Minutes draft - SPC Monthly Meeting
Mar 27, 2017 - 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Community
Futures Office
In attendance (from
sign-in sheet): Nancy Gale, Jan Hermiston, Larry Stranberg, Leah Selk, George
Atamanenko, Sarah Jackman, Linda Bingham, Beth Veenkamp, Jessica Dunn
Accept Minutes
& Agenda
During lunch we will:
· Review meeting agenda for Mar 27, 2017
Motion
to accept agenda as presented - MFSC
· Review meeting minutes from Feb 27, 2017
Motion to accept minutes as presented - MFSC
New Seedy Startups Program
Beth Veenkamp presented the new
Seedy Startups program in the City of Williams Lake supporting youth and senior entrepreneurs.
New
Coordinator for the Seedy Startups Program with the City of Williams Lake
Entrepreneurial
program - goal of funding 30 new business ideas (within City limits) within one
year
Funding
for this was made possible from a group of organizations including the BIA,
TRU, Community Futures & the Chamber of Commerce.
The program
is for people looking to start a business (or take a current hobby business to
a new level). Opening storefronts is ultimate goal.
For people
ages 15 - 29 - $1500 seed money (one time contribution) is available.
For
people 50 year of age or over - $1000 seed money (one time contribution) is
available.
Candidates
will also be required to complete the Community Futures business program
There
is a steering committee with a panel of 6 people from the contributing sponsor
organizations - for people pitch their
businesses to (currently there are two being pitched).
50 plus
crowd is high target area (e.g. Jam makers)
Upping economic
growth in the city, one project at a time (funding for up to 30 businesses).
Tentative
agreement with the province to fund, aboriginal and or people with disabilities
(regardless of age).
There
are many baby boomers in Williams Lake
Trickle
down effect (even small businesses can provide employment for 1 - 2 people)
Question
- why is no funding available for 30 - 49 year olds?
Answer
- agreed, there is a gap for this age category. There could be other creative
ways to provide assistance to people in this age - come talk to Beth for
options.
A
culture of entrepreneurship within the City is a long term goal.
Marketing
and enthusiasm are Beth's strengths and can help catapult small businesses to
the next stage, regardless of program eligibility.
Currently
this is a Pilot project, funded by the partners (with some rural dividend
funding as well). If the program goes well, there is the opportunity to apply
for another round of funding, or new funding based on needs.
Beth is
available to present to other interested groups.
Social
enterprises would be supported.
SPC Updates
-City of Williams Lake approved
our fee for service for $5000/year.
-Cariboo Strong Program - put on
by UNBC, Community Development Initiative (now working with the CRD). Facilitator
is looking to speak with the SPC, this week (Thursday or Friday). Nancy is able
to meet - Jessica will coordinate people interested.
-All Candidates Forum update (Apr
20). Jessica attended a planning meeting of The Council of Canadians who is
organizing this Sustainable Development focused forum. The event will focus on
four chosen UN sustainable development goals (out of 17) and will have a guest
speaker present each topic before asking candidates to address each issue.
There will be an audience Q&A session, and organizers want to keep the
event limited to 1.5 hours in length. They are still looking for some
volunteers for the evening of. More event details will be sent out within the
next Community Update.
-IMSS office
- the office will remain open until the end of June now. Community groups have
been writing letters. The SPC wrote a letter of support also (details are on
our website).
Choosing a Poverty Reduction focus
Discussion: At the last SPC Board
meeting, choosing an indicator from the CTC community profile (such as
Neighbourhood Attachment) and explore bringing an evidence based program to our
community to address this chosen focus with partner agencies and/or community
groups was discussed. We want to open this up to the greater network for their
input on this idea.
Discussions & comments generated:
Youth are feeling less attached
to their neighborhoods in 2016 (compared to previous generations who grew
up with safe spaces, places you could go
etc... less such spaces these days).
Large percentage of single parent
households
We do have a "ghetto"
in Williams Lake
Not many households even make the
local Living Wage
Understanding the composition of
local households is a recommended starting point because
Neighborhood attachment
is not just about children
Poverty and Food security is
often the first step (before other interventions)
Sense of belonging (begins with
early communications and sense of attachment)
One's neighborhood used to be a
real community, within a community
Note - there are no more block
parent houses
Neighborhood attachment is a
great soapbox
Home and family life is not
something that CTC has seen measurable changes in (we can't go home with each
kid)
School closures somewhat
dissipate community neighborhoods (leaves a big hole in the community). It can
be devastating for small communities (e.g. no more Christmas concerts, no more
community hall).
Newsletters have enabled some
neighborhoods to still feel like a community in the absence of a school.
Green spaces, small parks, and
sidewalks are all important
100 things to do in Williams Lake
at no cost
Definition of what a family is -
also needs to be redefined
What other successful programs
that have addressed this?
Green spaces engage people (or
else they remain inside)
Idea- host a neighborhood
challenge - who can throw the best "block party". There could be
someone who travels to them all and awards a winner.
There is lots of wasted park
space
ACTION - Nancy will present on
local Household composition at a future meeting
Outdoor exercise equipment at
local parks is another incentive to going out (and is growing in popularity)
Pride in ownership - if the
community builds things, they are more respected.
Lighting is important for the
feeling of safety.
Spirit of cooperation is crucial
to a healthy neighborhood.
Consensus was is support of this
idea.
Action - This topic will be
continued at the next meeting.
Roundtable Updates
Leah Selk (CCACS) - Arts &
Culture grants have been awarded (25K --> 15 recipients), and a new request
for proposal was just announced (First Nations Outreach) - see community update.
Beth Veenkamp - send me your entrepreneurs.
1) Apr 6 - Junior Achievement is coming to town (grade 10's) - looking for
volunteers to help facilitate. 2) Tonight at City hall - hosting a young
professionals group (age - under 40).
Linda Bingham (Boys & Girls
Club) - Youth Week is the first week of May. If you have an event idea for this
week, please contact the B&G Club. Show some love and appreciation for
youth in our community.
Sarah Jackman (Punky Lake Wilderness
Camp) 1) Viasport has funding available, but participation has not increased
and they want to know why! They want to hear from kids as to why they are not
participating in sports (e.g. not interested, financial reasons, etc.). This
will be done, forum style, over multiple days. Apr 10 (adults), 11 & 12th.
2)Senator Pearson, and an SFU Professor are "Shaking and Moving"
(first workshop focused on Children's Rights --> Report --> United
Nations). In WL Topic: What are your rights regarding environmental
preservation.
Nancy Gale (CDC)- 1) Playground
rehabilitation project was the recipients of a fundraiser award, 2) Funding was
approved for new ADHD program. 3) Autism centre - successful pilot project (for
Autism delivery), 4) Nancy will be teaching a two day course at TRU, 5) New book - "The Compassionate
Achiever" (compassion equals action), and Decoding Dyslexia (Apr 11 free
course). Checkout their facebook page for events.
George Atamanenko - Accessibility
Awards - currently taking nominations (can also be related to mental health).
Seniors issues are a high priority - what does it mean to be senior in our region
today?
Larry Stranberg - a talk on
Succession Planning at a Chamber of Commerce meeting showed a trend for seniors
to pass their businesses down to their children.
Meeting was adjourned at 12:58 pm. The next
SPC meeting will be on Apr 24/17
