Kait Labbate, Centretown News
HighJinx owners Karen Neilson and Leigh Reid in front of their new location on Kent Street. Centretown’s highJinx has found its permanent home at 290 Kent St., after its second move in the last year.
HighJinx is a social enterprise that was created by social workers Karen Nielsen and Leigh Reid to help people in the Ottawa community.
They created the business because they were frustrated with the restrictions of the traditional system of helping people. Their break in tradition has resulted in a complete lack of government funding.
“We don’t take any government money. That’s when you fall into them having to dictate how you help somebody, but it’s the person needing the help that should dictate how they get it,” says Nielsen.
Nielsen and Reid have found a simpler way to help. Their brick and mortar building serves as a community house where people can come to be fed or find an item that they need.
“We do traditional social work in a non-traditional way. You need some food, you get some food. You don’t have to prove you’re hungry or poor to get it,” says Nielsen.
The business is run through the idea of neighbours helping neighbours. The use of the term “neighbour” for the people that come in, rather than “client,” is an important distinction according to Reid.
“It’s taking away the boundary between us and them,” Nielsen adds.
Nielsen and Reid began their business in 2011 on Somerset Street in Chinatown, but had to move after three years due to problems with increasing rent prices.
According to Nielsen, they wanted to move to Kent Street, but it wasn’t ready due to zoning issues. They settled their business to a location on Catherine Street. However, Nielsen and Reid did not find it suitable for their business.
“Our sales plummeted and we wouldn’t have survived there,” says Nielsen.
During this struggle, the location on Kent Street became available. According to Reid, they worked hard and eventually convinced their landlord to break their lease on Catherine Street. They closed their store in early September.
The Kent Street location is their third building. They have signed a 15-year lease, showing they are ready to make it permanent.
“Third time’s the charm. This feels like home,” says Reid.
Nancy York, a neighbour that has been going to highJinx since 2013, lost 16 members of her friends and family within a year. She admits the store has truly helped in changing her life.
“They are very friendly and welcoming. No one is judged ever when you go there. They really want to hear what your life is like,” York says.
Not only has York been helped by the business, but she also volunteers there. She is especially knowledgeable with jewellery and helps Nielsen and Reid sell their items. She sees it as her way of paying it forward.
“They have a community of people that go there, which is actually like a family. I don’t know where I’d be without them,” she says.
If it wasn’t for the community of people, Reid admits that they wouldn’t be as successful as they are now.
“We have a lot of people that just come in to do little neighbourly things and it goes a long way. We just provide the place for them to do it,” says Reid.
Delays in the renovations have pushed back the initial opening day. The plan now is to get the main floor with the kitchen completed by mid-October. They would slowly work their way up the next two floors after opening.
“It will be more of an evolution than an opening,” says Nielsen.
Despite not being fully open, Nielsen and Reid will still be hosting their Feeding Fridays at the new Kent Street location. This is a weekly event where people can come, starting at 1p.m., to get a full meal guaranteed until closing at 6 p.m. or until they run out of supply.