The Brock Clinic Run By Volunteers Officially Opens Offering Care To Vulnerable Community Members

The Brock Clinic, a nurse practitioner clinic for those experiencing homelessness, officially opened on Wednesday at the Brock Mission.

Anna Jamieson (NP), Lee-Anne Quinn(NP) and Dr Janet Kelly. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The clinic was founded by Nurse Practitioner Lee-Anne Quinn along with Dr. Janet Kelly, who is serving as the collaborative physician for the nurse practitioner-led clinic. These women are all volunteering their time to run this clinic.

“We are healthcare professionals that are not working full-time, so we have some time to give and we are giving it,” said Quinn. “We completely understand our buddies that are working five days a week and are completely burnt-out after the last two years. But I know for a fact there are doctors and nurse practitioners out there that aren’t working full time. If they have even one day to give a month - here we are.”

The clinic will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, though Quinn hopes that as more nurses volunteer hours will be extended.

United Way Peterborough & District assisted the project with startup costs using federal funding from the Reaching Home program, which is a community-based program delivered locally through the United Way as part of Canada’s Homelessness Strategy aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness.

The 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner–Led Clinic (NPLC) also jumped in to support the volunteer nurse practitioner lead clinic. It has supported the project with space setup, equipment, technology and it will be key in the future planning of the clinic at Brock Mission.

Nurse practitioners in the community who would like to get involved in the initiative and volunteer their time can contact 705-748-4766 ext. 237.

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Colossal Pumpkins Earn Donations For Local Shelter

The Brock Mission will not be scared this Halloween as $400 from the sale of two colossal pumpkins will go towards the shelter sold on Thursday.

(Left to right) Kirtus Evoy, PTBOCanada owner; Pete Dalliday, Fresh Radio DJ; Reese, Canadian Tire PitStop and Dale Strano, Farmboy Markets Ltd. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Pete Dalliday and Dani Guppy of 100.5 Fresh Radio put out a call to Peterborough to buy the pumpkins to support the shelter and quickly found homes.

Canadian Tire PitStop and PTBOCanada purchased the two pumpkins for $100 each with all proceeds going to Brock Mission. Dale Strano of Farmboy Markets Ltd. matched the raised money totalling $400.

The pumpkins were donated by a frequent customer to Farmboy where Strano quickly put them on display.

“A great customer of ours came down and was willing to put these here,” he said. “(They) hoped that they could get the donation for the Brock Mission and help with Thanksgiving dinners.”

The PTbocAnada Staff displaying newly purchased pUmpkins and a straw bale from Farmboy At their front window. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Straw bales and pumpkins are available for purchase at Farmboy for Halloween decorations.

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Colossal pumpkins at Farmboy Markets! All proceeds go to Brock Mission so we decided to bring one to the office!

♬ Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers

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Otonabee Conservation & TD Collaborate To Plant Trees At The Brock Mission In Peterborough

More than 300 native trees and shrubs are being planted at the Brock Mission this week. The grounds at the newly built Brock Mission men’s shelter at 217 Murray Street is being planted with serviceberry, eastern redbud, tulip tree, red oak, white pine, honeylocust, fragrant sumac, and chokeberry.  

TD provided generous funding for this planting project as part of their commitment to supporting communities most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19.

“The benefits of planting trees are widely known,” says Dan Marinigh, CAO at Otonabee Conservation. “Being surrounded by trees can help mitigate stress, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance mental health. We are pleased to collaborate with TD and the Brock Mission to add this greenspace in support of some of our community’s most vulnerable people.”

Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission, stands next to a garden bed planted with fragrant sumac and spring flurry serviceberry at the build site for the new Brock Mission men’s shelter (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

"Too often the plan for greenspace in a project like ours gets eliminated due to financial pressures, so we are very grateful to Otonabee Conservation and TD for reaching out and ensuring that this integral part of our project is a reality,” says Bill McNabb from Brock Mission. “We are excited to be able to offer a safe outdoor space for our residents that will be filled with native trees and shrubs.”

For more information about Otonabee Conservation’s fall planting events, please visit otonabeeconservation.com.

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Construction Is Progressing On New Brock Mission

The Brock Mission project is almost out of the ground, Lett Architects says on their Facebook page. The new modern facility is being built by Mortlock Construction on the existing property on Murray Street where the old building was housed, and is slated to open late 2020.

The three-storey building has been designed by Lett Architects around a courtyard with access to natural daylight into every room and corridor. The building will accommodate 31 shelter beds and 15 affordable living units, and also includes a dining hall which will provide three meals a day all year.

Photo via Lett Architects Facebook page

Final layers of insulation are being installed on the foundation walls while backfill is currently still in progress.

The Brock Mission men’s shelter will address concerns around housing and homelessness in Peterborough. The building is taking shape with framing starting mid-December, Lett Architect says. The work is being completed by Mortlock Construction, who are the construction managers on the project.

Photo via Lett Architects Facebook page

Check out renderings of the project here.

Photo via Lett Architects Facebook page

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Brock Mission Shelter Redevelopment Set To Begin After $5.2 Million From Federal Government

On Thursday (July 11th), MP Maryam Monsef announced a $5.2 million financial commitment from the federal government for the redevelopment of the Brock Mission—a non-profit organization formed in 1987 to provide shelter for homeless adult males.

“Addressing housing and homelessness in our community will solve many of the other challenges we face,” says Monsef. "My team and I have been working with several local groups to support building housing locally. I’m happy to announce that the Brock Mission is receiving a significant boost to build 30 new shelter beds and 15 new affordable housing units for homeless and at-risk men.”

Main entrance of Brock Misson, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

The redevelopment of the Brock Mission—which is located on Murray Street—is expected to begin as early as this month and be completed in 2020.

"I am happy to see this investment in emergency shelter for Peterborough," says City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien. "We are facing a serious housing crisis and all levels of government must come together to make change. This is an important step in the right direction."

View of Brock Misson dining hall, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

Lett Architects is designing it (see renderings in this post) and says the three-storey building has been designed around a courtyard with access to natural daylight into every room and corridor. Aside from the shelter beds and housing units, the building also includes a dining hall which will provide three meals a day all year.

“We are very grateful for the support that MP Maryam Monsef and her office have given our redevelopment project,” says Bill McNabb, Executive Director of the Brock Mission. “The investment from the National Housing Co-Investment Fund has enabled us to finally move forward on a much needed purpose-built facility that offers appropriate Housing First shelter services and supportive housing to some of our most vulnerable homeless citizens.”

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Check Out These Renderings Of The New Brock Mission

Brock Mission is a homeless shelter in Peterborough for men that includes sleeping, dining and program areas. A new modern facility is being built on the existing property on Murray Street where the old building was housed, that is slated to open late 2020.

Lett Architects is designing it and has released renderings of the project. Lett says the three-storey building has been designed around a courtyard with access to natural daylight into every room and corridor. The building will accommodate 32 shelter beds and 15 independent living units, of which 25 percent are fully accessible. The building also includes a dining hall which will provide three meals a day all year.

This is a rendering of the main entrance…

Main entrance of Brock Misson, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

The Lett Architects team is providing the most inclusive, home-like and durable building with a high level of energy performance, exceeding the 2015 National Energy Code by 28 percent. Critical to the success of the project has been the ability to meet tight budgets and schedules as the Brock Mission has been without a true home to call their own for some time.

This is a view of the Dining Hall…

View of Brock Misson dining hall, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

Watch this video to learn more about the project….

The new Brock Mission shelter is slated to open its doors in November 2020.

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Brock Mission And Cameron House Hosting Coldest Night Of The Year Walkathon February 25th

Brock Mission and Cameron House are hosting the "Coldest Night Of The Year" (CNOY) walkathon in Peterborough this year. They are joining more than 100 communities across Canada to raise awareness and funds in the fight to end the homelessness.

Brock Mission and Cameron House have received operating grants from CNOY for the past five years—the more successful the walk, the larger the grants available.

Team Cameron House with Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission

Coldest Night of the Year takes place Saturday, February 25th. Registration for participants opens at 4 p.m. on the 25th at the (almost) vacated 217 Murray Street location across from the Armouries.

Participants on the walk route.

A warm, light meal will be provided upon the walkers return. Pledge forms and the information needed to register can be found at coldestnightoftheyear.org.

Please spread the word.

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