Important update - Access Williams Lake online community resource directory website
The following web page address is now live and available to accept new entries from non-profit community organizations. Please visit http://accesswilliamslake.org/update.htm to fill out the online form.
The website is scheduled to launch mid June.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Highlights from our March 18 meeting
1) Mary Forbes on behalf of the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society gave a fun and interactive presentation on bottled water which included trivia questions (with a colourful talk show host), “taste tests” of bottled, City, and well water, and a draw for a free PBA free stainless steel water bottle. Mary is available to give these presentations to other groups within the community by appointment and can be reached by calling 250-398-7929. The handout entitled “Toxic footprint off bottled water” is available by emailing spc-coordinator@xplornet.com and will soon be available at www.ccconserv.org
2) Communities that Care Project Update:
a) The Spencer West event at TRU on February 22 (after his presentation at Williams Lake Secondary) was well received and attended by invited community members.
b) On February 24, Anahim Lake held a public forum and two CTC programs were chosen for the community: Positive Action which is a school based program (Kindergarten - Gr. 12) designed to improve academic performance and reduce behavioral problems, and Parenting Wisely which addresses family management problems.
c) Carrie has been in contact with Mark Totten who is a consultant and keynote speaker on evidence based programs and developing community prevention strategies. There is a possibility of bringing Mark to Williams Lake to give a workshop and the logistics are still in the discussion phase. For more information on Mark Totten and Associates his website is: http://www.tottenandassociates.ca
3) Diana presented serious concerns about the EPCOR power plant chipping and burning creosote soaked railway ties.
Four issues are of major concern: The ties are being stored behind the Station House Gallery, these ties are leeching into the creek below, the toxins present potentially serious health concerns (Rob Higgins and Marten from TRU are currently investigating these further), and the ties are combustible and catch on fire on a regular basis.
There are currently 20 rail cars sitting there and the ties are being chipped into sawdust to be burned. Emissions from the plant have not been monitored or inspected since 2001. Chips that have combusted stay burning/smouldering for months at a time. The homes upwind from the area are experiencing air quality issues, and an ash pile on the creekside of Soad Creek Road most likely also contains remnant of these toxins.
The CCCS is working with the Ministry of Environment about the leeching and burning concerns. City Council has asked CN to not give anymore ties to EPCOR although they have no legal recourse to stop the burning of the ties.
Update since March 18 – The burning of creosote soaked railway ties at the power plant have stopped.
2) Communities that Care Project Update:
a) The Spencer West event at TRU on February 22 (after his presentation at Williams Lake Secondary) was well received and attended by invited community members.
b) On February 24, Anahim Lake held a public forum and two CTC programs were chosen for the community: Positive Action which is a school based program (Kindergarten - Gr. 12) designed to improve academic performance and reduce behavioral problems, and Parenting Wisely which addresses family management problems.
c) Carrie has been in contact with Mark Totten who is a consultant and keynote speaker on evidence based programs and developing community prevention strategies. There is a possibility of bringing Mark to Williams Lake to give a workshop and the logistics are still in the discussion phase. For more information on Mark Totten and Associates his website is: http://www.tottenandassociates.ca
3) Diana presented serious concerns about the EPCOR power plant chipping and burning creosote soaked railway ties.
Four issues are of major concern: The ties are being stored behind the Station House Gallery, these ties are leeching into the creek below, the toxins present potentially serious health concerns (Rob Higgins and Marten from TRU are currently investigating these further), and the ties are combustible and catch on fire on a regular basis.
There are currently 20 rail cars sitting there and the ties are being chipped into sawdust to be burned. Emissions from the plant have not been monitored or inspected since 2001. Chips that have combusted stay burning/smouldering for months at a time. The homes upwind from the area are experiencing air quality issues, and an ash pile on the creekside of Soad Creek Road most likely also contains remnant of these toxins.
The CCCS is working with the Ministry of Environment about the leeching and burning concerns. City Council has asked CN to not give anymore ties to EPCOR although they have no legal recourse to stop the burning of the ties.
Update since March 18 – The burning of creosote soaked railway ties at the power plant have stopped.
Highlights from our February 18, 2010 meeting
1)The Social Planning Council is holding the Community Focus Group for the new community resource directory web page on Monday, Feb 22, 11:30 am – 2pm (lunch) at City Hall (rsvp appreciated but NOT required). This is to determine how our local website will be setup – everyone from the community is welcome to attend. RSVP appreciated, but NOT required.
2)Communities That Care Project update
a)Anne Burrill presented The Williams Lake CTC Community Assessment Report, which is now an official public document available on the City website (see link below). The report has been presented to City Council, and will be presented to the School District next week.
The Community Profile presented in the report is a very valuable public tool that everyone is encouraged to use. It is the first time all historical and demographic factors are in one document and the uses are endless. The CTC is also able to present to groups who would like more details.
b)Carrie is currently working on the Action Plan and researching potential programs for Williams Lake. In Anahim Lake they had 31 people attend the CTC Community Assessment Report Public Forum and are now working on implementing recommended community programs.
View the CTC Community Assessment report at
http://www.williamslake.ca/files/4/CTC%20Community%20Profile%20Final%20-%20Feb%202010%20web.pdf
The CTC Williams Lake Project blog is now live at http://www.ctcwilliamslake.blogspot.com/
2)Communities That Care Project update
a)Anne Burrill presented The Williams Lake CTC Community Assessment Report, which is now an official public document available on the City website (see link below). The report has been presented to City Council, and will be presented to the School District next week.
The Community Profile presented in the report is a very valuable public tool that everyone is encouraged to use. It is the first time all historical and demographic factors are in one document and the uses are endless. The CTC is also able to present to groups who would like more details.
b)Carrie is currently working on the Action Plan and researching potential programs for Williams Lake. In Anahim Lake they had 31 people attend the CTC Community Assessment Report Public Forum and are now working on implementing recommended community programs.
View the CTC Community Assessment report at
http://www.williamslake.ca/files/4/CTC%20Community%20Profile%20Final%20-%20Feb%202010%20web.pdf
The CTC Williams Lake Project blog is now live at http://www.ctcwilliamslake.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Non-profit directory entries
Not-For-Profit? Connect by March 31st!
The Access Williams Lake & Area project has literally hundreds of items to research and load by June 15th! We need your help!Within the next two weeks, please email to AccessWilliamsLake@gmail.com the following:
1)Organization name;
2)A note confirming that it is either a not-for-profit or government-funded initiative;
3) A note stating whether or not the program is dependent on government funding to run; (The above three items simply help us organize our calling database for our annual updating work.) plus, for publication in the directory itself:
4) Name of each distinct program administered by your organization;
5) Ten to fifty words describing each program's activities;
6) Program web page or email address (Note: In order to minimize spam to agencies, email addresses are not usually listed, but if an organization has no website, an email address may also be included in the submission.)
7) Program address;
8) Program phone number
Please send all of the above in one email to AccessWilliamsLake@gmail.com by March 31, 2010
For examples of what a listing would look like, one can view www.accesskamloops.org. The Access Williams Lake & Area project, though, can also include each program's address (if program administrators wish). Every entry can be edited upon request at any time.
With questions about which programs are eligible, or about any other matter, please review the press release below or contact Jessica Knodel at spc-coordinator@xplornet.com or 250-243-2126.
The Access Williams Lake & Area project has literally hundreds of items to research and load by June 15th! We need your help!Within the next two weeks, please email to AccessWilliamsLake@gmail.com the following:
1)Organization name;
2)A note confirming that it is either a not-for-profit or government-funded initiative;
3) A note stating whether or not the program is dependent on government funding to run; (The above three items simply help us organize our calling database for our annual updating work.) plus, for publication in the directory itself:
4) Name of each distinct program administered by your organization;
5) Ten to fifty words describing each program's activities;
6) Program web page or email address (Note: In order to minimize spam to agencies, email addresses are not usually listed, but if an organization has no website, an email address may also be included in the submission.)
7) Program address;
8) Program phone number
Please send all of the above in one email to AccessWilliamsLake@gmail.com by March 31, 2010
For examples of what a listing would look like, one can view www.accesskamloops.org. The Access Williams Lake & Area project, though, can also include each program's address (if program administrators wish). Every entry can be edited upon request at any time.
With questions about which programs are eligible, or about any other matter, please review the press release below or contact Jessica Knodel at spc-coordinator@xplornet.com or 250-243-2126.
Monday, March 8, 2010
January 14, 2010 Meeting Highlights
Three updates from our January 14, 2010 meeting
1) Communities that Care Project Update:
Previously the Manager of the 100 Mile House Youth Centre Carrie Sundahl brings over ten years experience to the SPC and is excited to be the new CTC Project Manager.
CTC Project Updates:
Training in both Anahim Lake, and Williams Lake were a success last month.
The Community Assessment Profile for Williams Lake is now completed and will be released to the public February 11, 2010.
They are now in the process of compiling community resources and researching programs towards the implementation of local programs to address the identified needs within Williams Lake (anticipated by end of April).
Anahim Lake’s Community Action Plan is also completed and they are currently choosing programs for their local community. They have been coordinating a calendar for the local area to increase accessibility to programs and information exchange between their community organizations.
2) Toni Pate from the Boys & Girls Club introduces the HIV/AIDS Prevention Program:
Toni has been working on the HIV/AIDS prevention program in Williams Lake since April 2009. Her background education includes both psychology and sociology and she previously worked for the AIDS Society of Kamloops, and was involved in the Sex Worker Program getting sex trade workers off the streets.
Funded by BBI (Interior Health funded) this program applies the new “population health approach” which comprehensively looks at health as a capacity to reaching goals, looking at the population as a whole with different groups within it.
Toni is available for presentations to groups from 2 – 200 people, make referrals and provide Counselling support through the Boys and Girls Club. A recent event included a successful Coffee House event on Nov 28, presentations to schools, a mall awareness “cookie” event, and has received great support from the community (e.g. Dominoes Pizza, and Tim Horton’s).Toni can be reached through the Boys and Girls Club at 250-392-5730
3) Revisiting a “Living Wage” Project for the Williams Lake Area:
Rosanna has found a qualified candidate for this project. Georgina Mortensen, a TRU student who is completing her practicum working with Rosanna at the Friendship Society is interested in taking this project on and has come to today’s meeting to learn more.
Calculating the Living Wage is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. For more info visit http://www.policyalternatives.ca
For a copy of the full meeting minutes please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
1) Communities that Care Project Update:
Previously the Manager of the 100 Mile House Youth Centre Carrie Sundahl brings over ten years experience to the SPC and is excited to be the new CTC Project Manager.
CTC Project Updates:
Training in both Anahim Lake, and Williams Lake were a success last month.
The Community Assessment Profile for Williams Lake is now completed and will be released to the public February 11, 2010.
They are now in the process of compiling community resources and researching programs towards the implementation of local programs to address the identified needs within Williams Lake (anticipated by end of April).
Anahim Lake’s Community Action Plan is also completed and they are currently choosing programs for their local community. They have been coordinating a calendar for the local area to increase accessibility to programs and information exchange between their community organizations.
2) Toni Pate from the Boys & Girls Club introduces the HIV/AIDS Prevention Program:
Toni has been working on the HIV/AIDS prevention program in Williams Lake since April 2009. Her background education includes both psychology and sociology and she previously worked for the AIDS Society of Kamloops, and was involved in the Sex Worker Program getting sex trade workers off the streets.
Funded by BBI (Interior Health funded) this program applies the new “population health approach” which comprehensively looks at health as a capacity to reaching goals, looking at the population as a whole with different groups within it.
Toni is available for presentations to groups from 2 – 200 people, make referrals and provide Counselling support through the Boys and Girls Club. A recent event included a successful Coffee House event on Nov 28, presentations to schools, a mall awareness “cookie” event, and has received great support from the community (e.g. Dominoes Pizza, and Tim Horton’s).Toni can be reached through the Boys and Girls Club at 250-392-5730
3) Revisiting a “Living Wage” Project for the Williams Lake Area:
Rosanna has found a qualified candidate for this project. Georgina Mortensen, a TRU student who is completing her practicum working with Rosanna at the Friendship Society is interested in taking this project on and has come to today’s meeting to learn more.
Calculating the Living Wage is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. For more info visit http://www.policyalternatives.ca
For a copy of the full meeting minutes please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Reminder Feb 22 Community Focus Group
UPCOMING REMINDER:
The Social Planning Council is holding a Community Focus Group for the online community resource web page which will connect residents and non-profits with each other to enhance the accessibility of programs and services available to residents. Monday, Feb 22, 11:30 am – 2pm (lunch) at City Hall (rsvp appreciated but NOT required). Call 250-243-2126 or email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com for more info. This is to determine how our local website will be setup – everyone is welcome to attend.
The Social Planning Council is holding a Community Focus Group for the online community resource web page which will connect residents and non-profits with each other to enhance the accessibility of programs and services available to residents. Monday, Feb 22, 11:30 am – 2pm (lunch) at City Hall (rsvp appreciated but NOT required). Call 250-243-2126 or email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com for more info. This is to determine how our local website will be setup – everyone is welcome to attend.
Monday, February 1, 2010
December 10, 2009 Meeting Highlights
Three updates from our December 10, 2009 meeting
1) Online Community Resource Database update:
The website developers have now begun working on the site design which will include a community calendar option (3 –4 months period) and they anticipate early to mid January for design completion.
The success of a project like this is entirely dependent on the involvement of the host community and the team will spend a day connecting with agencies to get more input at an upcoming Focus Group scheduled for February 22, 2010 11:30 – 2:00 pm at City Hall.
After that, we will continue to connect online to receive new entries and updates, year round, while also annually completing a full, proactive update, making phone contact with each and every program administrator to ensure all listings continue to be current.
For more information please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
2) CTC Update:
Anne Burrill, Rob Smith, and new Project Manager Carrie Sundahl are in Anahim Lake today for Community Action Plan training. Williams Lake training will begin next week at TRU.
Creating a Community Action plan is the next step of the project. Using the data collected from the Community Assessment survey, this action plan will address the gaps in programming as identified by survey results. The question “What do we do now” is the goal of the Action Plan (timeline goal of March 31).
There are plans to hold a community forum to further include the general public towards the public release of the Community Assessment Report.
3) TRU Human Service Diploma student presentation:
Community Resources – 179 students Isabella Kreis and Megan Peach presented a summary of the project entitled “Me to We” which helps individuals find meaning in a material world in a positive and socially responsible way.
Their project involves bringing Inspirational Speaker Spencer West to Williams Lake Secondary School the morning of February 22, 2010
Spencer West’s speech focuses on: anti-bullying, anti-discrimination, overcoming obstacles, and the message that anyone can make a difference.
His recent presentation to more than 60K from GM Place in Vancouver (with Live Online Feed from Vancouver - Toronto) involving the Dalai Lama was very successful. Please visit the following webpage for more information http://www.metowe.com/speakers/SpencerWest/
1) Online Community Resource Database update:
The website developers have now begun working on the site design which will include a community calendar option (3 –4 months period) and they anticipate early to mid January for design completion.
The success of a project like this is entirely dependent on the involvement of the host community and the team will spend a day connecting with agencies to get more input at an upcoming Focus Group scheduled for February 22, 2010 11:30 – 2:00 pm at City Hall.
After that, we will continue to connect online to receive new entries and updates, year round, while also annually completing a full, proactive update, making phone contact with each and every program administrator to ensure all listings continue to be current.
For more information please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
2) CTC Update:
Anne Burrill, Rob Smith, and new Project Manager Carrie Sundahl are in Anahim Lake today for Community Action Plan training. Williams Lake training will begin next week at TRU.
Creating a Community Action plan is the next step of the project. Using the data collected from the Community Assessment survey, this action plan will address the gaps in programming as identified by survey results. The question “What do we do now” is the goal of the Action Plan (timeline goal of March 31).
There are plans to hold a community forum to further include the general public towards the public release of the Community Assessment Report.
3) TRU Human Service Diploma student presentation:
Community Resources – 179 students Isabella Kreis and Megan Peach presented a summary of the project entitled “Me to We” which helps individuals find meaning in a material world in a positive and socially responsible way.
Their project involves bringing Inspirational Speaker Spencer West to Williams Lake Secondary School the morning of February 22, 2010
Spencer West’s speech focuses on: anti-bullying, anti-discrimination, overcoming obstacles, and the message that anyone can make a difference.
His recent presentation to more than 60K from GM Place in Vancouver (with Live Online Feed from Vancouver - Toronto) involving the Dalai Lama was very successful. Please visit the following webpage for more information http://www.metowe.com/speakers/SpencerWest/
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