Community Updates (9) – October 25, 2013

1) Social Planning Council Meeting - this Monday Oct 28 - 11:30 am

The Fraser Basin Council's Project Comeback which is looking at why people come back to Williams Lake to live and work after leaving the community for awhile will be presenting information at the start of the next Social Planning Council meeting on Monday, Oct 8 starting at 11:30 am at the City of Williams Lake. Join us for lunch and learn more about this initiative and it's findings. Please find attached to this email the agenda, and last month's meeting minutes for your review.

2) The Call for Applications - 2013 United Way Community Fund: Williams Lake

Is your organization... lifting people from poverty, strengthening our community, or helping kids be all they can be? Apply for the 2013 Community Fund grant opportunity. Visit unitedwaytnc.ca/community-fun-wl or call 250-392-8145. Grant applications are due Oct 31 so apply today.

3) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The Positive Action Word for next week, Oct. 28 is: Success - To feel good about who you are, what you are doing and how you treat others.

Positive Action lessons will show students that  they are valuable and can be good friends to themselves. For more information contact Carla Bullinger - Cell: (250) 267-8249 or email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

4) Everyone Encouraged To Attend Project Development Forum - Oct 28/13

All residents of Williams Lake are invited and encouraged to attend a Project Development Forum on Monday, October 28th to review two options for local connections from Highway 97 as part of a Ministry of Transportation plan to improve Highway 97 near Toop Road and Carson Drive.

City and Ministry staff will be presenting information on the design options, followed by a Question & Answer opportunity. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gibraltar Room at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex on Monday, Oct. 28.

Two configurations of the local street connections are currently proposed on the west side of the new signalized intersection to be located at 11th Avenue. Option 1 consists of two connections from the new intersection. Drivers heading west will have the choice of turning onto McKinnon Road or 11th Avenue. Option 2 has connections to McKinnon Road and 11th Avenue, plus another connection to Johnson Street.

“The City encourages all residents to come take part in this forum, as we will be discussing important road connections in our network,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. “Access to residences, businesses, and the hospital affects us all.”

Residents are encouraged to come view storyboards and maps of the project in the City Hall lobby. Maps are also available at www.williamslake.ca by clicking on the “Highway 97 & Johnson Street Improvements Map” button at the bottom of the page, or by visiting http://www.williamslake.ca/index.asp?p=3397.

For those not able to attend, written comments can be delivered to City Hall. For more information, please contact Jeff Bernardy at 250-392-1767.

http://www.williamslake.ca/index.asp?p=3397

5) Chiwid transition house

Supports ending violence against women - if you need help call 250-398-5658

6) Winter Warm up Festival - Free family event - Nov 14

Thursday Nov 14 at Elizabeth Grouse Gym (Sugar Cane Reserve) from 11am - 2 pm.

Puppet making, story telling, door prizes, service provider booths, and many more activities. Lunch is provided. Contact Carol Archie at 250-296-3507 ext 101 or Lynn Dunford at 250-398-9814 for more info.

7) Scary Spiders at Scout Island Nature Centre - Oct 26th from 1-3 pm

You might associate Spiders with dark basements or haunted houses, but the last Saturday in October you will learn to identify those big spiders on your porch from that brown spider in your bathtub.  Do we have poisonous spiders? What about Black Widows, Brown Recluses and Hobo Spiders?  Hear all the amazing facts and meet some local spiders (you can even bring a spider in a jar from home to be identified!) in a fun afternoon for Families and their kids ages 5-14.

Hosted by the Young Naturalists Club and Scout Island Nature Centre. Call Scout Island Nature House if you have any questions about this free special event

250.398.8532 or email yncwilliamslake@gmail.com - no preregistration is required.

8) Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin's Annual Cowboy Christmas - Nov 16th

Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin 9^th Annual Cowboy Christmas, November 16^th in the Gibraltar Room of the Cariboo Memorial Complex.

Trade/Craft Fair and Silent Auction – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Open Mic  12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. free admission

Cowboy Concert, 7:00 p.m. in the Gibraltar Room – entertainers, Ed Peekeekoot, Frank Gleeson, Ed Wahl – tickets $15.00 ea. Can be purchased at the museum, during the Trade/Craft Fair or at the door.

9) Reminders - Halloween Events - see four events below

Haunted House at the Boys & Girls Club - Oct 26 & 27th

The 7th Annual Haunted House at the Boys and Girls Club is being held Oct. 26 & 27 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.  Bring a donation for the Food Bank. Reminder - these events are intended to scare so leave very young ones at home. This year's theme is Zombies. The events are being held at 17 - 4th Ave South (across from Safeway).

Pumpkin Patch at the Yellow Umbrella - Oct 26 & 27, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Visit the Pumpkin Patch at the Yellow Umbrella (Thyme for Tea).  All proceeds go to support the work of Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy including: Bright Red Bookshelf, Books for Babies, Computer Literacy Workshops, Financial Literacy and Partner Assisted Learning.

Fright Night Carnival - Oct 30/13

Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society's Fright Night CArnival is being held Wednesday Oct 30th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the Gibralter Room in Williams Lake. At 6 pm there is a costume contest and stay for a fun filled evening of carnival booths and a concession stand. Carnival Booth Vendor are all free, and admission is by donation. If you would like to bring a carnival booth to fright night, please contact Sharmon Alphonse at 250-392-3918.

1st Annual Williams Lake Zombie Walk - Oct 31/13

Meet at the Potato House this Halloween at 4pm to participate in the 1st annual WILIAMS LAKE ZOMBIE WALK to city hall!

Zombie Walks are a popular community pedestrian event founded in Vancouver and are now found around the country.  While the Zombie theme appeals to mass culture and is quite eye catching as they stumble by, the true benefits of an event like this is the engagement of people pass the trick or treating age to have an activity with other community members on an evening traditionally pedestrian and increasingly becoming vehicle bound.  Outdoor activity and members of our community walking the streets is a win-win situation of community health, physical health and pedestrian safety by increased visibility through sheer numbers. 

The Zombie Walk is a family event and invites people of all ages to participate or even stand around and watch.  Not everyone will be dressed as Zombies, many will view this as an opportunity to show off their costumes of all types.  The zombies will collect at the Potato House at 4pm and the parade will leave at 4:30.  This is a very slow moving parade and I predict we will arrive at city hall around 5pm.  Street barricades will be removed as the last of the zombies drag themselves past. 

Sincerely,

Mary Forbes

Potato House President and Zombie Bits Picker-Upper.

mmmforbes@yahoo.ca

250.855.8443

Community Updates (9) – October 18, 2013

1) Project Comeback - presentation - Oct 28/13

The Fraser Basin Council's Project Comeback which is looking at why people come back to Williams Lake to live and work after leaving the community for awhile will be presenting information at the start of the next Social Planning Council meeting on Monday, Oct 8 starting at 11:30 am at the City of Williams Lake. Join us for lunch and learn more about this initiative and it's findings.

2) Lecture - "The WHY Behind Challenging Behaviors - Oct 25/13

On Friday, Oct. 25, 6:30-8:30 at the TRU Cafeteria,  Kim Barthel is presenting on “The WHY Behind Challenging Behaviours”.  She provides an informative perspective on what is happening when children and youth continue to struggle with emotional outbursts, aggression, impulsivity and inattention. 

This 2 hour lecture will include information on sensory processing, trauma, FASD and mental health challenges in our youth, helping community partners develop a better understanding of how to deal with these situations and how to work together to facilitate change.

Advance tickets are $40.00 or $45.00 at the door. For advance tickets email info.strongbeginnings@gmail.com or call Melissa at 250-302-1856

3) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The Positive Action Word for next week, Oct. 21 is: Unique: To be one of a kind.

Positive Action lessons will show students that  they are valuable and can be good friends to themselves. For more information contact Carla Bullinger - Cell: (250) 267-8249 or email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

4) Williams Lake Studio Theatre Society's Annual General Meeting - Oct 21

The Williams Lake Studio Theatre's AGM is Oct 21 at 7 pm at the Studio Theatre at Glendale School. There will be an improv show, open house and snacks. For more inof please contact Mary-Jo at 250-305-4801

5) Haunted House at the Boys & Girls Club - Oct 26 & 27th

The 7th Annual Haunted House at the Boys and Girls Club is being held Oct. 26 & 27 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.  Bring a donation for the Food Bank. Reminder - these events are intended to scare so leave very young ones at home. This year's theme is Zombies. The events are being held at 17 - 4th Ave South (across from Safeway).

6) Pumpkin Patch at the Yellow Umbrella - Oct 26 & 27, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Visit the Pumpkin Patch at the Yellow Umbrella (Thyme for Tea).  All proceeds go to support the work of Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy including: Bright Red Bookshelf, Books for Babies, Computer Literacy Workshops, Financial Literacy and Partner Assisted Learning.

7) Safe Harbour Training - Oct 29th

Safe Harbour Training, Tuesday, Oct 29 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the School District Board Office. Contact Sharon Taylor for more information. sharont@imss.ca

"Safe Harbour: Respect for All is a long-standing AMSSA program that puts vision into action: creating opportunities for storefront businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities to celebrate our differences, helping to create safer, more welcoming communities that support diversity and reject discrimination. Safe Harbour is a commitment to diversity that helps increase the resilience of organizations by increasing their community profile as diversity leaders."

8) Williams Lake Museum and Historical Society Annual General Meeting

Williams Lake Museum and Historical Society's AGM is on Nov 4^th at 2:00 p.m. in the museum  - 113 North 4^th Ave. Everyone Welcome. Email Pat at mccwl@uniserve.com for more information.

9) Social Planning Council's Annual General Meeting - Nov 25/13

The SPC's AGM is being held on Monday Nov 25 starting at 11:30 am at the City of Williams Lake. Have lunch with UNBC researchers discussing the labour mobility issues our area is facing and future solutions for healthy community planning. Everyone is welcome. Email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com or call (1)-250-243-2126 for more info.

Community Updates (12) – October 11, 2013

1) Women's Contact Society's AGM & Open House- Oct 21/13

The Women's Contact Society would like to invite everyone on Monday October 21, 2013, to our Open House  from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and our Annual General Meeting at 6:00 pm please RSVP for the AGM by October 16, 2013 to 250-392-4118.

2) CTC’s Positive Action Word of the Week

The Positive Action Word for next week, Oct. 7 is: Valuable: Precious or of great worth

Positive Action lessons will show students that  they are valuable and can be good friends to themselves. For more information contact Carla Bullinger - Cell: (250) 267-8249 or email: comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

3) The Call for Applications 2013 for the United Way Community Fund: Williams Lake

Application process begins Monday, October 7th, 2013 – Friday, November 1^st, 2013 – online applications will be available on October 8^th, 2013

Online applications only! The .pdf documents are for reference only. **Please note that Appendix A is for the organization’s budget and Appendix B is for a project or program budget.

Please follow this link: http://www.unitedwaytnc.ca/organization-login/

A few things to note while filling out the form;

When you first access the form it will say 14% complete – this number actually indicates the amount of the form you have been shown, not the amount completed

We highly recommend you also save your answers in a word document in case of unexpected problems such as power surges

The form will not save half completed pages so when you are working on your application please make sure you have all mandatory answers on the page filled out before saving.

If you are not able to complete it DO NOT exit the page or it will not save the answers you have completed 

Please make sure to hit “save and continue” at the bottom of each page before exiting the page or your answers will not be saved

Please note that you cannot put the $ sign in boxes requesting figures – numbers and decimals only

Any questions can be directed to me via email or phone. I can help applicants with the content and/or using the online system. Notices will also go out in newspapers in the area. Please distribute widely.

Best regards,

Melissa,

melissa@unitedwaytnc.ca

250-392-8145

4) Williams Lake Field Naturalists - Fall Social and Supper Oct/18 6pm

All are welcome at the Naturalists’ Fall  Social  and  Potluck  Supper being held at Scout Island Nature Centre.   We will be sharing a meal and stories about our favorite summer adventures.   It’s a great way to meet the Naturalists and even consider becoming a member.  You don’t have to be a member to come to this event.

Following dinner, new members, Paula Laita and Jon Gaztelumendi from Basque Country in Northern Spain will share some of their experiences.  Spain  has  a  wide  range  of  ecosystems  and  landscapes  due  to  its variation  in  the  local  geography  and  topography, and  the  diverse  climates  present  in  many  regions. The  proximity  of  the  different habitats, especially in migration corridors, leads to a rich mixture of bird species.

Bring a dish to share and be ready to enjoy good conversation and a short trip to Spain

Sue Hemphill
Scout Island Nature Centre
Environmental Educator
1305A Borland Rd
Williams Lake BC V2G 5K5
250 398 8532
or 620 3498
http://www.scoutislandnaturecentre.ca
http://www.williamslakefieldnaturalists.ca

5) Tolko Industries, Women's Contact Society, Social Planning Council, Communities that Care and IMSS (Williams Lake Branch) are pleased to bring AMSSA's Safe Harbour training to Williams Lake.

"Safe Harbour: Respect for All is a long-standing AMSSA program that puts vision into action: creating opportunities for storefront businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities to celebrate our differences, helping to create safer, more welcoming communities that support diversity and reject discrimination. Safe Harbour is a commitment to diversity that helps increase the resilience of organizations by increasing their community profile as diversity leaders." AMSSA Safe Harbour website

At least one representative from each organization wishing to become a Safe Harbour site should take the Certification Training.

October 29, 2013 from 9:30am to 12:00pm for Certification Training

October 29, 2013 from 1:00pm to 3:30pm for Train-the-Trainer workshop

Location: Committee Room, School District No. 27 at 350 North 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake, BC  V2G1Z9

A two-hour interactive Safe Harbour: Respect for All certification workshop includes: a) Discussion and activities related to stereotyping, bias, power & privilege, b) Scenarios related to exclusion, marginalization, discrimination, c) Activities related to intercultural competence, d) Critical reflection of inclusive policies and procedures, e) The Business Case for Diversity, f) Practical tips on creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace and community, and g) Next Steps

Workshop Outcomes: a) Increased awareness of the various dimensions of diversity that exist in your workplace and community and the groups who may be targeted for marginalization, racism and hate, b) Critical reflection and enhanced understanding of stereotyping, bias and privilege, c) Preparedness to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace

After taking the Certification Workshop and signing the agreement on behalf of their organization, participants will be given material to share with their colleagues, as well as a Safe Harbour door sign to indicate to the community that their workplace values diversity and promises to provide a safe and respectful environment.

If you are interested in participating in the Train-the-Trainer workshop, you must take the morning’s Certification workshop as well. The attached brochure has more details. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon.

Feel free to pass this information to others who may be interested.

To pre-register, please contact Sharon at IMSS: email sharont@imss.ca or phone 778-412-2999. Spaces are limited.

6) National Film Board Screening*: Buying Sex

Thursday, October 24, 7 p.m. –  Library Program Room

Directed by Teresa MacInnes and Kent Nason

Timely and wise, this important documentary about the state of prostitution laws in Canada is a revelation. Those laws, forged in the 19th century, are now being challenged by both pro-prostitution and anti-prostitution forces, with no  evident consensus about which way forward is either best or likely. Buying Sex carefully guides the viewer through a wide spectrum of disagreement, exploring the many points of view in this age-old yet contemporary debate. 

* The viewpoints and opinions expressed in these presentations are strictly those of the producers and may not reflect those of the Cariboo Regional District Board of Directors, staff or volunteers.

All FREE screenings are in the CRDL Williams Lake Branch program room (Suite A, 180 N. Third Ave). For more information on any of these events and programs please contact The Cariboo Regional District Library Williams Lake Branch, 250-392-3630 or www.facebook.com/williamslakelibrary

7) Cariboo Regional District Library  - Author Event Oct 25/13

Author Event: Jerry Haigh Wednesday October  25, 7pm - Library Programme Room

Jerry Haigh, the author, and wildlife vet will be here at the library on Wednesday October 23. Haigh’s career as a wildlife veterinarian and storyteller has taken him to many countries for work on a wide range of species. He enjoys relating stories about the wild animal work. His writings weave African and other folktales into accounts of his own experiences with animals. Previous books include Wrestling With Rhinos: The Adventures of A Glasgow Vet in Kenya (ECW 2002). This was followed by The Trouble with Lions: A Glasgow Vet in Africa (UAP 2007). Then came Of Moose and Men: A Wildlife Vet’s Pursuit of the World’s Largest Deer (ECW 2012).

For more information on any of these events and programs please contact The Cariboo Regional District Library Williams Lake Branch, 250-392-3630 or www.facebook.com/williamslakelibrary

8) Baseball Tournament Raises Funds for KidSport
 
The annual Ryan Schonke Memorial Baseball tournament has provided the Williams Lake chapter of KidSport $21,500 in financial support over the past six years.  This year the donation is for $2,000.

KidSport provides funds to cover the cost 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 lifelong physical activity habits which reduce health care costs. The benefits to the child are immeasurable.

Mark Bremner organizes this memorial ball tournament every year as a tribute to his friend Ryan Schonke.  Ryan was born and raised in Williams Lake and was passionate about sports and children. Ryan was killed in a car accident 13 years ago.  The Ball Tournament is held in Likely one week before the BC Day long weekend.

“The support of the local businesses is the largest factor in the tournament’s success,” Bremner says.

More information on KidSport is available at www.activewilliamslake.com or by contacting Denise Skarra at 250-398-7665.  Funds are always welcome and tax receipts will be distributed. 

9) The Quesnel & District Child Development Centre -  annual Variety Show Fundraiser Oct 25/13

The Quesnel & District Child Development Centre is holding their annual Variety Show Fundraiser on Saturday, October 26th from 11-3 at the CDC in Quesnel (300-488 McLean Street). The entertainment this year includes: Doug Koyama, Jodi Ballinger and her troop of puppets, a magic show by Ronald McDonald, belly dancers, local children’s entertainer Bruce Birch, and the talented staff of the CDC. 

Come by to donate to a great local cause, participate in some fun family friendly entertainment, eat lunch, have your face painted and enter our basket draws! For more information please contact Heidi at 250 992 2481 or heidik@quesnelcdc.com!

10) The Clean Bin Project - Thursday Oct 17/13 at 7pm

Free film event: Jenny Rustemeyer and Grant Baldwin go head to head in a comedic competition to live zero waste for an entire year. This multiple award winning, festival favourite shares moments of humour, struggle, and hope in the cinematic and creatively executed story of a couple who ask the question “What can an individual do?” Described as a combination of An Inconvenient Truth and Super Size Me, The Clean Bin Project features laugh out loud moments, stop motion animations, and captivating interviews with TED lecturers Chris Jordan and Captain Charles Moore. A fun and inspiring call to environmental action that speaks to crowds of all ages http://cleanbinproject.com/the-film/

11) Fright Night Carnival - Oct 30/13

Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society's Fright Night CArnival is being held Wednesday Oct 30th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the Gibralter Room in Williams Lake. At 6 pm there is a costume contest and stay for a fun filled evening of carnival booths and a concession stand. Carnival Booth Vendor are all free, and admission is by donation. If you would like to bring a carnival booth to fright night, please contact Sharmon Alphonse at 250-392-3918.

12) Made in the Cariboo Craft Sale - Nov 23rd from 10am - 3pm

The Williams Lake & District Visitor Centre is hosting their 4th Annual Made in the Cariboo Craft Sale. For more info or to register a table call the Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce office at 250-392-5025 or email visitors@telus.net