July 19, 2024: Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming the members of the Island Community Services Team (https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/contact-us/) that included Rob Grant, Executive Director; Jamie Ferguson, Food Programs Coordinator; Nikky Peers, Youth Program Coordinator and new Seniors’ Community Connector; Kyla Duncan, Clinical Director, and Rob Wiltzen, Operations and Communications Manager.

After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned from each what “excited and delighted” them with many answers focused on the wonders of summer and joys that included water sports, camping, time to romp with an energetic pup, and family time. Professionally, the team expressed pleasure working together meeting needs of those in our community. 

While not chronological, our time together focused on two themes: The first was to learn about some of the many Community Services programs offered by this multi-faceted organization. Community Services provides services in eight areas including:

1. Child,
2. Youth, and family;
3. Food programs,
4. Seniors,
5. Adults with support needs,
6. Shelter and housing first;
7. Community housing,
8. Recycling, and
9. Adult counselling and supports.

With ample time to ask questions of the leaders of a number of these programs, we all learned a great deal. This gathering also gave participants an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and suggest solutions to improve programs that serve so many of our most vulnerable residents

What We Learned about Island Community Services Programs 

Nikky Peers, Youth Program Coordinator as well as the Seniors’ Community Connector  https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/enhanced-and-new-services-for-seniors/) told us about this new senior program. Community Services was able to get funding in the first phase of this new provincial program. Given funding for one full-time coordinator divided between Salt Spring and the Southern Gulf Islands, Community Services has funding for Nikky’s .6 full time equivalent position. A core position, this funding is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. 

Nikky will meet with seniors 65+ to assess their needs which could range from health concerns and home support issues to loneliness and mental health challenges. She will connect seniors to community-based supports to enhance their health and well being. While she will not be able to solve all their concerns, she is confident that she will successfully guide them to needed resources, engage them in helpful programs, and, by simply listening and understanding, help those needing a caring ear. This program is just beginning with emails and publicity now being released, but Nikky already has 18 senior clients. Interested? Please contact Nikky at (250) 221-9719 or npeers@gmail.com. 

Kyla Duncan, Clinical Director , told us of the wide range of programs offered by Community Servers that include counselling and other support for children (including prenatal), youth, families, , adults, and seniors. Her many programs include the Core Youth Centre (https://www.facebook.com/people/Core-Inn-Youth-Project/100069040653259/?paipv=0&eav=Afbn6VEiEtXV4ilCaQ37-hUIaKV1KnIiAbhHDsMX8GfqkMk_wdTYs9W_P1kT2rYeg1M&_rdr); Family Place (https://www.facebook.com/ssi.family.place/); victim services; summer camp; and counselling services, including senior peer counsellors.

In speaking of the newly expanded seniors program, Kyla mentioned  possible future programming which included Core youth cooking meals for seniors and an adoptive grandparent program for families (and seniors) needing that multi-generational connection. Interested? You may be the perfect “Adopt a Grandparent!” Contact  Nikky at npeers@ssics.ca.

Island Community Services has a mandated role is to provide a range of mental health, counselling, and mental health services to children and youth. They used to have this role with adult mental health services until the Health Authority established a direct service clinic on Salt Spring in 2017. Since that time they have continued to offer some counseling services to adults. They do not provide emergency intervention service. We learned from Kyla that current wait times for services are reasonable, often within two weeks. When asked about family and couples counseling, we learned that that these sessions were offered, but frequency was somewhat dependent upon the skills of the available counselor.

Some aspects of the Emergency Shelter were explained. The Shelter is funded for 30 beds with an additional 10 during inclement weather. The shelter is typically at or near capacity in winter, less so in summer. Current occupancy is around 18 to 20 per night. When asked if there was room for all during severe weather, we were told that no one was turned away. However, under certain circumstances, those seeking shelter cannot be accommodated, with shelter staff seeking other more appropriate beds for them. These include:

• Those with severe medical conditions that are beyond the capacity of the shelter to accommodate,
• Those actively using drugs (the shelter is a drug-free environment),
• Those with accessibility issues (our shelter is not wheelchair accessible), and
• Those who are assessed to pose a threat to the safety of others in the shelter.

Jamie Ferguson, Food Programs Manager, told us a great deal about some exciting Community Services food programs. Did you know that they lease an acre of land at the Burgoyne Valley Farm to grow produce for the Food Bank and other Community Services’ food programs? Staffed by one farmer and supported by summer workers, this farm not only produces amazing fresh food for the Food Bank but also offers an opportunity for those wishing to learn farm skills.

Community Services leases the commercial kitchen at Fulford Hall, the Harvest Kitchen, where a whole lot of cooking is done every week. Staff cook for the Harvest Home meals delivered every Thursday on a three-tiered payment option. The kitchen also prepares meals for the Emergency Shelter as well as the Kings Lane temporary housing site. Beside the Fulford Harvest Kitchen is a food /coffee cart. You have probably seen it when rushing to the ferry and wondered. . . .It is a Community Services’ social enterprise with profits that fuel Harvest Food programs. So, if you buy a coffee or snack there, you are also helping feed others. Plan to stop there next time you pass.

The Food Bank provides food for between 450 and 500 different individuals every month, totaling approximately 1,300 (duplicated count) fed each month through this program, a majority of whom are families and seniors. The numbers have increased steadily over the years, with a very concerning spike the past two years. The Food Bank is located at Community Services and is open on Tuesdays from 9:30-3:45. On Thursday, food is delivered to some seniors and those with mobility issues as well as distributed through a number of Community Fridges and programs such as Housing First.

How does Community Services get the money for all this food? Some funding comes from Food Banks Canada and Food Banks BC, but most of the food comes from local generosity. Huge amounts of food is donated by our local businesses, with generous donations from Country Grocer,Thrifty’s, Barbs Buns, Nature Works, and TofuNova, to name a few. It was noted by one participant that Food Banks across the country receive no dedicated government funding, putting increasing pressure on local donations. Rob reported that Community Services is experiencing a double-edged financial challenge with increasing numbers of people accessing its Food Bank added to rapidly increasing food costs to meet those needs. Cash donations are always welcome and needed more than ever.

While enthusiastic about this program, a participant lamented the proportion of canned goods to fresh produce, meats, and cheese. Jamie acknowledged this to be a concern, citing the escalating costs of cheese and other fresh protein sources. Although they are seeking a solution, protein alternatives, like lentils and beans, are being offered as a nutritional option. Rob commented that it was not long ago that most food banks only gave canned goods and that Community Services has taken great strides over the years to increase the amount of fresh local produce and to establish alternate distribution methods such as having prepared meals delivered to seniors.

This year, Community Services also piloted a provincially-funded school lunch program in partnership with School District 64 for kindergarten through seventh grade students. A participant whose child had eaten these lunches had good things to say, but, “Please no more couscous!” This well-illustrated the difficulty of pleasing all children, a nearly impossible task. Counting on the counsel of a nutritionist, Jamie is confident that these school lunches are nutritionally balanced if not loved by each child each day :).

Did you know that the BC Farmers and Market Association funds a popular coupon program here? Island Community Services has been able to double this program through other donations. One hundred and eleven Salt Springers who qualify receive coupons worth $27 every week for 16 weeks in the summer to purchase fresh produce from the local farmers at the Tuesday Market. A win-win for all, these coupons can be used for a variety of locally-produced foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, jam, honey, nuts (but no bread nor alcoholic beverages). An extremely popular program with a waiting list of approximately 50, Jamie hopes that locals will contribute to this program. For just $432 a year, a family can enjoy our nutritious local foods while also supporting our local farmers. Interested in donating? Contact Jamie at: jferguson@ssics.ca.

Jamie is also involved in a new Community Services venture: She is leading the transformation of the 11-acre property on Lower Ganges Road near Brinkworthy into a farming and community gardening neighborhood. Under the BC Hydro right of way, Jamie has been challenged by unanticipated questions concerning plans to provide a road, parking ,fencing, and irrigation. Nonplussed when asked by BC Hydro how many staples were to be used in the fencing, she is proceeding on this venture with enthusiasm, even wondering if pigs might be a good way to improve the soil while awaiting required permits. Stay tuned for more on this interesting project.

Some Concerns and Suggestions

In addition to a great deal of information and good questions from participants, we also heard concerns. Several participants expressed personal experiences at Community Services housing sites, including concerns about tensions between tenants and gaps in communication. Confidential issues,Rob Grant responded that Community Services was limited in what could be discussed publicly at the ASK Salt Spring gathering. He explained that Community Services’ housing sites are simply affordable housing and not supported housing. Bound by the Residential Tenancy Act, there are limitations to Community Services’ involvement and right to share, particularly when it comes to tenant relationships and conflicts. He agreed that the need to ensure that every tenant is safe and comfortable is an ongoing and complex challenge. Murakami Gardens, for example, is a high density property with a broad range of tenants having differing needs and expectations.     

While impossible to fully address these complex issues at this ASK Salt Spring gathering, those who were frustrated spoke and were heard, with a commitment from the Community Services team to follow-up. As the one with the ability and responsibility to investigate and resolve these issues, Rob Grant left saying, “The comments being shared have my wheels turning about ways we can improve.” He committed to get more information to determine the possible role of Community Services in resolving these complex and often personal issues. It was noted that clear ongoing communication is critical in this process.

As it was already past 1:00 and time to leave, we thanked Rob Grant and his team for spending time with us; giving us such a lot of good information about some of their amazing programs; and their willingness to listen, seek solutions, and continue that important conversation of ever better serving our most vulnerable. (Thank-you, Nikky, Jamie, Kyla, and the two Robs!)