Expansion Tea
Call the Kettle Black, the Edmonton boutique for premium kitchenware and knick-knacks, has recently expanded to Vancouver with three new stores to add to two existing locations here. Owner Darcy Kaser is thrilled to see his store extending its reach to B.C. "We want to be a destination for people who are looking for interesting, unique and good-quality products for their kitchen," he says. The store carries premium products, such as tabletop cookware, knives, countertop appliances and gadgets. "We cater to people who appreciate quality, and the service that we extend is second to none," says Kaser. callthekettleblack.com –LF
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A Phone Call Away
Between 40 and 60 distress calls ring in at the Support Network in Edmonton every day, and any one of those could be a matter of life and death. The trained, caring volunteers - often university psychology students - have been dedicating their time to aiding men and women in crisis situations since 1960. But lately, the agency, which consists of mostly volunteer workers, is seeing a shortage in staff. "The trends of volunteerism in our community are on a slight decline," says supervisor Jennifer Jones. "People are looking for short-term commitments," she says, but positions at the network are anything but short-term. To volunteer, candidates must complete a 64-hour training program, offer a minimum one-year commitment and be genuine, caring and non-judgmental people. "Those are the cornerstones to what kind of people we need," says Jones. The high bar is set to ensure the best treatment for callers, and to maintain a stable staff able to commit to an intense role. "To directly make a difference in at least one person's life, that can be a very powerful thing." thesupportnetwork.com –LF
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