Community Updates – Mar 15, 2013

Community Updates – Mar 15, 2013

1) BC Poverty Reduction Coalition - Webinar Mar 19 from 12 – 1:30 pm

British Columbia has the highest poverty rate in Canada, and is now one of only two provinces left without a poverty reduction plan. Now is the time to tell your political candidates you want to vote for strong leadership on poverty reduction. 

If you're concerned about low wages, low welfare rates, the housing crisis, skyrocketing child care fees, the inaccessibility of education, the lack of essential health care, and marginalized groups in BC, come and join the conversation about what we can do to address these critical issues!

Register at http://bit.ly/povreductionwebinar for the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition's webinar for Tuesday March 19, 12-1:30pm

Learn more about a poverty reduction plan for BC and how to take action in this critical time, featuring a fantastic line-up of community experts:

Ted Bruce, Public Health Association of BC

Rita Chudnovsky, Child Care Advocates of BC

Ivan Drury, Social Housing Coalition of BC

Kathy Hartman, BC Teachers' Federation

Bill Hopwood, Raise the Rates

Seth Klein, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC

Gudrun Langolf, Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of BC

Robin Loxton, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

Katie Marocchi, Canadian Federation of Students - BC

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

Eyob Naizghi, MOSAIC

For more information please visit http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/

2) Spring Break at the Library – Puppets, Music and More

There will be no library Storytime over Spring Break (March 19-April 1) but there is a special children’s event with singing, stories, puppet show, and crafts on Friday March 22^nd from 10:00am-11:45am.  No cost, but registration is required with how many in your family (group) and children ages.

For more info please contact the Library at 250-392-3630 or email tdunlop@cariboord.bc.ca

Joint Spring Break Event with Success by 6 Community & Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator LeRae Haynes and Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Puppeteer Claire Schreiner.

3) United Ways Day of Caring – 2013

“It’s definitely not a typical day at work when you arrive at a United Way Day of Caring®. The idea is simple. An organization needs a new fence, or a paint job, or some landscaping, or some food hampers. So a local business donates a team of employees to get the job done. But it’s not just about the fence. It’s about a sense of caring through volunteerism and connecting people in the community with different skills, different knowledge, and different backgrounds. It’s about team-building for those employees, who have the chance to learn about the programs and services that the organization offers.

Our applications for 2013 Day of Caring® projects are now up on our website. If you are a company interested in participating in a Day of Caring® please fill out the Company Request Form and if you are a non-profit agency interested in hosting a Day of Caring® please fill out the Agency Application Form online.”

United Way’s applications for a Day of Caring in 2013 are now available at this link .If you would like to take part in a Day of Caring in 2013 please visit http://www.unitedwaytnc.ca/2013/02/apply-for-a-2013-day-of-caring-today/ and apply today.” (taken directly from the United Way’s website).

4) National Film Board Fall Screening – Mar 20

Film - Status Quo: The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada

Wednesday Mar 20^th at 7:00pm

All FREE screenings are in the CRDL Williams Lake Branch program room

Suite A, 180 N. Third Ave

Call 250-392-3630 for details or email cderksen@cariboord.bc.ca

5) Free Tax Help available for those in need

For almost 40 years, Surinderpaul Rathors and others volunteer to prepare income tax returns for people in need in Williams Lake. They are “government trained community volunteers” who can help those who cannot afford to pay someone for a return. This year there are less volunteers than in previous years so if you are able to help or want more information about this service please contact Surinderpaul at 250-398-5222 or 250-392-0909.

6) Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake – Apr 13 &14^th

This fun annual team fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Williams Lake combines free bowling with pizza from Panago. For a schedule, more information on how to register a team, or how to become a sponsor please visit www.bbswl.com or call 250-398-8391.

Register a team of 4 – 6 players and join us for 2 hours of bowling fun. With the pledges you collect, you can win some great prizes. Each team receives a large pizza courtesy of Panago Pizza! This year’s theme is ‘Birthday Bash. Feel free to dress up and ‘Let us Plan your Party.’ Come help us celebrate Big Brothers and Big Sisters 100 year birthday. No prior bowling experience advised!

7) Williams Lake and District Credit Union’s Community Investment Funds – due Mar 31

Grant applications for the WLDCU’s Community Investment Funds are due March 31 – for more information please visit www.wldcu.com/PErsonal/InOurCommunity/CommunityInvestmentFund

8) Activities at the Senior’s Activity Centre

Seniors Luncheon – Sunday Mar 17 from 11:30 – 1pm at the Senior’s Activity Centre. Everyone is welcome to attend so bring a friend!

Seniors Potluck – Friday Mar 29 at 5:30 pm at the Senior’s Centre. Everyone is also welcome, so bring your favorite casserole, salad or dessert.

9) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The Positive Action Word of the Week is:  Kindness – To take care of others and take thoughtful actions.

For more information please contact: Carla Bullinger, Facilitator, Communities that Care, comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca or 250-267-8249.

10) March Update on Welcome WL project activities – Sharon Taylor

Media: We have a page on Facebook - Welcome WL - as well as a page on the new IMSS website: Welcoming Communities Williams Lake. We have also added entries for both the Welcoming Communities and ELSA projects to the Access Williams Lake website

Multicultural Cafes: pilot with Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy. We will try to have one between April and June to test out the model and make adjustments before promoting the idea in the fall. Several community volunteers have expressed an interest in supporting both the cafes and the workshops on citizenship and settlement issues.

Open House and Launch Party, 2:00 pm, April 4: The community is invited to an Open House at the IMSS Centre (118C First North Avenue) for food and celebration to launch the Welcome WL project.

For more information please contact:

Sharon Taylor: Project Coordinator sharont@imss.ca

Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society

(Williams Lake Branch)

118C N First Avenue, Williams Lake, BC  V2G 1Y8

778-412-2999

settlementwl@imss.ca

11) The next SPC Monthly Meeting is on Monday March 25 from 11:30 am - 1:00pm. The topic is Succession and Retention (location TBA). An agenda and last month's meeting minutes for your review will be sent out next week.