Community Updates - June 22, 2012

Community Updates - June 22, 2012


Here are nine updates from within the community:
1) The next SPC meeting is this upcoming Monday, Jun 25th from 11:30 am – 1 pm at the City of Williams Lake. Lunch is provided. There will be no meetings in July or August so if we don’t see you Monday, we look forward to seeing you again in the fall. The draft agenda is attached (meeting minutes will be sent out next week).
2) Update from the Cariboo Regional Library:
Wed Jun 27th 7 pm (Library Program Room FREE) “The HOLE Story” video Documentary 52 min: Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie: The vast territories of northern Quebec and Ontario contain a wealth of mineral resources. For more than 100 years, they have been controlled by private companies governed by Canada’s Mining Act, which takes precedence over all other legislation. This film explores the history of how these resources have been used, and the battles that have ensued.
Genealogy training is being offered the first Thursday of the month on Ancestry Library Edition, 2-4pm. Come to the library desk to register or call 250-392-3630. Evening appointments can be arranged.
Summer Reading Club 2012 – Strange….But True – Regular reading during the summer helps kids maintain and even improve reading and literacy skills. Summer Reading Club makes reading fun through awesome games, songs, crafts, and more. Registration begins June 23, schedule available at the front desk. The Club runs July3 to Aug 18, for children ages 3 to 12. Call or email Melissa, the Summer Reading Club coordinator - 250-392-3630 or srcoordinator@cariboord.bc.ca for more information.
3) The 2011 City of Williams Lake Annual Report is now available for the public to view. It can be obtained online at www.williamslake.ca, or from City Hall.

Council will consider the Annual Report at a special meeting at 5 p.m. June 28 in Council Chambers. Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting and to present submissions or ask questions with respect to the report. Copies of the report will also be available at the meeting.
For further information, please contact Acting Chief Administrative Officer Geoff Goodall 250-392-1766.
4) 2011 Census shows increase in seniors population in Williams Lake

(By Monica Lamb-Yorski - Williams Lake Tribune Published: May 29, 2012 3:00 PM Updated: May 29, 2012 3:47 PM)
The 2011 Census age and sex details were released this morning by Stats Canada, revealing that the number of seniors in the community is on the increase.
The statistics also show that of 10,830 citizens in the city of Williams Lake, 5,300 are males and 5,530 are females.
While the male-to-female ratio is fairly even, as it was in 2006 when there were 5,245 males and 5,500 females, the number of people over the age of 64 living in the city is increasing.
In 2006 Williams Lake had 1,400 people over 64 years of age; in 2011 there were 1,730.
The age category between 60 to 64 years of age indicates there were 495 in 2006 and 740 in 2011; in the 85 years and over category there were 155 in 2006 and 215 in 2011.
Those numbers reflect what's happening across the country.
In a press release the Bank of Montreal pointed out that the 60-64 age group grew 29 per cent — the fastest growing age group in Canada.
The number of seniors — those aged 65 and over — rose 14 per cent and is now sitting at around five million (the highest number of seniors ever) and that those of working age (aged 15-64) grew by only 5.7 per cent

At the other end of the spectrum, the numbers are remaining steady in Williams Lake
In 2006 there were 340 males and 320 females between the ages of zero and four, whereas in 2011 there were 345 males and 305 females.
The percentage of the population 15 years and older is 81.6 in Williams Lake in 2011.
A second table, Williams Lake population centre, cites a population of 12,408.

It compares Williams Lake with the province of British Columbia, showing the median age of 39.6 in Williams Lake versus 41.9 provincially; 81.6 per cent of the population 15 and over in Williams Lake, compared to 84.6 in the province.

The full report is available at http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E.

5) BC Poverty Reduction Coalition Update – http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/
Dear supporters,

There's been a lot going on in the last month: in your communities, in the province and across Canada. Most notably, the BC government made some small changes to the welfare system last week, mostly changes in the right direction. The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and our partners have worked hard advocating for these changes for years so I want to express my thanks to all involved. Now we know the government's listening, let's keep on pushing for a raise in the welfare rates.
Also, the latest poverty data from Statistics Canada came out on Monday and BC's poverty rate remains the highest in the country, now for the 12th year in a row. To hear about some of the consequences of this, on both people's lives and the provincial economy, please come out to the Cost of Poverty panel, which will be hosted by Raise the Rates in Vancouver on Tuesday evening, June 26. More details below.
We have launched a research project on queer and transgender poverty to address the invisibility of the experiences of queer and trans people living in poverty. This is particularly an issue for queer and transgender youth who are kicked out of home and left to survive on the streets, as well as those people facing housing and employment discrimination The significant gap in the research leads to a blind spot in our political advocacy and we want to tackle this so that we can more effectively address the needs of those over-represented in poverty. Read on to find out how you can help.
Thanks,

Trish
BC Poverty Reduction Coalition – in this newsletter below

• BC Welfare Changes

• BC still has the Highest Poverty Rate in Canada

• Cost of Poverty Panel, June 26

• Queer and Transgender Poverty

• Other News and Resources: Fair Taxation, New Poverty Progress Profiles, and Federal Good News
BC Welfare Changes

Last Monday, the BC government announced some small changes to income and disability allowances as the first pillar in their "Families First" campaign. While there is no raise in the welfare rates, positive changes include the re-introduction of the earnings exemption, an increased assets exemption, and the removal of time limits. Most concerning is the extension of the "work search" from three weeks to five. The government itself estimates that the changes will cost $5 million, which is really no more than a rounding error in provincial budget terms. It's interesting to compare this to yesterday's announcement of the second pillar: $66 million for the Guns and Gangs Strategy to sustain 168 anti-gang officer positions for three more years. They've got the balance skewed: poverty reduction is a far more effective means of crime prevention.
Seth Klein, Director of the CCPA-BC, has written a commentary on the changes, "BC welfare changes: small steps forward, a couple steps back," and Raise the Rates emphasize their concerns in "Welfare changes help and hurt BC's most vulnerable." Hope you caught me on Radio Q on Vancouver Island, CFAX last Tuesday morning or on Kootenay Morning this morning. Here's more news coverage that featured our continued push for more meaningful change, raising the welfare rates:
"'Modest' changes to welfare welcomed, with some exceptions" (The Tyee, June 11)

"BC welfare changes draw lukewarm support" (CBC, June 11)

"Clark adds BC welfare supplements; extends work search requirement" (Global BC, June 11)

"Welfare changes still fall short" (Times Colonist, June 13)
BC still has the Highest Poverty Rate in Canada

According to new data for 2010 released on Monday by Statistics Canada, BC's poverty rate dropped from 12% to 11.5% but remained the highest in Canada for the 12th year in a row, and still represents over half a million British Columbians. BC's child poverty rate also went down from 11.8% to 10.5%, and is now the second worst in Canada. Median income - the income level at the middle of the income spectrum - fell between 2009 and 2010.
First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition released a press release continuing to emphasize the need for a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy. As Adrienne Montani, provincial coordinator of First Call, says, "poverty is costing children their health and limiting their ability to reach their full potential." You can access the data for yourself here and read more commentary here:
"BC drops in child poverty, up in overall poverty" (The Tyee, June 18)

"Child Poverty in BC Declines" (SOS Children's Villages, Canada, June 19)

"BC's child poverty rates improving slowly: Statistics Canada" (The Province, June 19)

Cost of Poverty Panel, June 26

Raise the Rates is hosting a panel discussion on the cost of poverty featuring a great line up of speakers:

• Jean Swanson, Raise the Rates

• Colleen Boudreau, DTES resident on disability

• Ted Bruce, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

• Charan Gill, Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society

• Iglika Ivanova, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

• Seth Klein, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

• Harold Lavender, DTES resident on disability

• Robin Loxton, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

• Colleen McGuire, At the Table Nutrition

• Carol Martin, Downtown Eastside Women's Centre

• Adrienne Montani, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition

• Fraser Stuart, DTES resident on Temporary Assistance

Tuesday, June 26, 7-9pm, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, 1803 East 1st Ave (near Commercial Drive), Vancouver. Hope to see you there and please spread the word. You can download the poster from the Raise the Rates website (scroll down to the post).
Queer and Transgender Poverty

A major gap in research on queer and trans poverty currently exists, and because of this these communities are being excluded from initiatives trying to address poverty. So we have launched a research study on queer and trans poverty in BC. You can help us in two ways:

1. If you are aware of statistics, data or any information that may be relevant, please email jonny@bcpovertyreduction.ca

2. If you are an advocate or representative working with queer and trans folks in BC, and would be interested in being interviewed about the specific poverty issues faced by these communities, please also contact jonny@bcpovertyreduction.ca

You can find more information about the study on our website: http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/
Other News and Resources

• Fair Taxation: With any discussion about poverty reduction plans, the issue of cost always comes up. Along with the argument about the huge cost of not doing anything about poverty, there's also the issue of how much public money we've lost over the last decade because of tax changes, which have depleted our provincial resources for public services by $3.4 billion each year and left us with an unfair tax system. Here's some great resources from the CCPA about fair taxation: the National Office has created A Day in the Life of Your Taxes, a short video highlighting some of the key things our taxes pay for; and the BC Office has just published a short factsheet on taxation on BC, A Decade of Eroding Tax Fairness in BC, which will arm you with great information, such as the fact that the BC government now collects more from MSP premiums than it does from corporate income taxes.

• New Poverty Progress Profiles: Canada without Poverty has released short, excellent profiles that give an overview of poverty reduction plans and their progress throughout Canada. BC remains in the "without a poverty reduction plan" category along with Saskatchewan.

• Federal Good News: A new federal All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus has been formed with the help of Canada without Poverty and they held their first event on June 12. Find out more on CWP's website here. And on June 13, motion M-315 for a study on income inequality in Canada brought forward by Scott Brison, Liberal MP, passed in the House of Commons with support from all parties. Find out more here.

Copyright © 2012 BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you have signed on to the Open Letter to BC Political Parties: BC Needs a Poverty Reduction Plan.

Our mailing address is:
BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
1400 - 207 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1H7
6) Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex’s KidSport Classic Run is this Sunday Jun 24th .Funds raised goes towards fulfilling its mission of eliminating the financial barriers to sport participation, ‘So ALL Kids Can Play!’ In Williams Lake on Sunday from 8 – 11:30 am, the run will follow a scenic tour around the lake and meander back to Boitanio Park. 1/2 Marathon, 10 km Walk/Run and 2 - 4 member relay are the distances. Students cost $10 and $25 for adults.

This event is not just for kids. Everyone is invited to take part and raise money for the Williams Lake and Area KidSport chapter. This year, the City has received sponsorship from Caribou Ski Source for Sports, Kiwanis International and Lake City Ford to provide free gym bags for all participants.

KidSport provides funds to cover the costs of sport registration for kids who might not otherwise get the chance to play sports. The statistics are clear: a child involved in sport is likely to be a better student, is less likely to be a burden to the social justice system and will develop life-long physical activity habits which reduce health care costs. The benefits to the child are immeasurable.

The route this year is the same as last year: it starts and finishes in Boitanio Park. CN Rail has graciously allowed the City of Williams Lake a permit to use the service road along the lane between the RC Cotton lands and Dutch Point Road for this event. Since the permit is only for the day of the race, no training along the tracks before the race will be permitted.

The beautiful lake-hugging route will be similar to the original Dave Jacobs Classic route.

Participants will turn off of Highway 20 onto Bagshaw Road and follow the tracks to Dutch Point Road. They will turn onto South Lakeside Drive and then head onto the trails for a couple of kilometres. Distances for this race will be a Half Marathon, 10 kilometre walk or run and a 21 kilometre 2-4 person relay. Refreshments, entertainment, awards and draw prizes will be part of this family centered event.

“Don’t be fooled by the name – the KidSport Classic benefits a fantastic non-profit for kids, but this fun, healthy event is for everyone,” says Councillor Laurie Walters, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “I hope to see everyone, from kids to their grandparents, take in the beautiful scenery as they run or walk.”

Designer medals will be awarded to the top three competitors in the ½ Marathon and 10km Event. Categories include Men 40 & Over, Women 40 & Over, Men 39 & under, and Women 39 & under. Relay categories include: Elementary School, High School, 19 – 39, 40 & Over, Family and Corporate. The top three team members in each relay will also receive medals for their achievement.

In addition, local sponsors have donated an excellent selection of draw prizes and grand draw prizes which will be drawn at the event for anyone who enters. They include airfare for two to Vancouver from Pacific Coastal Airlines, a flight around Williams Lake with Rodger Patenaude, and other great prizes.

For more information or to register or volunteer contact the Cariboo Memorial Complex at (250) 398-7665. Maps, race information and entry forms are available at the Complex or at activewilliamslake.com.
7) Reminder: LIRN BC Expression of Interest:
The latest Expression of Interest for the Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern BC (LIRN BC) has been released! LIRN provides support to rural, remote, and northern BC communities to advance community learning through capacity building and collaborative networking on locally relevant issues.

There are over a dozen workshop topics to choose from, or you can work with one of the LIRN partners to form an event that fits your community’s needs. A copy of the 2012 Expression of Interest is attached, or can be downloaded at http://www.bcruralnetwork.ca/lirn Completed applications must be received by June 28th, 2012.
Katie McCallum, Researcher, SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) e: kmccallum@sparc.bc.ca, t: 604.718.8502 f: 604.736.8697 w: http://www.sparc.bc.ca/
8) Reminder: Summer Mine Tours:

The Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Gibraltar Mines is pleased to announce the return of their Summer Tours. Tours will be available free to the public. Unfortunately, Children under 13 can not participate.
You must Register by calling the Williams Lake Visitor Centre 250-392-5025 or Come in & Sign Up. Special Dress Code is necessary Long Pants, Closed toed Shoes, & Long Sleeve Shirts. NO Sandals, Shorts, Tank Tops or Muscle Shirts!

9) Arts & Culture Update – available by email.