Connection, Conversation and Action
The number of people experiencing homelessness is on the rise in our region. The colliding crises (housing, overdose/toxic drugs and extreme weather) and the mobility of the marginalized population between communities introduces complexities that require innovative and collaborative regional actions. Through an innovative regional collaboration, organizations and communities can transfer lessons, avoid duplication, make best use of limited resources and experiment with regional solutions as conditions evolve.
As part of the Bridging Rural Homelessness and Well-being: A Sustainable and Collaborative Regional Response project, this summit aims to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise from across the region and beyond to:
- Share your experiences and perspectives on rural homelessness.
- Learn from others who are responding to rural homelessness in various ways.
- Build and strengthen relationships with others who are working to improve the well-being of those experiencing homelessness.
- Develop project ideas to help move conversations to action.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone who is called to help improve the well-being of those experiencing homelessness in the West Kootenay region is invited to attend. This includes, but is not limited to, people with lived experience, employees of social service agencies, elected officials, government staff, students, Selkirk College employees and interested residents. The summit is focused on the communities of Trail, Castlegar and Nelson, but participants from other rural communities are welcome to participate.
Come with Curiosity, Ideas and Passion for Action
At the summit, all participants are experts with valuable experiences and perspectives to contribute. It is a chance to both share your expertise and to get curious and learn from the expertise of others. The summit creates a brave space to connect and have conversations you may not get to have in other spaces.
Is there a conversation you want to have with the diverse participants at the summit? Bring these discussion topics. Do you have an idea for a project (large or small) that will help improve the well-being of those experiencing homelessness? Bring these project ideas. Through a facilitated process, participants will have the opportunity to build and prioritize project ideas and start the process to turn these ideas to actions.
Schedule
Daytime agenda
8:30 am: Registration opens
9 am: Opening
10 am: Lived-experience panel
10:55 am: Selkirk College student and faculty panel
11:35 am: Community partner panel–Sheila Adcock (Trail), Deb MacIntosh (Castlegar), Sandra Bernier (Nelson)
12:15 pm: Lunch
1 pm: Open space–through a facilitated process, participants lead and/or participate in conversations important to them.
2:45 pm: Project development—through a facilitated process, participants will organize around themes to identify, prioritize and build out project ideas that respond to homelessness in our region.
5 pm: Break
Evening agenda
5:45 pm: Mingling and mocktail bar
6 pm: Dinner
6:45 pm: Presentation—Dr. Sue Pollock, Medical Health Officer, Interior Health Authority
7 pm: Presentation—Lookout Housing and Health Society sharing the success of "It Takes a Village" housing project in Duncan, BC
8 pm: Presentation—Ronnie Grigg, Zero Block Society, supporting harm reduction and harm reduction workers
Registration
The event is free. However, if you register and are no longer are able to attend, please contact us as soon as possible so another person can take your spot.
Limited spots are available, please register early. Registration closes at the end of the day on Tuesday, May 9.