Volunteer Fair
The Bridging to Literacy group is sponsoring a Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, April 12 from 3:00 to 7:00pm at the Cache Creek Community Hall. The event is free for everybody, and aims to match potential volunteers with community groups, as well as give groups an opportunity to network with each other.
Arnott reappointed to Rural Advisory Council
Cache Creek’s Debra Arnott, General Manager of Community Futures Sun Country, is one of 13 members of the province’s Rural Advisory Council reappointed to a second two-year term. The council’s mandate is to provide input to government policy decisions to best support thriving rural communities.
Arnott says that much of the council’s time over the last six months has been spent helping to shape the recently-announced Rural Dividend Program. Over the next six weeks the members will look at what’s on the agenda and start planning for next year. The council members are from “different walks of life, all over the province,” she says. It took two or three meetings before they all got to know each other when they were appointed two years ago, and “it’s very exciting to be back together.”
Free disposal days
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is holding a series of free disposal days throughout the month of April. Residents can bring one free load per household to their local Eco-Depot or Transfer Station, with a load being defined as a maximum of one 8-foot pick-up truck box or one 8-foot trailer. There will be free disposal days at the Logan Lake Eco-Depot (8:00am to 4:00pm) and the Savona Transfer Station (noon to 4:00pm) on Sunday, April 10, and at the Clinton Eco-Depot (8:00am to 4:00pm) and the Loon Lake Transfer Station (9:00am to 5:00pm) on Saturday, April 16. There is also a Household Hazardous Waste round-up at the Clinton Eco-Depot throughout the month of April, for safe and free disposal of any materials that are marked corrosive, poisonous, ignitable, or toxic.
New wildfire fines in effect
As of April 1, fines for many wildfire-related violations have more than tripled from last year, as the provincial government tries to stem human-caused fires. B.C. now has some of the highest wildfire-related violation ticket fines in the country. The fine for not complying with a fire restriction has gone from $345 to $1,150, while failing to properly extinguish a burning substance, such as a cigarette, will not cost an offender $575. It’s estimated that 30 to 40 per cent of all wildfires each year are human-caused.
Clinton joins BizPal program
The Village of Clinton is one of 11 new local governments to sign on to the BizPal licence program. It’s a partnership between federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and First Nations governments that helps streamline small business licensing by giving entrepreneurs a one-stop site to find information about required business licences and permits, giving them the information they need to start and operate a business. A total of 129 local governments in the province, including Ashcroft and Cache Creek, are part of the program.
New guide for parents and teens
The Government of B.C.’s new WorkBC Parents’ Guide, produced in collaboration with the Canada Career Information Partnership, assists parents and guardians in coaching their teens through the wide range of job opportunities available to them. The guide aims to help parents answer questions their teens will have, and covers a wide range of important topics, such as talking about careers with teens; understanding today’s labour market; and helping teens find careers they can be passionate about. Nearly one million job openings are expected in B.C. by 2024 due to retirements and economic development, and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education and/or skilled trades training. The WorkBC Parents’ Guide can be viewed at WorkBC.ca/ParentGuide.
Career guide for Aboriginal job seekers
The provincial government’s new Career Guide for Aboriginal People contains a wealth of information and resources for Aboriginal job seekers, especially youth. The guide contains a wealth of tips and advice, as well as sample resumés, cover letters and interview questions designed to help job seekers positively present their skills and qualifications. It also provides a list of awards, scholarships, and bursaries that are available for Aboriginal learners, and how to apply for them. Copies of the guide will be available from WorkBC centres throughout the province, as well as through First Nations band offices, Friendship Centres, and organizations.
New toolkit for hosting events
A new online hosting toolkit will provide communities and organizations with information about how to host events of all sizes. It’s aimed at helping sport, art, and cultural event organizers make their way through the various stages of event management. It includes a self-assessment checklist, volunteer management tools, ways to attract and maintain sponsors, and marketing resources. For more information visit the website at http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/events-hosting.
