Loredana brought us a Zoom presentation from Tanya McCready, of Winterdance Dog Sled Tours  Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton, Canada – What are you doing this winter?  She & her husband Hank DeBruin left their careers in 1999 to turn their love of Siberian Huskies into a home-based business.  Their first few years were a struggle – to find a banker willing to lend to them, to build a kennel & a house, & to raise four children.  Now, on their 80 acres near Haliburton, ON, close to Algonquin Park, they have custom-built radiant floor heated kennel facilities for 150 dogs.  They offer a variety of guided tour packages.  Tanya is the business manager / promoter, while Hank is the lead guide, helped by their older children & other seasonal guides.  Hank has competed in two Iditarods & four Yukon Quests, typically using a team of 16 dogs over these long, gruelling, world-famous races.  A huge amount of money, preparation, logistics & training is needed to participate in either of these races, where the weather, race conditions & luck present a variety of challenges.  After Hank’s first unsuccessful race attempt, which included frostbite & a disqualification, he wrote “Iditarod Dreamer.”  His primary lesson & message from this experience is “one has to look after oneself before looking after one’s team.”  Hank & Tanya are a driven couple, who are clearly “living their dream.”

Bob Clarke introduced Cheryl Hood, Centre Manager at Allan Brooks Nature Centre.  Coming from a varied background, Cheryl began her work with ABNC in February 2020, perfectly coinciding with the beginning of Covid-19 restrictions.  Overall, ABNC has survived reasonably well, benefitting from Board members’ expertise in maintaining government funding, & from continued support from area schools.  ABNC offers a variety of School & Community Programs aimed at introducing people, especially children, to nature – these include field trips, “Nature in the Classroom,” Stream Science, Kokanee Salmon Outings, etc.  Many were restricted to follow Covid-19 guidelines, but most offerings were fully booked, so interest in programs remains high.  Recent unprecedented heat has not helped attract guests, but indoor activities are now more comfortable, thanks to Kalamalka Rotary’s installation of air conditioning.  Upcoming programs include the “Bug Guy,” who introduces snakes, a salamander & smaller bugs, plus the popular raptor shows.  Online teaching programs are being developed.  Ken Barton’s extensive records are being reviewed by current ABNC Board Chair Jim Popowich.  Cheryl told us one of their priorities is enhancement of the grassland amphitheatre.  Dave Weatherill suggested use of shade cloth & high-pressure misting equipment.

Our member Teresa Bartel, a Chartered Professional Accountant & owner/operator of Precision Accounting, described some of the financial impacts of Covid-19 on businesses & individuals, plus various federal relief programs.  These include the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) & Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP).  More info is available at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html

Regan Borisenko is the City of Vernon’s Community Safety Coordinator.  He was hosted by Michael & Dominik.  Formerly a Canada Customs officer & manager of an RV dealership, Regan now has a list of duties as long as his arm, but they all focus on various aspects of community safety.  While Rachel Zubick runs our Community Safety Office, Regan is more involved with developing & supervising a wide variety of programs, including Speed Watch, Distracted Driving, Theft from Vehicles, Personal Safety, Surveillance, Foot Patrols, Marine Vessel Safety, Invasive Species (Mussel) Checks, Emergency Callout/Response Teams, Domestic Violence Monitoring & Special Events, etc.  Among his biggest jobs are running +/-100 Block Watches, keeping neighbourhoods safe & offering emergency preparedness & scam prevention training.  He manages & helps train 55 local RCMP Volunteers, each of whom commit to an annual minimum of 80 hours including training.  A Safe Apartment Living program helps keep illegal activity out of rental properties, & he offers Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which deals with lighting & target hardening to reduce opportunities for crime.  Regan answered questions about mussels endangering our lakes, catalytic converter thefts & other issues.   

President Teresa introduced Assistant District Governor Dr. Carmen Larsen who spoke about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). This has been a legal option for Canadians since 2016 and is publically funded in Canada. MAiD provides for the ability to plan your own death when faced with a grave diagnosis or prognosis. Dr. Larsen talk was about MAiD in the North Okanagan and was not about ethics or morality of this extremely personal choice.  MAiD has been available in the North Okanagan since 2016 and eligibility and options were broadened in March 2021. In 2016 there were 3 requests for this service and since then there have been a total of 1700 requests of which approximately 52% ask for and received the service; 45% used palliative care with 3% other.

To use the service the person must have a medical diagnosis and prognosis, be over 18 years of age and must be capable of informed consent. It is your choice and care is taken to ensure that you are not under any pressure to end your life, which would rule you ineligible. Other ways are looked at to relieve your suffering and it must be a serious and incurable disease/disability or in irreversible decline such as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Other consideration is that natural death will occur or the outcome of death is reasonably foreseeable.  You retain eligibility for waiver of final consent.

Safeguards include proof of identity, assessment and involvement of 2 physicians or nurse practitioners. Assessors are not a beneficiary of the person’s estate, independent witness (also not benefactors of estate), timing of request must be supported by diagnosis and cannot be part of an Advanced Care Plan. Service is provided by physician or nurse practitioner.  Interior Health has a MAiD Care Coordinator Center to assist with service.

MAiD can occur at home, in hospice or in hospital. In the North Okanagan approximately 48% are at home; 27% in acute care; 15% in hospice with 8% in long term care.

Valerie Cherwoniak is Manager of the Mackie Lake House, a well-known historic 1910-built home on five acres of Kalamalka Lake waterfront.  Originally part of Lord Aberdeen’s Coldstream Ranch, the property was occupied over the years by the Buchanan, Layton & Mackie families.  Late in his life, Paddy Mackie had the property “Heritage Designated,” & following his 1999 death, it passed to a foundation for community use.  The Foundation’s mandate is “to preserve & present the buildings, grounds, furnishings, & related history of Mackie Lake House for the enjoyment & education of the public.”  They have education programs for school children, using the Joan Heriot Environmental Centre, often including walks to the nearby bird sanctuary; present annual Kal & Seaton high school grad scholarships; & periodically host an artist in residence, with a showing.  Funds are raised through tours, & rentals for weddings, memorials, seminars, “Music at Mackie,” afternoon teas, & other events.  They have volunteer archivists, & are looking forward to publishing a book about Paddy & the House, by Ken Mather.  Goals include “Artisan Afternoons,” a renovation of the old cottage, & most importantly, addition of an accessible washroom in the grounds.  Unfortunately, Valerie came to the House at the same time Covid-19 restrictions came, so she’s looking forward to ramping up her plans when crowds can return.  She’s coordinating with other local attractions, intending for them to cross-promote & support each other.  

President Teresa hosted our Club Business Meeting – beginning with a report that Area Presidents are looking for someone to organize Athletic Awards for local high school students.  Earth Day, Thu, Apr 22^nd will be noted by several of our members joining Silver Star Mountain Resort staff doing a one-hour local creek cleanup – meet in the parking area in the lane between Kal Tire Place & Red Top, at 7:30am.  Penny will be hosting a fund-raising meeting tomorrow.  Dave Hoyte believes our May 15^th Garage Sale will be postponed, due to Covid restrictions.  Similarly, Dr Craig Goplen is unsure whether the September Father Daughter Ball will run this year.  As in-person presentations of our scholarships to Grade 12 grads are unlikely, Jim Kanester is asking for a member to write an encouraging note to each of our six recipients.  Dominik Dlouhy noted the Morning Star newspaper printed a nice article & picture of our RCMP volunteer of the year.  PDG Dr Peter Schulz joined us, to present a short video promoting the Zone 28 & 32 Rotary Foundation Virtual Gala & Fundraiser, 5 to 6pm PST, Wed, May 12^th.  A variety of speakers & entertainers are lined up.  Tickets are US$110.  Peter noted TRF donations are up 6% this Rotary year, but requests for help have doubled.  For more info  Welcome | Zones 28 & 32 (clubrunner.ca) Our meeting finished with short updates from all attendees, about how they’re enjoying Spring.

 

Our orchid-loving Don Miller shared a National Geographic video https://youtu.be/B9IIrpOLJ14 describing south Florida’s “Ghost Orchid.”  There are thought to be 25-30,000 species of orchids, with the greatest diversity found in the south Florida swamps, which are among the wildest & most inaccessible parts of the country.  Ghost orchids have long slender white stems, but no leaves.  They have massive root systems wound around trees, & can survive up to 50 years.  However, the chances of pollination are slim, as they were thought to be dependent on a small population of Giant Sphinx moths.  In 2018, conservation photographers Carlton Ward & Mac Stone partnered with tropical ecologist Peter Houlihan, spending weeks with their sophisticated camera equipment in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, northeast of Naples, FL.  They captured incredible photos of ghost orchids, Giant Sphinx moths, & also Fig Sphinx moths.  Their findings now call into question who are the real pollinators of the orchids, raising the possibility that Giant Sphinx moths steal nectar from ghost orchids, whilst Fig Sphinx moths are the real pollinators.  The perseverance of these guys is incredible, as are their photos!

Martin von Holst hosted our 2011-12 incoming youth exchange student, Lukas Viebahn, from Munich, Germany, along with his partner Beth & their beautiful new dog.  In one month, he’ll complete his MSc degree, & begin a PhD program focusing on the chemistry of beer-making.  He’s also working on a new method of malting in the production of whiskey, which he hopes to patent.  His university is close to the world’s oldest brewery, founded in 1040!  Lukas told us beer is made from water, hops, malt & yeast.  He took us through the steps in making beer, explaining how variations in the primary components, & different production methods, yield a huge variety of beers.  Lukas hopes to work as a rep for a beer-making equipment manufacturer, or eventually as an independent consultant to the industry.  Along with a few others, he recently helped found a satellite Rotary e-club.  

Colleen McEwan, a Kelowna Rotarian hosted by Rob Irving, is Director of Interior Health’s North Okanagan Mental Health & Substance Abuse programs.  She described our ongoing Opioid Overdose Crisis, which took over 1,700 BC residents in 2020 – more than suicides, road accidents, homicides & prescription drug overdoses combined.  In fact, opioid deaths have mostly outnumbered Covid-19 fatalities.  Since BC declared opioid overdoses a crisis in 2016, well over $300m has been committed to save lives, end stigma & improve access to services.  These measures succeeded in reducing overdose deaths by 2019, but Covid-19 impacts have led to a resurgence in deaths.  Over 80% of victims are male; over half occur in private residences, & less than 15% outdoors.  Almost 100 of these deaths took place in Vernon in the past five years.  Lifesaving measures include naloxone, overdose prevention sites (32 in BC), & a “Lifeguard App” for solitary users.  Treatments include opioid agonist therapy, new treatment beds, outreach teams, attempts to improve the safety of the drug supply, & (tacit) decriminalization of small amounts of drugs for personal use.  Vernon’s Overdose Prevention Site was one of the last in BC to open, partially due to significant local resistance.  Colleen says we should assume more & more toxic levels of fentanyl are in all street drugs, & that marijuana is no longer considered a “gateway” drug to harder substances, any more than alcohol.  Many people get addicted to pain killers after surgery or rehab, then turn to illicit drugs when their physician stops writing prescriptions.  Additionally, some physicians & dentists tend to over-prescribe pain medication, leading to addiction.  Clearly, this is a multi-faceted problem, calling for a variety of evidence-based solutions.

Leigh hosted Carly Suddard, Marketing & Prevention Manager for BrainTrust Canada, which our club periodically supports.  Through Covid-19 restrictions, BrainTrust’s in-person group sessions have been suspended.  They've accessed federal funding for non-profits, & used this past year to update their strategic & marketing plans, including upgrades to their website.  Many of their clients have difficulty understanding Covid restrictions & are vulnerable to conspiracy theories, etc.  Among leading injuries & diseases recorded annually in America, traumatic brain injuries significantly outnumber breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injuries & multiple sclerosis combined.  Brain injuries are caused by tumors or other medical conditions, but primarily through concussions from car accidents, falls, sports or workplace injuries.  Impacts include physical & mental health, cognition, mobility, employment, finances & relationships.  Many concussion injuries heal in several weeks, but a common hindrance to healing is an early return to work & other activities, not allowing sufficient time for a full or better recovery.  BrainTrust offers a variety of prevention & recovery resources for both youth & adult clients, including their “Skullwise” & Helmet Safety for kids, Prevent Alcohol & Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program for teenagers; life skills, group support & clinical counselling for adults (on hold, due to Covid), plus their new Kelowna “NeuroRecovery Centre.”

Loredana Eisenhauer shared Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | TED Talk or “Start With Why.”  Simon drew three concentric circles, the smallest labelled “Why,” the next “How,” & the largest or outside one labelled “What.”  He says most people or companies describe their ideas or products by defining What they’re selling, whilst our most successful leaders (his examples are Apple, Dr Martin Luther King & the Wright brothers) start with the Why.  By defining Why we believe what we believe, people are much more attracted to What we’re promoting.  People don’t buy What you do, they buy Why you do it.  Simon says by addressing the limbic or emotional brain, we access decision-making at a fundamental level, where people who believe what we believe are seriously attracted.  He goes on to describe the “Law of Diffusion of Innovation,” with a graph showing typical sections of (idea or product) adopters, broken down into 2½% innovators, 13½% early adopters, 34% early majority, 34% late majority & 16% laggards, where a critical 15 to 18% adoption rate, or tipping point, must be reached in order for a product or idea to survive & have any chance of mass adoption.  (He described “laggards” as those who only bought a touch-tone phone when rotary dial phones were no longer made.)  Innovators & early adopters are those motivated by what they believe, not simply by what is available.  Those are the highly motivated folks who the rest of us look to when deciding if an idea of product is worth following.  They're the ones we want working for or with us.

Dr Craig Goplen hosted his daughter Laura, a respiratory therapist, to tell us about her career & how RTs are involved in Covid-19 treatments.  Following an undergraduate degree,  TRU in Kamloops offers a three-year program to train RTs.  This includes a year of hospital & community practical work, with a rotation through Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.  RTs work in various clinics; in care homes; in private homes assisting those with home oxygen; assisting with air & ground transport of patients; in hospital ER departments, neonatal, ICU, operating rooms & general wards – assisting with all cardiac arrests, & “wherever they’re needed quickly;” in diagnostics with bronchoscopy, etc.; & in rehabilitation, helping those with chronic lung disease.  RTs manage oxygen therapy, intubation, ventilation, extubation & tracheostomy tubes.  They’re often involved in the beginning & end of life issues.  Vernon’s hospital has ten ventilators, plus three transport ventilators.  Two RTs are always on shift.  The demands on RTs have skyrocketed through Covid treatment, which adds significantly not only to patient volume & complexity, but also to the requirement that medical practitioners change their PPE for each patient.  A change of PPE takes about five minutes, with a “buddy” to assist.  Covid patients also need negative pressure isolation rooms for safe treatment.  Because RTs are always working in patients’ faces, they’re exposed to a high risk of disease transmission.  Laura asks everyone to please follow mask guidelines, & use credible sources for information about vaccines.

Through our Zoom meeting, Teresa Bartel shared Nora McInerny’s 15-minute 2018 TEDWomen talk, at   Nora McInerny: We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with it | TED Talk .  Nora is an author, speaker & podcaster, who makes her living talking to people about life’s hardest moments.  This talk is about grief – she says “We don’t ‘move on’ from grief.  We move forward with it.”  In 2014, Nora had a miscarriage, lost her father within a week & her husband within a few months.  She describes peoples’ discomfort dealing with her, & the range of emotional responses she had.  Nora’s wonderful sense of humour & humanity shines throughout this presentation.  Her 2019 book releases were “The Hot Young Widows Club: Lessons on Survival from the Front Lines of Grief,” & “No Happy Endings: A Memoir.”  (Colin’s note: spending 15 minutes to watch or re-watch this presentation is well worth your time.  Brilliant stuff.)

Michael Wardlow, a long-time season passholder at Silver Star Mountain Resort, hosted their Ginny Scott (Local Sales Manager) & Chantelle Deacon (Media Relations & Sponsorship Manager), for an update.  Silver Star began operation in 1958, progressing through several different sets of owners, & growing to become the 3^rd largest ski resort in BC, unique in having a “mid-mountain” village, with all ski in/out accommodation.  It was purchased in late 2019 by POWDR, a Park City, Utah based “Adventure Lifestyle Company®” owned by the Cumming brothers.  POWDR operates 10 ski resorts in the U.S., & has several other associated businesses.  Ginny previously worked at Whistler Blackcomb, which went through a sale in 2016.  She claims Silver Star’s sale has been a much happier experience for staff & locals, saying POWDR is focused on contributing to the communities they serve.  More investment in the ski experience is planned, though the impact of Covid-19 will likely slow new developments.  Chantelle says the mountain is planning a Dec 4^th opening for passholders only, with a parking reservation system in place to help control the number of people on the mountain, as they respect social distancing guidelines.  Staff accommodation on the hill must be lower-density, so supplemental rooms are being provided at Vernon partner hotels.  It looks like snow will be abundant, but everyone will need to adjust to new procedures designed to keep everyone safe during a Covid-19 winter.

Bev Rundell introduced our City of Vernon Director of Recreation, Doug Ross, a 37-year City employee, looking forward to his retirement, perhaps next year.  Doug was following up on a previous presentation, with Covid & project planning updates.  Recreation facilities closed in March of this year, due to Covid-19.  Over 100 employees were laid off.  Previously, only the Acquatic Centre closed annually for two or three weeks for maintenance & cleaning.  This long unplanned closure has been used for deep cleaning, painting & more complicated repairs of all facilities.  All facilities have now partially re-opened, with far fewer users.  Each user group, ie. swimmers, ringette, hockey, etc., must follow a myriad of rules set by various levels of government, health authorities, sports organizations, etc.  The City, as a facility operator, must be familiar with everyone’s rules – a full-time job for one or more employees!  Hopes for a "new normal" are anticipated for Fall 2021.  Doug also talked about planning underway for our “Active Living Centre,” which will include a 50m pool, leisure pool, double gymnasium, fitness centre & a walking/running track, occupying about 8 acres of the 38 acre former Kin Race Track site.  It’s projected to cost about $90m.  The agreement the City has with Coldstream & Electoral Areas B & C, calls for 100% buy-in on major facility decisions, so there’s a lot to negotiate.  The feasibility study recommended a “phased” build, however Vernon City Council voted in favour of a full buildout, expressing concern that second or third phases would be at risk of not being undertaken.  At this time, the City's partners have expressed they don’t want to proceed with discussions on the ALC project until construction of the “Cultural Centre” (museum, art gallery, etc.), is underway.  Financing of the $40m budget for that project is a "work in progress."

Jim Kanester arranged an onsite meeting at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre, catered by Dominic Dlouhy’s wife Marilyn’s “Boarding House Café.”  It was a perfect fall morning for an outdoor meeting.  Jim introduced ABNC’s new Centre Manager, Cheryl Hood, & their Board Chair, Jim Popowich.  Cheryl started with ABNC in February 2020, almost immediately diving into uncharted “Covid-19 territory,” & navigating a multitude of operational restrictions, safety protocols & major revenue reductions.  She credits a talented Board, adaptable staff & a dedicated group of volunteers for their success in pulling through a very challenging year of reduced visits.  Our late long-time SSR member, Ken Barton, & current member Bob Clarke (with wife Debbie), were founding members of ABNC.  Cheryl described adaptions made to their “Ken Barton Learning Centre,” & a new childrens’ play area, with unique log climbing structures, sponsored by the Kal Tire Foundation.  Walkabout tours, led by Cheryl & Bob, revealed numerous improvements to the buildings & property, including the amphitheater used for live raptor shows & other events, plus a large sundial, explained by Jim, who built much of the structure himself, along with colleagues from his Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Okanagan Centre.

President Teresa (left) introduced newly appointed Assistant District Governor Dr. Carmen Larsen. Dr. Larsen was Kalamalka Rotary President 2019-20 and their Rotarian of the year in 2017 before taking on her new roll as ADG. Carmen became a Rotarian in 2014 after her family relocated to Vernon BC, she is married to Jacek Szudek (local otolaryngologist) and they have three daughters. Larsen is a family physician who works in Vernon and Armstrong as a locum physician, operating room assist, walk-in clinic physician, site director for the Southern Medical Program, Vernon Cadet Training Centre medical officer and training of 3^rd year UBC medical students. Carmen initiated the Rotary Starfish Pack Program that provides a backpack full of food for underprivileged children in the area to take home for the weekend.

Carmen’s involvement in community began at a young age helping her parents with church fundraisers; she was a candy stripper at the local hospital in Courtney BC and was indirectly involved with Rotary through her Dad’s 24 year association with the Courtney BC Club (1986-2010). That involved hosting Rotary Exchange Students, car rallies and Rotary Group Study Exchanges etc.  Carmen was selected, after a competitive speech at the Courtney Club, to be their selection as a RYLA participant in 1988 in Tacoma Washington, 1990-91 she was selected as a Rotary Exchange Student to Belgium, later Carmen worked for a mining company in China, then after entrance to medical school Carmen. After each of these events she would return to speak at her Dad’s Club. Carmen also spoke one week after her fathers’ untimely death at age 65 of a sudden heart attack in 2011. In addition to Carmen’s Rotary involvement her brother is also a member of the Parksville Club.

Today Carmen spoke to us about heart attacks, the importance of being aware and not ignoring even the sometimes mild warning signs. Changes in one’s health, chest tightness, discomfort or pain, shortness of breath where three months ago there was no issue, pain in your arms or jaw, feeling of unusual indigestion or gas. Having to sit longer to catch your breath after activity, for women the feeling is often more a feeling of indigestion or gas. Do not wait to see if it will go away, do not wait because you might feel silly or embarrassed if it turns out that you are not having heart-related pain. Do not feel you are wasting the doctor’s time or health care resources or that it is unsafe to go the hospital in the time of COVID-19. Just go it is better to be wrong in the hospital than dead at home, your family, friends and community need you. In closing Dr. Larsen thanked Silver Star Rotary for our long association with our mass CPR initiative and the importance of its continuance.

Member Dominik Dlouhy & his wife Marilyn Courtenay, who opened her “Boarding House Café” early this year, hosted our club’s first “in person” meeting since March 10^th.  The spacious layout allowed social distancing, & we appreciated the “no host” breakfast goodies & drinks.  Assistant District Governor Bev Rundell presided over the handover to our new Directors.  Shown above are Bev Rundell (President Elect), Penny Trudel (Public Relations), Keith Johnston (Membership), Don Miller (Sargeant at Arms), Gillian Canniff (International Service), Teresa Durning Harker (President), Paul Philps (Past President), Loredana Eisenhauer (Secretary), Jim Kanester (Rotary Foundation), & Leigh Hewer (Director at Large); missing is Michael Wardlow (Treasurer).  Teresa outlined her objectives for the next year, & presented outgoing President Paul with an impressive basket of goodies, & thanks for his leadership.

President Paul Philps hosted Dan Proulx, representing the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, to our online meeting.  The Chamber is a non-profit with over 600 members, supporting economic development of our region.  Funding comes from a combination of member investment & Chamber-hosted events.  During the current Covid-19 pandemic, events are cancelled, but the Chamber remains active.  Their regular work includes training & education for members, business advocacy to all levels of government, & support of local business through online listings & gift certificate programs.  An important new initiative: “Relaunch Vernon Toolkit,” at https://www.vernonchamber.ca/relaunch-vernon , gathers a wide variety of information & tools local businesses can use to help them survive the pandemic.  Components include creating a back to work task force, preparing your office or workspace, preparing your employees, & preparing to do business.  Members are encouraged to “Be Prepared” for a second wave of the pandemic, for the loss of government subsidies, for employees working at home, & to initiate or expand their online & virtual presence.  Everyone is asked to patronize local businesses when possible, remembering that, unlike Amazon or other multi-nationals, they in turn support our local causes.

Sara Morgan (L) is Program Coordinator for Teen Junction in Vernon, & Sarah MacKinnon (R) is a Regional Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Okanagan.  BGCO “adopted” Teen Junction at the request of the Literacy Society in about 2017, bringing extensive experience & partnerships in running a wide variety of youth programs.  Teen Junction is open to 13 to 19 year olds, Monday to Friday, from 3:30pm to 7:30pm, with two staff members offering services, typically including kitchen prep instruction, a hot meal, employment & job search help, computer skills, games, discussions, individual support, & sometimes just a safe place to hang out.  From an average of 11 to 15 daily clients initially, attendance jumped to over 50, & has settled back to about 30.  Many attendees present problems with addictions, homelessness, etc.  Teen Junction aims to provide a refuge & learning opportunities for youth with minimal support elsewhere.  An example of a successful strategy is their “Youth in Residence” program, which gives selected participants responsibility for keeping others safe – they essentially take the role of staff members, intervening when trouble arises, & sometimes engaging outside help from first responders or parents.  This can quickly show them the burden of responsibility, & teach valuable life lessons, while being shadowed by real staff.  Our club’s connection with Teen Junction goes back to its beginnings, & we continue to help finance the 4,400 meals served in 2019.

Ward Mercer, with Community Futures, was Janet Green’s guest today.  Ward was recently hired to administer Vernon’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, “designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live” here.  We’re one of 11 Canadian communities selected as a pilot.  The program will run for three years, beginning Feb 1^st, 2020 & each of the 11 sites may approve up to 100 applicants.  Federal eligibility guidelines specify education & language requirements, at least one year of continuous work experience, an intention to live in the community, & proof of finances to support the transition.  Further, local program committees set additional requirements for qualifying employers, minimum wages ($25/hr in Vernon), & award applicants priority points for recommendation.  Our local committee is most interested in mid-career applicants with families, who have skills for “hard to fill” local jobs.  This program is not for family unification, or refugees – it’s intended to supplement existing routes to permanent residency & citizenship for skilled workers & their families who will add to the economic health of the pilot communities.