After several years of participation with Hockey for the Homeless in Toronto, at the start of 2009, Tim accepted an official position on the newly restructured National Executive.
Hockey for the Homeless is now active in four of Canada’s NHL cities, with the goal of being in all six within the next two years. What exactly is Hockey for the Homeless? Have a look at this video to find out what this exciting national initiative is all about!
On Tuesday, March 24th, 2009, Tim, along with John Mohan, Greg Paul, Julia Beazley and Don Hutchinson, was invited to meet with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on Parliament Hill. Mr. Ignatieff was unable to attend the opening night of the StreetLevel conference, so asked if he could meet with conference organizers the day before. The meeting, co-ordinated and attended by the Honourable John McKay, was a deeply encouraging time of constructive dialogue, shared desire for action and change, and exploration of further dialogue and collaboration. 
Thursday, April 16th ~ Tim will be the keynote speaker at the 29th Annual Nova Scotia Prayer Breakfast, at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax. The breakfast is hosted by the Premier and Lieutenant Governor.
Friday, April 17th & Saturday, April 18th ~ Tim will be participating at MissionFest in Toronto. For more information, please visit www.missionfest.org.
Saturday, April 25th ~ Tim is speaking at the Northern Association of Baptist Churches’ Assembly in Elliot Lake, Ontario
Friday, May 1st ~ Tim’s band Outrider will be doing a concert at Bendale Bible Chapel’s One Way Inn alongside the Daniel Band.
Saturday, May 2nd ~ Steps for Light: Light Patrol’s annual walk-a-thon fundraiser. This fun 5km walk through Willet Creek Park runs from 10 am to 1 pm. Download the brochure or contact Robert Gin for more information, robgin@hotmail.com.
Saturday, May 2nd ~ Tim will be present and signing books at the Grand Opening of Faith and Family Books in Toronto.
Sunday, May 3rd ~ Tim is speaking at Frank St. Baptist Church in Wiarton, Ontario.
June ~ The last week of June, Tim will be attending and speaking at the Youth for Christ National Staff Conference, in Edmonton, Alberta.
From March 25 to March 28 2009, nearly 400 delegates from across the country gathered in Ottawa for StreetLevel IV: A Legacy of Justice. The conference was co-chaired by Tim, along with John Mohan from Siloam Mission in Winnipeg.
Street Level is a national conference designed to network, resource, encourage and equip those who work among homeless and street-involved youth and adults, or are interested in engaging in relevant social justice issues.
The theme for Street Level 4 was “A Legacy of Justice”. The following statement will inspired and informed every element of the conference, from speakers and sessions, to music, to artwork and design:
“The truest hallmark of real justice is that every person, regardless of economics, age or culture, has the extraordinary opportunity to leave a legacy of meaning; legacies of hope, redemption, restoration, reconciliation, relationship – indelible imprints of truthtelling and peacemaking. Justice, demonstrated and experienced, always leaves a legacy.”
The conference was a wonderful time of teaching and sharing, but most of all, a time of “family”. We were honoured to once again have with us Steve Bell – this time accompanied by Mike Janzen and Gilles Fournier – leading us in times of worship, reflection and celebration, with his unequalled giftedness, sensitivity and humour.
On the Friday night of the conference, Tim led and spoke at the plenary session, on the subject of “The Magnificent Paradox of Giving Up: Celebrating small victories and sacred moments.”
Tim’s talk, and those of all the other plenary speakers and workshop leaders, can be ordered at www.swordfishdigital.com.
As 2008 came to a close, I had the unique and humbling opportunity to serve on an International Teams volunteer Christmas team in Romania. Nine Canadians and one American travelled to the International Teams training house in Cluj, Romania to join a small Romanian volunteer team. During our time there we brought a bit of “Christmas” to children in several orphanages, and supported the ongoing Romanian team with every opportunity we could. We journeyed from large orphanages (like the one in Beclean) to the poorest of orphanages (like the one in Illisua). Additional opportunities to experience God in the faces of the poorest of the poor and broken-hearted came as we visited the bleakest of institutions for the elderly, hospital psychiatric wards, and a stark schoolhouse in the impoverished countryside of Figa. As part of this team, at each venue, I also had the unique and profound opportunity to play the role of “Santa Claus”. As cliché as it is to say – still, it is so – that a picture paints a thousand words. Thus, though impossible to fully explain the experience, this slideshow of visuals (set to the award-winning music of one of our team members) speaks volumes. The pictures were taken in facilities where we were permitted to photograph. (Which is definitely not all of them, for several reasonable, and sometimes shameful, reasons.) For more information about The Romania Project, and links to the broader work of International Teams, go to:www.theromaniaproject.com .
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On October 19th, Tim was interviewed on CJOB Radio Winnipeg’s “God Talk” program, about issues of homelessness and his book Bent Hope. To listen to the program, click here.
Winnipeg Sun Column, “Huff brings dignity to homeless”
John Mohan, Executive Director of Siloam Mission in Winnipeg, writes a weekly column for the Winnipeg Sun. His October 15 column, in John’s typically humorous fashion, describes Tim, his book Bent Hope, and the ‘Stories from the Street’ tour, in which Tim is partnering with Siloam Mission.
Here’s an excerpt: By looking at him, you’d never know he’s a gifted artist, accomplished author, friend of one of Canada’s richest women, and a veteran compassionate worker among street youth.
With an ensemble that makes one wonder if he missed out on fashion 101 and wit that could place him as a headlining act at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Tim Huff is not what he appears. He’s actually a national spokesperson and crafted story teller who brings dignity and humanness to the misunderstood subculture of Canada’s homeless youth…
Click here to read the full article.
“Stories from the Street” Tour, Fall 2008
Things are falling into place nicely for a mini “Stories from the Street” tour that will take the Bent Hope launch event on the road as part of a broader awareness-raising campaign, carried out in partnership with Castle Quay Books and local ministries. The event, generously sponsored by the Maranatha Foundation, will include Tim, of course, the three readers from the Bent Hope book launch, and our dear friend Steve Bell. We will be at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on October 22nd in partnership with Siloam Mission, and at the Boyce Theatre on the Stampede Grounds in Calgary on October 23rd, partnering with the Mustard Seed. These “by-invitation only” events will be geared towards gathering together key individuals from the literacy world, various levels of government, media, business leaders and key leaders and representatives from the fields of social justice and street ministry.
Rexdale Alliance Church
Tim will be speaking at Rexdale Alliance Church on Saturday, November 8th, at 6:30 pm, and Sunday, November 9th at both the 9 and 11 am services.
Brandon Youth for Christ
On Friday, November 14th, Tim will be the guest speaker at a Brandon, Manitoba Youth for Christ event.
“Be a Hero”
On Wednesday, November 19th, Tim will be the featured speaker at Halton Community and Social Services’ Be a Hero event, which encourages young people to become active in helping the less fortunate in their communities.
Romania
From Friday, November 21 to Saturday, November 29, Tim has the great privilege of traveling with International Teams to Romania to visit a number of orphanages.
Bent Hope featured on 100 Huntley Street…
On Monday, May 5, Tim was a guest on 100 Huntley Street, talking with hostess Moira Brown about the origins and purpose of his new book, Bent Hope. To watch the interview, click here and scroll down to Monday’s program.
On Thursday, April 10th, 2008, Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC), Castle Quay Books and the Maranatha Foundation will be joining together with selected media, government officials, special friends and supporters to celebrate the release of Tim’s second book, Bent Hope: A Street Journal.
Click here here to read the official press release.
Tim Huff on KEY LIFE radio, Orlando, Florida…
In March 2008, Tim Huff was a guest on the “Steve Brown Etc.” radio show on the KEY LIFE radio network, broadcasting from Orlando, Florida. “Steve Brown Etc.” is broadcast throughout the USA and into Canada on both contemporary Christian and non-Christian radio stations. Steve Brown is a career radio personality, an author, a seminary professor, an in-demand speaker across North America … and un predictable. To hear Tim’s interview with Steve Brown, click here.