SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes -
draft
Sept 25, 2017 - 11:30 am – 1:00
pm
Location: Community
Futures Office
In attendance (from
sign-in sheet): Leah Selk, Diane Wright, Carla Bullinger, Kathie Vilkas, Larry
Stranberg, Leah Hartley, David Faubet, Margaret-Anne Enders, Jessica Dunn,
Shannon Thom, Anne Burrill, Linda Berg and Nancy Gale.
Accept Minutes &
Agenda
During lunch we:
· Reviewed meeting agenda
for Sept 25, 2017
Change order below - put Poverty Reduction
Project first on agenda
Motion to approve
agenda as revised - MFSC
· Reviewed meeting minutes
from Jun 26, 2017
Motion to approve
minutes as presented - MFSC
Poverty Reduction Project
Proposals for project are moving forward
(stage two Vancouver Foundation application).
Goal -
Reduce the number of people living in poverty (address poverty, rather than
only alleviation actions e.g. food bank).
Stage one -
review and pull apart local data, update living wage calculation, engaging
community partners (including economic sector).
Similar to
CTC "process".
We have
applied for Vancouver Foundation, Cariboo Strong funds (for projects completed
by Dec 31/17), Hamber Foundation, and Community Futures supported this project.
We anticipate to hear back from two funding sources by December, and Cariboo
Strong very shortly.
We have
received a number of Letters of support from community organizations, and have
partnered with CCPL for this project currently entitled "THRIVE WL".
Opportunities/Leverage
- labour shortages since the wildfire season
Many
families who were evacuated could not
afford to be without work for two weeks. This is having a lasting effect on our
community even to date.
Not everyone
living in poverty, is on social assistance - many "normal" families
also live close or near to the poverty line.
Handout with
more details was also provided (and available upon request).
Cariboo Fires - Summer 2017
We asked participants to share their personal and/or organizations experience,
and any lessons learned through having experienced the evacuations first hand.
Linda
Berg, Boys & Girls Club:
Logistically many staff could not return - short staffed to get regular
programming up and running. Staff is stressed out. Hard to keep kids indoors
all day (due to smoke). No current B&G Club policy on what to do in the
event of a town wide evacuation (unprecedented event in B&G Club history country
wide).
Leah
Hartley, City of WL (overall synopsis):
From an Emergency operations centre perspective (two days were most
threatening - Jul 7 & 15th). Fires from the north are harder to control
than fires from other directions around the city. Evacuation notice was issued due
to vulnerabilities and highway capacities and the loss of evacuation routes.
Difficult decision to decide which way to send residents (North or South).
Depending on the time of day, evacuees were sent in different directions.
During the evacuation, the situation felt very regional - close collaboration with CRD and provincial agencies.
Our community was very well supported in terms of firefighting efforts. We were
fortunate to not have lost any private structures within the City itself.
Return to City/Welcoming people back - the region wanted it to be a
community wide return (including the surrounding areas around the City of
Williams Lake).
RCMP & Military presence was very high. The area was secure.
Unexpected aspects of the return. 1) Finding essential services (e.g. a
pharmacist), two safe routes, and a functioning hospital before allowing
residents to return home.
We have been advised that we are more like Fort McMurray than any other
BC community that was evacuated this summer. Recovery will take a long time
(not just a few months). More than one year and more effects will likely
noticed by next spring - including staff turnover changes.
Recovery efforts are being supported by the Province (less focus on this
in past disasters). Cookie cutter process by provincial agencies. Our regional
area as a whole is currently deciding what to do (cookie cutter versus locally
tailored).
CRD did an amazing job. Non stop summer for their staff.
Long term - Event is being planned by Deb Radolla.
Short term - small to medium size business are in need of assistance
(Recovery manager has been hired within the City - in & out job).
The Recovery Manager would like to meet with the SPC and hear from our
table.
Anne
Burrill, Housing First perspective:
Vulnerable population (e.g. no cell phones). Staff was in contact with
all but one participant while evacuated. All the participants returned and are
still housed. Some silver linings - some at-risk participants came home in
better condition than when they left (unexpected result). Many useful resources
were available (24-7), access to medical services etc. Levels of domestic
violence are on the slight rise. And note - some women chose to leave abusive
relationships as a result of the evacuation (they took the opportunity to pack
what they needed and left). Increased financial need by many because of the
fires - rent arrears, overdue bills. Usually Housing First requires people to
already be homeless but there is currently some funding available (that won't
last long).
Shannon
Thom, Williams Lake Employment Services (WLES) perspective:
Contract with the Government (therefore policies were in place). Ashcroft office closed first, followed by the 100
Mile House office and the Williams Lake office was only open for a short time
before also closing due to the evacuation. Approximately 10% of clients chose
not to return. It was a challenge keeping track of where all staff was. Note -
some clients who had been laid off, are choosing to not return to their former positions (looking to upgrade).
Leah
Selk, Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society (CCACS):
Typically slow over summer so not much was interrupted. The CCACS is
looking to find out what organizations need at this time (too early to know).
Trying to find what the new normal is.
Nancy
Gale, Child Development Centre:
Communication and capacity was a challenge. Internet and cell phones are not a given. Types of employee supports
(E.g. issuing paperwork for EI claims etc). WCB rules limit what can be done
etc. Underlying level of fear is normal. After the fact, it would have been
great to have been able to provide local services during these events (E.g. childrens activities, parental supports).
Disaster planning did not prepare us for what we endured. Post Evacuation - 20%
increase in referrals (caseloads are now higher).
Diane
Wright, Retiree:
It is our chance to prepare to give back if this happens again. How can
Williams Lake best support evacuees from surrounding communities? We can learn
much from Prince George and Kamloops who so wonderfully supported our residents.
Carla Bullinger,
Communities That Care (CTC):
From the CTC community board notes. Watch the mental health of our staff
(caregivers need care too!). Workshop on fire and trauma (but caution of
blanket approach). Client notes (IMSS clients) - overwhelmed by the support
(not used to any support). Forms - literacy issues affect
people's abilities to navigate services. Ensure there is a coordinated response
to our needs.
Kathie
Vilkas, Williams Lake Hospice:
Not involved with evacuating any clients. Prince George or Kamloops
facilities was the alternate facility. Personally, being cutoff from routes
(stuck past Miocene) was a challenge in itself. A challenge faced involved cheques
- not being able to pay employees was an issue.
David,
Changing Directions:
High risk youth are their main clients (social media worked well for this
population). Helped clients communicate with Red Cross. Stressful times so
monitoring staff for mental health is important. The most vulnerable clients
were able to access additional supports (for groceries etc). Most youth have returned.
Margaret
Anne Enders, Canadian Mental Health Association:
Many volunteers are starting to experience burnout. Resiliency centre -
some "crews" were very helpful, while other crews felt very
different. Connect group did not receive enough numbers to go forward - perhaps
it is a hard time for people to "commit" (as everything seems still
on hold).
Larry
Stranberg, Community Futures:
Larry was the only one in the office for more than a week. Personally,
evacuated twice. Biggest challenge was keeping in touch with clients. Remote
access to server is now available. Back-up contact information is now with
multiple staff members. CF clients -
Jul, Aug, Sept - no loan payments due. Most commonly, clients lost revenue
streams, lost contracts. Opportunity to re-strategize (organizationally, and
community wide). Opportunities is the new word.
Roundtable Updates
More details were sent out via community
update emails:
Leah - CCACS New Grants Program -
more info to follow
Linda - Boys & Girls House
Haunted House - Oct 27 - 29
Carla - Three-year old round up
event
Margaret Anne - Orange Shirt day
is this Friday
Meeting was adjourned. The next monthly
meeting will be held on Monday, October 23rd at 11:30 am at the Community
Futures office in Williams Lake BC.
