The Canim Lake Band (Tsq’escenemc) could use your vote.
The local First Nations community is one of five finalists in a province-wide video storytelling campaign that could net $50,000 toward health and well-being programs.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Pacific Blue Cross started the “Share the Care” initiative, recognizing previous funding recipients for their contributions in promoting health and wellness in their respective communities.
The Canim Lake Band (CLB) is being recognized for its Wellness Program and White Feather Health Centre, which help ensure the social and holistic well-being of its community members by supporting the pursuit of culturally relevant, active, and healthy lifestyles.
Pacific Blue Cross, a provider of health, dental and travel benefits, has promised each of the five organizations a $5,000 donation for participating in the campaign. British Columbians are now invited to vote for their favourite video at www.pac.bluecross.ca/75thAnniversary.
The two videos with the most votes at the end of the campaign (on Dec. 6) will have their donations increased to $50,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Winners will be announced in early January.
Louise Alphonse is featured in the Canim Lake Band video, talking about the importance of culture and tradition while strolling in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
“Through the residential school trauma, we lost a lot of our culture and we lost a lot of our traditional teachings,” says Alphonse, who makes traditional arts-and-crafts like dance regalia and moccasins.
“What I feel when I see a little child in their regalia dancing for the first time – that is what I call a spiritual awakening.”
The White Feather Health Centre is responsible for the overall well-being and health of all CLB members, providing preventive care, home support and referral services for detox and treatment programs.
The Wellness Program also offers a variety of services, including family support services, cultural activities for children and youth, assessments and referrals for community members to access external resources, and a community justice program.
The CLB received funding from Pacific Blue Cross in the past for a traditional arts-and-crafts program, which was taught by Alphonse.
$50,000 is a huge figure that could be used in a variety of ways to help the community, says Barb Geurtsen, a counsellor with the Wellness Program.
“We could do so much with it. I don’t know what we would do yet, but there are so many things we could do.”
The other finalists in the campaign are the West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society; Charlford House Society for Women; Streetohome; and the Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC.
