SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes (draft)- Apr 25, 2016
Location:
City of Williams Lake - downstairs boardroom
In
attendance (from sign-in sheet): Kathie Vilkas, Sharon Taylor, Larry Stranberg,
Joanne Meyrick, Rosanna McGregor, Shannon Thom, Margaret-Anne Enders, Michael
Lucas, and Jessica Knodel.
Accept Minutes
& Agenda
During
lunch we:
· Reviewed meeting minutes from Mar 21, 2016
Motion
to accept mins as presented - MFSC
· Reviewed meeting agenda for Apr 25, 2016
Motion to accept agenda as
amended - MFSC
RCMP Presentation by Milo McDonald
This presenter was unavailable due to an emergency in the
community that occurred over night.
TRU's Student Service Learning Projects by Jay Goddard
This presenter was also unavailable due to the emergency
situation within the City.
Update on Emergency Situation
There was a shooting in the City overnight.
The latest report from the RCMP was shared.
Pre-discussion for May 2016 meeting
Marleen Morris from UNBC will be joining us at our May meeting to
discuss the Growing Our Future, Economic Development Plan for Williams Lake and
offers questions for us to think about in preparation for this meeting.
Background
information: presented by Larry Stranberg
- 2010 last
business plan
- Wanted to
get creative with this new plan (engaging members rather than hire an external
consulting firm). Interactive planning (not written then sitting on a shelf).
- Social
sector - important as they are part of what encourages people to live in our
area.
- Looking at
everything (e.g. social is just as important)
- Susan
Fornier (from Ontario) started working at the Economic Development Corp
(external office within the City).
- More info on
Greenhouse project - MOU with Atlantic Power Co. (300 greenhouses of 6K square
feet per). Coming up with a current business plan to use this alternative
energy.
- Including
spin-offs (e.g. TRU can offer courses on greenhouse technology, value-added
products from crops).
- Immigrant
access fund - loans for new immigrants to start ideas.
Discussions that followed:
- Kathie (Hospice)
- farm status was denied twice - this is a barrier for potential farmers that
needs to be addressed.
- Michael
Lucas Question - interdependency between social, economic and (like Scot
Durward's speech at the SPC AGM). Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Prevention (should
include social & economic too). Community Well-being encompasses it all.
- June &
July is a busy time for our community with the Elders Gathering, Stampede
parade, Shriners are coming to our community, and a multicultural Event at Suagr
Cane reserve (invite others to share their culture).
- Combating
systemic racism is important to all of the above.
- We need to
take ownership and highlight positive.
- Rosanna - a
director on Dog Creek Canoe Creek Develop Corp too! (5 northern nations out of
17 nations). Seed money is the hardest to come by.
- Sharon -
talking about how we all need to talk to each other - less competition between
organizations - and strengthens applications.
- Funding is
the largest obstacle to moving forward.
- Gaming
funding is so limited - cannot start anything new, or grow existing programs.
- Canadian
Social Enterprising Workshop - last time attendees were not ready to start
anything, but maybe having a larger conversation with organizations who are
currently "stuck". As SPC, offer feasibility conversations (rather
than the actual workshop when you are ready to go like before). We need a
larger "foundation", tied to the economic development initiative (and
if we could highlight us as a HUB for the north - it makes sense - 3 hrs from
Price George, 3 hrs from Kamloops).
- Foundation funding anyone? What foundations can be invited to our community and want to
invest in our community & northern hub (the Gates foundation, the Vancouver
foundation).
- We all need
to talk to each other more. This also may address capacity, and utilize
expertise that might be lacking in some organizations.
- Inventory of funding sources is needed.
Roundtable Updates
Margaret-Anne Enders - Dirty Laundry Campaign - Tribune is being
very supportive (practically a partner). If any organization has advertising
funding and wants to be highlighted on this page - help support this project by
paying for advertising on this page. Keep posting, and LIKING. Train the
Trainer workshop is taking place on May 16 & 17th. Women's Spirituality Circle - 3rd annual gathering.
Rosanna
McGregor - Elder Gathering (2 committees - looking for volunteers). 1800 people
scheduled to visit Williams Lake on Jul 11 - 14th. Diane Garner (coordinator).
Tent city near curling rink with activities. Also in Gibraltar room. Volunteers
are needed!. Rodeo by donation on Jul 11th, large Dance scheduled. It's their
gathering, and it's what they want to do. Accommodations - throughout the
region including additional camping spots at the Stampede ground. It's an event
for the Elders, by the Elders (not necessarily open to the public). Still
looking for a new Therapist for the transition house (after staff passed away).
Canadian Housing Association meeting recently - different communities are
looking at creative options to help people save for down payments (each
community is different). E.g. developers contribute 3%, City contributes 2%
etc. (this is paid back over time). Helping people afford the deposit is good
for the economy (keep people living there). LGBTQ training - Q-Community
workshop for Friendship staff took place recently - the training was incredible
and highly recommended. Brings a level of comfort back to working with LGBTQ
(e.g. sensitive to their needs). 67/80+ CFS staff members received their
training.
Joanne
Meyrick - Children's Festival (Saturday this year May 28th from 11 - 4) and
Shriners Parade. If you are interested in joining the parade contact Dawn.
State of the Child report (update) - what it is like to raise a family in LW - first
draft will be available early May.
Larry Community
Futures - good fiscal year for loans. Dealing with lots of people inquiring
about business plans (unique ideas are coming through the door). Bella Coola
region is seeing increase.
Sharon -
Multicultural Event at Sugar Cane, WL Refugee sponsorship group (40 - 50 people
involved) and we are on the waiting list to find a potential family. Tatla Lake
& WL Catholic Church group are also interested in sponsoring a group. Human
Trafficking (broader & wider problem than what you would expect). Keep your
eyes open. Stores - e.g. same person is always there? E.g. their boss is
forcing them to work. Kids who are always
on their phone (sometimes they are not being rude, but are rather being
controlled). It could be social anxiety, an abusive relationship, or maybe
controlled.
Kathie Vilkas -
Hospice - 5 new volunteers are ready to go. It has been busy time for hospice
(but this means - next training is not until October). May is Hospice & Palliative
Care Awareness month in Williams Lake.
You can donate bottles to Amanda Enterprises to support the cause. And
they will be at Seedy Saturday on May 14th. It's ok, and not to be afraid.
Michael
Lucas - domestic violence training shortly. 1/2 day orientation (inter agency
risk assessment team). One function is to provide general awareness.
Communities that Care - information coming out of the new assessment survey
report (before Anne writes a new Community Profile). Surrey Smart snapshot is
available.
Jessica Knodel - May 14th Seedy SATURDAY event in Boitanio Park, &
mentioned the UBC Human Geography students are visiting next week.
Meeting was adjourned. The next
SPC meeting is scheduled for Monday May 30th at 11:30 am, location TBA
