SPC Monthly Minutes (draft) - Jan 28, 2019 at 11:30 am

Location: Community Futures

In attendance: Larry Stranberg, Shannon Thom, Anne Burrill, Ashlee Hyde, Barb Jones, Bree Odd, Krista Harvey, Charlotte Smith, Rosanna McGregor, Jon Jackson, Beth VeenKamp, Walt Cobb, Sheila Boehm and Janice Breck. Regrets: Jessica Dunn, Diane Wright, Bruce Mack and Carla Bullinger

Review Agenda and Minutes:

• Review meeting agenda for January 28, 2019
• Larry requested lunch and learn workshops and cyber insurance topics be added to agenda.
• MOTION to accept agenda with additional topics – motion was seconded, all in favour, motion CARRIED
• Review meeting minutes from October 22, 2019
• MOTION to accept minutes as presented – motion was seconded, all in favour, motion CARRIED

Discussion Topic: Recruitment and retention of staff, management, board members, and volunteer positions in the community.

• Boomers are getting older and retiring.
• Shannon stated facility managers with 2-3 years leadership training have moved into higher potions.
• Larry is interested in knowing what other organizations are doing differently since the evacuation. Community Futures now has a plan B and have laptops for grab and go moments to manage contacts and clients payments.  Calls were forwarded to the Abbotsford office who were able to connect clients with staff. Not all organizations have a plan B.
• Horton Ventures staff used Facebook to keep everyone connected until all staff returned.   
• Anne added there are lots recent leadership vacancies in agencies. These transitions interrupt the community networks and we need to rebuild connections, and key voices are no longer at the table. Continuity is important for ongoing collaboration.
• Beth discussed the marketing and promoting of the livability of the community. The first thing people see when the google Williams Lake are the crime stats. We need to push negative stories down and highlight positive aspects of where we work, live and play. Enhance community representation.
• Walt shared the City is having problems with recruiting paid positions, not just volunteer positions. Rosanna stated this is a provincial wide trend not just happening in our community. Issue,  1^st year bachelor programs,  ECE  or professional support courses are not available in the community. The cost of advertising in newspaper is not worth it, we have to network differently to reach people. Employers really need to work at promoting what they have offer.
• Beth suggested using the newspaper as a back door way to talk about the community and write in a collective way about job vacancies.  The fact that WL is central and affordable is an attractive feature.
• Bree discussed the challenges the university has in offering courses due to not having enough students to bring a course here.  How do we recruit people who also want an education here? Walt stated with technology today there is no reason not to have instructors. Students have signed up for courses only to have them pulled due to low enrolment and students lose a year in starting their education because of it. Okanogan University has a 4 semester wait list for ECE.
• Horton Ventures is sending people out for leadership training. Most leadership training is very expensive for organizations.
• Anne, there is a need for this type of training (e.g. the Adaptive Leadership training was filled up quickly).  Could we look at surveying agencies to see if there is a cohort that might be interested in leadership development so we could do some shared training?
• Partner with physicians who do a great job advertising the lifestyle of Williams Lake. Rosanna – they not only need to sell to the physician but also their spouse and must include other aspects of the community such as the arts. Walt – it is an excellent opportunity to send a consistent message about Williams Lake. Beth - software being looked at. Larry -  joint advertising would be better for promoting Williams lake. Shannon - Lack of social support, immigrants are not supported. 
• Rosanna  ECE wages are built into the new daycare contract to pay $25/hr. ECE workers need to be paid for what they're worth; children are a precious asset. 
• Child care subsidy rates have been increased. Partnering with SD27 to get kids volunteer hours so students can get the requirements for ECE programs. TRU/SD27 does not have the dual credit program yet for ECE or Care Aids. Now called “Youth Train in Trades program”.
• Advertise living wage. Rosanna  - there is challenge in balancing wages already built into contracts and the business realities of economic development aspects for CFS.
• Beth - stickers available for business owners advertising they pay living wage.  We need to make good noise for Williams Lake, a competitive advantage is that wages are higher here.
• Anne, this is probably suitable for a LMP Labour Market Partnership, or JCP Job Creation Partnership funding to do a living wage project. Provincial program can get business certified and it included benefits. Determined that $15.44/hr based on a family of 4 with 2 people working full time is a living wage. New Child Care subsidy is a game changer people can afford to work but now cannot find  daycare spots. Rosanna - Not just about poverty reduction, it is about job re-entry. Ensuring daycare spots will stimulate economy and encourage people back into the work force. 

SPC Projects – Updates:

THRIVE Williams Lake:

• The WHAT WORKS: Community Summit on Designing Employment Solutions for Williams Lake is February 26^th  to help employers with recruitment and retention of employees and to bring community support agencies and employers together to bridge the gap between employers and people looking for work. We have a shallow labour pool and people are missing skills. The Summit is bringing people together to tackle this program. Kristi Fairholm Mader is the keynote speaker. There are posters for employers and the community, please send both out. Also, Anyone who wants more access to local data i.e. Stats Canada, Consumer Data, etc. can contact Anne about an opportunity to join a Data Consortium to get access. Multiple partners will be needed to access data but it would be at a significantly reduced cost from the one off purchases people are likely doing now. Having access to data is important for proposal, grants and for measuring success at a community level.

 Communities That Care Update:

• Barb started in the CTC facilitator position in January and is busy researching the history and content of CTC. Anne and Barb facilitated the Youth Engagement Tool kit presentation to school counselors and leadership teachers at Columneetza and is developing a workplan for Feb-Apr.

Additional Topics:

Larry Stranberg: It's not if you get hacked, its when. It is the risk of doing business in this day and age and cyber insurance is now an important consideration for businesses. Regular business insurance will not cover breaches in privacy from being hacked. Cyber insurance is expensive so 27 Community Futures have combined coverage to share the cost.

Lunch and Learn: Over the next few weeks topics will be presented by a new law firm wanting to promote their business. First session held Feb 21^st from 12-1pm on employee law and human rights. Once you register on line you will be emailed link to login. You can watch live from your personal computer and email your questions or watch from the Community Futures Board room.

Roundtable Updates:

Shannon Thom, Horton Ventures – Their contract has been successfully renewed for April 1^st, to include Quesnel, 100 Mile House and west towards Bella Coola. Quesnel area is new to the contract.

Anne Burrill (many hats) -  Housing First has been successful in keeping participants housed and continues with some new funding through Red Cross. Currently have a case load of 14 people who are stable and doing well. It continues to be very challenging to find housing as the vacancy rate is extremely low and rents have risen significantly.

Ashlee Hyde, United Way – is going to present the positive ticking program at the next Chamber meeting. United Way purchased a poverty simulation which will held in Williams Lake April 12^th  and joint hosted with Thrive.  Participants will be given a scenario to work through which will take 3 hours. Cory Hirch will be presenting at the WL campus on February 19th at 9 am on anxiety and depression. United way funding applications are open in March.

Jon Jackson, Red Cross - still working with people who have lost homes in the 2017 wildfires. Many people are still stuck in limbo and their team is needing to get proactive and creative in finding supports. Red Cross is connecting with those beneficiaries of the 2018 fires. Funding for 2018 fires is not a great as the 2017 fires, less people were impacted. The Community Partnership Programs are coming to an end with a Feb 1^st cut off. 

Beth Veenkamp, City of Williams Lake – Acknowledged all of Anne's hard work. WL is participating in a plan to support immigrants moving to the community. If you have any questions call Beth. If you love data take a look at the WL economic report look on the City's website. Beth recommends checking out the Northern development initiative report at https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/state-of-the-north/

Janice Breck, CMHA – The Association has lost some funding and is working to raise 30,000 - 50,000 dollars. One fundraiser is the sale of chocolate strawberries for Valentines day with RBC donating staff time to assist. With United Way and Red Cross funding there is not longer a wait list for counselling services and Walk in Wednesdays is still available. Bell is launching a campaign called “Lets Talk 2019”  aimed at reducing stigma around mental health. Check out https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/bell-lets-talk-day

Walt Cobb, Mayor of Williams Lake – Attending SPC as an observer today. The topics discussed here today are the same topics discussed at the monthly leadership meetings with the school board, industry and hospitals leaders. All levels of housing across the board are needed. Vacancy rates are 2% (which might as well be 0%).  The flood at Glen Arbour had 14 seniors displaced and fortunately insurance covered up to $10 000/person for displacement. A young professionals group has started in Williams Lake helping make social connections between young professionals.

Sheila Boehm, City of Williams Lake -  new to SPC representing City Council, there is lots happening in the City and wants to be involved. Was part of CTC many years ago.

Bree Odd, United Way – Is working on new website for SPC.  Just found out that each of the Community Wellness Managers has some funding to take train the trainer courses. If anyone has ideas of what train the trainer courses the community might benefit from let us know and we will try to find the course.

Krista Harvey, Boy and Girls Club – They are preparing to celebrate their  25^th anniversary in the community. The independent living position has been filled and B&G Club is currently fully staffed.

Rosanna McGregor, CFS -  The Canadian Housing Renewal Association is hosting a conference in Victoria  April 2-4^th.   It is an amazing event that covers all aspects of housing and to get a better idea of what is happening on the National scene.  Last year the conference was in Halifax so it is a great opportunity to be able to attend this conference  in Victoria. The Overdose Working Group in partnership with IH reviewed overdose stats and determined the results do not show the actual number of overdose, only those reported at the hospital.  If you consider the actual numbers we are in real crisis mode in how to support communities with overdoses. What is happening in bigger centres will happen here in a trickle down affect. There is on going work with the 10 year Aboriginal Wellness Plan. CFS coming up on its 50 year anniversary in the community.  Eagles Nest was flooded Nov 20^th  and residents and staff have been displaced since. CFS is still dealing with insurance companies and the process is slow (6000 gal min came out of the water main below the shut off and flooded the whole main floor causing a bigger structural issue).