BCHC Newsletter - August 2011

THE NEWS

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White Rock, Arts and Cultural Mapping Project 

White Rock Arts and Cultural Map

On July 25th BCHC presented the final arts and culture map of White Rock and the associated website whiterockculture.ca to the city council. The project kicked off in October 2010 and was established to develop an inventory of public and private sector cultural assets, services and facilities in White Rock.

With a focus on engaging local arts, culture and citizen groups the aim was to identify gaps and opportunities to develop recommendations for the cultural economy of the future.  BCHC’s Deirdre Goudriaan, facilitator for the Arts and Cultural Mapping project, presented council with a list of short-term recommendations to make the most of the information, which was developed through a series of public meetings and private interviews with stakeholders. Council referred the recommendations to the city’s Arts and Cultural Committee to form a strategic plan. Visit the website to read the full report or find out more in this latest news article.

Community Needs Assessment and Asset Mapping with UBC's Acadia Park Residents

BC Healthy Communities and the University of British Columbia Campus and Community Planning Office (UBC) have formed a partnership to design and conduct a community needs assessment and asset mapping process with residents and staff of Acadia Park, UBC's student family housing neighbourhood. The project focuses on community, recreation and youth program services by engaging residents and staff in the creation of an inventory of assets, gaps and opportunities and to develop recommendations for future community development. The BCHC Integral Capacity Building Framework will help to foster a sense of community amongst residents through dynamic, family-friendly community building processes.  For more information contact stacy@bchealthycommunities.ca

Walk to WIN!
From August 8th to September 19th, Healthy Families BC is challenging British Columbians to “Walk to Win” in a six-week contest to encourage walking, mapping and sharing favourite walking routes. Families or individuals can win BC getaway trips, bikes, fitness passes, footwear gift certificates and more. Communities can also win $10,000, or the additional $50,000 grand prize, to build or upgrade walking trails. Check out their website for more info

The Healthy BC Families Walking Challenge celebrates walking as one of the easiest and most beneficial physical activities for British Columbians to enjoy, especially with friends and family.

THE COMMUNITY
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Community Supports Re-Opening The Chandler - Gonzales Pathway

by Hazel Currie
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Residents, dog owners, parents, small business owners and more have a vision: to re-open a public walkway in Victoria, providing a safe route to a local elementary school and a pedestrian-friendly link for the entire community.

The Chandler-Gonzales pathway in the Capital city served the community for the better part of seven decades, before being closed in the 1970’s due to concerns from adjacent neighbours – but the city had the foresight to retain the property as a public asset. Now, a group of area residents believe the neighbours’ concerns can be addressed and has come together and gathered 651 letters of support to reinstate this vital community link.

“Walk and talk” meetings along the pathway have been held with city councillors, the 651 letters were passed along to the Mayor and the community is anxious to see the project made a priority, noting Victoria City Council formally voted to re-open the walkway in 2009, subject to funding.

Public pathways provide many benefits, and this one in Victoria would be no exception – a safer route for children to walk to and from school, a vital link to other public walkways as part of the city’s Greenways Plan and direct access to the green spaces of a city park.

Working tirelessly, area residents remain optimistic their efforts will pay off and the vision of a healthier community will be realized.

THE CHAMPION
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Jas Cheema

For over a decade Jas Cheema has been instrumental in building bridges and fostering a cross-cultural understanding between the ethnic communities in the Lower Mainland. She is a true Healthy Communities advocate and works toward fostering understanding and community connections. She has been a leader in the field of inter-cultural communication, diversity, community engagement and racism-free communities and organizations.

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A busy wife and mother, Jas has a Masters in Intercultural Communication and is the Leader for Diversity and Translation Services at Fraser Health Authority. In addition she has her own diversity consulting business and is an Associate Faculty Member with Royal Roads University. She shares her passion for social and cultural issues through her columns in the Surrey-North Delta Leader and Asian Journal newspapers. Her volunteer roles include Board Chair, Surrey Libraries; Chair, Major Gift Campaign Surrey Libraries; Advisory Board Member, School of Communication-Royal Roads University; Mediator, Surrey Neighboring Faiths Program.

Her work has been recognized; she is the recipient of 2011 Community Leader Awards, Queens Golden Jubilee Medal, Surrey Leader of the Year, Flare Volunteer of the Year and Woman of Distinction awards for her services to the multicultural community, and the Griffin Award for her contributions to the Canadian Society through the art of writing.
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THE PRACTICE
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Beat the post-holiday blues

The start of September means for many of us the start of the post-holiday blues. Not to worry, because the following tips of Cary Cooper, professor of organizational psychology at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, will help you beat this unpleasant feeling and will support a healthy happy work environment:

1. Stay in the holiday mood.

Although your boss is not going to let you enjoy lie-ins or siestas, you shouldn't abandon the rhythm of your holiday altogether. Even if you have a mountain of work awaiting your return set a work "exit" time - say 5pm - and stick to it. Don't be tempted to stay late catching up. If you've been enjoying an activity such as swimming during you holiday, try to work it into your week.

2. Prioritize your work.

Only tackle the really important tasks during your first few days. Colleagues may welcome your return with a deluge of "urgent" requests but "people are going to have to wait", says Mr Cooper.

3. End the tyranny of your e-mail inbox.

British workers are said to send and receive 190 e-mails a day. A two-week break could leave you wading through upwards of 1,000 electronic messages. "We're overloaded with electronic messages. Colleagues send and send and send. Much of it is trivial and can wait."

4. Take a break.

It may not be a substitute for dozing on a Mediterranean beach, but an hour in the canteen or five minutes by the water cooler can help keep you sane.

5. Plan more leave.

Mr Cooper says more and more of us are neglecting to take our full holiday entitlement. With four busy months before Christmas, it could be worth taking some days off.

6. "Oh, the guilt."

Don't feel guilty. It's bad enough missing your sun lounger and 800-page beach novel, don't make it worse by feeling guilty for leaving your colleagues in the "lurch" while you were gone.

(Source: BBC News)

Find out more about how to create a Healthy Work Environment on the Act Now BC website.

EVENTS

Forum ~ Healthy by Nature

What: A forum on the physical & mental health benefits of time spent in nature.

When: September 20 - 23, 2011

Where: Vancouver, BC

For more information click here

Webinars ~ Northern BC Citizens Series on Health Webinars

BCHC and Northern Health's Population Health Team have partnered to host a series of free web-based seminars on the role of citizens in building healthy communities. The webinars invite dialogue from northern communities on specific topics that are critical to improving the health outcomes of northern people.

Oct. 13, 2011 - 1:30 - 3:30pm 

"Reading Between the Lines: How Libraries and Literacy Contribute to Health"

Jan. 19, 2012 - 1:30 - 3:30pm 

"Beginning With the End in Mind: Creating Safe and Nurturing Environments for Our Very Young"

April 19, 2012 - 1:30 - 3:30pm 

"Beyond the Nest Egg: Feathering the Nest for Healthy Retirement"

For more information or to register click here
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Bright Ideas IV ~ Pre-Conference Learning Event - Youth Engagement 101
What: Youth Engagement Learning Event
When: October 18, 2011, 9:30am - 12:00 noon
Where: Victoria, Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre

For more information or to register click here ( Deadline: October 11th, 2011)
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Bright Ideas IV ~ Conference and Day of Action!
What: Youth Engagement Learning Event
When: October 25, 2011, 9:30am - 3:30
Where: TBA
For more information or to register click here ( Deadline: October 11th, 2011)
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Summit ~ Cities fit for Children

What: 3rd Annual Provincial Summit

When: Thursday, May 10 to Friday, May 11 2012

Where: Kamloops, BC

For more information click here

THE READINGS

The Power of Collaborative Solutions: Six Principles and Effective Tools for Building Healthy Communities

by Tom Wolff

Our helping systems are failing us and we have serious problems with traditional community problem-solving methods that are ineffective and create pain, waste, and dysfunction in our communities. In this groundbreaking book, the author spells out his real-world-tested key principles for creating collaborative solutions that build healthy communities.

Collaborative Solutions is a practical book that addresses how to solve contemporary social problems by bringing people of diverse circumstances and backgrounds together in working to solve community challenges. Filled with stories and tools, it shows how to make change happen in the real world. Find out more