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Looking for help or resources? Visit BC211 at the following link http://www.bc211.ca

bc211
is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization that specializes in providing information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC. Our help line services include 211, the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS), the Problem Gambling Help Line, VictimLink BC, and the Youth Against Violence Line.

Want to sign-up for Community Update emails? Enter your email address HERE to start receiving the updates we post below directly to your inbox!

What is The Social Planning Council?

Activities:

o Monthly Meetings: Attend meetings with guest speakers from within the community &/or presentations at each meeting. We currently meet the fourth Monday of every month (excluding summer) at City Hall with light lunch by donation.

o Facebook & Email Group: Utilize the network on Facebook. Start discussions, learn about & share upcoming community events, projects and meetings. If you don’t use Facebook, then join the email network instead.

o Inform City Council: The SPC provides reports to City Council regularly and the City keeps the SPC informed. Use the network and have your voices heard.



Strategic Direction of the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake & Area:

o Poverty Reduction and the local Living Wage Campaign.

o Community Collaboration and Networking.

o Retention and Succession of residents within the Area.



Community Social Planning:

o Supports communities in building an integrated approach to complex problems that take into account social, economic, and environmental concerns.

o Maximizes the effectiveness of often scarce resources by working to reduce duplication, overlap and competition.

o Provides an ongoing forum for communication, coordination and conflict resolution.



Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Hello and Thank you for visiting the Social Planning Council Blog Spot. This Blog will no longer be active as of Fall 2019, but we would be happy to have you visit our new 
Website:
  wlspc.ca 
or email us at 
Socialplanninginfo@gmail.com. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Friday, April 26, 2019

Community Updates (17) - Apr 26, 2019


Hello fellow Williams Lakers,

Please find the latest Community Updates via the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake and Area. Please visit the link below for the following:

Community Updates (17) - Apr 26 2019
Table of Contents:
1) Reminder - Monthly Social Planning Council Meeting Apr 29, 2019
2) Indoor Rodeo - this weekend (Apr 26 - 28)
3) Handmade in the Cariboo Market - Sat Apr 27th 10 am - 4 pm
4) Walk for ALS - Junk in the Trunk Event Sat. Apr 27th
5) Local Youth Week activities for Youth ages 13-18 (May 1 - 7)
6) RCMP invite the community to "Coffee with a Cop" at the Bean Counter May 2nd
7) Williams Lake Garden Club - May 2nd
8) Spring into Summer Clothing Sale - Seniors Activity Centre May 3 from 9am - 3pm
9) Seedy Saturday & Early Bird Farmers Market - May 4th
10) Annual Bike Rodeo - Sat May 5th (Canadian Tire Parking lot) 11:30 - 1pm
11) Hike for Hospice - Sunday May 5th
12) Six Week Support Group: Exploring our Grief & Loss (May 9 - Jun 13)
13) Business Continuity Planning Workshop on Friday, May 10th
14) 2nd Annual Conference May 4 (register by Apr 26) Breaking the Silence: on Sexual Violence
15) Summer Camp for International Students - a local opportunity
16) Notice: Race for Kids Fundraiser - Sat Jun 1st at 10 am
17) Downtown Williams Lake - user friendly app


http://cm.pn/4be1

Community Updates (16) - March 22, 2019


Community Updates - Mar 22, 2019

Table of Contents:
1) SPC Meeting - Monday, March 25th at 11:30 am
2) Nancy Gale's Retirement Celebration - Wed, Mar 27th from 1 - 3 pm
3) Wellness Olympics - Mar 27th in 150 Mile House (Register today)
4) CRD Election Mar 30th - Director for electoral Area F
5) VR Poverty Simulation - Apr 12, 2019
6) Important Notice - from Horton Ventures
7) Summer Camp for International Students - a local opportunity
8) United Ways Community Investment Fund - accepting grant applications now
9) Free Connect Parent Group (weekly) pre-registration required
10) Volunteer Crisis Line Training - starts Apr 2nd
11) Proposal Writing Course - free professional development training opportunity
12) Williams Lake Garden Club
13) Expect Delays - Recreation Complex Online Registration Required
14) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week
15) Downtown Williams Lake - user friendly app
16) Living Life to the Full Workshop - 12 hours that can change your life

Please visit the link below to view these updates!

http://cm.pn/48nk

SPC's 2019 Meeting Schedule

To View our entire SPC 2019 Meeting Schedule please visit the following Link:

http://cm.pn/489h

Friday, February 22, 2019

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,  1st 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 26th  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 21st 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 1st, 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 12th  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 1st 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  25th 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 2-4th.   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 20th  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).

Friday, February 8, 2019

Community Updates (15) - Feb 8, 2019


Table of Contents:
1) Not-for-Profit Feedback Wanted - workshops choices
2) The next Social Planning Council Meeting - Mon Feb 25th 11:30 am
3) CTC & Positive Action: Word of the Week
4) Register Now! What WORKS: Designing Employment Solutions - Feb 26th
5) Regional Workshops - Free to not-for-profits & businesses  affected by the 2017 wildfires
6) Local CCACS Grants - Applications being accepted
7) Call for Performers - deadline Mar 2, 2019
8) Anime Club Open House - Boys & Girl Club Feb 11th
9) A Free Family Event - Great Backyard Bird Count Feb 17
10) Volunteers Wanted - Williams Lake Community Council for Restorative Justice
11) Not sure about your English Skills? Free Language instruction classes
12) Citizens on Patrol (COP) - looking for volunteers
13) LEAP! Course - 8 week Local Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program
14) Sponsor & Donation Request: TRU Williams Lake Gala 2019
15) Coda! Teen Choir - free for ages 9 - 17 (Jan 10 - Apr 11, 2019)

1) Not-for-Profit Feedback Wanted - workshops choices
There are non-profit workshops available through Vantage Point in Vancouver, and local discussions are taking place right now about offering a workshop (1 or 2 days) with various topics relevant to non-profit leaders/senior staff & boards, to empower organizations with this knowledge that is often difficult to obtain.

The Social Planning Council has been asked to get your personal feedback on topics you would find useful and/or are interested in learning more about (e.g. board governance, leadership, capacity building). Please see the list of available workshops and simple participation instructions below.

Board Development
  • Advanced Governance: Strategic & Generative Conversations
  • Board Fundamentals: Board Diversity and Inclusion
  • Board Fundamentals: Tools for Effective Meetings
  • Board Fundamentals: Critical Role of the Board Chair
  • Board Fundamentals: Executive Director Development
  • Board Fundamentals: Fund Development
  • Board Fundamentals: Financial Governance 
  • Board Fundamentals: Roles & Responsibilities
  • Board Fundamentals: Strategic Board Recruitment
  • Board Policy Boot Camp 
Capacity Building
  • Scarcity to Abundance: A Road Map to Not-For-Profit Sustainability
  • Strategic Planning ABCs: Alignment, Board Engagement, Clarity
  • Understanding the Societies Act I: Legal Basics for BC Societies
  • Understanding the Societies Act II: Deep Dive into Legal Issues in Governance & Legislative Changes
Leadership
  • Executive Director: Empowering your Board
  • Leading Change: Getting Change Done
  • Strategic Career Management 
Human Resources
  • Human Resources: Introduction to Performance Management
  • Human Resource: Giving and Receiving Feedback
  • Human Resource: Navigating Performance Issues
  • Human Resources: Proactive Succession Planning
  • Human Resources: Recruiting for Keeps
  • Introduction to Coaching
  • Knowledge Philanthropy: Engaging Skilled Volunteers
  • Volunteer & Staff Engagement: Building a Culture of Passion
Please participate in one of the following ways:
a) Send your preferences and/or feedback by email to spc-coordinator@xplornet.com (or reply to this email if you receive them directly to your inbox), or

b) Attend the next monthly SPC Meeting on Monday, February 25th from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm to learn more and provide your feedback in person

Kathie from Community Futures will be at the next SPC meeting to chat about this more.

2) The next Social Planning Council Meeting - Mon Feb 25th 11:30 am
The next Social Planning Council of Williams Lake and Area is being held on Monday, Feb 25th from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm in the Community Futures Board room downtown Williams Lake. Join us over lunch for always  interesting discussions, a chance to network with others, and time to share your thoughts at the SPC table. A reminder and agenda will be sent out the Friday before. Mark your calendars and bring a friend!

3) CTC & Positive Action: Word of the Week
The Positive Action word of the week is Happiness: To feel good about who you are and what you do.

If you would like more background information about The Communities That Care (CTC) Program,  Positive Action or the word of the week, please contact Barb Jones, CTC Facilitator by email at communitiesthatcare.wl@gmail.com or call 250-305-4838

4) Register Now! What WORKS: Designing Employment Solutions - Feb 26th
 Employers are struggling to find and keep good employees. Many job seekers are struggling to find and maintain employment. Employers want and need to recruit and retain employees and current and prospective employees want to find employment that meets their needs. Jobs are there, people are looking for (or hoping for) work, but too often the two are not connecting.

This event will bring together employers and community services to focus on finding solutions.
Inspired by keynote speaker Kristi Fairholm Mader, who will share creative solutions to employment challenges, and by a panel of local success stories, we will tackle the following questions with a goal of designing tangible local solutions for implementation:

  • How can we help employers better understand the capabilities, aspirations and challenges of employees so they can attract and keep them as employees?
  • How can we help employees better understand the requirements of the employer, the challenges they (employee) may have in meeting those requirements, so they can get and keep that job? 
Register now for this exciting community event, and please share the attached poster with your networks: https://what-works-employment-summit.eventbrite.ca
 
For more information please contact: 
Anne Burrill, Project Lead
Thrive Community Poverty Reduction Project www.facebook.com/ThriveWilliamsLake
Community Bridge to Housing First Program www.facebook.com/HousingFirstWL
Contact me: annelburrill@gmail.com or 250.267.7211

5) Regional Workshops - Free to not-for-profits & businesses  affected by the 2017 wildfires
In Williams Lake, the following workshops are being offered:

Occupational First Aid Level 1 @ TRU Feb 19th from 8am - 5pm (note: there is a waiting list started)
Transportation Endorsement @ TRU Feb 20th from 8am - 5pm
WHIMIS @ TRU Feb 21 from 1 - 5pm
Transportation of Dangerous Goods @ TRU Feb 22nd from 8am - 5pm
Tax Help for Small Business @ Community Futures in Williams Lake Feb 27th from 9am - 12pm

To register for these workshops: Go to www.cfwildfire.ca/workshops or call 250-392-3626 - seating is limited.

There is also online training free for businesses and not-for profits:

Lunch 'n Learn - Review employment laws surrounding Human Rights issues with Employment Lawyer Paula Krawus Feb 21st from 12 - 1pm
Marketing & Sales - Right on Target Feb 11th from 1 - 4pm
Business Operations - Your Pathway to Success Feb 22nd from 8:30 - 12pm
Financial Management - In the Black Feb 25th from 1 - 4:30pm

To register for this online training: Go to www.cfwildfire.ca/workshops and once you register a website link and login will be emailed to you the day before.

6) Local CCACS Grants - Applications being accepted
The Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society's next round of grant funding is now open.

Support Grants for activities taking place between July 1 - Dec 31, 2019 - the deadline to apply is May 30, 2019

Project Grants for projects taking place between Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2019 - the deadline to apply is Jan 31, 2019.

Visit centralcaribooarts.com/grants for more information

7) Call for Performers - deadline Mar 2, 2019
Performances in the Park is accepting applications for local, regional and international acts for the 2019 Performances in the Park weekly free outdoor summer music and talent event held at Boitanio Park in Williams Lake.

Performance in the Park takes place every Thursday evening through July and August.

Go to centralcaribooarts.com/performances-in-the-park for more information or to apply today - deadline is Mar 2, 2019.

8) Anime Club Open House - Boys & Girl Club Feb 11th
OPEN HOUSE on Monday, February 11th  from 3 - 5 pm for the new program ANIME CLUB program that will begin tentatively on March 4th afterschool on Mondays. Come for the snacks, stay for the fun. The Boys and Girls Club is looking for community input for their new Anime Club.

Please pass this onto everyone you know that might be interested in joining in. There is NO cost to the program and we are very excited to have this option for children/youth in the community.  If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate in contacting the club. 

Thank you,  
  
Deana Conde Garza
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Club of Williams Lake & District
17 Fourth Ave South
Williams Lake, BC V2G 1J6
Ph: (250) 392-5730 ext #204

9) A Free Family Event - Great Backyard Bird Count Feb 17
The Williams Lake Field Naturalists Presents: A Free Family Event - Great Backyard Bird Count.

Learn to identify those fascinating feathered visitors with local birding expert Cathy Koot and Environmental Educators Kim Zalay and Bill Gilroy. Short ID introduction with frozen and stuffed specimens to compare with bird books. Count birds at the Nature House feeders and play a game to learn about the different types of beaks that birds have.

Saturday, February 17 from 1pm to 3pm
Scout Island Nature Centre
Info:  250-398-8532

If you cannot come to this event, you can still be a citizen scientist by counting birds at your feeders from February 15 – 18 and submitting you findings at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/
Help create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are!

10) Volunteers Wanted - Williams Lake Community Council for Restorative Justice
To make a difference in your community consider taking the first step towards becoming a Restorative Justice volunteer.

Training Dates: March 7th, Thursday (5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m); March 8th, Friday (5:30-9:30 p.m.); March 9th, Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

Location: Pioneer Complex: 351 Hodgson Road

Pre-registration is necessary.

For more information please contact Sandra Hawkins:
sandra.hawkins@telus.net

11) Not sure about your English Skills? Free Language instruction classes
The CCPL has free language instruction for newcomers to Canada (LINC) Program classes for all levels. Free child minding is available. For more information about LINC call 250-945-4199, email susan@caribooliteracy.com or drop into the CCPL office at 118 C North First Ave in Williams Lake. Visit www.caribooliteracy.com for more information.

12) Citizens on Patrol (COP) - looking for volunteers
COP is looking for volunteers, over the age of 19 (must pass a criminal records check)  to patrol the community, record suspicious events and report to the RCMP. COP also requires office volunteers to perform data entry, general office work, communicate information to members and to coordinate patrols.

If you wish to assist the RCMP in making our community a better place to live call Dave Dickson at 250-392-8701 or Bob McIntosh at 250-305-1041 or 250-303-1428.

Everyone is invited to attend Community Policing meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at their office in Williams Lake (downtown corner of 3rd & Oliver Street).

13) LEAP! Course - 8 week Local Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program
The Local Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (LEAP!) is an 8-week business course for aspiring business owners in the Cariboo Chilcotin region looking to make additional income or start a new career.

It is a partnership with three Community Futures offices (Ashcroft, Williams Lake and Quesnel) and SFU.  This is a pilot project for SFU in rural BC.  The program has been done in a few major centres but now for the first time in rural BC.  There will be 12 individuals total being picked for this program. 

This program is for people who are passionate, action-oriented and committed to seeing their idea through. You do not have to have experience; you just need an entrepreneurial spirit.

During the program participants will identify a need in their community, test and refine their business idea to fill the need, explore revenue streams and profitability, crystallize community and social benefits, and begin marketing their product or services.

Classes meet one night a week, and are taught remotely by SFU instructors. If you are interested in applying, contact Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin by emailing happytrails@cfdccariboo.com, or call 250-392-3626, Deadline to apply is February 22nd

LEAP! will run throughout April and May 2019 – for eight (8) weeks, one evening each week.  The ‘Class Day’ will be determined by the majority of the successful applicant’s availability.

Here’s how it works:
1) Complete and submit the application form.
2) Email or drop off the completed form at Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin. If you require a hard-copy of the application, drop by our offices to pick one up.
3) We will contact you to let you know if you have made the shortlist.
3) If you are selected, we’ll meet, and you’ll learn about our program and you can tell us about yourself and your business.
4) We will then decide on our final Candidates and invite you to attend if you are selected.

A successful applicant is not someone with the perfect business idea, but rather someone who is aware of a meaningful need in our community, and has an idea for a business which could fill that need. Being resourceful and determined is more important than business experience!

The registration cost is only $100 per participant as Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin will be funding 90% of the cost of the program for promising entrepreneurial leaders. Deadline is February 22. 

Local Office:
Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin
266 Oliver Street, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 1M1

Local Contact:
Larry Stranberg
happytrails@cfdccariboo.com
250.392.3626

14) Sponsor & Donation Request: TRU Williams Lake Gala 2019
The eighth annual Thompson Rivers University Williams Lake and TRU Grit Gala is taking place on Saturday April 27th 2019. This is their primary fundraising event with the theme this year being "Masquerade Ball". They invite us all to support them in the following ways, which enables the Gala to raise funds for TRU Williams Lake scholarships and bursaries.

Please consider supporting in the following ways:
-Sponsorship, or private donation,
-Live Auction item, or
-Silent Auction item

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, questions or concerns please contact the Gala Chair, Nancy Giesbrecht at 250-302-1052.

More details and tickets for the event can be found online at tru.ca/williamslake/gala

15) Coda! Teen Choir - free for ages 9 - 17 (Jan 10 - Apr 11, 2019)
The Junior Cadet Society received a generous grant from the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society which allows them to partner with Angelkeys Music Studio to offer Coda! Teen Choir which is free of charge for anyone ages 9 - 17 to join.

Coda! Teen Choir takes place at St. Peters Anglican Church at 549 Carson Drive in Williams Lake on Thursdays from 6:30 - 7:15 pm from Jan 10th - Apr 11, 2019

There is no charge to participate during this session (dates above). Please contact Angela Sommer at www.angelkeys.ca or angelkeys11@gmail.com for more information!




These updates have been provided by the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake and Area.

Contact Us

The Social Planning Council is made up of volunteers from the community. Many of us work in social services agencies or also volunteer for other organizations.

Our Mailing Address is Box 20045, Williams Lake BC V2G 4R1

To reach the Society Coordinator Jessica Dunn please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com or call 250-243-2126

To reach the Communities that Care Project Facilitator Barb Jones please email communitiesthatcare.wl@gmail.com or call 250-305-4838

To reach the THRIVE Williams Lake Project Manager Anne Burrill please email annelburrill@gmail.com or call 250-267-7211

To reach the current SPC Chair Larry Stranberg please email happytrails@cfdccariboo.com or call 250-392-3626