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Title: Hope, Love, and Perseverance: Building Home and Finding Community on 20th Street
Description: At the time of this interview, David Fineday was 56 years old. From a Cree family, David learned early-on how to face and overcome various challenges, including physical abuse at an young age. When he was three, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to live away from his family for nearly two years. Fortunately, he was cured of the disease and was able to reunite with his family and home, only to be taken away to a residential school. Soon after returning home from the residential school, he left once again and lived homeless for many years. In his later years, David’s always positive nature and determination to get a firm grip on life led him to dedicate himself to helping others to overcome similar challenges. For David, every day is a chance to make someone feel better; this in turn makes him feel better as well. Mr. Fineday currently is one of the staff members at the Friendship Inn, a core neighbourhood community centre that serves people and families in need.
Date Created: 2012-11-17

Title: Community Ethics Mennonite Style: Village Green Thrift Shop - Furniture and Appliances
Description: An interview with Derek Johnson, the manager at Saskatoon's Village Green Thrift Shop - Furniture and Appliances, who, at the time of the interview, had worked at the store for twelve years. This store is a part of a network of not-for-profit thrift shops which support local and global relief, development, and peace projects of the Mennonite Central Committee. Mr. Johnson discusses the history, organization, and operations of the store. He talks about the clientele of the furniture store (low-income groups, immigrants, students, antique hunters), and the overall Mennonite contribution to life on 20th Street. The interview touches on social problems of the inner city and their underlying causes, and speaks to the potential solutions to these problems. In addition, Mr. Johnson reflects on both positive and negative changes that have taken place around 20th Street over the period of his managerial career with Village Green Thrift Shop.
Date Created: 2012-03-02

Title: The Lessons of Life: Finding the Path towards a Better Future
Description: Angie Block, in her late thirties at the time of the interview, had lived most of her adult life in the neighbourhood of 20th Street in Saskatoon. In this interview, Ms. Block (not a real name) shares her life story detailing the relationships with her children, (most of whom are still in foster care), her ex-boyfriend, and her mother. At the time of the interview, Ms. Block was fighting her drug addiction and attending the Oasis program at the Saskatoon Community Clinic. She discusses in detail her steps on the way to full recovery, and shares her hopes to reach her ultimate goal – taking back custody of her children. Ms. Block, being a reflective individual, discusses her vision of different spaces on 20th Street, seeing some as good and others as bad, depending on her experiences of the place. For instance, she recollects with special affection both playing Bingo with her mother at the Bingo hall, as well as visits to Mel’s Café, whose owner reminds her of her mother. The interview ends with Ms. Block’s own reflections on the life lessons she has learned and her hopes for a positive future for her children.
Date Created: 2012-04-11