Our
History
Get to Know Us
SPC has supported a range of collaborative initiatives, community engagement efforts, and poverty reduction work over the years. This page highlights key past projects, historical resources, and milestones that continue to inform current work.
Thrive Poverty Reduction History
The Thrive Poverty Reduction Strategy was developed through extensive community engagement, collaboration, and shared learning to help identify priorities and opportunities related to poverty reduction in Williams Lake & Area.
This work helped strengthen partnerships, guide community conversations, and support collaborative initiatives focused on long-term community well-being, systems awareness, and collective impact.
Original
Thrive Strategy
The original Thrive Strategy brought together organizations, service providers, local government, and community members to explore local challenges, identify opportunities, and support community-driven approaches to poverty reduction.
The strategy continues to help inform collaborative work and ongoing initiatives connected to Revive Thrive and Communities Ending Poverty (CEP).
Past Initiatives
Over the years, the Social Planning Council has supported and participated in a range of community initiatives focused on poverty reduction, community learning, employment, financial stability, and strengthening local capacity.
Communities That Care
Communities That Care (CTC) supported community prevention planning using evidence-based approaches and youth-driven data to help identify local priorities and guide collective action. Since launching in 2008, the initiative completed multiple Prevention Needs Assessment Surveys and Community Profiles, including work carried out across School District 27 during the pandemic.
Williams Lake Child Care Needs Assessment & Action Plan
In 2020, SPC completed a community-wide Child Care Needs Assessment and Action Plan for the City of Williams Lake. The project gathered input from families, child care providers, key informants, and community partners to better understand local child care shortages, barriers, and future needs, and to support practical recommendations for action.
Williams Lake Living Wage
SPC supported Living Wage awareness in Williams Lake, helping build understanding of the income families need to meet basic needs and achieve greater financial stability based on the actual cost of living in the community.
Poverty Simulation Experience
An immersive community learning experience gave participants an opportunity to better understand what it can be like to live in poverty. Participants moved through a simulated month in the life of a family, followed by discussion and reflection on how the community could work together to address poverty.
The event was a partnership between Thrive and United Way Thompson Cariboo Nicola, with support from Vancouver Foundation and the Canadian Red Cross.
Regional Rent Bank Pilot
The Regional Rent Bank Pilot explored a community-based approach to helping individuals and families experiencing short-term financial challenges maintain housing stability.
Employment / What Works
SPC, Thrive, and the Regional Education Council brought employers and community services together to explore local employment challenges and identify practical solutions.
The initiative focused on helping employers better understand the capabilities, aspirations, and challenges of employees, while also helping employees better understand workplace expectations and barriers to gaining and maintaining employment.
Other Past Initiatives
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Community Navigation Training
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Community Innovation & Adaptive Leadership Training
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Roadmap to Poverty Reduction
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Social Enterprise Development
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Regional Rent Bank Pilot