about us

Community Conversation Collaborators 

Lori Deets Chair of the Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association has the keen advantage of lived experience and the front line working experience navigating colonial systems of oppression. Through her community work with the Moose Jaw Public Library and the Saskatchewan Festival of words a framework of relationships within community and partnering organizations in reconciliation was created.  Through honesty, personal and professional growth, a solid commitment to learn and do better for ourselves and our communities, this partnership has grown to a strong connection of community organizations. 

Gwen Fisher Head Librarian is standing up to meet the challenges the library is facing everyday.  With the pressures of society today the library is seeing unprecedented numbers of patrons who are struggling on a daily basis.  The library staff and the building have sought out solutions but, despite many good intentions, there are not a lot of far reaching solutions.  Research into larger cities and their libraries brought us to the work of the Fearless R2W team and the community safety host program. https://fearlessr2w.ca/education#d6a4dde2-8011-4089-9890-c72967fc995c

Sarah Simison who is the Vice Chair on the Library Board, The Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Cultural Center and the Managing Artistic Director of the Saskatchewan Festival of Words was eager to get involved as her new position has made it easier to be on the ground in the community where she is committed to making a difference. 

Della Ferguson was an obvious choice as a long-time partnering organization with Journey to Hope and her serious determination for the unhoused folk in our community.  The tremendous efforts of the Square One Community Inc. to secure a facility and can now start the next massive phase of the warming center and Women’s emergency shelter. 

A strong commitment to working together to make our community stronger is what brought us together.  We have gathered many friends along the way.  Through the short time that we have been working together we have identified these key areas we wish to continue in our work together.  

• Continue bringing education to the community. 

• Making changes in how we think, our beliefs and methods of communication.  

• Creating a framework to guide our work of creating safety in our community. 

Thank you for your support, and desire to grow and learn with us.

Sincerely, 

Lori Deets, Sarah Simison, Gwen Fisher and Della Ferguson