“The Board is pleased to see a consistently increasing number of people coming to the Centre and a clear recognition of the importance of this

work to our community.”The CRC has enjoyed another exciting, challenging and rewarding 2014-15 fi scal period. The 3 year funding from Status of Women Canada for the Progress Plan provided much needed funding stability, which has enabled the CRC to apply successfully to other funders. The support of many community partners and the skills and talents of a hard-working Board have meant that several long-overdue community initiatives have legs.

March 2015 and the completion of the Status of Women funding for the Progress Plan culminated with the delivery of a community plan which addresses economic security for the women of the Sunshine Coast. The Progress Plan staff, Michelle Morton, Christabelle Kux-Kardos, consultant Betty Baxter and other contracted members of the team, worked tirelessly with a CRC Management Team and a Community Advisory Committee to form action groups to address the fi ve major challenges facing women: adult and child care, transportation, income security and belonging. Signifi cant “wins” that continue to be pushed forward are:

1. Improved existing transportation services and development of new options that work together in a multi-modal system.

2. Formation of the Self-Employed Women’s Network (SEWN)

3. Formation of the Seniors’ Planning Table

4. New YMCA child care in SD#46 schools

5. bc211 Help Line

For the full Progress Plan report, including Executive Summary and new initiatives, please go to http://resourcecentres.ca/progressplan. CRC received new three-year Status of Women funding to address the isolation experienced by self-employed women. It is our good fortune to have employment consultant Cheryl McNichol head up this project.

The CRC again received Direct Access (Gaming) funding which meant the continuation of a contract with Christabelle Kux-Kardos, whose role has been re-designed as Program Manager for the CRC. In this role, Christabelle oversees all of the programs that have been initiated by the Board and the Progress Plan, including coordinating community discussions on the topic of centralized dissemination of information and referral services. We anticipate further work in creating a

community hub which is fed by service providers. Christabelle and volunteers are also available to meet with community members on a one-on-one basis to assist with identifying life’s challenges and referring to the appropriate agency or service for solutions. We also assist community members with fi lling out those pesky government forms. Christabelle is a valued member of our team and we so appreciate her dedication and commitment to the work of the CRC.

The CRC has continued to be able to fund Legal Information Program Coordinator, Julie Gibson, who provides essential support to clients in need of legal aid services. The Legal Services Society provides funding for this program augmented by funding from the CRC and a District of Sechelt Grant-in-aid which also helps support the Pro Bono Legal clinics. Clinics were offered in Sechelt and Gibsons by lawyer Alison Sawyer and supported by community volunteers in each location. Appointments are arranged by CRC or Access Justice BC. In order to be sustainable, the program requires the pro bono service of an additional community lawyer and the CRC is actively recruiting.

Thanks to on-going funding and marketing support from Sunshine Coast Credit Union, the very successful “Money Skills Financial Literacy Program” has been offered throughout the Sunshine Coast. Facilitated by local volunteers, predominantly Credit Union staff, the “Money Skills” program is chock full of information and money management techniques. The CRC continues to receive requests for the delivery of the program to specifi c community groups and enthusiastic volunteers have been delighted to deliver. We anticipate offering one program in Sechelt for the general community in November and at least one additional series which will be designed in collaboration with the Seniors Planning Table and delivered to seniors.

A District of Sechelt’s Community Investment Program (Traffi c Fines) grant continued to support the delivery of Home Alone – safety training for elementary school students and seniors. This training is organized by CRC staff and Board members and provided by the local RCMP, Paramedics and Firefi ghters.

New Horizons funding enabled the CRC to get a better understanding of the information and referral needs of the Coast’s isolated seniors and to begin to address these needs.

This page proudly sponsored by: This page proudly sponsored by:

Information and Referral Service:connecting people with the right resources

Workshops:informative seminars including Money Skills

and Home Alone

Free Legal Advice:pro-bono clinics and legal information

Application Assistance:help with completing government forms

and applications

Community Development:local projects to improve the well-being

of our community

The Sunshine Coast Resource The Sunshine Coast Resource

Centre Society Centre Society operates the operates the

Community Resource CentreCommunity Resource Centreunder the direction of the:under the direction of the:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-20162015-2016

Sue ElliottSue Elliott

Hilary EstergaardHilary Estergaard

Pat HuntPat Hunt

Sandy McBrideSandy McBride

Marj McDougallMarj McDougall

Lucie McKiernanLucie McKiernan

Anne TitcombAnne Titcomb

And in collaboration and cooperation with And in collaboration and cooperation with the Board and Staff ofthe Board and Staff of

Sunshine Coast Community Services SocietySunshine Coast Community Services Society

Thanks to Vicki Dobbyn for delivering a most successful “Community Connections” series of workshops. The CRC has applied for another New Horizons that would establish community-specifi c volunteer Peer Navigators for Seniors.

Generous funding from the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, the District of Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union with leadership and support from the CRC has enabled the establishment of a Seniors Planning Table. Seniors Planning Table Coordinator Alison Leaney is working with stakeholder groups in two primary areas of focus: improving interagency collaboration and communication among service providers for seniors and promoting safety at all levels for vulnerable adults. For additional information about the Seniors Planning Table, go to http://resourcecentre.ca/seniors-planning-table-documents.

The Board of Directors of the CRC continues to demonstrate its collective commitment to the delivery of information and referral services to community members, while maintaining a “fi nger on the pulse” of the community. Thanks to relatively secure funding, the CRC Board has been able to reach out and collaborate with other agencies and services to address important community issues like information and referral

coordination, transportation, childcare and improved service delivery to seniors. Special thanks to our MOU partner Sunshine Coast Community Services Society. Their continued support and collaboration enriches our work.

As the scope of service and program delivery expands, the CRC is working actively to develop an innovative volunteer strategy. The work is exciting and extremely rewarding and there are increasing opportunities to contribute to the work of the society. Please contact the CRC at 604-885-4088 if you would like to join our team.

The Board has undertaken a complete re-vamp of our web-site, which is still a work in progress. All of the projects and initiatives of the Society can be viewed at http://resourcecentre.ca.

The Board and staff of the Sunshine Coast Community Resource Centre Society (CRC) would like to acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Sunshine Coast Credit Union, Status of Women Canada Ruby Slipper Fund, District of Sechelt, Legal Services Society, Direct Access (Gaming), New Horizons, Sunshine Coast Community Foundation and Sunshine Coast Regional District.

Christabelle Kux-Kardos

32 • Coast Reporter • Friday, September 11, 2015 Friday, September 11, 2015 • Coast Reporter • 33

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Top row, left to right: Top row, left to right: Hilary Estergaard, Sandy McBride, Pat HuntHilary Estergaard, Sandy McBride, Pat HuntBottom row, left to right: Marj McDougall, Lucie McKiernan, Anne Titcomb, Sue ElliottBottom row, left to right: Marj McDougall, Lucie McKiernan, Anne Titcomb, Sue Elliott

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