Minutes draft - SPC Monthly Meeting Mar 27/17

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