Report from Victoria

October is Community Living Month in BC. It is important all year long to recognize and thank the organizations that make the lives of our developmentally disabled adults better, but special events during October raise that awareness for all of us. The workers and volunteers who spend their days with the developmentally disabled demonstrate a compassion and caring that is as unique as the adults they help every day. And those with varying degrees of ability contribute in many ways to the fabric of our society. They are skilled in wood working, painting, bike repair and salesmanship, just to mention a few. They are valuable contributing members of our communities.

One year ago, our government launched the Single Parent Employment Initiative (SPEI) to help single parents further their education to those who wish to obtain a job to support their family. Barriers such as the need for child care, transportation, tuition and continuing financial support were all addressed in the SPEI. One of the most important things that government can do for people is give them the opportunities they need to live fulfilling lives, and that starts with a permanent, stable, secure job that allows parents to provide for their families. Since its inception, over 3,600 single parents have taken on the challenge to get back in the workforce and off of social assistance.

This month the Okanagan-Similkameen School District signed their third Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. It was an honour to attend this signing with the Chiefs, School District 53, Ministry of Education, support workers and volunteers who all work together to enhance the educational achievement of Aboriginal students. Through programming that supports Aboriginal history, culture and language, this agreement will build on the knowledge gained from the districts first two enhancement agreements. The school district is to be commended for the work they have done and continue to do to improve outcomes for First Nations students. There are 56 school districts throughout B.C. who participate in these Agreements.

October is also Small Business Month. The goal of the Government of B.C. is to create the best environment for Small Business in Canada. The Boundary-Similkameen has 18 distinct communities and all are dependent on small businesses to create jobs and supply services. The introduction of an Open for Business Award has encouraged local governments to implement policies to enhance small business and cut red tape. The Small Business Roundtable, which I chaired from 2005-2011, focuses on Red Tape Reduction and introduced the Mobile Business Licence and Biz Pal. The Roundtable continues to give input to government on the health of small business in B.C., and make recommendations to improve the small business environment. These businesses are generally owner-operated and depend on the support of their communities. Please shop locally whenever possible and support these hard working business owners.

B.C. agriculture continues to grow its market share worldwide. B.C. is home to over 200 agriculture commodities, 100 harvest-seafood species and over 2,500 businesses that produce food and beverage, ranging from breakfast cereal, to wine, to nutraceuticals. The Taste of British Columbia celebrates B.C.’s agriculture and seafood sector and the importance of this $13 billion industry to our provincial economy.

As our wine festivals and harvesting wind down for another year, perhaps you’ll find time to read a good book. October is Library Month in B.C. With the computer and paperless age we live in you might think that books were no longer important, but statistics tell us that we still read books- real books with pages that you turn by hand. We also continue to use our libraries more than ever, perhaps not just for books anymore, but for the wealth of information in all forms of media that our libraries supply. Who hasn’t seen the wonder on a child’s face when they hold their first book or participate for the first time in Storytime at our local library? Thanks to all the librarians and volunteers who keep our libraries alive and relevant to an ever changing society. Visit your local library- you will be pleasantly surprised at how relevant they still are in today’s world of media offerings.

Linda Larson