DABC has received the following from SPARC BC:

We hope that you will join us and participate in a Community Meeting for B.C’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy that will take place in Surrey, BC.

Date and Time:  Thursday February, 1 2018 from  5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Princess Margaret Secondary School – cafeteria, 12870 72 Avenue

You are invited to come and talk about how to reduce poverty in your community and the province. We want to know:

• What are the issues facing you and people in poverty right now?
• What would work to help you and people out of poverty?

Your ideas will help inform B.C.’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) has been engaged to plan and deliver these community meetings on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

Please pre-register for the event using this link:
https://povertyreductioncommunitymeeting-surrey.eventbrite.ca
A hot meal will be provided.

Supports are available for you to participate in the community meeting, including transportation, child care, and health supports.If you require any supports to participate, please send your email to Surrey_Poverty_Meeting@sparc.bc.ca or call Jayd at 604-718-7745.

Please help us spread the word in your community.

Learn more about the BC Poverty Reduction Strategy and find other ways to share your ideas by visiting: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/

If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share around the event please do not hesitate to reach out.

We were pleased to attend this event today announcing the launch of the Universal Fare Gate Access Program. This new system allows people with disabilities and seniors to pass through fare gates without having to tap their Compass Card.

This program is the first of its kind in the world and we congratulate TransLink and the disability and seniors communities for their hard work and commitment to ensuring that all individuals can use our transit system with independence and dignity.

To learn more, click here: http://www.vancourier.com/news/made-in-b-c-solution-improves-access-to-translink-fare-gate-system-1.23152577

The government of British Columbia has issued the following information bulletin:

B.C. Poverty Reduction Strategy community meeting coming to Richmond

“A community meeting for B.C.’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy will take place in Richmond on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018.

Residents are invited to come and talk about how to reduce poverty in the province. Ideas shared at this in-person community meeting will help inform the Poverty Reduction Strategy that is scheduled to be released in fall 2018. Everyone is welcome.

Richmond community meeting:

Date: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018
Location: Richmond Secondary school gymnasium
7171 Minoru Blvd.
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The community meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Notes: Refreshments will be served. The location is accessible. Supports are available to help you participate, including transportation, child care, disability and health supports, as well as secure storage for belongings.

If you need supports to participate, please contact Lara Therrien Boulos by phone at 604 718-8504 or email: ltboulos@sparc.bc.ca

Public meetings are being held in communities throughout the province. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can also give feedback in these ways:

Send input online: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/

Send an email: BCPovertyReduction@gov.bc.ca

Call and leave a voice mail message: 1 778 698-7746 (Victoria number)

Or, call Enquiry BC and ask for BC Poverty Reduction: 1 800 663-7867 (Calls can be made Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time).

Information on the poverty reduction strategy engagement can be found online: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/”

Download the information bulletin here.