CHANGE A LIFE
stories, news, and other happenings in our community
Every day across the globe, 33,972 people are forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. That means that essentially every day, there are nearly 34,000 new refugees. Richmond resident Ruth Beardsley took on one refugee family’s cause that not only reunited a family but changed her life. Ruth recently retired from her
FirstCall, BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, has released their annual 2016 BC Child Poverty Report Card today. The report, funded by United Way British Columbia, shows that BC’s child poverty rate has decreased slightly from 20.4% in 2013 to 19.8% in 2014. The small decline is reflected in the poverty rate for children in
Western Canada’s oldest city is a city of contrasts. New Westminster has the second highest median family income in Metro Vancouver yet shares the highest unemployment rate. Of the 25-64 age group, 59 percent of the population has a college degree or higher but the city also has the highest percentage of 18 year olds
This week we learned of hateful, racist flyers distributed in Richmond, and a swastika spray-painted on a North Vancouver street. These acts do not reflect the community that we live in, or the Canada that we love. At United Way British Columbia, we are beyond appalled. Today, we are reaching out to all across
This week we learned of hateful, racist flyers distributed in Richmond, and a swastika spray-painted on a North Vancouver street. These acts do not reflect the community that we live in, or the Canada that we love. At United Way British Columbia, we are beyond appalled. Today, we are reaching out to all across
The 2016 HungerCount report, published by Food Banks Canada shows that food bank use in BC is at a record high. In March, 2016, 103,400 people living in British Columbia received assistance from a local food bank when the annual hunger count took place. Food bank use has increased 3.4 percent since 2015 and has
November 11th marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to remember all those that have served our country. When we come together as a community to recognize the sacrifices of those before us, we are given an opportunity to reaffirm our Canadian values and institutions, our right to choose our
When we work together, amazing things are possible. United Way’s partnership with the Labour movement is a great example of this. And the Labour Community Advocates program is the cornerstone of our partnership. Labour Community Advocates link workers facing workplace, personal or family challenges with resources in the community. Many of these resources and services, whether
November is Financial Literacy Month. Did you know there is free money available to you to start saving for your child’s education? All B.C. kids born in 2006 or later are eligible to receive $1,200 from the provincial B.C. Training & Education Savings Grant. To access the funds, you only need to set up an Registered
The next “wave” of data that tracks B.C. children’s school readiness has been published by UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP). The data tracks 245,000 kindergarten children gathered through questionnaires each February. The Early-Years Development Instrument (EDI) B.C. 2016 provincial report measures and compare students’ vulnerability on five scales over time, including physical health and
Debra Doucette Hewson, President and Chief Executive Officer at Odlum Brown Limited has been recognized with the Joseph and Rosalie Segal United Way Community Vision Award. She received the tribute at United Way British Columbia’s annual recognition event for major gift donors, United Way’s Pathfinders Dinner. The Community Vision Award recognizes individuals or families who
United Way British Columbia will celebrate the pathways to positive change that our most generous donors have helped create at this year’s annual Pathfinders Dinner taking place Wednesday, October 26. The event honors United Way Major Gifts and Legacy Giving donors for the difference they make in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people
In late September, members of the Labour community helped with the harvest at the Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House, a United Way-funded agency in East Vancouver. Volunteers from unions all over the Lower Mainland removed debris and blackberry bushes as well as weeded garden beds. The team also picked and peeled apples and picked squash and
October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. BC has among the highest poverty rates in Canada. The province needs a poverty reduction strategy. We are often told that the solution to poverty is for the poor to “get a job” or for various sectors to create more jobs. But the reality is
A comprehensive report published today, United Way British Columbia Delta Community Profile, breaks down population, economic and social statistics in five neighbourhoods in Delta: Ladner, North Delta East, North Delta West, Sunshine Hills and Tsawwassen. With relatively high incomes, relatively low unemployment and crime rates, and a stable growth rate, Delta appears to be a
On Marguerite Ford’s bookshelf sits books by Naomi Klein and Joseph Boyden. In another bookcase are her treasured Moroccan leather-bound encyclopaedia published in 1928. Marguerite is like her book collection, eclectic and intelligent. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of city building and life experience. And she believes firmly in giving back to her community. Ms.
On Saturday October 1st members from Vancouver’s thriving tech scene took a break from coding and creating to participate in Tech Grind, a hike up Mother Nature’s Stairmaster in support of United Way. Tech Grind challenged participants to raise funds for United Way British Columbia, then sweat it out on the notorious Grouse Grind®, a 2.9-kilometre
Today is Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the
On September 26-27, approximately 90 coordinators, assistants and managers attended the 4th Annual Better at Home Provincial Meetup at SFU Harbour Centre – the first meetup to be held in beautiful downtown Vancouver! Better at Home is a seniors program managed by United Way British Columbia and funded by the B.C. government. This year’s conference
A new mobile app Biko turns kilometres traveled – by biking, walking, jogging or even skateboarding – into rewards; “bikos” you can claim for yourself or donate for free to a good cause. And from now until October 16, 2016 Biko users can donate their rewards to United Way British Columbia! The more bikos United