A classroom scene with young students sitting at a table, working on arts and crafts projects. A boy wearing glasses and a green shirt is in the foreground, focused on his work.Photo by CDC

Mar. 18 Biweekly Update: Social Services Key Insights

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SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

News, updates, and stories about social care in BC

Unveiling the latest developments in social services

March 18, 2025

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Table of contents

  • Children
  • Opportunities brought to you by the Federation
  • Seniors
  • Youth
  • Disability
  • Families
  • Reconciliation
  • Good news

Children

Voyager Cares adds Autism Okanagan, Child & Youth Advocacy Centre as beneficiaries | Castanet

Voyager Cares, an initiative by Lake Country’s Voyager RV, has expanded its support by adding Autism Okanagan and the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre as beneficiaries. Through this program, a portion of each RV purchase is donated to local charities chosen by customers, with the remainder distributed among the other participating organizations. Recently, Voyager RV donated $41,546 to the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre and $20,040 to Autism Okanagan, supporting programs that foster connections and friendships for children. Additional donations included $19,420 to the Central Okanagan Food Bank, $18,020 to the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, and $16,760 to the KGH Foundation, bringing Voyager Cares’ total charitable contributions to $220,940. Voyager RV vice-president Jason Friesen emphasized that the initiative succeeds because of the combined efforts of employees and customers, making a tangible impact on the community.

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Opportunities brought to you by the Federation

The Federation is dedicated to supporting our members and strengthening the broader community social services sector. We offer a range of ways to stay informed, build connections, and grow your skills.

Stay informed about the latest in the sector by exploring our calendar of training sessions, webinars, and events designed to help you succeed.
Get connected and expand your professional network through opportunities created specifically for community social services professionals.
Looking for a new career? Explore current job postings and find your next opportunity in the community social services sector.

Visit our website today to discover all the ways we can support you!


The Federation of Community Social Services of BC, in partnership with the Community Social Services Health and Safety Association, invites you to join us for the Caring for Communities Health and Safety Conference.

From April 9 to 10, 2025
Courtyard Marriott Prince George
900 Brunswick Street
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

This two-day event will bring together professionals, advocates, and community leaders to explore key topics in workplace health and safety — mental health, decolonization and more — all through the lens of the community social services sector.

Day 1: Preconference
Your choice of full-day training workshop:
Mental Health First Aid
Introduction to Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee

Day 2: Conference
Plenary sessions include:
Keynote: Warren Hooley
Trauma-Informed Workplaces
and more to be announced

Your choice of breakout session:
Resilience
Boundaries and Respectful Assertiveness
Culture of Care & Selfcare/Resilience

Register here: Caring For Communities Health and Safety Conference

For youth from care, financial barriers can make post-secondary education challenging. That’s why The Federation Youth Education Bursary exists—to support students pursuing careers in human and social services. Since 2009, we’ve awarded $296,925 to 217 students, covering tuition, books, and supplies.

💰 What You Need to Know:
✅ Up to $2,000 per academic year (two semesters)
✅ Can be combined with other bursaries or tuition waivers
✅ Funds go directly to the academic institution
✅ Must be used within 18 months (for 2025 recipients, by January 2027)
✅ You can apply more than once and receive the bursary multiple years in a row

📝 Applications close May 5, 2025. Applicants will be notified in the summer. Apply here: 2025 Youth Education Bursary

Support 2 Practice Management (S2PM) – In-Person Training for Social Services Leaders

Join the next evolution of management training with Support to Practice Management (S2PM) — a hands-on workshop designed for new and mid-level managers in the social services sector. Building on the success of Support to Practice Supervision (S2PS), this in-person training will equip participants with the skills and strategies needed to navigate organizational complexities, enhance leadership capacity, and strengthen workforce effectiveness. Led by Chris Burt (Hollyburn Family Services Ltd.) and Gord Cote (NARSF Programs Ltd.), the workshop will explore key topics such as management theory, administrative supervision, organizational culture, coaching, and conflict resolution.

📅 April 1 to 3, 2025
📍 Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo, BC
🔹 Organized by: The Federation of Community Social Services of BC

Don’t miss this opportunity to build your management expertise! Register today!

How to prepare your community organization for wildfire season 2025 in BC

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense — how can your organization be ready? Join us for a vital webinar designed to help BC’s social services organizations prepare for the 2025 wildfire season.

Hear from leading experts as they share insights on fire behaviour, health impacts, and the psychological effects of climate disasters. Learn firsthand from a social service leader who navigated wildfire response in 2024. A live Q&A session will follow pre-recorded interviews with our expert panel.

📅 Date: April 24, 2025
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
📍 Online Webinar

Featured Speakers:
Katie Hodder – Firsthand experience navigating a wildfire crisis
Bob Gray – Fire behaviour and mitigation strategies
Alexis Palmer-Fluevog – Psychological impacts of climate disasters
Linda Thyer – Health risks and medical considerations

Moderated by Arden Henley, Executive Director of Green Technology Education Centre.

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your emergency preparedness. Register today!

Seniors

Cottonwoods long-term care moves closer to construction | BC Gov News

Interior Health has taken a major step forward in the redevelopment of Cottonwoods Care Centre in Kelowna, signing contracts with Stantec Architecture Ltd. as the prime consultant and Bird Construction Group as the construction manager. The $186.87 million project will replace and expand the existing facility, creating a modern, four-storey long-term care home with 234 beds, increasing overall capacity to 314 beds. Designed with a person-centred model of care, the new facility will feature home-like “households,” private rooms with washrooms, and culturally sensitive spaces. Additional community amenities will include an adult day program, a sacred space, and a childcare centre for 37 children. Construction is set to begin in fall 2025, with completion expected in 2029.

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Youth

B.C. teen inspired by late mom to write empowering song | CTV News

After losing her mother, 18-year-old Olivia Hahn from Saanich, B.C., turned to writing and music to process her grief and help others. Struggling to find a teen’s perspective on loss, she wrote and published books supporting palliative care and volunteered with youth grief programs. Her experiences in the fashion industry later inspired her to write “Lust Over Love,” a song aimed at empowering those who have felt diminished in relationships. Despite never having written a song before, Olivia worked with a producer to create both the track and a music video. She hopes her music will inspire others to find strength, just as her mother inspired her.

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Disability

Vancouver protesters ask for more funding, research into long COVID | CBC News

A group of protesters gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Long COVID Awareness Day to demand more funding, research, and treatment for long COVID, a chronic condition causing persistent symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. Richmond-based family doctor Susan Kuo highlighted the lack of diagnostic tests and treatments, emphasizing the urgent need for resources. Protest organizer Nicole Rogers, a former teacher now largely housebound due to long COVID, criticized the closure of specialized clinics and the limited care available in B.C. The demonstration featured 200 pillowcases displaying testimonies from long COVID sufferers, and organizers plan to send a letter to MPs and MLAs advocating for increased research funding, disability support, and public awareness.

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Families

Cult allegations raised in B.C. custody case | CTV News

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal dismissed a complaint from grandparents who alleged religious discrimination after the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) delayed granting them custody of their grandchild due to concerns about their past affiliation with Family International, a group accused of condoning child abuse. The child had been taken into state care at six weeks old, and MCFD’s decision was influenced by past reports about the grandparents’ involvement with the group and concerns about the child’s safety. Although the grandparents eventually adopted the child in 2021, the tribunal ruled that MCFD’s actions were justified, prioritizing the child’s well-being over any alleged discrimination.

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Reconciliation

Calls for government support intensify as 3rd Vancouver Island Indigenous group declares state of emergency | CBC News

The Homalco First Nation has declared a state of emergency following the deaths of four young community members due to the toxic drug crisis, making it the third Indigenous group on Vancouver Island to take such action. Citing the lasting impacts of residential schools and generational trauma, the nation is calling for urgent government intervention and resources to address the crisis. Other First Nations, including the Gwa’Sala-Nakwaxda’xw Nations and the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, have also declared emergencies in response to rising overdose deaths. B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee stressed that Indigenous communities, particularly women, are disproportionately affected and that more culturally appropriate support is needed. Homalco Chief Darren Blaney emphasized the need for government collaboration and hopes for funding to establish a trauma centre to prevent further loss.

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Good News

If you have any feel-good, weird, fascinating, or amusing stories you’d like to see included in this section, send them to giovani@fcssbc.ca!