Community Updates – Feb 1, 2013

Community Updates – Feb 1, 2013

1) Human Services Information Night – Feb 6/13 from 7-9 pm

On Wed Feb 6 from 7 – 9 pm at the TRU Campus in room 1258 a) Explore educational and career opportunities in the Human Service Sector, b) Speak with potential employers about their organizations and employment qualifications, c) Work with people and make a difference in your community!


This is an evening for individuals to explore educational options to prepare for working in the field of Human Services as well as the kind of work and volunteer opportunities available both in our community and as a career path.


The evening will involve a panel presentation of former students, persons working in Human & Social Service and local employers who will speak about the field, educational and personal requirements and what opportunities there are for entry level work and volunteering.


The event is aimed both at individuals who are considering working the field as well as people who have started working in Human Services and want to explore additional educational options.


If your agency would like to participate, we are asking you bring some information about your agency and the opportunities you have for work and volunteering. After the panel presentation, we will invite participants to meet with agencies for a Q& A.


For more information please contact Jacquie Johnston at jjohnston@tru.ca

2) Williams Lake Employment Services (WLES)


Horton Ventures Inc. operates as Williams Lake Employment Services and is a WorkBC Employment Services Centre, providing full services and programs to job seekers and employers. They offer individualized service with experienced Case Managers, a staffed resources areas, regular resume workshops and assistance, specialized programs such as Skills Training, Self Employment, Wage Subsidy and Apprentice information and support. We also post free job listings for local area employers. Visit www.hortonventures.com for more information.


281 First Avenue N. - Job seekers, Service Providers and Employers Welcome.


Call WLES at 250-398-5133 or email inquiries@hortonventures.com for more information.


3) LIKE and Learn on Facebook – Welcome WL


Welcome WL is a new local community-led project dedicated to fostering a community where new Canadians can realize their full potential, racism is eliminated, and cultural diversity is valued and celebrated.

Welcome WL will facilitate a public discussion about inclusion and diversity in a vibrant and multicultural Cariboo, engaging employers, service providers, new Canadians, and local stakeholders in making Williams Lake and the surrounding area a place where families and skilled workers from around the world can settle and enrich our community.

Learn more about Welcome WL projects and ways you can get involved by going to our Facebook page: Welcome WL (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Welcome-WL/140988839389257)


Welcoming Communities programs are funded by both the B.C. government and the Canadian federal government under the terms of the Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement.


For more information, please contact
Sharon Taylor, Project Coordinator
sharont@imss.ca
Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society
118C N. First Ave. Williams Lake, BC
778-412-2999


4) Update from the Women’s Contact Society


Women’s Only Zumba is happening Mondays from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm with child-minding available, Thursdays 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm Please register at 250-392-4118.


Women’s Get Together for February 26 is Aboriginal Medicine Bags with Stephanie 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm – Please register at 250-392-4118 – limited space available


Family Law Workshop for the community – Tuesday February 19, 2013 – 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm open to all public – please call to register 250-392-4118


Family Law Workshop for service providers only is March 4, 2013 – Please call Ashlee for details – 250-392-4118


Noon Hour Workshop with Shoppers Drug Mart- Arthritis – Feb 5, 2013 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm please register at 250-392-4118 lunch provided


Financial Noon Hour Workshop with Jim Tanis – RRSP – Tuesday Feb 12, 2013 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm lunch provided Please register 250-392-4118 women only


Exploring Music with Angelkeys for Women – Wed February 6, 2013 10:00 am to 11:00 am please register at 250-392-4118


For more information please contact Ashlee Turatus at the WCS at 250-392-4118 orm officeassistant.wcs@telus.net


5) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The Positive Action Word of the Week is:

Feelings: Emotions such as anger, fear, love, and worry.

Feelings is the third component of the Thoughts, Actions, Feelings circle. If you’ve been thinking positive thoughts, which has been leading you to do positive actions, then you are probably reading this email with positive feelings inside.


We can help others flip things, so they can experience the good “feeling” of being in a positive cycle.


Here is an example of a lesson in this unit. It focuses on identifying the positive action of managing discouragement:


“Have you ever felt discouraged? Many people get discouraged when things are hard. It’s important to talk about how we feel. We can tell someone when we feel discouraged. We can get our feelings out there, and get encouragement. Then we can try again. Everything gets easier the more we practice it. What are some good ways to manage our discouragement? Sometimes we need to take things in little steps. Sometimes we need to ask for help. Sometimes we need to wait until we are just a little older. We can do positive actions. We can talk about what makes us discouraged.”


As adults, we can give encouragement. We can also model how to change our feelings from discouraged to encouraged and, let’s face it, we all have days when we need to remember to practice this skill! 


Have a great week,
Carla Bullinger, Facilitator
Communities that Care
Williams Lake, BC
email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca
cell: 250-267-8249

6) Williams Lake BIA – downtown Events


Turn down the Heat Week – save some power from Feb 2 – 9th as part of the “turn down the heat week”. Join other local businesses in the downtown core by wearing a sweater, rather than turning the heat higher.


Kiss in the City – celebrate Valentine’s Day in the downtown core this February. Enter photo contests, win prizes and have fun downtown!


More information on both of these events can be found online at http://www.wlcbia.com/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Williams-Lake-Central-Business-Improvement-Area



7) Family Fest – This free event is organized by Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy (CCPL) and strongly supported by our community partners. It will take place on Sunday, February 17 from 10:00 – 2:00 in the Marie Sharpe gym. Lots of hands on activities, a story time tent, music and song, puppet shows, and kids can have their photo taken by CCPL moose mascot Sir Read-a-Lot.


8) Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex Free Events


Free Skate – Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club on Saturday Feb 2 from 1 – 2:30 pm


Free Skate – Sponsored by Oliver & Co. on Sunday Feb 17th from 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank.


*All free events are advertised under the FREE events tab on the www.activewilliamslake.ca website. Feel free to print off posters to display throughout town. For more info please contact the Cariboo Recreation Memorial Complex at 250-398-7665


9) Cariboo Regional District Library Updates


Teen Drop In: Every Tues: 6:30-7:30pm Games and more in the program room. Denise Deschene and Sam Hinter have been helping out. However, it would be awesome to have a male volunteer and/or youth worker drop by as a high number of the youth is male.


Teen Advisory Group: Meets once a month and makes decisions for the Young Adult Collection

Wii Games: Every Thursday 3:30-4:30pm in the program room for ages 8-14 years (must register by Wed. 4:00pm at front desk)


Wednesday Night Williams Lake National Film Board Screening: Vanishing Point – Synopsis: Navarana is an Inughuit elder, a Polar Eskimo from the most remote corner of the planet: the northwest tip of Greenland. Thanks to her ancestor, an Inuit shaman who led an epic journey across the High Arctic in the 1860s, she is connected by blood to a group of Canadian Inuit. Today Navarana worries about the future of her people, as they face the greatest social and environmental challenges in their history. She embarks on hunting journeys with families of two communities—one on Canada’s Baffin Island, the other in neighbouring Greenland—and discovers that while the two groups share common values, they are adapting differently to outside influences and to the inescapable changes that affect their way of life. Navarana draws inspiration and hope from the ties that still bind the two communities, as well as from the legacy of her intrepid ancestor. In 100 Mile on Thurs February 21 - 6:00pm, and in Williams Lake on Wed February 20th - 7:00pm



10) Updates from the Communities That Care, Community Board Meeting Minutes (Jan 15/13)


a) Updates from the Key Leaders Meeting:


Jan provided an update of the Key Leader meeting which took place on Jan. 11, 2013


MCFD representation – Susan Murray, who has been acting Community Services Manager since September, was able to attend our meeting. Diane McHardy, also representing MCFD, attended with Susan. It was good to make the connection and start discussions around CTC sustainability needs. Susan has been very impressed with the work the group is been doing and to see Positive Action move into so many different venues and be embraced by the community.


Sustainability – Monica Johnson, ED of the Boys and Girls Club, has been leading the group through an exercise that is focused on sustainability. A working group has been established to craft a document based on our discussions. This will be presented at the next Key Leader meeting in April


Community Agency Newspaper Ad – Carla presented the idea of the one page community service agency ad and has been given the go ahead to pursue this.


b) Third World Canada & The Commemoration Project:


Commemoration Project - Anne provided an update on the Commemoration Project which will take place May 16 & 17. There will be speakers; workshops; a dedication ceremony; a monument will be installed at the residential school site; and a second monument will be erected in Boitanio Park. In addition, the school district will be offering workshops at its pro-d event in April that will look at the impacts of residential schools on First Nations peoples. The committee also hopes to have a youth component, including possibly a youth video project that would document these events.


Third World Canada – Anne has been working with the library to purchase the Third World Canada DVD. She first saw the DVD at a conference at UNBC. The viewing was followed by a discussion which was facilitated by the film maker, Andree Cazabon. The film is a documentary of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (the people of the lake) a remote Native community bound by reserve laws in the forgotten North of Ontario. This Nation dates back to 7,000 years where bones of their ancestors were discovered on the shores of Big Trout Lake. Today this proud Nation is deeply impoverished in 3rd World conditions bound by Treaty laws signed by their non-English speaking ancestors. Set in the backdrop of the aftermath of the suicide of three parents, the documentary explores the impact of 3rd world conditions on the children left behind and a community’s courage in looking after them.


Anne would like to work with the Community Board to show the film during or close to the Commemoration Event or as part of the SD27 pro-d event, and perhaps bring in the filmmaker who could share her experiences. The film’s website is: www.thirdworldcanada.ca/index.php


There is also a site about a tour of the film that Andree started last fall: http://productionscazabon.wix.com/tour, along with a guide to doing an outreach project http://media.wix.com/ugd//b0ef19_ee28afe2dc121fc9255f68cc43bca34c.pdf.


These would probably be good resources for people to look at as it might help some ideas converge beyond just a screening of the film.


Suggestion to include people from TRU Gathering Place and identify other aboriginal representatives to participate in the planning.


There was agreement to view the DVD at the next Community Board meeting, it’s only 46 minutes long, to see if we want to move forward with this.


c) From the CTC Round Table Updates:


Diversity Mural, CMHA – An all day community forum will be help on Thursday, Mar. 7 at TRU to begin the process of developing the diversity mural. The forum will include workshops, guest speakers, and lunch. Dwayne Davis is the artist who has been engaged to help create the mural.


Multicultural Cookbook, CMHA – “Spicing Up the Cariboo: Characters, Cuisine, and Culture”. Look for the launch to be around Mother’s Day.


Anti-Bullying Day, Feb. 27, CMHA – If anyone has anything planned for this day, CMHA would be happy to participate.


Welcoming Communities – Sharon Taylor introduced herself and this new project. She is working for Immigrant and Settlement Services in Prince George. The purpose of this project is to make Williams Lake a more welcoming community for new immigrants. Suggestion to look at a health care/ multicultural fair and/or ESL cafes.


The Welcoming Communities working group is very interested in linking this initiative to others that are happening in our community. The library is looking at augmenting its ESL collection. Sharon will get Susan, her IMSS contact, to connect with Caroline on this.


Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy, (Carla Bullinger): Read for 15 Challenge – This is a new initiative in partnership with School District 27. We are inviting schools to participate in an intentional 15 minute reading activity and encouraging them to make it different from the usual. We have purchased nifty neon pencils with the phrase “Readers are Leaders” on it, which teachers or principals will give out to each student after they have Read for 15. Schools are asked to email their results to Carla. Agencies and businesses are invited to participate.


City of Williams Lake, (Anne Burrill): The city is offering a six week Shuswap Language Lunch and Learn opportunity. It starts January 25 and runs for 6 Fridays. This learning opportunity is designed to bridge the relationships between the Northern Secwepemc people of the Williams Lake area and the service sector, such as government, health care providers, social service providers, schools and those who work with children and youth. In this course, participants will learn some basic Secwepemctsín (Shuswap language), and will develop an understanding and appreciation of the Northern Secwepemc history, governance structures, traditions, customs, membership and the


Treaty process. The cost is $60.00 person and includes lunch. Anne indicated that there were only 2 spaces left.

Safety Bus, Sally Errey (BGC): Sally is spearheading a project for the Boys and Girls Club. She is working at getting a “Safety Bus”, a mobile health unit, up and running. It would be safe, accessible and free. The target group is 15-29 year olds. Services offered by the Safety Bus would be pregnancy testing, testing and info on STDs, getting condoms, info on services, answering any questions youth may have, among other things.


There’s recognition that a visit to the Safety Bus might have a stigma attached to it, especially in small communities, so BGC is looking at perhaps expanding the mandate to include tatooes, piercing, etc.


Sally has identified 5 areas in which she needs help: 1) Fund development, 2) Vehicle management (Jan F. said she might be able to find support for this), 3) Community based health research (Sally is currently working with TRU nursing students to do a practicum in this area), 4) Youth and Community Forums (Has identified two practicum students who will do this. They might be in touch with service providers to help connect them to the target population) and, 5) Project management.


If you are interested in or have resources that could support this project, contact Sally at prevention@bgcwilliamslake.com


Denisiqi, Kerry Chelsea – He is starting the second round of workshops on substance use in communities out west.


CCRR, Beulah Munson – A pediatric first aid workshop is being offered.
The next CTC Community Board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 1:00-3:00 in the library program room. We will be viewing Third World Canada towards the end of our meeting. (See meeting minutes for background information on this). For more info contact Carla Bullinger at comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca or 250-267-8249.


11) Reminder – Community Updates


Send your community updates to the Social Planning Council for weekly distribution. Send information to spc-coordinator@xplornet.com