Morden was the recipient of a community Mobilization Hub (CMH) Grant from the provincial government last week Thursday. An application for the grant was sent in to the province on behalf of the task force through the Morden Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and the City of Morden. The task force is a collaborative team of people from Morden including City of Morden staff, MCDC, Westside Community Church and a number of non-profit organizations and government agencies who cast the vision and worked together to bring the project this far.
MLA for Morden-Winker Cameron Friesen explained this type of ongoing funding was created after a review of policing and public safety was conducted by the Justice Department in 2019.
"One of the findings of that review was that Community Mobilization Hubs were helpful in decreasing the interactions people had in the community with the police, it was a more appropriate way for people who were vulnerable to receive services, and as the name implies, the idea is about consolidating control in the hands of the community."
Friesen referenced the success of Winkler's Central Station as another community hub that has shared its success with other communities, such as Morden.
"I had heard the rumblings, as well, there were groups in Morden who were starting to think about, 'What could we do?' 'Could Morden also have some kind of central location at which people could come, we could identify what the priorities would be, use volunteers and others to help drive activities?" Friesen continued, "It's really good that today we're able to announce the funding, not just $50,000 one-time funding, but it's $50,000 per year funding."
The annual grant will be used to support a staffing position.
Morden's Economic Development Officer, Jason Dyck expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the City of Morden and task force, for the government support, and for MLA Friesen's advocacy for the grant.
"We are thrilled to learn of the provincial announcement relating to funding for a Community Mobilization Hub staff in Morden. This position is going to really help unlock some potential of our service organizations here, and will support marginalized individuals in our community who access those services, by helping for a lot of coordinated approach to them and bringing all voices around the same table."
Dyck described what this allows the task force to do with this new position.
"It's basically bringing to the table all of the government service support agencies, including justice, police, employment, addictions, mental health, housing, as well as newcomer services, and delivering a coordinated approach of those services to individuals who are accessing them, or experiencing barriers to access of those services."
Friesen said each community will have a different approach to how support is provided to people, as they respond to individual needs that come through the door. He went on to praise those who worked on this vision for the citizens of Morden.
"I just want to say congratulations to some of the people who have really given a lot of time and effort, that group that is right now on the task force, who have really had to take this vision, and be able to advance it and form it, so we would know what it is and what it isn't. It's one thing to run things, it's another set of skills to start something, and we've got some really good starters among this group."
While programming has started in the 500 Stephen Street Community Centre, the official Grand Opening is this Saturday at 4pm.