I've been lucky this month for being able to travel all over both the province and the constituency of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, seeing all that our communities have to offer! It was my privilege to attend so many inspiring graduation ceremonies and to speak to high school and university grads!
In visiting post-secondary institutions, I've been able to unveil exciting new programs and celebrate women in the trades! As always, please continue to reach out to my team at the community office with your ideas and concerns. Thank you for taking the time to read about some of the work we've done in the last month, including what I got up to for celebrations on National Indigenous Day! Check out the upcoming Canada Day and other community celebrations at the bottom of the newsletter.
What an inspiring ceremony celebrating the enormous success of the 106 grads at Britannia Secondary! My husband Cassidy Kannemeyer and I were honoured to gift a student our community leadership award. Keep shining!
I had a great time at Celebrate Mount Pleasant at Mount Pleasant Elementary at the start of the month! From the raffle, to the cake walk, petting zoo, face painting and bouncy castle, lots of fun was to be had as the sun was shining and the community was out supporting the school. Thank you to the parents and volunteers for putting together this annual event!
The Downtown Eastside community means so much to me. I saw parents of all ages out with their children, together as proud Indigenous families sharing love, culture and art-making with the community. T'ooyaksim' N'iisim to the organizers, drummers, volunteers and service providers for hosting the National Indigenous Day celebrations at Oppenheimer Park on the sunny Sunday of June 16th!
One of my favourite traditions is the celebrations at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre and Trout Lake on National Indigenous Day! Growing up in the projects of east Vancouver taught me a lot about the importance of friendship and family. What it means to paddle together. Loved spending the day with my daughters, mom, Gigi’s, cousins, and extended family.
Thank you Red Fox Society and Environmental Youth Alliance for inviting me to witness the tremendous leadership of the Seed Generation project! Keep shining!
MMIWG Final Report
As British Columbians and Canadians receive this final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, I recognize the enormous courage of and the years of advocacy by the survivors and families who have brought us to this moment. #MMIWG #MMIWG2S
I am so proud that our provincial government is investing in former youth in care, giving them hope and optimism for the future. Thank you to all the advocates that worked on the creation of the Youth Futures Education Fund! The $250 000 fund will support former youth in care in post-secondary on a tuition wavier by helping them buy books, groceries and pay bills.
It was my honour to celebrate the North Lights College class of 2019! Congratulations to the students passionate about the trades, health care, social work, aircraft maintenance, etc. Ha’awa faculty, staff & President for your leadership.
After years of advocacy, we can now celebrate the first ever nursing program in the Northeast! The strong partnerships our government is building means more nurses in BC’s northeast and better access to care for patients.
I was incredibly proud to announce our government's commitment to move the dial by investing $2.7 million to open doors for the next generation of Indigenous teachers at NVIT leading the classroom and empowering the next generation.
This investment directly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #62 that calls upon governments to fund post-secondary institutions to educate teachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms.
It warms my heart to meet women all over the province who are choosing the trades as a career! I had a great time at Okanagan College celebrating 10th anniversary Women in Trades Training programs and 1000 women in trades trained thus far in 2019!
Renters facing eviction get support through rent bank funding to Vancity
Renters facing short-term financial difficulties will soon get more help and avoid evictions with new funding for community rent banks.
Rent banks provide emergency low-cost or no-cost loans to help renters facing eviction. As part of Budget 2019, the Province granted $10 million to the Vancity Community Foundation (VCF), a non-profit foundation associated with Vancity credit union, to develop a sustainable, provincewide rent bank system.
B.C. launches ‘A Pathway to Hope’ for better mental health and addictions care
People experiencing mental health and addictions challenges will soon have better access to the services they need, thanks to a new vision for care outlined in A Pathway to Hope: A roadmap for making mental health and addictions care better for people in British Columbia.
Initial priority actions in the three-year plan include:
Increasing access to affordable counselling and support
Launching integrated child and youth teams connected to schools
Expanding First Nations-run treatment centres
Expanding intensive services for children and youth
Supporting early childhood social-emotional development
Apply for a Grant to Support Vulnerable Communities
People facing homelessness will receive help through grants that support strong, sustainable planning for local groups and organizations working on the front lines in British Columbia communities.
The Province is granting $6 million to the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) for a Homelessness Community Action Grant to help groups address homelessness in their towns and cities. The grants will also support organizations with a provincewide focus to explore better ways of meeting the needs of particular groups of people that have a higher risk of experiencing homelessness.
For some of these events we are excited to be hosting tables and booths. We are always in need of volunteers. It's a great opportunity to connect with your MLA, neighbours and make new friends. Community outreach also helps to educate and empower our constituents about the accessible supports our Vancouver Mount-Pleasant office can provide. If you're interested in getting involved with our community office, please fill out our volunteer form here!
Community Programs and Events in VMP
Canada Day celebrations on July 1
• Canada Place - the festivities start at 9:30 am, with fireworks at 10:30pm! (more info)
• Granville Island - parade at 1:30 pm (more info)
• Grandview Park and Britannia Community Centre - live music, bbq, photo booths and free swag from 12:30pm-3pm (more info)
• CRAB Park Kanata Day - diverse line up performance artists and DTES organizations, from 3-8pm (more info)
• Kingsgate Mall - kid's arts and craft from 1-3pm (more info)
Immunize BC
If you were born between 1970 and 1995, you may need a measles booster. Find out where you can get yours at: https://immunizebc.ca/finder
Camp Potlatch
For children between the ages 7-14, Potlatch’s week-long Main Camp gives campers the opportunity to explore a variety of traditional camp activities while living in a positive and supportive cabin community. All activities are fun, age appropriate, and closely supervised by enthusiastic and highly trained staff. In addition to a wide variety of camp activities, each camper in the Main Camp program participates in a 24 hour off-site excursion. Registration is open from March 4 - August 24. For more information visit: https://www.bgcbc.ca/camp-potlatch/
City of Vancouver Recreation Summer Camps and Activities
The City of Vancouver offers a variety of summer day camps and activities for all age groups! Whether you are looking for opportunities for leadership, making new friends, learning how to paint or unleash your hidden talents in digital film making or African drum making, there are hundreds of pathways waiting for you! Registration dates vary, so enroll early! Click here: https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/Activity_Search
Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market
Every Sunday until October 27
Upcoming: Sunday June 2 (more info)
Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market has returned this year, since May 26th! Each week, there are over 30 farms, producers, and food and coffee trucks. Come out and try some local fare!
Hot+Noisy Chinatown Mahjong Social | Summer 2019
First & third Saturday of the month! July 6, July 20, August 3, August 17 and September 7!
Chinatown Memorial Plaza, Keefer & Columbia
Fourth annual "hot+noisy" Chinatown Mahjong Social season, outdoor summer evenings in the Memorial Plaza. Featuring mahjong, ping pong, Chinese chess and checkers, music and karaoke. Find out more here!
Bard on the Beach
June 5 - September 21
With four productions coming on two stages, come and enjoy the works of Shakespeare! You can find their itinerary and buy tickets here!
Hon. Melanie Mark, MLA Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
1070-1641 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y4
604-660-0707
melanie.mark.mla@leg.bc.ca
