Community Updates (21) - Jan 19, 2018

Table of Contents:

1) SPC Monthly Meeting - Monday Jan 22 at 11:30 am

2) Province of BC - Poverty Reduction Strategy

3) Cariboo Regional District - public consultations (online)

4) ICSI Grant Applications - closing date Jan 31, 2018

5) Red Cross help is available - individuals, families, small businesses, non profits, First Nations

6) Three new wheelchair accessible buses in Williams Lake

7) Free Connect Parent Group - Tuesday's 5:30 - 7 pm (registration is required)

8) CCACS 's - Spring into Art Makers Fair - Mar 10

9) Youth Day Symposium & Comedy Show - Feb 16/18 (Pro D Day)

10) Women with Heart Award - nominations until Feb 1, event March 8

11) CTC's Positive Action Word of the Week(s)

12) Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Grants available

13) Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Support Grants available

14) Performances in the Park - Call for Performers

15) Scout Island is on Agents of Discovery App

16) SD #27 presents :Understanding Challenging Behaviour Wkshp - Feb 16

17) Free drop-in hockey program

18) Fashion Show at the Seniors Activity Centre - Jan 28 from 1 - 3 pm

19) Salvation Army - looking for Emergency Volunteers

20) Citizens on Patrol (COP) - looking for volunteers

21) Cariboo Growers Farmers Co-op - open 4 days a week all winter

1) SPC Monthly Meeting - Monday Jan 22 at 11:30 am

The next SPC Monthly meeting is this upcoming Monday Jan 22, 2018 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Community Futures in Williams Lake. Lunch will be available (donations appreciated). The draft agenda is below, and the last monthly meeting minutes are available at the following link:

http://socialplanningcouncil.blogspot.ca/2018/01/spc-monthly-meeting-minutes-draft-oct.html  (or by hardcopy at the meeting).

Draft Agenda:

-Review and accept agenda

-Review and accept last monthly meeting minutes

-Special Resolution to adopt new Bylaws (draft was send to all paid members in December).

-THRIVE WL - Three year Poverty Reduction Project update

-Post-Wildfire Social Impact Network Meeting - update

-Local Community Input Meeting for the Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy (Feb 2, 2018 in Williams Lake) - see next item no. 2 below for more information

2) Province of BC - Poverty Reduction Strategy

We’re building a poverty reduction strategy, and you can help.

The poverty rate in B.C. is among the worst in Canada. Too many people are struggling to make ends meet, earn a living wage, or find and keep affordable housing. Too many families are suffering without basic necessities, relying on food banks, going hungry or sending their children to school hungry.
 

It’s time to lift people out of poverty.

As a first step, the B.C. government raised income assistance and disability rates by $100 per month to help people who need it most. This is only the beginning. There’s more to do. One of the critical next steps is to build and implement a province-wide poverty reduction plan with targets and timelines. And we want your help.

There are several ways to participate:

• Attend a Community Meeting currently being scheduled; (Note - Friday Feb 2nd in the evening for Williams Lake - location TBA)
• Submit your feedback by email, mail or phone.
• Complete the online feedback form on this site. 

Your feedback will help us understand what poverty looks like in communities across B.C., and how we can best take action to improve people’s lives. In order to promote the transparency of this engagement, all feedback collected by the online feedback form and email will be posted to the site. Names will not be included. Feedback will be collected between October 30, 2017 and March 30, 2018 at 4pm.

Submit your feedback online at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/ by March 30, 2018 at 4 p.m.

3) Cariboo Regional District - public consultations (online)

The final option for residents to participate in the Cariboo Regional District’s wildfire community consultation is now online.

CRD News Release
For Immediate Release

Wildfire Consultation Survey Now Open for Residents.

Williams Lake, B.C. – The final option for residents to participate in the Cariboo Regional District’s wildfire community consultation is now online. The survey asks a variety of questions about the emergency response, mental, social and financial wellness, and unmet needs for residents in recovery.

Community consultations began in October with 24 meetings throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin, continued with a Facebook Live video event, and will wrap up with the survey, which closes on Saturday, December 23.

A final report has been scheduled for delivery to the CRD Board of Directors in the New Year, by the consultant, Tim Conrad of Butterfly Effect Communications.

The survey is available through the CRD’s web site, Facebook or Twitter pages, and can be completed on CRD library public computers for no cost.

The survey is open to all residents in the Cariboo Regional District, including those living in Wells, 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Williams Lake and First Nation communities.

Links
* Survey: surveymonkey.com/r/wildfireconsultation (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wildfireconsultation)
* Web site: cariboord.ca (http://www.cariboord.bc.ca/)
* CRD library locations and hours: cln.ca/About_Us/Branches/ (http://www.cln.ca/About_Us/Branches/default.htm)
* Facebook, Emergency Operations: facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations (https://www.facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations/)
* Twitter: twitter.com/CaribooRD

4) ICSI Grant Applications - closing date Jan 31, 2018

ICSI (Integrated community safety initiative) has grant applications open for community projects aimed at reducing crime and increasing community safety.
Funding of up to $10,000 per project is available to First Nations and non First Nations community organizations in Williams Lake and across the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

DETAILS:

Application form - http://www.tinyurl.com/ICSIapplication

Close Date - Jan 31, 2018 at 3:00 pm

Announcement of successful applicants - Feb 15, 2018

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lisa Mueller at 250-631-3396. 

5) Red Cross help is available - individuals, families, small businesses, non profits, First Nations

Thanks to funding from the Government of B.C., the Government of Canada and generous Canadians, the Red Cross is able to provide programs and services that help communities, households and individuals recover from the fires.

A) Individuals and Families:

-Red Cross case workers are meeting one-on-one with individuals and households that need additional assistance - both at the Support Centres and through outreach in the communities.

-Safety and Wellbeing personnel also help ensure people have access to a range of holistic supports and resources that include psychological first aid, coping with stress and adversity, and planning for individualized recovery.

-People needing assistance can phone the Red Cross call centre at 1-800-863-6582 to make an appointment to meet a case worker at a Support Centres (the hours and locations are listed here:

http://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/british-columbia-fires/red-cross support-centres).

-Those living in small or First Nations communities could also work with their community leadership to arrange for Red Cross workers to visit.

-The Canadian Red Cross addresses immediate psychosocial needs in all its recovery work and considers the needs of special populations and cultures.  The Red Cross also coordinates with community and government partners and community stakeholders to ensure communities are empowered to take care of themselves and each other so they can strengthen relationships and networks, and build capacity and resiliency to better withstand future disasters.

B) Support to small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and First Nations cultural livelihoods:

-The Red Cross is providing those who are eligible with a one-time emergency grant of $1,500. Applications for Phase 1 closed on Oct. 31.

-Starting Nov. 20, 2017 through April 6, 2018, the Red Cross is accepting applications for

additional financial assistance for items such as uninsured losses, deductibles, minor repairs, clean-up, equipment, and occupational training expenses. The amount for Phase 2 will be based on each applicant’s unique need and determined through the application process.

-Applicants that missed the Phase 1 Oct. 31 deadline can still apply for it when they apply for Phase 2 funding.

-Interested small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and cultural livelihoods on-reserve First Nations persons can apply for the additional funding through the Small Business Helpline (1-855-999-3345) or online at  www.redcross.ca/bcfires/smallbusiness

C) Community partnerships program:

-Community organizations* with programming in communities affected by the 2017 fires can apply for funds that will help promote individual and community recovery and resiliency.

*These include: Registered charities, -Not-for-profit organizations, Municipalities and First Nation Bands, Non-governmental organizations, Schools and school boards Indigenous organizations, Faith-based organizations, and Community groups.

Funding is available to help in the following areas:

-Emergency relief for immediate or urgent needs

-Community strengthening to support community connectedness and resilience

-Safety & wellbeing services that address individual wellbeing, violence prevention, and strengthen psychosocial supports for individual and community wellness services

-Indigenous programming for impacted communities

-Disaster Risk Reduction to increase preparedness for future disasters

Visit redcross.ca or email BCCommunityPartnerships@redcross.ca to discuss  your ideas.

Local contacts for Red Cross are: 

Jon Jackson,

Operations Manager BC Wildfire Recovery, 

587-224-8272

Jon.jackson@redcross.ca

Becky Row,

Manager of Northern and Indigenous Engagement BC & Yukon,

250-564-6566 ext 24

becky.row@redcross.ca

Pratyush Dhawan

Community Partnership Program Project Officer

587-645-4763

Pratyush.dhawan@redcross.ca

6) Three new wheelchair accessible buses in Williams Lake

You might have noticed, The City of Williams Lake has upgraded transit in the City! Smaller capacity buses which are more cost effective, wheelchair accessible, handle well in the snow, and have CCTV cameras to support law enforcement.

7) Free Connect Parent Group - Tuesday's 5:30 - 7 pm (registration is required)

Canadian Mental Health Association’s Family Solutions Program is offering a group for parents and caregivers.  What is Connect? Connect is a 10-week program to support parents of pre-teens and teens. Parents meet in small groups (10-16) with two trained group leaders for 1.5 hours each week.

Each session provides parents with a new perspective on parent-teen relationships and adolescent development. Parents watch role-plays, do exercises and discuss new ways of responding to challenging behaviours and problems. Parents receive handouts following each session with key points to remember.

We understand that each child and each parent is different, and change is part of development. Rather than teach only one way of parenting, we help parents see choices that support healthy relationships, while setting limits and helping their teen move forward.  

Connect is designed for parents of teens just like you. It addresses changes that occur between parents and teens and helps them keep their relationship strong and positive. Connect is for all parents—it helps protect teens as they move forward in their journey to adulthood.

Start Date: January 9th (Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Dinner provided). There is no charge but pre-registration is necessary. For more information, please contact Dana Hamblin at (250) 305-4487.

8) CCACS 's - Spring into Art Makers Fair - Mar 10

Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society is excited to present, the

Spring into Art Makers' Fair - March 10th at the Arts Centre in Williams Lake.

Spring into Art is a one-day expo of creativity with entry-level workshops in seven different artistic media. All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary. Spring into Art is a launching pad for adults and mature youth interested in finding a new creative outlet.

Workshops and contributors include:

Pottery; Lesley Lloyd

Creative Writing; Cat Fink

Pen-and-ink drawing; Ciel Patenaude

Fibre Art; Linda Pujue

Charcoal Drawing; Kathryn Steen

Improv/Theatre; Sheryl-Lynn Lewis

Music; Branon Hoffman

Ask us about staff or group rates. For more information, or to register visit www.centralcaribooarts.com/springintoart (or visit The Open Book store).

Half day: $47 plus tax (morning or afternoon, two workshops of your choosing)

Full day: $93 plus tax (four workshops of your choosing)

9) Youth Day Symposium & Comedy Show - Feb 16/18 (Pro D Day)

Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society is happy to present our Youth Day Symposium. We would like to invite all communities and youth groups to the event in the Gibraltar Room in Williams Lake.

In addition to the workshops held that afternoon from 1 - 5 pm, we invite all participants to the Don Burnstick Comedy show at 6:00 pm (doors open at 5). All participants of the Symposium will get a free entry to the show.

Please call 778-412-9536 and RSVP with us, we will need your community/organization/youth group name and amount of youth and chaperones (10 years and over).

Check in will start at 11:00am to 12:30pm that day. We ask that if you have a large group to be there by 11am so that we can get you settled.

10) Women with Heart Award - nominations until Feb 1, event March 8

Womens Contact Society's Women with Heart Award is accepting nominations until Feb 1, 2018.

Consideration for the award includes:

-Passion for their work, career or volunteerism

-Generosity of spirit

-Positive impact on the community

-Success

-Leadership

-Advocacy on behalf of those less fortunate than themselves

-Raised public awareness of violence against women and girls, or

-Awareness of barriers faced by women and girls.

Nominations must be received in written form and include:

-Nominees name

-Contact Info for both nominee and nominator

-Essay of not less than 200 words and not more than 1000 words describing the above attributes, values, qualities and contributions.

Please submit nominations to:

Women's Contact Society

Attn: Irene Willsie

PO Box 4094

Williams Lake, BC V2G 2V2 or

info@womenscontact.org

Women with Heart Award EVENT:

Thursday March 8th at Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society from 6 - 9 pm

Williams Lake and area is a generous and strong spirited community; this has never been demonstrated more than during the Wildfires of 2017.

Each year for the past 7 years the Women’s Contact Society has acknowledged a women that exemplifies the generosity and strength that is typical in the Cariboo Chilcotin. In the past the Women with Heart Award has celebrated women leaders, educators, volunteers, survivors, and healers.

Guest Speaker Ciel Patenaude
RSVP 250-392-4118 or email info@womenscontact.org

ADMISSION BY DONATION

11) CTC's Positive Action Word of the Week(s)
The Positive Action word of the week for Jan 22nd is: Actions: What you do or cause to happen.

The Positive Action word of the week for Jan 29th is: Feelings: Emotions such as fear, anger, love and worry.

If you are interested in learning more about Positive Action and how you could use it in your setting, or want to attend the Feb 20th Community Meeting from 8:30 - 1:30 pm, please contact Carla Bullinger at 250-267-8249 or comthatcares@sd27.bc.ca

12) Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Grants available

Project grants are available for non-profit organizations or community groups in Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo (CRD Areas D, E, and F) to support and develop arts and culture within this region. The funding for these grants is courtesy of the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District (Central Cariboo Arts & Culture function), subject to the availability of funds.

Project Grants of between $300 and $3,000 are available for projects which

• Are new or build creatively on previous work

• Are likely to increase participation in arts & culture
   
• Take place within the Central Cariboo region (Williams Lake and/or CRD Areas D, E, and F)

• Will be completed by December 31^st 2018
   
• Include some financial or in-kind contribution by the applicant

The deadline for applications is Monday, January 31^st 2018 at 4pm, and full details, adjudication criteria and application requirements can be obtained by visiting www.centralcaribooarts.com or by request from info@centralcaribooarts.com.

For further information please contact CCACS Executive Director Leah Selk at 778-412-9044 or email info@centralcaribooarts.com 

13) Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Support Grants available

Four new support grants of up to $1000 are available for non-profit/community groups or individual artists to support and develop arts and culture in Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo (CRD Areas D, E, and F) via a CCACS Pilot Support Grants Project. The funding for these grants is made available from the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society (CCACS).
 

The CCACS will be offering two pilot application intakes for 2018.
Intake #2: June 1, 2018 application deadline for grants to be completed by December 31, 2018.
 

Non-profit/Community Group Support Grants 

• Capital Acquisition Grants are available to facilitate and support the artistic activities of the organization or group through capital purchases.
• General Program Support Grants are available for activities such as workshops, professional development, or any other activity designed to enhance an existing program.
• Community-Based Support Grants are available for community-based artistic activities.

Individual Artist Support Grant 

• Professional Development Grants are available to individual artists to assist with course fees, related necessary materials and travel on the understanding that applicants will be required to show how the professional development activity will benefit not only their own practice, but also the general community and local artists.
  

Applications for CCACS Support Grants are adjudicated by the CCACS Directors, and awards will be made by the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, subject to the availability of funds.

Full details, adjudication criteria and application requirements can be obtained by visiting www.centralcaribooarts.com or by request from info@centralcaribooarts.com.

For further information please contact CCACS Executive Director Leah Selk at 778-412-9044 or email info@centralcaribooarts.com 

14) Performances in the Park - Call for Performers

Presented by the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society with the support of the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District.
 

The Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society is happy to announce that Performances in the Park, the outdoor free summer concert series, will begin on Thursday, July 5^th 2018 at 6:00pm and will continue each Thursday evening at the same time at the Gwen Ringwood Theatre in Williams Lake’s Boitanio Park until August 23^rd, 2018. Once again, with the support of the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake, the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society will be presenting this event under the management of Angela Sommer of Angelkeys Music Studio.
 

The concert series will feature two acts each week; one from 6 pm - 6:55pm and then from 7:05 – 8:00 pm. All acts will be family friendly.
 

We are currently looking for performers of every type to fill these performances. Applications can be downloaded or filled out online via our website http://www.centralcaribooarts.com/performances-in-the-park/

The deadline to apply is March 2, 2018.
 

This well attended, free event, is fun for the whole family and we look forward to seeing familiar and new faces in the crowd!

For more information, sponsorship opportunities , or for interviews please contact:
Angela Sommer
performances@centralcaribooarts.com
250-305-4784

15) Scout Island is on Agents of Discovery App

Scout Island in Williams Lake can be found in the "Agents of Discovery" App online. Download the Free App and follow the trail! This game will help you discover the great outdoors - use the hints and clues from your surroundings to solve mysteries of nature, culture and technology. Download from the App Store or get it on Google Play.

16) SD #27 presents :Understanding Challenging Behaviour Wkshp - Feb 16

School District #27 presents :Understanding Challenging Behaviour, a POPARD super- workshop  on Feb 16th.

This introductory workshop will help participants develop a basic understanding about behaviour and the underlying causes of challenging behaviour. In addition, some common strategies for preventing and managing challenging behaviour will be discussed.

Date & times:

Day 1, Friday Feb 16th from 9 - 4 pm

Day 2, Saturday Feb 17 from 9 - 4 pm

(Day 2 is optional; Day 1 attendance is a prerequisite for Day 2)

Location:

Lake City Secondary, 640 Carson Drive, Williams Lake

Registration:

www.popard.ca (go to the Super-Workshops page under the TRAINING menu). There is no fee to attend. Participants are encouraged to attend in school teams, if possible. Please bring a bagged lunch. Light refreshments will be provided by SD#27.

For more information please contact the main SD#27 office.

17) Free drop-in hockey program

Free hockey for youth ages 13 - 18 is taking place at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation complex on Jan 19 (today), Feb 9th, Feb 16th and Feb 23rd from 3:45 - 4:45 pm for anyone who wants to come out (all skill levels welcome). If equipment is a barrier, please contact the Denisiqi Services Society in advance.

No registration is required, just drop-in to play a game of "shinny". There will be at least two staff on the ice, and staff off-ice observing.

These free drop-ins are made possible by the following community organizations:

Denisiqi Services Society,

Changing Directions,

The Boys & Girls Club of Williams Lake & District, and

The Williams Lake RCMP... come play a game of hockey with them!

18) Fashion Show at the Seniors Activity Centre - Jan 28 from 1 - 3 pm

Cheescake and You! Fashion Show at the Seniors Activity Centre - Jan 28 from 1 - 3 pm. Tickets available at the Seniors Activity Centre Monday through Friday from 9 - 3 (176 North 4th Ave). Ticket includes cheesecake, coffee or tea and fashion show.

Also at the Seniors Centre every Saturday - Bingo (doors open at 11 am, game starts at 12). Volunteer welcome - contact Ollie at 250-392-3468

If you are a senior who needs help with government forms or other issues, please see the Senior Advocate at the Seniors Activity Centre Tuesdays drop-in from 1 - 3 pm or call 250-392-7946.

19) Salvation Army - looking for Emergency Volunteers

Do you like to volunteer? Would you like to help your local Salvation Army in a time of emergency? Join us for three Emergency Disaster Courses, free of charge. Feb 9 & 10th:

Intro to EDS - 6 pm Friday Feb 9th

Disaster Food Services - Sat Feb 10th at 8:30 am

Incident Command - Sat Feb 10th  1 - 2:30 and 4 - 4:30 pm

You will receive a certificate of completion for each course as well as an EDS ID badge and lanyard.

Please contact the Salvation Army at 250-392-2423 ext 216 to register or email dawn_butt@salvationarmy.org.

Deadline to register is Jan 31, 2018.

20) Citizens on Patrol (COP) - looking for volunteers

COP is looking for volunteers, over the age of 19 (must pass a criminal records check)  requires office volunteers to perform data entry functions, general office work, communicate information to members and coordinate patrols.

If you wish to assist the RCMP in making our community a better place to live call Dave Dickson at 250-392-8701 or Bob McIntosh at 250-305-1041 or 250-303-1428.

Everyone is invited to attend Community Policing meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at their office (3rd & Oliver Street in the Community Corner building across from KFC).

21) Cariboo Growers Farmers Co-op - open 4 days a week all winter

The local Cariboo Growers Farmers Coop Store on the corner of 3rd & Oliver invites you to stop by and support local this winter. Our small business was greatly impacted by the wildfires this past season and we need your support this winter.

Please stop by if you haven't come in for awhile, tell a friend about the local Farmers Co-op, and support local whenever you can. For more businesses like Cariboo Growers, check out www.lovewilliamslake.com

The Co-op is open T, W, Fri 11 - 6, and Saturdays 10 - 3 - visit www.cariboogrowers.ca for more information.

You can also access these Community Updates in their online newsletter format available at the following link:
http://cm.pn/3e51

Please feel free to forward these updates, courtesy of the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake and Area (with funding support by the City of Williams Lake and the United Way).