:
Soctober kickoff event. OPK and community volunteer Mitch Bourbonniere (second from right) poses with SJASD staff including (from left): Manual Gomes (Administrator of Equity and Diversity), Potoula Locken (Director of ESS), and April Waters (Administrator of Indigenous Academic Achievement and Community Support).