Community Updates (11) – September 27, 2013

Community Updates (11) – September 27, 2013

1) Reminder - Cariboo Welcome Fair is this Saturday

Saturday, September 28, from 2pm to 4pm, Thompson Rivers University and Welcoming Communities Williams Lake plan to fill the gym at TRU for the Cariboo Welcome Fair, a free, family-friendly event. Newcomers to the region will learn about services and organizations that can help them make connections in the community.

Local businesses and community organizations, as well as health, education, and government organizations, are invited to book a table in order to present information and answer questions about the work they do in the community. Local arts and volunteer groups may wish to have sign-up sheets for future events and workshops.

There will be door prizes, food vendors, and a children’s activity area with music and story-telling. Most importantly, there will be local people on hand who live, work, and play in the community to share information, make suggestions, and offer practical help.

The Cariboo Welcome Fair is an opportunity for the community to get to know what is available to make everyone feel at home in the Cariboo. Table bookings and entry to the fair are free to all.

This event, and the work of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society in Williams Lake, is made possible by grants from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, through the Welcome BC program.

For more information, contact Sharon Taylor at IMSS – Williams Lake 778-412-2999 sharont@imss.ca

2) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The first Positive Action Word of the Week is – Positive Action:  To do or cause good things to happen.

The lessons will introduce the Positive Action program and its intuitive philosophy.  The lessons during this week will explain the difference between positive and negative actions in engaging ways.  This lays the foundation for the program and what students learn during the coming year.

Along with the word of the week, I’m attaching a poster of the thoughts-actions-feelings cycle.  The cycle can be positive or negative, and the goal is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills so that they can operate in the positive cycle.

Ambitious?  Yes, but Positive Action provides fun and consistent practice.  It really makes a difference.

For more information contact Carla Bullinger - Cell: (250) 267-8249 or email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

3) Orange shirt Day - Sept 30, 2013

The community is invited to affirm its commitment to ensure everyone matters by participating in Orange Shirt Day, proclaimed in Williams Lake and the Cariboo for Sept. 30.

Everyone is encouraged to wear an orange shirt on this day, and to wear an “Every Child Matters” button. A ceremony at 10 a.m. in Boitanio Park will feature the story behind the orange shirt, Assembly of First nations Chief Shawn Atleo, Juno Award-winning blues musician Murray Porter, and a children‟s presentation. In addition, resources available in the community to help children will be highlighted.

At the launch of the St. Joseph‟s Mission Residential School Commemoration and Reconciliation project on April 24, Phyllis Webstad, who is a survivor of the school, shared a very personal story about her first experience going to the school: “I went to the Mission for one year, I had just turned 6 years old. We never had very much money, and there was no welfare, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school in. I remember going to Robinson‟s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had eyelets and lace, and I felt so pretty in that shirt and excited to be going to school! Of course, when I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never saw it again, except maybe on other kids. I didn‟t understand why they wouldn‟t give it back to me, it was mine! The colour orange has always reminded me of how my feelings didn‟t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing.”

This was the experience of many, if not all First Nations children for over a hundred years as they attended the school for the first time. Orange Shirt Day has been proclaimed in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children‟s self worth, sense of self-esteem and wellbeing, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.

“The Commemoration and Reconciliation project was a great beginning, but we want to carry the healing and positive relationship building forward,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. „Orange Shirt Day is a good opportunity for all of us in the community to carry on the momentum from the St. Joseph‟s Mission events this spring.”

The City of Williams Lake proclaimed Orange Shirt Day in May, was a leading partner in the Residential School Commemoration and Reconciliation project, and continues to support ongoing reconciliation efforts, including Orange Shirt Day.

Buttons are available from local businesses, or can be obtained from Phyllis Webstad at 250-989-222 or Joan Sorley at 250-243-2261.

Note from Carla Bullinger (250-267-8249):

I have ordered 15 orange t-shirts for orange shirt day on Monday, Sept 30.  If anyone is attending the event at Boitanio Park on Monday morning or wants to show support in general and needs a t-shirt, feel free to pick one up at the School District Board office on Friday any time between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m.  They’re all one size – large – and since I only ordered 15 it will be first come first served.

4) Potato House Event - tonight Friday Sept 27/13.

The Potato House is hosting a Community Potluck (by invite only). For more information or for a personal invitation please contact the Potato house directly at spuds@potatohouseproject.com. Please bring a locally based dish and your own plate, bowl and cutlery as this is a zero waste, dry event.

5) Looking for help or resources? www.accesswilliamslake.org

Visit www.accesswilliamslake.org  your online free source for comprehensive directory connecting residents of Williams Lake with a wide variety of resources. Need a phone number for Pregnancy Outreach, or the Boys & Girls Club? Looking for programs for Children Support Services, Addictions, Chronic Illnesses, Advocacy or Outreach or other programs and services? Search the directory via typing your query, or browse by category. Add or update your programs and organizations directly online or contact  Melissa Newberry by email melissa@unitedwaytnc.ca or phone 250-392-8145.

6) Join the discussion at your CRD's Community Engagement Sessions - Sept 30 - Oct 10/3

Do you ever feel like every level of government has their hands in your piggy bank? Do you ever wish you had more to say? Here is your chance...

Area F - Director Joan Sorley - Big Lake Community Hall on Monday Sept 30 at 7 pm

Area E - Director Byron Kemp - Mountview Elementary - Monday Sept 30 at 7 pm

Area J - Director Roger Williams - Anahim Lake Community Hall - Tues Oct 1 at 7pm

Area K - Director Chad Mernett - Alexis Creek Communitu Hall - Wed Oct 2 at 7 pm

Area D - Director Deb Bischoff - McLeese Lake Community Hall - Sat Oct 5 at 1 pm

Williams Lake - Mayor Kerry Cook - Williams Lake Council Chambers - Thurs Oct 10 at 7 pm.

During these sessions, the CRD is seeking your input and direction to develop the 2014 budget and five year financial plan. Residents will also have the opportunity to provide feedback about services provided in your area. Visit www.cariboord.bc.ca or call 250-392-3351 or toll free 1-800-665-1636 for more information. You can also visit twitter@CaribooRD or facebook.com/caribooregion

7) BounceBack Program - reclaim your health

BounceBack is a free skill building program for adults experiencing low mood or stress with our without anxiety. It offers two forms of evidence based self-help: an instructional DVD with practical tips, as well as a series of educational workbooks with telephone-coaching to reinforce the application of cognitive-behavioral strategies for overcoming difficulties such as inactivity, avoidance, worry and unhelpful thinking. BounceBack is offered through the Canadian Mental Health Association and funded by the BC Ministry of Health.

Referrals are accessible via your Physician, visit www.bouncebackbc.ca or call toll free 1-866-639-0522. For more information please contact Gisele Marion at 250-395-1183, 250-395-1251 or email gisele_cmha@shaw.ca

8) Hospice Training Begins

A new training session for hospice volunteers begins Tuesday Oct 1 and will run for five weeks on Tuesdays and Wednesday's from 6 - 9 pm. Training is provided by the Central Cariboo Hospice and Palliative Care Society who is looking for special volunteers interested in supporting clients and their families facing life limiting illnesses or bereavement. To register or for more program information call 250-392-5430 or email cchospice@telus.net.

9) Ducks Unlimited 25h Annuals banquet Oct 5/13 at 6 pm

The banquet will be held at the Horsefly Community Hall with doors opening at 6 pm. Tickets are $35 available at Clarke's General Store in Horsefly. For ticket info please contact Alison at 250-267-6105.

10) Williams Lake Community Policing Board's Annual Genera Meeting - Oct 9

Visit the Community Policing Office located at 327 Oliver Street (corner of 3rd & Oliver Street - next to Cariboo Growers & the BIA) to attend the AGM at 7:30 pm on Oct 9/13 - Members and the public are welcome to attend.

11) ERASE Training - Oct 7, 8 & 9th

Here is the information on the ERASE training we shared at our last Community Board meeting.  If you are able to attend, please let me know.

Regional Trainers for the Ministry of Education  -  ERASE (Expect Respect and a Safe Education)  Bullying Strategy will be returning to our community for Regional training sessions.

Oct 7 - Bullying and Safe Schools  (SD #28 Quesnel and #58 Bella Coola will be sending representatives)

Oct 8 - 9   Threat Assessment

St Andrews United Church  ( Williams Lake) 

9am-4pm  each day  

Lunch and resources provided

Threat Assessment is the session that would be of most interest as the presentation is directed to both school staff and community partners.  Last year we had an excellent discussion on how we could better work together in addressing (or at least being prepared for) serious threats in our schools. Of course you are welcome to attend either session.

Schools will be switching up this year with secondary schools attending bullying, and elementary schools attending Threat Assessment.  Theresa Campbell of SAFER Schools will again be the presenter.

We would very much enjoy your company.  MCFD and CYMH will be attending as well.

Please RSVP if you are able to attend by Wednesday October 3 comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca.  I need to let the wonderful caterers at the church know how much food to prepare.  A vegetarian selection will be available.  If you have any other dietary needs, please indicate that when you register. 

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there.

Carla Bullinger, Facilitator

Communities that Care

Williams Lake, BC

email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

cell:250-267-8249