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Events across the province are drawing attention to the value of a wide range of crucial services that make communities better places to live and raise families.
Vancouver (23 March 2009) - March has been proclaimed Community Social Services Awareness Month across British Columbia.
The campaign to raise awareness of the importance of community-based social services is being supported by many community and labour groups, including the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), and by municipal councils throughout the province.
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So far more than 30 councils have passed resolutions recognizing the month and urging citizens to support the value and contribution that social services make to their communities.
The motions approved by municipal councils recognize that community social services "help improve the quality of life for everyone" and that "greater recognition and understanding of the critical role these services play in our communities is needed to ensure their continued availability and improvement."
To date the list of participating councils includes the following communities: Burnaby, Campbell River, Central Saanich, North Vancouver, Colwood, Cranbrook, Duncan, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Ladysmith, Mission, Oak Bay, Parksville, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Richmond, Saanich, Squamish, Surrey, Terrace, Trail, Vancouver, Victoria, View Royal, the Village of Belcarra and Williams Lake.
A wide number of related events are also taking place.
They include The Value of Community Social Services public forums in Kamloops and Prince George, and a 5-Kilometre Walk for Community Social Services in Victoria on March 28. In the Lower Mainland, BCGEU members are also setting up display tables at local malls to raise awareness. For details visit: www.CommunitySocialServicesMatter.ca
Community social services include child care, employment and housing support for people with developmental disabilities, specialized services for immigrant families, services for First Nations families, addiction services, support for women dealing with violence, and more.
In Terrace, more than 300 people visited an informational mall display hosted by BCGEU community social services worker Dorothy Bartsoff on March 7. BCGEU community social services members also held a public forum on child care in Squamish on March 11.
Please see the www.CommunitySocialServicesMatter.ca website for more information, including radio and newspaper ads produced for this campaign.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
Community Social Services Matter