Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Need help with errands or shovelling snow? How about meeting someone for a chat or a walk around the neighborhood? The Community Ninja program helps with all of that and more.
It's a newly-formed program through Community and Family Services (CFS), which replaces the Snow Angels program.
"It's a 2021 concept," said Chris Woo, community development co-ordinator with CFS. "We started talking about it in December 2020. We wanted to have something that's going to have a little more longevity."
CFS staff is working on details, but the program is ready to go.
"Jasper’s stealthy helpers are ready to slip on their masks and take on your tasks," Woo said.
He explained in an email that participation in the Snow Angels program had decreased over the years. It was a community-based program facilitated by Community Outreach Services (COS) that encouraged volunteers to shovel snow for community members who are unable to clear their own sidewalks.
The program would begin after the first snowfall of the year. Residents in need of assistance could contact COS and have a Snow Angels sign placed on their lawn. The program relied on the good will of neighbourhood volunteers seeing the sign and taking the time to shovel the snow for their neighbours.
Less use of the Snow Angels program was the catalyst for reimaging the concept. The new program now encompasses more than just snow shovelling.
"When we thought about the people in our community who could use assistance with snow removal, we realized there are likely many other tasks that they might require help with," Woo said. "So, we created a program that could help with shoveling, as well as so much more.
"Volunteers with the new program are community members who run errands, help with snow shoveling and yard work, meet for friendly conversations and provide companionship on walks.”
The program is open to all folks.
"Whether you’re currently in isolation, have a compromised immune system, have mobility issues, recently broke an arm or are experiencing loneliness because of the COVID-19 restrictions, Jasper’s stealthy helpers are here to help," Woo said.
Woo acknowledged it can sometimes be hard for folks to ask for help.
"That’s why we came up with the ninja concept; this way we can keep things stealthy and anonymous," he said. "We achieve that goal in a number of ways. First, all requests for a community ninja come directly to the community development co-ordinator and he personally recruits a ninja to complete the task."
Woo emphasized the help is free of charge. If folks want to provide some kind of payment though, "it can be a charitable donation to the Caring Community Fund.”
All community ninja volunteers must complete training and sign confidentiality agreements.
“Our hope is that we’ll soon have community ninjas heading out all over town doing odd jobs and providing a helping hand wherever they are needed,” Woo said.
Many members of the community notice and appreciate the help, such as Jasperite Sheila Couture.
"The neighbours on both sides of me generously shovel my walk. When I get out there first, I reciprocate and shovel theirs,” Couture said in an email. "It is also a good time to visit with people that are walking by."
Clearing snow on a bigger level is something Couture thinks the town does well.
"I really enjoy watching the graders' skilled maneuvering around obstacles (as well as) the snow eating machine that makes such quick work of removing the windrows of snow from the middle of the road into the strategically placed dump trucks and the hands-on employees chipping away at the ice and snow on the cut-aways in the downtown area," she said.
If you need the help of a Community Ninja or you want to sign up to be a community ninja, contact Chris Woo at [email protected] or by phone at 780-852-6536.
