{"id":42123,"date":"2023-07-11T12:35:52","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T19:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/?page_id=42123"},"modified":"2025-03-24T13:22:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T20:22:29","slug":"how-community-councils-volunteers-make-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/volunteer\/overview\/how-community-councils-volunteers-make-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"How Community Council volunteers make a difference"},"content":{"rendered":"<table class=\" alignright\" style=\"height: 166px; width: 33.3151%; background-color: #e3e3e3; border-style: none;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; border-style: none; text-align: left;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><br \/>\n\u201cMy Council helped me have the confidence to present my story about the importance of inclusive housing to my city council.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Council volunteers make a difference in many ways. They help build awareness of the importance of having a community where everyone belongs. They work together to advance inclusive housing, build relationships with Indigenous leaders, and identify employers who provide meaningful work for people with developmental disabilities. Councils provide leadership opportunities for self-advocates and work on projects with municipalities, like mapping and sharing places for social connection.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/FAQs-Volunteering-on-a-Community-Council.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here to find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Community Councils<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Stories of how Councils are making a difference<\/h2>\n<p>CLBC Community Councils across the province are successfully working with their community leaders to organize and host events to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion and full citizenship of all people.<\/p>\n<p>These events include the North Okanagan Shuswap Council organizing a dance party in Vernon, the North Shore Sunshine Coast Council\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coastreporter.net\/local-arts\/first-annual-inclusion-fest-shines-light-on-empowerment-on-the-sunshine-coast-5989454\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hosting Inclusion Fest in Roberts Creek<\/a>, and the Vancouver Council\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BcDisability\/status\/1584028061636653056\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizing a community celebration attended by local city councillors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Councils have also worked with many municipalities to have October\u2019s Community Inclusion Month proclaimed locally.<\/p>\n<p>Read more stories below:<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>South Island Community Council<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-44709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Communication-for-Everyone-300x101.png\" alt=\"communication board Images for &quot;communication&quot;, &quot;for&quot;, and &quot;everyone&quot; to symbolize the sentence of &quot;Communication for Everyone&quot;\" width=\"377\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Communication-for-Everyone-300x101.png 300w, https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Communication-for-Everyone.png 579w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px\" \/>CLBC\u2019s South Island Community Council is leading an important accessibility initiative for people who are non-speaking and\/or use picture-based communication systems. CLBC is excited to be piloting the use of Communication for Everyone boards in offices across the province.<\/p>\n<p>A communication board is a visual tool that can help people communicate and talk with those around them through symbols and images.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/volunteer\/overview\/how-community-councils-volunteers-make-a-difference\/sicc-communication-board-initiative\/\">Click here to read more about the Communication for Everyone boards and initiative.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>North Shore Sunshine Coast Community Council<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_44616\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44616\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-44616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/NSSCC-Inclusive-Housing-event-reduced-300x196.png\" alt=\"Members of the North Shore Sunshine Coast Community Council at their event, &quot;Beyond Walls: Inclusive Housing&quot;\" width=\"300\" height=\"196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/NSSCC-Inclusive-Housing-event-reduced-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/NSSCC-Inclusive-Housing-event-reduced.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-44616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the North Shore Sunshine Coast Community Council at their event, &#8220;Beyond Walls: Inclusive Housing&#8221;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The North Shore Sunshine Coast Community Council hosted Beyond Walls: Inclusive Housing, an event that brought together over 100 people to learn about and promote the importance inclusive housing for all.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees included self-advocacy leaders, families, service providers, city planners, developers, MLA representatives, and CLBC staff. The event highlighted exciting housing projects and partnerships that are making a difference in the community for people and families served by CLBC.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/community-councils\/clbc-north-shore-sunshine-coast-community-council-takes-action-to-promote-inclusive-housing\/\">Click here to read the full story and watch recordings from the event.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Kootenay Community Council<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42362 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kootenay-Council.jpg\" alt=\"Members of the CLBC Kootenay Community Council stand next to a small tree they have planted on a sunny day.\" width=\"400\" height=\"308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/Kootenay-Council.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/Kootenay-Council-300x231.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/span><\/strong>The CLBC Kootenay Community Council is planting trees with local municipalities to raise awareness of inclusion and self advocacy. The tree pictured here was planted in the West Kootenay town of Nakusp to symbolize the roots the roots that people with diverse abilities have planted to keep our community solid and inclusive.<\/p>\n<p>The Kootenay Council strives to break down barriers and help make a difference in the lives of the people CLBC serves in communities across the Kootenay region including Castlegar, Cranbrook, Creston, Fauquier, Fernie, Fruitvale, Golden, Grand Forks, Invermere, Kimberley, Nelson, Nakusp and Trail.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_42367\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42367\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/North-recognition.jpg\" alt=\"Staff from Smithers Safeway stand and hold the letter of recognition from the North Council.\" width=\"400\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/North-recognition.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/North-recognition-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-42367\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The North Council recognized Smithers Safeway for building inclusion as a long-term inclusive employer.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">North Community Council<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The CLBC North Council acts as a regular gathering place for individuals, families, local organizations and community members to exchange information, share stories, host presentations and make new friends.<\/p>\n<p>Past initiatives include launching an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/viewer?mid=1524PWHrLOjPH0ONc0xZ2dXg868s&amp;ll=53.23506652508171%2C-124.93400214999997&amp;z=6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Accessibility Map of Northern B.C.<\/a> as well as presenting recognition letters to individuals and organizations throughout the North who are making a difference in the lives of the people CLBC serves. The purpose of the initiative is to raise awareness about the good work being done, and to strengthen community partnerships.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cMy Council helped me have the confidence to present my story about the importance of inclusive housing to my city council.\u201d Council volunteers make a difference in many ways. They help build awareness of the importance of having a community where everyone belongs. They work together to advance inclusive housing, &hellip;","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":42120,"menu_order":25,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42123","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Community Council volunteers make a difference - Community Living BC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.communitylivingbc.ca\/volunteer\/overview\/how-community-councils-volunteers-make-a-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Community Council volunteers make a difference - Community Living BC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cMy Council helped me have the confidence to present my story about the importance of inclusive housing to my city council.\u201d Council volunteers make a difference in many ways. 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