|
"I have been personally aware of and involved in the HEROES program since it began in our jurisdiction and I know it is making a difference. HEROES saves lives."
Susan Chomistek - Superintendent
"HEROES is not a program, HEROES is a process that nurtures capacity change in kids".
Don Barbor - Principal
Terry Fox School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
HEROES™ in Action
As a HEROES™ instructor, I am constantly reminded of how powerful the program is. At school this morning, as I was in the hallway waiting to begin my class, one of my students from last year recognized me and came over. “Hi, Mr. Luchak”, she said. After I returned the greeting I asked her how school was going. She replied, “I’m getting my grades back up.” I asked why they had fallen. Sheepishly she said, “Because I got in with the wrong crowd.” “What did you do about that?” I inquired. “I CHOSE to get better friends and now I’m much happier!” This small but powerful example of “Heroes in action” reinforces my belief in getting the program to as many young people as we can.
Rick Luchak
HEROES™ Instructor
Calgary, Alberta
The Power of our Words
In the school where I teach HEROES™, the teachers and school administration are fully behind the program. They see the importance of the program and what it is doing in students’ lives. It is impacting teachers’ lives as well as students. In the chapter on the power of our words, I shared a story about my ten year old daughter. She had written a short welcome note to a new grade one student that she knew in her school and put it under her shoes. Our family has known the family for ten years and they had adopted this girl from Africa when she was a baby. This little girl was so excited to receive a welcome to her new school and said to her mom, “Someone knows me and wants to be my friend.” About a week later, this little girl passed away suddenly and the note was read to her family at the wake. We talked to the mother and she shared how this simple gesture of welcome had brought much comfort to the family. When the teacher in the classroom heard this story, she talked to us after class about how that story had impacted her life and made her think about how she talks to her own children. With this opportunity for HEROES™ to be in the schools, it is impacting the way people think about and how treat themselves, friends and family.
Matt Blacklock
HEROES™ Instructor
Spruce Grove, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta -
"Calgary, like most Canadian cities, faces many challenges involving youth and criminal activity," says Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson. "We've seen first-hand the positive, preventative effect that Impact Society's HEROES™ program has on Calgary's youth and we expect that other communities which have access to this program will see the same positive impact." Along with being supporters of the HEROES™ program, the Calgary Police Service also partners with Impact Society to offer About Face - a workshop designed to offer guidance to youth whose behaviour has brought them into conflict with authority figures such as parents, teachers or police. It is designed to provide youth with the tools to avoid coming into conflict with the law and to make positive contributions to society.
|
Program that Transforms Teens Gains National Momentum
|
|
October 19, 2009
Calgary, AB - An established Western-based program that helps youth deal with the trials and tribulations of growing up is gaining momentum across Canada.
The national expansion of the HEROES™ program, launched today, will give teachers and students in every Canadian province access to a unique and effective learning program delivered through an interactive classroom experience - that has been proven to help youth make better choices. The program also develops healthy behaviors such as self-discipline and empathy, leading to improved school performance and family communication. It can also lead to a reduction in crime and property damage, suicides, and drug and alcohol use. Developed by Alberta-based nonprofit Impact Society, the program is being rolled out across the country thanks to TransCanada Corporation and other community partners. The program, which helps teens identify their personal strengths, is the first of its kind to be developed in Canada and made available nationally.
"Calgary, like most Canadian cities, faces many challenges involving youth and criminal activity," says Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson. "We've seen first-hand the positive, preventative effect that Impact Society's HEROES™ program has on Calgary's youth and we expect that other communities which have access to this program will see the same positive impact."
"We believe that the HEROES™ expansion will help improve social and youth issues across Canada," says Sean McMaster, Executive Vice-President of Corporate and General Counsel at TransCanada, adding that education is a major community investment focus for TransCanada.
HEROES™ is a 12-hour program that has already helped over 50,000 students in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The HEROES™ Across Canada initiative will help certify up to 4,500 new teachers through online instruction reaching up to 112,500 students per year.
The HEROES™ program was introduced in Calgary in 1994 by Impact Society Founder and CEO Jack Toth. "Until now," he said, "this kind of resource hasn't been available on a national scale. We're grateful to our partners for helping us address the increasingly complex social issues facing Canada's youth."
|
Building Resilient Youth Through HEROES
|
Dr. Wayne Hammond, an expert in building resiliency in youth, provides his perspective on Impact Society's HEROES™ program...
Although the mandate of the school system is to nurture the holistic development of students, provincial exams and national rating surveys have strongly influenced a sense of urgency by schools to focus primarily on academic performance and behavioural expectations. However, essential to positive school performance and conduct by students are the characteristics of positive perception of self and others, an understanding of one’s strengths and limitations and a strong sense of hope and optimism. Research clearly indicates that youth who reflect these protective factors tend to embrace challenges in life as opportunities to grow and navigate the developmental milestones of life in constructive ways. In many ways, it is the opinion of the writer that the strength-based “HEROES” program provided by Impact Society offers that missing component schools need to nurture the overall development of students. The “HEROES” program is unique in that it invites students to understand and build their sense of resiliency as well as the ability to achieve genuine success through developing those internal values that provide consistency in nurturing respect of self and others. This strength based philosophy builds confidence, character and integrity - proven contributors of positive and healthy lifestyles. As a parent, I would embrace the opportunity for my children to experience this invitation to become a “hero” as it reflects my goal of preparing them to confidently believe in themselves and to constructively embrace the adventure of life.
Dr. Wayne Hammond
|
|
Regehr’s Defensive Talents Help Raise $25,000 for Youth
|
|
March 30, 2010
Calgary, AB – Hard-hitting Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr has done more on-ice than rack up NHL stats this season. By doing what he does best – hitting his opponents – Regehr, with the help of partners, has generated an impressive $25,000 for the Calgary-based charity Impact Society through his program called Impact On Ice.
For every hit Robyn has during a game, he makes a $75 donation to Impact Society, a nonprofit organization that helps teens discover their inner strengths and make good choices, and is proven to help develop healthy behaviors such as self-discipline and empathy, that can lead to improved school performance and family communication, a reduction in crime and property damage, suicides, and drug and alcohol use.
Matching donations from Calgary’s Packers Plus Energy Services Inc. and the Calgary Flames through the Flames Foundation for Life makes every hit worth $225. With 114 hits so far this season, the total raised eclipsed the $25,000 mark.
The donations will be used to get Impact Society’s experiential learning program –HEROES™ – into more schools in Calgary and in Western Canada. Impact Society has reached almost 40,000 youth over the last 15 years, and with their expanded capacity now have a goal of reaching over 100,000 every year.
“I am honoured to be a part of this program and to do what I can to contribute,” says Flames Assistant Captain Robyn Regehr. “This funding will help hundreds of students in Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan.”
“Although I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one of Robyn’s checks, we’re looking forward to more great work from him this season,” said Jack Toth, CEO of Impact Society. “We’re grateful to Robyn, Packers Plus, and the Flames Foundation for helping us change the lives of teenagers and parents, and impact whole schools and communities.”
|
|
$500,000 Christmas Gift Helps Impact Society
|
Calgary, ALBERTA – Impact Society, a charitable organization that develops confidence, character and integrity in people of all ages got a significant boost this week with the commitment of $500,000 from Calgary business leader, Ralph Burgess. As a result of Burgess’ support, Impact Society will be able to make an even bigger impact on Calgary through its collection of strength-based teaching programs that help people, particularly youth, make choices based on character and integrity while building confidence.
Burgess, founder, owner and CEO of PEER Financial says “I’ve watched Impact Society for seven years now and have seen the difference they are making in our community and especially in our youth. This was an easy decision for me. I hope this commitment will not only help Impact Society meet its target, but exceed it.”
|
|
|
