Soul Space Care Providers
Danielle Rolfe (Soul Space Co-Creator & Program Coordinator)
Danielle was inspired to create what has now become Soul Space while making Blue Roses, a documentary film about the need for palliative care for people living in rooming houses. Soul Space grew from a collaboration with Danielle's community of faith, and the identified need to support these workers and attend to their unique spiritual care needs arising from their work that involves grief, trauma, and moral injury that sometimes leads to burnout. In addition to filmmaking, Danielle is a community-based researcher specializing in community engagement and knowledge-sharing with Indigenous communities, women, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and ethnically diverse communities.
Danielle was inspired to create what has now become Soul Space while making Blue Roses, a documentary film about the need for palliative care for people living in rooming houses. Soul Space grew from a collaboration with Danielle's community of faith, and the identified need to support these workers and attend to their unique spiritual care needs arising from their work that involves grief, trauma, and moral injury that sometimes leads to burnout. In addition to filmmaking, Danielle is a community-based researcher specializing in community engagement and knowledge-sharing with Indigenous communities, women, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and ethnically diverse communities.
Bobby J. (Soul Space Co-Creator & Peer Support Worker)
Bobby is a residential school and long-term street survivor and drug user who has reversed over 20 overdoses and trained numerous people in Naloxone.. Today he is living in recovery and is a practicing Buddhist. He is a founding member of Overdose Prevention Ottawa, which opened Ottawa’s first overdose prevention site in 2017, and was featured in the documentary Blue Roses that examines palliative care in rooming houses. Bobby J received the Raffi Balian award in 2017 recognizing his many years of volunteer work with the NESI program at Somerset West Community Health Centre, and the Transformative Change Award (on behalf of Overdose Prevention Ottawa) by the Alliance for Healthier Communities in 2018.
Bobby is a residential school and long-term street survivor and drug user who has reversed over 20 overdoses and trained numerous people in Naloxone.. Today he is living in recovery and is a practicing Buddhist. He is a founding member of Overdose Prevention Ottawa, which opened Ottawa’s first overdose prevention site in 2017, and was featured in the documentary Blue Roses that examines palliative care in rooming houses. Bobby J received the Raffi Balian award in 2017 recognizing his many years of volunteer work with the NESI program at Somerset West Community Health Centre, and the Transformative Change Award (on behalf of Overdose Prevention Ottawa) by the Alliance for Healthier Communities in 2018.
Andrea Prazmowski
One of Andrea’s earliest memories is of making friends with the pussy willow tree in her backyard, and she’s always felt most at home close to the trees and earth. After earning a Bachelor of Journalism degree, she worked with environmental organizations, as a freelance writer and as an education coordinator within the United Church. She has facilitated learning groups and community partnerships of various kinds for more than 20 years. Andrea is a Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and leads walks to invite people to nurture wellbeing through attentive presence to the gifts of nature. She is a facilitator of “The Work That Reconnects”, has a Permaculture Design Certificate, is a practitioner of Reiki and Healing Pathway energy healing, and recently piloted a Forest Church initiative in Ottawa.
One of Andrea’s earliest memories is of making friends with the pussy willow tree in her backyard, and she’s always felt most at home close to the trees and earth. After earning a Bachelor of Journalism degree, she worked with environmental organizations, as a freelance writer and as an education coordinator within the United Church. She has facilitated learning groups and community partnerships of various kinds for more than 20 years. Andrea is a Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and leads walks to invite people to nurture wellbeing through attentive presence to the gifts of nature. She is a facilitator of “The Work That Reconnects”, has a Permaculture Design Certificate, is a practitioner of Reiki and Healing Pathway energy healing, and recently piloted a Forest Church initiative in Ottawa.
Claire Savage (McMenemy)
Claire is a candidate for ministry with the United Church, and is a practising social worker. She has experience working in the homelessness sector in Texas, and working in the criminal justice system in Canada. Claire works from an anti-oppressive approach, with a deep commitment to working collaboratively for structural change and decolonization in our communities.
Claire is a candidate for ministry with the United Church, and is a practising social worker. She has experience working in the homelessness sector in Texas, and working in the criminal justice system in Canada. Claire works from an anti-oppressive approach, with a deep commitment to working collaboratively for structural change and decolonization in our communities.
Ginger McCoy
Ginger has been facilitating creativity workshops for nearly 40 years. As a self-taught potter with an immense love for community, she combines her passions for creativity in clay with her love of teaching. Following her passion for community Ginger created a warm welcoming space at Hintonburg Pottery where communities can gather deepening relationships while creating something of their own. She enjoys sharing her skills and experience with anyone seeking to explore their own creativity or personal journey through the art of mud!
‘Coming together to create with others is a fulfilling experience for everyone, very similar to enjoying a delicious communal meal’ “I guess you could say it’s a special kind of Pot Luck”
Ginger has been facilitating creativity workshops for nearly 40 years. As a self-taught potter with an immense love for community, she combines her passions for creativity in clay with her love of teaching. Following her passion for community Ginger created a warm welcoming space at Hintonburg Pottery where communities can gather deepening relationships while creating something of their own. She enjoys sharing her skills and experience with anyone seeking to explore their own creativity or personal journey through the art of mud!
‘Coming together to create with others is a fulfilling experience for everyone, very similar to enjoying a delicious communal meal’ “I guess you could say it’s a special kind of Pot Luck”
Kim Barclay
Thanks to a wonderfully creative upbringing, Kim has been practicing in the Arts for over 50 years. She studied Graphic Illustration at Sheridan College and has degrees in Fine Arts and Education from the University of Ottawa. After a career teaching Visual Arts and Dramatic Arts at the high school level, Kim began teaching Svaroopa Yoga; a gentle yoga that focusses on calming the mind and nurturing the body. She believes through the Arts one can find freedom of self-expression and through yoga one can find freedom of spirit.
Thanks to a wonderfully creative upbringing, Kim has been practicing in the Arts for over 50 years. She studied Graphic Illustration at Sheridan College and has degrees in Fine Arts and Education from the University of Ottawa. After a career teaching Visual Arts and Dramatic Arts at the high school level, Kim began teaching Svaroopa Yoga; a gentle yoga that focusses on calming the mind and nurturing the body. She believes through the Arts one can find freedom of self-expression and through yoga one can find freedom of spirit.
Jenny Sâwanohk
Jenny, Mihko-Asiniy-Kinepik-Iswew, is a proud member of Moose Cree First Nation, the Mosoniy-Illilew. She was born and raised in Moosonee, Ontario, and the James Bay Lowlands, the Mushkegowuk territory. She is honoured to reside on the unceded and ancestral territory of our Algonquin kin, the traditional land and water stewards of the Ottawa area, where she owns and operates the Misiwe Ni Relations Healing Lodge. Jenny holds a Masters of Social Work degree, and operates her own private practice, Red Stone Snake Woman, as a psychotherapist/Indigenous healer.
Jenny, Mihko-Asiniy-Kinepik-Iswew, is a proud member of Moose Cree First Nation, the Mosoniy-Illilew. She was born and raised in Moosonee, Ontario, and the James Bay Lowlands, the Mushkegowuk territory. She is honoured to reside on the unceded and ancestral territory of our Algonquin kin, the traditional land and water stewards of the Ottawa area, where she owns and operates the Misiwe Ni Relations Healing Lodge. Jenny holds a Masters of Social Work degree, and operates her own private practice, Red Stone Snake Woman, as a psychotherapist/Indigenous healer.
Lynn Fischer
Lynn is a Mindfulness teacher (and retired family physician) with a passion for Mindful Self Compassion in her personal meditation practice and her life. Lynn feels privileged to be a program provider for Soul Space where she offers the teaching of Mindful Self Compassion practices for frontline workers to use in their own lives and in their challenging day to day work with those living homeless. Being part of the Soul Space Steering Committee provides Lynn the opportunity to help with fundraising and strategic planning so that this passion project will continue far into the future.
Lynn is a Mindfulness teacher (and retired family physician) with a passion for Mindful Self Compassion in her personal meditation practice and her life. Lynn feels privileged to be a program provider for Soul Space where she offers the teaching of Mindful Self Compassion practices for frontline workers to use in their own lives and in their challenging day to day work with those living homeless. Being part of the Soul Space Steering Committee provides Lynn the opportunity to help with fundraising and strategic planning so that this passion project will continue far into the future.
Pam Fitch
Pam facilitates tailor-made solutions for people living with chronic stress, pain and fatigue. A massage therapist and educator for more than 30 years, Pam uses humour, keen observation and interviewing to help you discover simple self-care solutions that fit your life and schedule.
Pam facilitates tailor-made solutions for people living with chronic stress, pain and fatigue. A massage therapist and educator for more than 30 years, Pam uses humour, keen observation and interviewing to help you discover simple self-care solutions that fit your life and schedule.
Sharon Moon
Sharon Moon is a retired United Church clergy, a mom and grandma, She served First United for 17 years while it was downtown, and very engaged with social justice community issues…poverty, housing, addiction, aids, sexual orientation and identity. Sharon has written three books on guided imagery meditation, and is an instructor and practitioner of Healing Pathway, an Energy Based Healing modality offered free of charge in over 100 United Church congregations across Canada.
Sharon Moon is a retired United Church clergy, a mom and grandma, She served First United for 17 years while it was downtown, and very engaged with social justice community issues…poverty, housing, addiction, aids, sexual orientation and identity. Sharon has written three books on guided imagery meditation, and is an instructor and practitioner of Healing Pathway, an Energy Based Healing modality offered free of charge in over 100 United Church congregations across Canada.
Victoria Scott
Victoria is an Anglican priest, and is Incumbent at St. Luke’s Church, at the corner of Somerset and Bell Streets. Victoria is deeply committed to living out the St. Luke’s motto “All are welcome, without exception”, and to meeting others wherever they are on their spiritual journey. While she finds tremendous hope and inspiration in the Christian faith and the Anglican tradition, she has an expansive and inclusive spirituality that recognizes deep connections throughout all of creation. She feels called to live a life of care, compassion, and loving relationship, and is committed to inviting others to do the same.
Victoria is an Anglican priest, and is Incumbent at St. Luke’s Church, at the corner of Somerset and Bell Streets. Victoria is deeply committed to living out the St. Luke’s motto “All are welcome, without exception”, and to meeting others wherever they are on their spiritual journey. While she finds tremendous hope and inspiration in the Christian faith and the Anglican tradition, she has an expansive and inclusive spirituality that recognizes deep connections throughout all of creation. She feels called to live a life of care, compassion, and loving relationship, and is committed to inviting others to do the same.
