Deb Ewen is the Community Coordinator for Building Blocks, a Ministry of Children and Family Development funded program, through the Prince George Native Friendship Centre. Deb was born in a small town in Northern Ontario and moved to Prince George when her dad got a job at the pulp mill the year it opened. She has been married for 26 years and has two sons.
Deb became involved with the Building Blocks Program to make a fundamental difference in the lives of early developing families. The first years of a child’s life are the most crucial for a family and Deb loves being able to help in modelling good parenting skills, mentoring parents in many facets of their everyday lives in a non-judgmental way and referring families for additional assistance if necessary.
The Native Friendship Centre is a multifaceted organization employing over 120 people, offering a broad range of services to the community of Prince George. The Friendship Centre services approximately 20,000 clients annually and has the privilege of having many clients come through their programs to become staff within the Centre. For 30 years, the Centre has been working towards providing cultural, recreational and social programs, as well as successfully adapting to the changing needs of the community.
The organization’s offices are located at 1600 Third Avenue. For general inquiries, contact the Native Friendship Centre at (250) 564-3568.
The Building Blocks Program goal is to empower parents to the best of their ability to educate and nurture their children as well as themselves. This program also encourages parents/guardians to be proactive during prenatal, infant and preschool ages.
This program includes providing nutritional support through the Community Kitchens initiative. Registered families are welcome to sign up and take part by attending the kitchen, cooking what they have planned for that day and taking a nutritious meal home. Parents can also drop-in on Friday mornings at Beech Crescent Community House, where families get together and do crafts, discuss parenting issues, network and learn self-help techniques.
You can get involved with the program by calling (250) 563-2903 or visiting www.parentsupportbc.ca for a listing of this program and other valuable ones. Donations such as baby equipment, tools for gardening and transit passes for families are also gratefully accepted.
