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The importance of the Point Douglas community
survey to residents of that community cannot be overstated. In recognition of
the need to have surveys of this scope and quality performed in other inner-city
neighbourhoods, community leaders and agencies voiced their support of the
launch of Point Research Inc.
- Excerpts
from letter of support:
Dr. Rob Santos, Scientific Director and Senior
Policy Advisor, Healthy Child Manitoba Office, Healthy Child Committee of
Cabinet, Government of Manitoba and funder of Point Douglas community survey:
"As the Scientific Director and Senior Policy Advisor for HCMO, I reviewed
Ms. Geddie's work on the Point Douglas project following its completion. Upon
examining the process and findings of the work, I was strongly impressed with
the following:
- the quality and scope of the results;
- the unique and effective community-based approach to gathering
information;
- the benefits to the community of the survey process, for both the
volunteers and the participants;
- the timeline in which the work was completed; and
- the affordability of the process (the cost of the service appeared
well within reach of inner-city community organizations, whether supported
by one or many funding sources).
The survey provided HCMO with unprecedented access to information
obtained directly from a great number of community residents, given in their
own words. Reaching people in inner-city communities has been challenging for
many surveys. Ms. Geddie's unique survey process demonstrated that detailed
input from this important segment of the population was indeed attainable.
The information gathered through Ms. Geddie's survey is a vital first
step in any effective planning and development for inner-city communities.
Resources are always limited and planning must be focused on real community
needs, rather than mere guesswork. This survey process can provide this
essential information.
Recognizing that Ms. Geddie's survey process would be an invaluable tool
for HCMO and others in our ongoing work in inner-city communities, I agreed
with the suggestion that Ms. Geddie start her own company and offer the
service to community organizations and agencies, including HCMO. ... HCMO will
give serious consideration to funding, in whole or in part, to survey
proposals received from community groups requesting
the services of Ms. Geddie and her survey company, Point Research."
(read full letter)
- Excerpts from letter of
support:
Mary Mathias,
Editor, The Point Community News:
"While employed with the Point Douglas Residents Committee, Heather
designed and coordinated a massive survey of the residents of North and South
Point Douglas. Several things made this survey different from others which
have been carried out in our community. First, the goal was to get a response
from every resident, including school children. Second, residents had the
option of being interviewed rather than having to read the survey and write
their own responses. This is important in a neighbourhood where many people
have low literacy levels. Third, the survey had community economic development
and capacity building aspects because residents were hired to do interviews
and to enter data.
The survey results have been valuable to several community organizations,
including this newsletter. Due to feedback received via the survey, the
newsletter staff made several significant changes.
I am sure that other communities would benefit from being able to conduct
surveys modeled on this one, and Heather Geddie would definitely be able to
facilitate this."
(read full letter)
- Excerpt
from letter of support:
Sel Burrows, Past Chair, Point Douglas Residents
Committee (PDRC):
"Heather is a long-time resident of Point Douglas and has been involved in
the community. When she was employed by the Residents Committee she undertook
a very comprehensive survey of our community. This survey has added to our
capacity to represent our community. Heather demonstrated the
capacity to organize surveyors and to manage the survey
process." (read full letter)
Excerpt from article
in Winnipeg Free Press, by Sel Burrows, referencing how the survey helped the
community fight crime:
"We arranged a community survey, organized by Heather
Geddie, which reached into the rooming houses and grungy hotels no survey had
reached before. Eighty per cent of the respondents placed gangs, crime and
drug sales at the top of the list of problems. Interestingly, 80 per cent of
aboriginal people put gangs, crime and drugs at the top of the problems of the
community too, the same as the non-aboriginal population. Heather, who
operates a home polling business, Point Research, indicated that she had
mostly aboriginal interviewers which encouraged participation."
(read
full article)
- Excerpt from letter of
support:
Martin Landy, past Program Manager, Point Douglas Residents Committee
(PDRC):
"I have worked
with Ms Geddie for 12
months while she was the Community Development Officer for the Point Douglas
Residents Committee. In that role Ms Geddie developed a plan for a community
survey. What started off as a small sampling of the community grew into a
first class detailed review of our community.
Ms Geddie worked beyond
the expectations set and delivered detailed information from not only the
adults but youth and school children as well. Her ability to design the
questions so that we captured the maximum amount of information without being
meddlesome allowed us into many homes. The program she developed taught
inner-city women skills that not only gave them the ability to go into
people’s homes and inquire about community issues, it also provided them with
a new-found level of self- and community respect; a much welcome, unexpected
benefit of the survey.
Her work provided the
community with information that allowed us to see who and what Point Douglas
really is versus what we were told. This single step was a major advancement
for our community.
As I now work with other community groups in the city, I see that more areas
in Winnipeg would benefit not only from the survey information but from the
job training skills and pride that comes with the project. I wholeheartedly
support Ms. Geddie in her new venture and cannot wait to see the
benefits derived from her work."
(read full letter)
- Excerpt from letter of support:
Denis
Richard, President, Norquay Community Centre:
"Her valuable work with the Point Douglas community survey has been very
helpful to the centre in identifying what is important to the community. the
survey was done in a very professional manner and was instrumental in our
implementing change that was identified in that survey. all the compliments
the community centre received from community members in the survey were a
boost to those who work and volunteer here."
(read full letter)
- Affirmation from:
Elaine Bishop, Executive Director of the North Point Douglas
Women's Centre, on a counselling program that was a direct result of the survey:
"Hi, Heather, I thought you might like to know that Helmuth Klassen, who is
doing the evaluation for the counselling program, thought that the survey was
really wonderful and provides an incredible picture of North Point Douglas."
Letters of Support
for business start
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Comments
of Point Douglas Survey Participants:
| Take it to heart, and thanks for asking my opinion! |
| I
now know more about this community just from reading this survey,
thanks lots |
| I'm very glad that you are doing this survey. I have seen a positive
change in the area but there is still a long way to go. Concerns I
have are residents are not advised by city of major changes that are
about to take place. For example, the Sharon Home across from me and
the river path which will be right on top of me. I have had to find
out info along the input grapevine when it's too late to have any
input. The media keeps trashing the NPD and the north end when it is
only specific areas that are major problems, very little of anything
positive about our area is reported. My pet peeve is The Times
newspaper is not delivered in our area when all other areas of the
city get it. |
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