Earlier this month, the BC Government announced its annual maximum allowable rent increase. BC landlords will be allowed to increase rents by as much as 4.5 per cent in 2019 — the biggest increase since 2004, when it was capped at 4.6 per cent. Families in BC are already struggling with MORE
Check Your Head is looking for youth aged 15-25 years old to join the Youth Building a New Economy cohort. The program runs from October 2018 – February 2019 and kicks off on October 3rd with a “Speed Dating” event where you can meet the partner organizations, including First Call. Applications are due October MORE
BC Local News: COLUMN: Child poverty still a problem in B.C. CBC News: B.C. First Nation secures federal funding for plan to keep children out of foster care CBC News: Mom says flight attendant told her to keep toddler with autism quiet CBC News: Downtown Eastside daycare closing after failing to meet city grant MORE
Global News: Victoria daycare operator says she’s got the space, but can’t find staff to open National Post: Children with disabilities need better access to sport Vancouver Sun: Jordan Westfall: Getting us out of the overdose epidemic will require bold action from government StarMetro Vancouver: A B.C. reserve has been MORE
The #AllonBoard campaign has launched a petition calling on Metro Vancouver for affordable and accessible transit. The campaign advocates for: Free transit for all children and youth 0-18 Sliding scale monthly pass system based on income They also advocate for a social justice and poverty reduction mandate for Translink, non-stigmatizing affordability measures, fare evasion MORE
Times Colonist: Victoria council backs campaign for ‘living wage’ StarMetro Vancouver: Ontario’s cancellation of basic income pilot is seen as a setback by B.C. proponents Vancouver Sun: Abbotsford anti-gang program to lose funding as kids head back to school Vancouver Sun: Judy Darcy: Overdose emergency: Unprecedented crisis demands unprecedented action StarMetro Vancouver: Peer-led overdose response MORE
Yoga on 7th will be hosting a Spine and Wine with Jean Couch event on July 12 2018 from 6:30-8pm. Jean is the author of The Runner’s Yoga Book and will be presenting on spinal health and back relief through Spinefulness, which aligns your bones with gravity for maximum muscle MORE
Relationships Matter For Youth ‘Aging Out’ Of Care is a collaborative community photography exhibit by young people from care in the Greater Vancouver area. The exhibit aims to take a closer look – through the power of images and accompanying captions – at supportive relationships in the lives of young people MORE
First Call is excited to be a conference partner for the Vancouver Crossroads event, organized by Organize BC in partnership with the Vancouver District Labour Council. The event will build relationships among community members in Vancouver, while providing space for community members to talk about the civic issues that are important to MORE
Research points to the concerns with the exponential increase of screen technology seeping into households. American children 0-8 years old used mobile media 5 minutes per day in 2011, which increased to 15 minutes in 2013, and then to 48 minutes per day in 2017. Increased screen exposure for young MORE
The first-ever Youth Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver will take place April 4-12, 2018. The count is anonymous, and will provide a picture of youth homelessness in our communities. The data will assist with creating policies, understanding causes of youth homelessness, and raising awareness of the issues and needs. The MORE
CTV News: Parents hoping to see reduced daycare fees may have to wait CBC News: Basic income pilot not coming to B.C. until at least 2020, despite Green-NDP pledge News Wire: Canada and the Métis Nation move forward on Canada-Métis Nation Accord Vancouver Sun: Questions leave child care providers leery of B.C. fee reduction MORE
CBC News: Ottawa to increase funding for First Nations child welfare services National Observer: B.C.’s budget calls for momentous change in housing, childcare CBC News: Record check misses ‘shocking revelations’ in B.C. Children’s Ministry file Global Newswire: BC Supreme Court grants Huu-ay-aht mother more access to her newborn The Tyee: MORE
Last week, the Provincial and Federal governments signed a 3-year, $153 million child care agreement that will guide new federal child care funding. The agreement notes that some child care providers (“Prototype Sites”) will be funded to provide reduced cost spaces for children under three. We are pleased to see the funding MORE
National Observer: BC working on big changes for Indigenous child welfare Times Colonist: Victoria sobering centre to start taking older teens Province: Dylan Cohen: More educational support needed from government for kids leaving foster care Castlegar Source: OP/ED: BC Poverty Reduction Coalition says minimum wage hikes inadequate Global News: Foster parents say contract terminated after MORE