Location: City of
Williams Lake - downstairs boardroom
In attendance (from
sign-in sheet): Bruce Mack, Irene Willisie, Matt Neufeld, Tyson Baker, Jordon
Hammond, Kate Lines, Shannon Thom, Sharon Taylor, Carla Bullinger, Joanne Meyrick,
Leah Selk, Diane Wright, George Atamanenko, Larry Stranberg, Marleen Morris, Jessica
Knodel, Rosanna McGregor, and Tatjana Lauzon.
Accept Minutes & Agenda
During lunch we:
· Reviewed meeting minutes
from Apr 25, 2016
Accept minutes as
presented - MFSC
· Reviewed meeting agenda
for May 30, 2016
Accept agenda
as presented - MFSC
Growing our Future - Economic Development Plan for Williams Lake
Presentation/Discussion by and with Marleen Morris from the UNBC's Community Development Institute on the Growing our Future - Economic Development Plan for Williams Lake in partnership with the Williams Lake Economic Development Corp.
As a result of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, the economy is changing. Looking for opportunities for economic diversification.
Looking at growing current trends, and creating new possibilities for our region.
Social Service Sector - a glue than can hold a community together (important element of our understanding).
Cannot have economic development without social development.
People come for jobs, and stay for the social atmosphere.
The two are so intertwined - social must be spoken about.
Today - Marleen wants to hear from us (see italicized questions below).
Within the social service sector, what are the opportunities for growth and expansion?
What are the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing these opportunities for growth and expansion?
What is needed to move forward?
Is there an interest in social entrepreneurism in Williams Lake?
If yes, what is needed to move forward?
Are there general opportunities for economic diversification that you would like to mention?
An example from our sector lead us into discussion, notably, The Autism Centre in Williams Lake which is attracting new people to our area.
Discussions began:
The Women's Contact Society has a new child daycare centre with extended hours (up to midnight, seven days a week). This is a start, but will not address the entire communities needs. This one centre is a band aid, and simply recruiting staff for this line of work is difficult. Affordable daycare is hard to find. Early Childhood Education is not a regular program offered at our local university.
There is a huge gap in training for Basic and essential skills training (those who leave high school and now want to get an updated job, and need skills to do so). There is nowhere to get this type of training locally anymore.
If people leave for training, they very often do not come back to our area.
We need a change in the Political culture of change - the costs required to investment in our future is a valid cost. But cutting programs and staffing levels, is seen as needed (because there is no money). We are losing services, and this is costing the local economy (because we don't have the trained people).
Racism in our community is another issue. As well as a high tolerance for drug and alcohol use (it is seen as normal behaviour in our community). These ideals are passed on to future generations, and the cycle continues.
The Social Sector is a major employer in our region.
Negative national media does not help our cause in attracting people to our area.
The crux of education readiness is what type of environment students come from when they enter school at age 5. Until there is a recognition of the needs of children not yet in school, no matter what the community and SD has to offer, students are often behind when schooling begins.
Positive signals regarding our region. Graduation rates in our area is increasing.
CTC - Prevention needs assessment in 2009, and data from second survey just completed is very positive (results not yet published).
Adult Literacy is very low in the Cariboo. Lack of programming for adults who are lacking skills. There is also a great variation in the needs of adults lacking literacy skills.
Federally, programming is lacking and rural communities don't receive any (commuting to Vancouver is almost an expectation for these types of needs).
Funding levels from all sources have been declining over the years. We need convincing arguments to show politicians the promising results of investments. Many regional services have been taken away, and we need them back. This encourages people to stay, or even return to our region.
Educationally, the internet does not solve all our problems. Having a computer, will not help people who cannot use one in the first place. And what works in larger cities (e.g. Vancouver) doesn't always work in smaller communities.
Mentoring is also important.
Filling out forms online is NOT easy for everyone. Also many people need credit cards to do things online, and/or have difficulties getting proper paperwork, without proper paperwork to begin with.
Racism focused discussions then began:
Racism is very common in our region, and is a huge and complex problem. Economic development needs to include ALL people.
Williams Lake Indian Band has a daycare with open spots (tangible example of how racism plays out in our community).
Blue Ribbon Panel came through town, and can help address the current crime problems we are experiencing. Three Chiefs at this panel all mentioned that racism needs to be addressed.
First Nations Communities are a wealth to their surrounding regions (if people would just notice). E.g. most local First Nations communities bring in millions worth to the closet City.
Addictions are powerful in our City and region. There are not many local treatment programs. Only specifically family drug & alcohol, and a youth inhalant program.
We need stats to address problems. Who and what are we targeting? Change is slow, and conversations need to be broader. How is what we are seeing different, at different population levels?
Sense of Belonging - what are the new survey results from CTC showing? Micro analysis needs to be done, but results are positive (e.g. tolerance for drugs and alcohol).
We have a strong social sector in Williams Lake, and we have become more cohesive over the years and diverse in programming. We are good at collaborative practices. Our community tends to think in needs, rather than in terms of growth and opportunity.
Local Housing - if you are from the middle class and looking to buy, we are still an affordable City. If you are a renter, we are NOT affordable and we have very low vacancy rates. Developing and managing housing is not an easy task.
Changing demographics - we have an aging population with lack of services for this cohort. There is opportunity for growth in this sector.
Another opportunity for growth resides within our Aboriginal population.
Marleen - Time is almost done, but there is so much still to talk about. She would like to come back to continue this conversation.
Roundtable Updates
Posters for
the Multicultural Gathering on Jun 11 & 12th from the Williams Lake Indian
Band were shared.
The BIA is looking for volunteers
to stuff 4K gift bags on Saturday July 9th at the Rec Centre.
The CCCACS is contemplating
bringing up Lawyer for Jun 14th session on New Societies Act - anyone
interested?
Postcards from the Dirty Laundry
Campaign were distributed.
Williams Lake Immigrant
Sponsorship Group still looking for a family, and there are now four different
groups looking or sponsor refugees including our local group, Tatla Lake, 100
Mile House and another group in Quesnel.
Billets for Elders Gathering are
still needed.
Meeting was adjourned. The next scheduled monthly
SPC meeting will take place on Monday Jun 27, 2016, location TBA.
