Play, learn, become

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This article was published 28/05/2021 (1210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Many organizations have had to close their doors at times during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not Rossbrook House. The inner-city drop-in centre has remained open.

“We haven’t had the doors closed since 1976, so it’s not going to happen now,” says Phil Chiappetta, executive director at the non-profit. “We went boldly into this venture, and it’s been a great achievement to get through.”

Located on Ross Avenue, the centre is open 24 hours a day every day for youth ages six to 24.

In addition to being a safe place where youth can spend time, the centre offers a number of different programs.

These programs have been reconfigured in the past 14 months to adhere to public health restrictions, and include music lessons, leadership training, sports and opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in cultural activities like learning to bead on a loom, learning to sing and drum, smudging and storytelling.

There are education programs, a support group for young mothers, and the centre serves meals twice a day.

“We’ve just tried to keep doing what we’ve always done, but to keep doing it in a way that is safe,” Chiappetta says.

Rossbrook House was founded by Sister Geraldine MacNamara, who wanted to create a safe place for youth. She opened the centre’s doors in January 1976 with the guiding principle, “No child who does not want to be alone should ever have to be.”

More than 45 years later, those 14 words are still the driving force for Chiappetta and his staff.

“Our mission statement is to be a safe place to belong, play, learn and become,” he says. “It’s really about building a sense of belonging, and that provides the ground floor for youth to build up their confidence and try new things.”

Prior to the pandemic, about 1,200 children and youth visited Rossbrook House annually, with the centre receiving about 80 visitors each day.

Most of the young people who visit are Indigneous and facing systemic poverty and racism.

“A lot of our focus previously had been diverting young people from the lure of the streets and gangs and stuff like that,” Chiappetta says. “We found the strongest way around that is to really (help them) develop a sense of belonging so they don’t have to develop it in the streets.”

“Employment is important, too,” he adds. “That can really change the trajectory some people find themselves going on.”

To that end, the centre offers employment programs. Rossbrook staff are drawn from the community of regular attenders, which gives them a realistic understanding of the needs and aspirations of the young people who come to the centre.

Warren Goulet, operations manager at Rossbrook House, has worked at the centre from the beginning.

Goulet was a teenager when he got to know MacNamara, and he was part of a group of youth who helped her start the centre.

Goulet had been drinking and doing drugs prior to meeting MacNamara, and he’d had some run-ins with the law. Rossbrook House gave him a positive place to spend time and mentor other youth.

“It was awesome,” says Goulet, now 61. “I was still a kid, so I fit right in.”

Goulet describes MacNamara, who died in February 1984 at the age of 45, as a wonderful woman.

“Certainly she was an angel in disguise,” he says. “She took us under her wings and encouraged us. She could be direct, but she was loving and caring. She wanted what was best for the kids and she wanted them to know they had a safe place to go.”

“Rossbrook really filled a gap,” he adds.

Rossbrook House’s association with the order of nuns that initially ran the centre ended some years ago, according to Brenda Hasiuk, incoming board president. Still, the spirit with which they ran the centre lives on.

“They always, always approached things with nothing but a sense that they had everything to learn from the kids,” she says.

The hopes, dreams and ideas of the youth who frequent Rossbrook House still determine the centre’s programs and direction today.

“We’re here to listen and open doors for the kids however they tell us,” Hasiuk says.

Chiappetta is glad Rossbrook House has been able to stay open during the pandemic. Staff are weary from the experience, but Chiappetta is confident that brighter days are ahead.

“I think the staff have done fantastic,” he says. “At a time when we have more energy and after this is really over, we’ll have a great celebration and recognize what we’ve done.”

Donate to Rossbrook House today at rossbrookhouse.ca.

aaron.epp@gmail.com