BCHC Newsletter - August 2012

THE NEWS

New Dates for Citizen Series Webinars for Northern Residents
BC Healthy Communities (BCHC) and Northern Health (NH) are hosting their third year of ‘Citizens Series’ webinars. These two hour sessions invite dialogue from northern communities on specific topics that are critical to improving the health outcomes of northern people, recognizing that community and civic involvement is a cornerstone to healthy people and populations. The first webinar ‘The Nature of Health: Exploring the Links Between Health and the Physical Environment’ will take place on September 27. Through this webinar you will:

• LEARN from and with leading experts in the field about their insights on how health is tied to the settings where we live, work, learn and play
• DISCUSS  the interdependence between health, communities and ecosystems and what this means in the unique geography of northern BC
• EXPLORE inspiring examples of community projects which link ecological sustainability and human well-being through supporting connections to the land and nature.

More dates for upcoming webinars are listed under the Events section below.  Do plan to join us and register here today!

Thinkpiece ‘Supporting the Foundations of Change’
In 2011-2012 BCHC received innovation strategy funding through the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the project ‘Living Life Fully: Youth taking charge of their health and wellness’.  We took the learnings of this youth engagement project and developed 3 Thinkpieces with a focus on innovative ways to support the conditions for healthy weights for youth in two age brackets (13-19 and 20-24). The first thinkpiece ‘Supporting the Foundations of Change’ addresses the required changes for successful health promotion and is now available on the BCHC website.

THE COMMUNITY

Go Girls! Program - Abbotsford,BC

For the past year BCHC and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. have been collaborating on the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces(WICWP) Legacy Project to better engage multicultural youth in Abbotsford.  As part of this project the multicultural ‘Go Girls!’ mentorship program was developed in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).

Go Girls! focuses on girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and promotes active living, balanced eating and positive self-image through mentoring relationships. Through this program the participants were able to build on their leadership and life skills with support of the tools and information they need to choose to lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Go Girls! endeavors to develop capacity in the communities participating in the program and to contribute to sustainable support systems for girls and young women across the province.

The original Go Girls! program was redeveloped through this project to create a multicultural curriculum that focuses on:

• Increasing cultural understanding and promoting diversity (meaning a philosophical belief that all forms of difference are valuable and should be honoured as such)
• Promoting diversity by learning about cultural foods, activities, and perspectives.

The program was expanded from seven to ten weeks to accomplish the additional outcomes.  You can find an inspiring video about the Go Girls! participants under ‘The Watch’ section below.

THE CHAMPION
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Kluane Buser –Rivet ~ City of Victoria Youth Council 

Kluane is the newest member to join the BC Healthy Communities team! In her capacity as Coordinator of the City of Victoria Youth Council (CVYC), Kluane (pronounced Clue-ah-nee) looks forward to putting her years of experience working in the youth and civic engagement field to work.

Having combined her love of travel with her zest for youth engagement, Kluane has had many opportunities to explore the Healthy Communities model in other locales than the West Coast of Canada. In Senegal and Peru, Kluane worked with Canadian and local youth to facilitate cultural exchanges. In Durban, South Africa, Kluane attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as a youth delegate with the Canadian Non-Profit Organization Friends Uniting for Nature (FUN) Society.  She also engaged politically by meeting with Canadian politicians like Elizabeth May and Terry Lake in Durban.

As a Director on the Board of the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, Kluane has helped plan a provincial outdoor leadership summit for youth, implemented sustainable outdoor programs and has brought a strong youth voice to the organization. Also, this role gives her an excuse to play outdoors as much as possible!

Kluane’s passion for her community has also led her to local activism work in the environmental and social realms. Furthermore, Kluane has represented a youth voice in organizations like the Esquimalt Community Garden Society, the Saanich Youth Council and the Saanich Environmental Advisory Committee. In her spare time, Kluane enjoys yoga, traveling, staying involved with the Victoria Francophone community and spending quality time in nature. She also enjoys pondering anti-oppressive frameworks, impact, compassion and freedom.
For questions about the CVYC please contact Kluane at info@cvyc.net

THE ARTICLE

Tourism and its Impact on Creating a Healthy Community
By Naomi Phillips

As the peak tourist season winds to a close there are fewer visitors on local streets, trails and beaches. Many tourists have left but it is still worthwhile to consider the relationship between tourism and the health of communities throughout the province. In 2010, tourism in BC generated $13.4 billion in revenue, supported 17,943 businesses, and employed 127,400 people whose combined wages equaled $ 4.4 billion. The economic benefit of attracting visitors, either from within the province or beyond, furthers initiatives related to other determinants of health including environmental sustainability, strong social connections, physical health, and spiritual and cultural development. The list of attractions and amenities that support the health of locals and attract visitors (farm and vineyard tours, farmers’ markets, parks and green spaces, pedestrian friendly areas, well maintained trail systems and bike routes, strong public transportation, festivals, sport and cultural events, museums and learning opportunities) goes on and on.

Scout Island - Williams Lake

The City of Williams Lake’s Parks, Trails, Outdoor Recreation Master Plan (August 2011) is an initiative to improve residents’ recreation opportunities and bolster tourism. The plan includes recommendations to enhance Williams Lake’s existing network of trails and identifies improving access to main activity centres, the river valley, safe highway crossings, public access to the waterfront from downtown, and improved trails linking the downtown with other lake access points as priorities.
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The White Rock Arts and Culture Hub, developed by the City of White Rock in partnership with BC Healthy Communities and 2010 Legacies Now, shows how strengthening awareness of cultural resources can benefit locals and improve the economy. With more than 240 listings, this website is a valuable resource for locals and visitors. Recommendations to use city beautification and public art to stimulate cultural development and tourism were other outcomes of the project. These improvements would also enhance locals’ sense of community and belonging by creating unique spaces. This projects emphasis on personal development and sense of belonging also serves as a reminder that tourism can bring benefits that are less tangible than improved infrastructure and event opportunities. Sharing your community with “outsiders” is a fun way to learn and make new connections with people whether they live a few communities or continents away.  

Possible harms related to tourism range from vacation home developments built in local recreation areas to the negative environmental impact of modes of transport including cruise ships and RVing to the appropriation of Indigenous culture for commercial gain to low wages in service related jobs. It’s easy to blame tourists for creating a negative impact, but tourism itself is not the root cause of these problems. Enduring solutions to these problems will come from within communities and will recognize the multiple factors that contribute to them.

BC’s overwhelming natural beauty draws tourists from around the world but it is time we recognize that people also choose BC as a travel destination because they enjoy spending time in healthy communities.

To find out info about recreation sites throughout BC visit Recreation Sites and Trails BC

THE PRACTICE

Using Social Media to Promote Your Healthy Communities Cause
By Naomi Phillips

Amid the rush to stay current and create social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, etc) accounts, it’s easy to lose sight of the ways social media can help your organization or cause succeed by sharing information, building community, and promoting action (Lovejoy & Saxton, 2012). For this reason, whether the non-profit organization or cause you are involved with already uses social media or you are thinking about starting, it’s worth reflecting on the challenges and benefits involved and how you can most effectively achieve your goals through the use of social media.

Challenges of Using Social Media

Social media makes information more accessible and supports dialogue but some people face obstacles to accessing these benefits. In order to engage a broad range of people, reflect on how your organization can continue to connect with groups who face obstacles to internet use such as seniors and remote communities. Developing a dialogue takes effort and commitment to monitoring what captures people’s interest but allocating time and resources can be difficult. The fact that social networking platforms profit from selling information to advertisers also raises concerns about the ownership of content posted, as well as privacy and transparency.

Benefits
Nonprofits and other organizations benefit from social media when they share information about their organization and hear what people think about issues. This kind of dialogue helps build a network around an issue and is seldom present on an organization’s website. When people share your content it offers a personal endorsement and helps build awareness of your organization or cause. Moreover, you can use social media to learn about and support other organizations that have similar goals or are doing work in the same field.

5 Steps for Using Social Media Effectively:

1.    Research and Reflections

Consider what you want to get out of social media and the amount of time you have to invest. One suggestion is to look at other organizations profiles to see how they are using social media and what level of interest their posts receive. Check out this list of top Canadian non-profits and their social media use to see the content they post and the feedback they receive.  

2.    Keep it Manageable and Secure

Choose one or two social media sites instead of trying to manage multiple profiles. Or use one platform, such as Hootsuite, to manage all your social media pages at one spot. Choosing smart passwords is key to keep your accounts secure and safe from spam and phishing. Use strong passwords and avoid using the same password for different accounts.

3.    Create a Social Media Plan

Depending on the needs of your organization, your plan doesn’t have to be long or detailed. Discussing the kind of content you will share gives direction to your postings and prevents them from reflecting staff members’ interests or humour more than your organization’s goals.

4.    Make Connections

Tell people about your social media profiles and include buttons that link to them on your website. Posting once a day and liking, replying to, or mentioning other organizations or people’s profiles will increase your visibility. Posts of photos and graphs are popular and increase your profile’s visual appeal.

5.    Assess the Results.

On a monthly basis, review posts that gain the most views and response and adjust your approach accordingly. You can count the numbers of “followers” of your page profile but it’s harder to measure the impact of your social media presence on the success of your organization. Businesses using social media also struggle with tracking the return on investment. Compare the timeline of your popularity on social media with your organization’s successes. Whenever you host an event or conduct a survey, ask participants if social media was a factor in their attendance or if it contributes to their knowledge of your organization.
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References and Resources

1. Longan, M. & Purcell, D. (2011). Engineering community and place: facebook as megaengineering. Engineering earth: the impacts of megaengineering projects. Dordrecht, New York: Springer.
2. Lovejoy, K & Saxton, G.D. (2012). Information, community, and action: how nonprofit organizations use social media. Journal of computer-mediated communication 17, 337–353.
3. The Communications Network (neat webinars!)
4. The Nonprofit Social Media Policy Work Book
5. Socialbrite

EVENTS

Presentation ~ Community Tables: Engaging Neighbours Community; Tea & Celebration Party
Join this presentation to hear about the highlights and lessons learned during the Community Tables: Engaging Neighbours Initiative project. Find out more information here
Where: Victoria City Hall (1 Centennial Square) - When: SEP 19, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Conference ~ Good Jobs for a Green Future
This conference will bring together 200-300 British Columbians from across the Labour and Environmental movements, as well business, First Nations, community, government, and other sectors interested in building a strong green economy. For more info click here
Where: Vancouver – When: SEP 21 & 22
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Webinar ~  Northern BC Citizen Series: 'The Nature Of Health: Exploring the Links Between Health and the Physical Environment'

These two hour sessions invite dialogue from northern communities on specific topics that are critical to improving the health outcomes of northern people, recognizing that community and civic involvement is a cornerstone to healthy people and populations. To register click here
Where: Online - When:  SEP 27, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM (PST)

Other Citizen Series webinar dates to mark in your agenda:
Home is Where Your Health Is: NOV 22, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM -

His & Hers- Perspectives on Health: JAN 31, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM 
Guess Who’s Coming to Town: Health Impacts of Work Camps in Close Proximity to Communities: APR 11, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM 

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THE WATCH

The Go Girls! Video
The Go Girls! Multicultural Mentorship Program is a ten week mentorship program offered in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley, West Abbotsford Community School, Central Abbotsford Community School and School District 34. Go Girls! focuses on girls and promotes active living, balanced eating and feeling good. This video shows how the girl participants experienced this 'extraordinary' program.

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BCHC Newsletter - July 2012

THE NEWS

BCHC is Hiring a Healthy Communities Program Coordinator

BCHC is seeking a Program Coordinator to join our dynamic team and to specifically coordinate planning and implementation of Healthy Communities programs, projects and funding opportunities for local governments across the province.  For more details click here

Report: City of Victoria Youth Council Survey on Racism and Discrimination

Between May 1- 10, City of Victoria Youth Council (CVYC) members conducted a survey on racism and discrimination. 165 responses to the survey were received.  In general, youth in Victoria view the city as a very diverse place, 60% of respondents said they thought Victoria was more diverse than average; this means youth are aware of the multiple cultures surrounding them.

Read the full report to find out more about how the Victoria Youth experience racism and discrimination in their community and what their ideas are about how to eliminate it. For more information contact our new CVYC Youth Coordinator Kluane Buser-Rivet at: info@cvyc.net

Nine BC Communities receive Age Friendly Recognition Award

Nine local governments will receive an Age-friendly BC Recognition Award for their efforts to support older residents to remain healthy and active in the community.

To achieve recognition, the communities committed to age-friendly improvements in local government resolutions, established advisory committees, conducted age-friendly assessments and developed and published action plans – all with the leadership and involvement of local seniors. Duncan, Esquimalt, Metchosin, Saanich, Revelstoke, West Vancouver, Surrey, Sechelt, and White Rock have successfully completed these steps. Read the full news release here

THE COMMUNITY

UTown@UBC Residents Celebrate Their Diverse Community

Photograph by: Deirdre Goudriaan

A wonderful hot summer day provided the perfect setting for the first UTown@UBC Summer Festival on July 7th.  Over 500 UTown@UBC residents and neighbours gathered on this day to connect with each other while enjoying numerous fun and free events. 

The Summer Festival was developed through a partnership between UBC’s Campus and Community Planning Office and BCHC to celebrate the diverse residential campus community of UTown@UBC and bridge the various ‘sub-communities’ and their values and assets. The event built on fostering a sense of community amongst residents and aimed to cultivate a sense of belonging, inclusion and connection to the place residents live, work and learn together.

This family friendly, multicultural and inter-generational event offered free activites for all ages.  Besides a giant Jenga, face painting and a photobooth there was a community art project where residents painted tiles with images that would reflect what they love about their community. The colourful glazed tiles will be displayed around UBC. 

To find out more about BCHC’s Community Engagement services please visit the BCHC website or contact us at: bchc@bchealthycommunities.ca

THE CHAMPION

Alanna Clempson - Chilliwack, BC

Photograph by: Tyler Olsen, TIMES

“You need to be the change you want to see in the world”. Chilliwack resident, Alanna Clempson, is reminded of this quote from Ghandi everyday when she looks at the postcard taped to the mirror in her home, and you really don't have to spend too much time with Alanna to realize that she takes this to heart one-hundred-percent. Food security, organic growing and food preservation are things that Alanna is abundantly passionate about. Over the past several years, Alanna and her handy husband, Coby, have converted their suburban property to a high-yielding and semi-sufficient garden. With composts, greenhouses, fruit trees and plenty of open gardens, the property feeds their family and community with wholesome and organic produce and stands as a refreshing reminder of how you don't need a farm or huge plot of land to grow a substantial amount of food.

In addition to her work in the garden, Alanna home-schools her three children, runs a part time photography business, and is a long-standing volunteer with several local organizations where she has taught cooking, canning and “food preparation” classes. Alanna's volunteer work has recently expanded to include helping to establish Food Matters Chilliwack (FMC), a not-for-profit organization where she has been coordinating a Plant-A-Row Grow-A-Row initiative as well as a Gleaning program which has seen over 11,000 pounds of produce harvested and over 7,000 pounds donated to FMC's recipient partners, in its first two years.

Alanna has recently been elected to the BC Food System’s Network 2012 Board and is excited about the opportunity for expanding her knowledge of the “Network” of other organizations and people in British Columbia working for the common good in our society. Alanna resides in Chilliwack with her husband and kids. She enjoys life by spending time with friends, growing and eating good food, camping with her family, and exploring the beautiful world we live on.

THE ARTICLE

The Multi-Faceted Beauty of Community Markets
By Amanda Ng, Master’s in Public Health and Social Policy

           

Let me paint you a picture.  Envision a market that offers the opportunity to purchase local, organic, and fresh produce.  Sandwiched between these produce stands are local craftmakers selling their beautiful handmade products as well as music floats through the air.  This market attracts neighbourhood residents from all parts of the city and enriches their quality of life through fostering a sense of community and sociability.  The market addresses health, ecological, and environmental concerns through reducing vehicle miles used for food transportation, promotes local sustainability, helps enhance food security, and contributes to economic development.  What is this painting that has been described?  Community markets – also known as farmers’ markets.  For centuries, community markets have served as public places for people to gather, entertain, and be entertained, exchange ideas, and buy or sell goods and services (Morales, 2009).  Historically, these markets have been a staple in society, at first playing a significant then declining role in supplying produce to consumers. Today, consumers, producers, and community groups have exhibited a renewed interest in this traditional form of selling produce.

Understanding the Origins of our Food

In a production driven economy where mass production for the cheapest dollars is usually the coveted goal, the use of pesticides or genetically modified seeds have become questionable, yet popular, applications in agriculture.  Food security and the quality of our food has become perplexingly dubious.  While community markets present health, economic, and environmental advantages, some community markets may also allow consumers to be graced with the opportunity to taste or ask questions about the produce prior to purchase.  By doing so, it deepens our relationship, connection, and trust in the food we eat, by allowing us to understand its origins.  Ecologists and environmentalists view farmers’ markets as a venue to impart valuable educational tools where consumers gain an understanding and appreciation of the food production process. 

Farmers’ Benefits

           

Not only do community markets benefit consumers, but farmers profit from improved returns gained by direct sales and avoiding the high capital cost of storefront operations (Sanderson et al., 2005).  These markets also provide small-scale farmers a venue to sell their products as wholesalers often prefer large volumes and product specifications that prove difficult to meet.  To participate in farmers’ markets is often quite easy as it requires minimal capital and offers a “ready-made” customer base.  It also creates a venue for newcomers to gain expertise and advice from long-standing farmers in the field.

Building Community

“A good market is not only an economic engine, it’s also a social gathering place which builds the community.” - Benjamin Fried, 2002, Project for Public Spaces

Community markets act as a venue to foster community cohesiveness through enhancing sociability, providing a space to welcome newcomers into a community, and fostering civic life – three factors which influence mental health.  Shoppers reap the combined benefits from high quality fresh products with a sociable and interactive atmosphere.  Markets attract shoppers and in some cases tourists, which may act as a revitalization strategy for downtown areas.  Community markets generate a social and festive atmosphere and enhance a safe and friendly environment.  Some government agencies have collaborated with farmers’ markets to offer subsidized food purchase programs to increase the accessibility to fresh produce for low-income individuals, thereby decreasing the persistence of environmental health inequities (Jones & Batia, 2011).  

           

Sustainability and Paving the Path for the Future

In North America, for the past thirty years we have experienced an explosion of farmers’ markets across the continent due to the growing enthusiasm for this traditional means of commerce (Sanderson et al., 2005).  Farmers’ markets have the potential to sustain and support local food systems and contribute to sustainability goals through educating consumers about the importance of relying on locally available resources.  Environmental preservation is associated with the use of community markets through decreasing the number of “food miles” required for the transportation of food, thereby decreasing our carbon footprint.  The current global marketplace has instigated increased awareness of food security and environmental degradation issues, hence fuelling the re-emergence of farmers’ markets.  Partnerships between a multitude of private and public organizations, support from government agencies and funding, as well as community support can help fuel the popularity of farmers markets and in turn, we as a society, can reap the countless benefits.  So what are you waiting for?  Go visit, or even take part, in your local community market! 

To find a Farmers Market in your area please visit: BC Association of Farmers Markets. On this website you can also find information about the Farmers' Market Nutrition& Coupon Program.

References:

1. Farmers’ Market Federation of New York.  (2006). The Value of Farmers’ Markets to New York Communities.  Retrieved on July 8, 2012
2. Jones, P. & Bhatia, R.  (2011).  Supporting equitable food systems through food assistance at farmers’ markets.  American Journal of Public Health, 101(5).
3. Link, A. & Ling, C. (n.d.).  Farmers’ markets andlocal food systems. Retrieved on July 8, 2012 
4. Morales, A.  (2009).  Public markets as a community development tool.  Journal of Education Planning and Research, 28(426). 
5. Sanderson, K., Gertler, M., Martz, D., & Mahabir, R.  (2005). Farmers’ markets in North America: A background document. Retrieved on June 15, 2012

THE EVENTS

Presentation ~ Community Tables: Engaging Neighbours Community; Tea & Celebration Party

Join this presentation to hear about the highlights and lessons learned during the Community Tables: Engaging Neighbours Initiative project. Find out more information here

Where: Victoria City Hall (1 Centennial Square) - When: SEP 19, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Webinars ~ New dates for round three of the Northern BC Citizen Series Webinars
These two hour sessions invite dialogue from northern communities on specific topics that are critical to improving the health outcomes of northern people, recognizing that community and civic involvement is a cornerstone to healthy people and populations.

Where: Online - When: 

SEP 27, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM (PST)

The Nature Of Health: Exploring the Links Between Health and the Physical Environment

NOV 22, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (PST)

Home is Where Your Health Is

JAN 31, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (PST)
His & Hers- Perspectives on Health

APR 11, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (PST)
Guess Who’s Coming to Town: Health Impacts of Work Camps in Close Proximity to Communities

For more information contact: bchc@bchealthycommunities.ca
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THE READINGS

Health Promotion in Canada - Critical Perspectives on Practice 
Third Edition

Health Promotion in Canada is a comprehensive profile of the history and future of health promotion in Canada. Now in its third edition, it maintains the critical, sociological, and historical perspective of the previous two editions and adds a greater focus on health promotion practice.

Thoroughly updated and reorganized, the book now contains 18 chapters by prominent academics, researchers, and practitioners. The authors cover a broad range of topics, including key theories and concepts in health promotion; ecological approaches; Aboriginal approaches; health inequalities; reflexive practice; ethics; issues, populations, and settings as entry points for intervention; and the Canadian health promotion experience in a global context. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking discussion questions and carefully chosen resources for further study, making this an ideal text for courses in health sciences, nursing, and related disciplines.

Source: Canadian Scholars' Press