Read the April 2026 Edition here.

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Summary 

• Community Living BC (CLBC), in partnership with Aboriginal friendship centres, has launched Connections Through Inclusion, a pilot project aimed at bringing culturally grounded support to Indigenous people with diverse needs 

• Friendship Centres in Smithers, Surrey, Prince George, Port Alberni, Nanaimo and Kamloops are hiring Community Connections workers to help people access CLBC-funded services, cultural supports, housing resources and community programs 

• The pilot project supports reconciliation by offering Indigenous-led, culturally safe outreach for people who often face compounded barriers in accessing services 

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Indigenous people with developmental disabilities and those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and autism who need significant help with day-to-day tasks will benefit from stronger pathways to cultural, housing and community supports through a new pilot project. 

Six Aboriginal Friendship Centre across BC will deliver the project with funding from Community Living BC (CLBC). 

“Indigenous people with diverse abilities deserve supports that honour their cultures, their strengths and their connections to community,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “So, we’re investing in approaches led by Indigenous organizations for people to be supported in ways that are close to their community, trusted and grounded in who they are. This pilot can help remove barriers and make it easier for people to access the services and cultural supports that matter most in their lives.” 

Helping eligible individuals access supports 

The Connections through Inclusion pilot program funds new Community Connections workers in each participating friendship centre to provide culturally informed, hands-on support for Indigenous adults who may be eligible for CLBC services. Many individuals face complex needs, unstable housing or limited support networks, and the workers respond in ways guided by local teachings, priorities and relationships. 

These workers help people: 

• navigate housing, health and social services 

• connect with Elders, culture and community 

• build relationships with CLBC and service partners 

• strengthen safety, belonging and stability 

“The program is part of CLBC’s commitment to reconciliation and cultural safety,” said Joanne Mills, vice-president of quality services and Indigenous relations, CLBC, and a member of Fisher River Cree Nation with ties to Skidegate. “It offers friendship centres the flexibility to create culturally grounded, innovative approaches that build trust and improve access to services. Our hope is that this will encourage friendship centres to pursue pre-qualification as vendors, strengthening opportunities for future service delivery partnerships.” 

Pilot project starts in six B.C. communities 

The program is being delivered through the following Aboriginal Friendship Centres (please click to visit the Government of British Columbia’s announcements for each centre): 

• Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre (Smithers)- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33511 

• Fraser Regional Friendship Centre (Surrey)- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33516 

• Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Centre- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33512 

• Port Alberni Friendship Centre- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33528 

• Prince George Native Friendship Centre- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33518 

• Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Society (Nanaimo)- https://news.gov.bc.ca/33514 

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How the benefit works:

In November 2025, applications first opened for 50 rent supplements under the Canada-BC Housing Benefit. This program is funded by the federal government’s Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) through BC Housing and administered by CLBC.

The monthly amount varies based on your income, rent and where you live. Right now, people receiving the benefit get an average of $471.98 per month.

Payments start once you’re renting a qualifying home and paying more than 30 per cent of your income on rent.

Progress so far:

47 people are getting help right now:

• 14 people who identify as First Nations, Métis, Cree or Inuit.
• 7 people who were close to losing their housing within 30 or 60 days.
• 5 people with children at home
• 2 people who were unhoused and now have their own home.
• 1 person who used this benefit to flee violence.

If all spots are filled, we keep eligible applications on file in case a spot opens or more funding is added.

Who can apply:

You may qualify if you:

• are eligible for CLBC services.
• rent (or are moving into) a  market rental home.  This means you rent from a landlord and your rent is not subsidized by Government.
• live independently or with some supports.
• spend more than 30 per cent of your gross monthly income on your rent. This means the amount of money you make in a month, before taxes.
• have filed your 2024 tax return.
• live in B.C. and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

You can apply even if you’re moving into market rental housing, including if you are unhoused, in hospital, living in home share, or living with family.

CLBC uses a needs-based approach in choosing who will receive a benefit. We will prioritize Indigenous applicants, applicants who are at risk of losing housing, applicants who are currently unhoused, applicants who are living with children, and/or applicants who are fleeing violence. We will select applicants based on their level of need and when they submit their application.

We encourage eligible individuals to continue to apply for this benefit, on the Canada-BC Housing Benefit page on our website.

The post More rent support now available for people served by CLBC appeared first on Community Living BC.

A new home in Lheidli T’enneh territory (Prince George) is supporting six Indigenous women with complex needs who receive Community Living BC (CLBC) funded services. The home provides a safe, stable place to live with culturally grounded supports that help each woman thrive.

This project was made possible through strong partnerships and shared commitment to culturally safe housing. Led by the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George (AHSPG), the project brought together multiple organizations, including the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA), National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI), AiMHi – Prince George Association for Community Living, and Community Living BC.

Operated by AimHi, with supports funded by CLBC, the home is designed to offer not only safety and stability, but also meaningful cultural connection. A Cultural Advisor from Lheidli T’enneh First Nation works alongside staff to ensure cultural safety and support connections to community. The home itself reflects this commitment through local Indigenous artwork, regalia and welcoming spaces.

The project was shaped through early and ongoing collaboration. CLBC Indigenous Relations Advisor Frankie Abel worked with hereditary leadership and community members across Northern communities, where the need for culturally safe housing and supports was identified as a top priority for people receiving CLBC-funded supports. These relationships helped partners move quickly when a time-sensitive funding opportunity became available.

The home officially opened in August 2025, with a small gathering that included CLBC Board members, leadership, and the Indigenous Advisory Committee. The opening featured a welcome and blessing from a Lheidli T’enneh representative, marking the home as a place of care, respect and belonging.

This project demonstrates what’s possible when communities, housing providers, and organizations come together with a shared vision. For potential partners interested in working together to create more opportunities for inclusive, affordable and accessible housing in every community, please reach out to: CLBC.Housing.Leads@gov.bc.ca

The post VIDEO: Housing Project Supports Indigenous Women with Complex Needs in Northern B.C. appeared first on Community Living BC.

On February 25th people from the Victoria office gathered for an Honouring People and Place Ceremony, welcomed by and standing alongside members of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. Together, we unveiled remarkable artwork for the office and marked this moment as part of our ongoing commitment to honour the lands, peoples, and relationships that guide our work at CLBC.

Patrice Cormier, CLBC SDM south VI, Neil Belanger, ED, BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Paisley Pelletier, Senior Disability Case Manager BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Mayor Sid Tobias of View Royal, Mary Czernick, CLBC IR, Charlene Barney, St’at’imc Nation, Self-advocate/IAC, Brian Tebo, CLBC Regional Director VI, Chief Jerome Thomas, Esquimalt First Nation, Diane Sam, Elder Songhees First Nation.

This ceremony aligns with our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. One of our organizational goals is to strengthen relationships with Indigenous partners by walking alongside them to coordinate the delivery of services for Indigenous families in their communities. This starts with recognizing the stewardship of the land upon which CLBC offices reside.

Esquimalt Chief Thomas opened the day with a Welcoming, followed by Songhees Elder Diane Sam with a grounding ceremony. View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias then spoke about ongoing work and collaboration in the region, setting the stage for a shared celebration with the Songhees dancers and the Victoria staff team. The celebration was acknowledged amongst colleagues, Indigenous Advisory Committee members and CLBC leadership.

Songhees Dancers

This gathering was an opportunity to reflect together on the meaning of place, accountability, identity, and a shared future of working together to provide culturally safe services for eligible Indigenous individuals. It was also an opportunity to reflect on our responsibility as visitors to the territories we work and live on.

The artwork was created by Esquimalt artist Darlene Gait whose art can be seen around Vancouver Island. Watch this video to hear Darlene talk about the significance of the West Coast Salish art piece to the Nation.

Art created by Esquimalt artist, Darlene Gait

This marks the tenth Honouring People and Place ceremony held at CLBC offices across the province as part of our ongoing work to build and deepen meaningful relationships with Nations. The initiative’s name was recently changed from Built Space to Honouring People and Place to more clearly reflect our shared intentions and to centre the people, Nations, and lands to which each office is connected.

To date, ceremonies have taken place in nine other communities: Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, Vernon, and Langley.

The post Honouring People and Place in Victoria appeared first on Community Living BC.

Read the March 2026 Edition here.

The post CLBC Update for Individuals & Families – March 2026 Edition appeared first on Community Living BC.

The Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC) is composed of family members and people who receive (or are eligible for) CLBC funded services, bringing lived experience from 12 regional community councils. The Committee has elected a new leadership.

Our sincere thanks to Dr. Adeel Zafar (Simon Fraser Community Council) and Alex Evanshen (North Shore Sunshine Coast Community Council) for their dedication over the past two years as PAC Chair and Vice-Chair. Their leadership helped amplify community voices and strengthen the advice brought forward from councils in B.C.

Working together with community councils, the PAC shares advice grounded in lived experience to help improve quality of life for people and families. Members meet regularly with organizational leadership and Board representatives to raise issues, ask questions and share priorities from communities across the province.

Welcoming the new PAC leaders

At the January meeting, PAC members elected:

• Jennifer Hartley – Provincial Advisory Committee Chair (South Island Community Council)
• Alexandria Stuart – Provincial Advisory Committee Vice-Chair (Central North Island Community Council)

Congratulations to both Jennifer and Alexandria on their new roles. We look forward to your leadership and to the continued strengthening of relationships between CLBC, the PAC, and community councils across the province.

Jennifer’s Bio

Jennifer Hartley – Provincial Advisory Committee Chair

Like so many others, Jennifer Hartley wears many hats. She is a features writer for various magazines across Canada. INSPIRED, 55+Lifestyle Magazine in B.C., Fifty-Five Plus Magazine in Ontario, Ottawa Life Magazine and Travel Trek & Tour.

She has also written articles for a variety of magazines across the country, including The Toronto Star, and abroad in the United Kingdom on arts, life and everything in between.

As many people involved in communications have done, Jennifer has also worked on Parliament Hill with a variety of members of parliament and a senator over the last 25 years.

Most importantly, she is mother to a 20-year-old daughter studying Computer Science at Dalhousie University and a highly neurodivergent 22-year-old son, Jacob, with whom she lives in Victoria.

She and Jacob are contributors to B.C. disability magazines, including Accessible Journeys and FashionAbility.

Together, they have become advocates promoting an increased understanding of the challenges, as well as the opportunities and contributions, that intellectually disabled individuals in our community make.

Jennifer represents the South Island Community Council on PAC.

“I wanted to get involved with CLBC, like many parents, to better understand how I could work with care providers to help my son. What I found was an organization that is passionate about the people they work with as well as parents and a community of individuals committed to making a difference.  That inspired me to want to do more.

I look forward to working with PAC members and CLBC.

Watch Jennifer’s video here.

Alexandria’s Bio

Alexandria Stuart – Provincial Advisory Committee Vice-Chair

Alexandria has been part of the disability sector in paid and volunteer roles for over 25 years. As parent to a young man who receives CLBC services she has many different types of experience with the community inclusion movement.

“In my time as the Central/North Island Community Council Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC) Representative I’ve really enjoyed working with other Councils and CLBC leadership,” she says.

Alexandria works with the Commission on Accredited Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF) as a surveyor and travels all over North America to see how different agencies do this work, then she brings what she learned home to her community in Nanaimo. Alexandria also sits on the City of Nanaimo Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness. She’s excited about this opportunity to serve as Vice Chair for the PAC because that connection between CLBC leadership and the people who receive services is so critical.

“I’ve seen the power those voices have at the table, and I’m committed to making sure they’re not just heard, but honoured too,” she says.

Watch Alexandria’s video here.

The post CLBC welcomes new leadership on its Provincial Advisory Committee appeared first on Community Living BC.

The increased budget will help address CLBC’s caseload growth in 2026/27. The number of people eligible for CLBC-funded supports has grown by about 25 percent over the last five years.

“The vast majority of CLBC’s budget continues to be invested in providing supports for the people we serve. I recognize the province is facing significant fiscal pressures, so I’m glad funds have been prioritized to allow us to continue to support newly eligible people, and those who need new or additional services,” said Ross Chilton, CEO of CLBC

CLBC will spend more than 93 percent, or $1.81 billion, of its 2026/27 projected total budget on services that support the quality of life for CLBC eligible individuals. The remaining part of the budget is invested in systems, oversight and quality assurance functions that help ensure people receive consistent, safe and reliable services across the province.

Each year, CLBC completes a comprehensive, province-wide service demand assessment that helps to inform its funding decisions for the year.

“We’ll be sharing more information about our budget in the coming months, after our staff have done the important work of finalizing service requests in this fiscal year,” said Ross Chilton.

To understand how CLBC makes funding allocation decisions for individuals who have requested disability-related services, please visit CLBC’s funding web page here.

To learn about CLBC’s priorities for 2026, please read our current Service Plan here.

You can find the 2026 BC Budget at BC Budget 2026.

Once CLBC has the new budget, when will I know if my request for service has been funded?

• Once CLBC learns of its overall approved budget for the year, staff in each region work to finalize the plan for services it can fund this year in the coming months.
• We will keep families informed as soon as possible about our ability to meet their requests.

The post Province invests in CLBC-funded services in Budget 2026 appeared first on Community Living BC.

We invite you to nominate people, groups and places in your communities who have gone above and beyond to take a leadership role in advancing the inclusion and full citizenship of adults who have developmental disabilities.

Learn more about the positive impact of nominating by watching this video from Katie Moore. Katie is a self-advocacy leader who runs the Okanagan Accessibility Group and is the Chair of CLBC’s North Okanagan Shuswap Community Council. She shares her experience as both a nominator and recipient of a WOW Award.

If there’s a person, group or place in your community who deserves to be recognized, please submit your nominations for the 2026 WOW Awards by Monday, April 6 at 5:00pm (PDT).

Find full details about the 2026 WOW Awards, including the online and printable nominations forms, by visiting: www.CommunityLivingBC.ca/WOW

An evaluation committee including self-advocates, family members, community members and service providers will review all nominations and choose the 2026 WOW Award recipients in April. Award recognition and celebration events will take place in the Summer around the province.

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Read the February 2026 Edition here.

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