Nbcy Annual Review 08 09

2008-2009 annual review Northern BC & Yukon region

STAND UP FOR HUMANITY

FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS OF THE CANADIAN RED CROSSNORTHERN BC & YUKON REGION

Bandstra Transportation Systems Ltd.

Black Cat IndustriesBuilders Supplyland

City of Prince GeorgeDistrict of Mackenzie

Falcon Contracting Ltd.Geotech Drilling (Alberta) LTD

HYDRECS – BC HydroIDL Projects Inc.

Integris Credit UnionKiwanis Club of Williams Lake

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd.Ladies Auxiliary - Royal Canadian Legion - Prince George

Northern HealthPG & District Labour Council

Prince Rupert Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 27Province of British Columbia

RONA Capital Building Supplies Ltd. – Prince GeorgeRONA – Fort St. John

RONA Revy Inc. – QuesnelRONA Terrace Builder’s Centre – Terrace

RONA Tyee Building Supplies Ltd. – Prince RupertRotary Club of Prince George -Yellowhead

Shaw Communications Inc.TELUS

The Rotary Club of Williams LakeUnited Way of Northern BC

Walmart Canada – Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace, Whitehorse

Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary ClubWilliams Lake Lioness ClubWilliams Lake Lions Club

Yukon Territorial Government

Our Mission

To improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

The Fundamental Principles

Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, Universality

MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT

This year is particularly special as 2009 marks the 100th Anniversary of the incorporationof Red Cross in Canada. The Red Cross serves 40,483 residents in the Northern BC & YukonRegion with the help of more than 120 volunteers.

Being responsive to changing needs in our communities is something we have alwaysprided ourselves in. Being progressive helps ensure longevity. I believe we are headeddown a very exciting path. It is truly an exciting time to be involved with Red Cross.

I would like to recognize the tireless work of our volunteers. Without them, we wouldnot be able to carry on the humanitarian work of the organization. Red Cross reliesheavily on the time and talents of our volunteers in the region as we continue to meetthe needs of the most vulnerable.

As I look toward the future, I am excited about the possibilities that lie before us. Iwelcome and challenge the incoming President to continue to strive for excellence andprovide continued guidance and support to the staff as they move forward with theirwork.

In reviewing the work of the past year, there are many oustanding examples of themultitude of ways in which Red Cross stands up for humanity.

Wendell HiltzRegional Council President

HUMANITARIAN VALUES We protect lives and ensure respect for the human being.

• More than $29,000 was raised to support the Canadian Red Cross appeal to assist survivors of the China Earthquake.

• The Yukon Territorial Government made a $25,000 donation to support the Canadian Red Cross appeal to aid the survivors of the Myanmar Cyclone.

• UNBC students partnered with Red Cross in a successful campaign gathering more than 600 postcards that encouraged the Canadian government to become a leader on important security and humanitarian issues by signing the treaty banning cluster munitions.

• Red Cross partnered with the UNBC to offer a three month internship with the Humanitarian Issues Program that included training in facilitation skills, experiential learning, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Students gained invaluable experience in event planning, leadership, media relations, fundraising, and communication skills.

• UNBC student interns with Red Cross hosted Humanitarians in Action - a one day global issues youth summit for students around Prince George.

• Canadian Red Cross delegate, Lisa Evanoff, travelled to Guyana to launch Be Safe! a personal safety program with the goal to prevent sexual and physical abuse against children ages 5-9, created by the Canadian Red Cross in partnership with the Guyana Red Cross and other partners including government and helping agencies from around Guyana.

• Regional staff raised additional funds for Malaria Bites through the “Malaria Bites and So Does My Childhood Photo” contest.

“SO much fun! I learned about the complexitiesof war and different perpectives.”

-Student participant in Humanitarians in Action: Global Issues Youth Summit

Jeanne Clough, left, executive assistant for MP Dick Harris, accepts cluster bomb postcards from UNBC students Christina Bock, Nigel Hanks and Melanie Carle.

DISASTER & CONFLICT We provide relief when individuals and communities require support.

“With the help of Red Cross I did not feel like I was alone. I felt like I had my own personal support team.” -Flood affected resident from Prince George, BC

• The Northern BC & Yukon Emergency Response Team (ERT) welcomed an additional six members. The volunteers actively participated in the national training program. One new instructor was added to the team to bring the total capacity to four instructors in the region.

• Orientation to Recovery Operations in Northern BC course materials were developed as a result of recommendations made from the 2007 North West Flood Response and the Prince George Ice Jam and Winter Flooding 2007/08 responses. Two pilot courses were delivered to ERT volunteers to grow readiness across the region.

• 40 seniors in Prince George learned about emergency preparedness and received a Red Cross disaster preparedness kit thanks to IDL Projects and Falcon Contracting, the Northern Health Authorities Senior’s Wellness Staff and Red Cross Emergency Response Team volunteers.

• Severe winter weather can be challenging for homeless populations in the north. Red Cross contributed blankets and hygiene kits to the community of Dawson Creek and quickly responded to help a homeless shelter in Prince George with Red Cross blankets, hygiene kits, and distributed Walmart donated hats, mittens and scarves.

• Disaster Management welcomed the Restoring Family Links into the program. Through a worldwide network, the Restoring Family Links program helps Northern BC and Yukon families as well as other Canadians re-establish contact with loved ones when separated

humanitarian crisis.

• Disaster Management staff participated in a national training meeting in the fall and a volunteer from the Emergency Response team has begun to mentor and train in the outreach and case work functions of the program.

Sherri Flavel, DM Coordinator with volunteer Colleen Bonner, Diane Pickering of Falcon Contracting, and Dennis Schwab of IDL Projects. Photo by PG Citizen.

HEALTH & INJURY PREVENTION We reduce suffering, save lives and build safe and healthy communites for individuals at vulnerable times in their lives.

• Volunteers reached 2,370 youth through RespectED presentations on bullying and harassment, relationship violence and child abuse.

• Beyond the Hurt peer facilitators educated more than500 youth in the region about bullying and harassment.

• AiMHi, a delivery partner for RespectED has done almost 20 Beyond the Hurt presentations in Prince George elementary schools.

• More than 160 adults participated in RespectED workshops to encourage proactive approaches for preventing abuse, violence and harassment.

•69 youth and 10 adults were trained to deliver RespectED presentations.

• Walking the Prevention Circle was delivered in two communities serving multiple First Nations, reaching participants with messages about abuse, neglect, and interpersonal violence and how to begin the transition from the cycle of violence to the circle of healing.

a Red Cross First Aid or Water Safety course in their area, a web-based course search tool was made available on the Red Cross website this year.

• In the Northern BC & Yukon, 19,663 youth participated in Red Cross Preschool Swim lessons and Red Cross Swim Kids.

• 343 people participated in Water Safety leadership training.

• To reach adults and teens who want to learn how to swim, as well as adults and teens who want to

Swim Programs for Adults and Teens was developed and launched in November of 2008.

• A total of 8,789 youth and adults participated in Standard First Aid, Emergency First Aid, CPR and AED, Babysitter training or another type of First Aid training.

“I will stand up for myself and for friends or people I see who are getting bullied.” - Grade 7 student after attending a Beyond the Hurt Presentation

Fraser Lake Peer Facilitators

HEALTH & INJURY PREVENTION We reduce suffering, save lives and build safe and healthy communites for individuals at vulnerable times in their lives.

“My husband and I are very grateful for this service and thanks comes from the bottom of our hearts.” -HELP Client

leadership courses, instructor

transfer courses.

• In October of this year, revised Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and First Responder Programs were

EMR program that incorporates the standards of all Provinces and Territories.

• Red Cross developed relationships and strengthened our role within the intra-organizational bodies of CASEY and the Anti-Gang Committee.

• Expanded capacity to deliver leadership training to Aboriginal youth throughout the region.

• Red Cross strengthened relations with Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council and Southside Health and Wellness Centre to allow delivery of preparedness workshops, recruiting of volunteers, and pre-positioning of goods.

• On site cleaning and disinfecting audits were conducted in the spring to ensure that all HELP depots were compliant with the new Red Cross National Standard Operating Procedures.

• The Prince Rupert HELP depot expanded and relocated their facility to a new space generously donated by the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.

• The Northern BC & Yukon Region formed a partnership with the Children’s Medical Equipment Recycling and Loan Service (CMERLS) in the Lower Mainland in an attempt to aid in the CMERLS program as well as expand our children’s inventory to better help children in our region.

• There were more than 100 volunteers in 15 HELP depots in Northern BC & Yukon loaning out 8,468 pieces of equipment to 4,724 clients.

• A needs assessment was conducted throughout Northern BC to provide valuable community based feedback on improving HELP depots.

HELP volunteers Claire Green and Mary Paulson demonstrate the use of a walker.

Organizational capacity humanitarian mission.

“I feel proud when I see the Red Cross emblem displayed. It’s a great organization to belong to and it offers a wealth of learning opportunities.” -Wendell Hiltz, Regional Council President

• The Province of British Columbia awarded a $100,000 grant to be used for the HELP and RespectED programs in Northern BC.

• Shaw Communications in Prince George has committed another $14,160 in year 2 of their 3 year commitment to support the RespectED program in Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, and Fort St. John.

• Red Cross partnered with Walmart Canada stores in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace, and Whitehorse to raise $35,000 for Disaster Preparedness and Response.

• Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Awards were presented to Troy Iwaskow, Shawn Kelly, Victor Maack and Laverne Ross who saved a trio of boaters on June 30, 2008.

• More than 30 HELP volunteers donated 2,896 hours of their time operating the Prince George Service Centre.

• The Prince George HELP team received an Angels Among Us award sponsored by Volunteer Prince George.

• TELUS donated 12 computers that will be used to enhance the HELP depots throughout the region.

• Bandstra Transportation Systems Ltd. continues to provide in-kind services to our HELP program. Bandstra has shipped health equipment across many miles to communities across Northern British Columbia.

• During the month of March - Winstons, White Goose, Ric’s Grill, North 54, and Cimo - donated partial proceeds from the sale of a special dessert sold in their respective restaurants for the Red Cross Sweet Centennial dessertpromotion.

Northern BC & Yukon Regional Council (missing from photo, Tim Alexander). Photo courtesy of Focal Point Studios.

The heart andsoul of any

organization ismuch more than

itself. It is the people that embody the true spirit of a cause. It is with great appreciation

for those individuals that we recognize their contributions toward a better, safer

society. Youare what weaspire to be.

We thank you.

Northern BC & Yukon Region1399 Sixth AvenuePrince George, BC

V2L 5L6Phone: 250-564-6566

Fax: 250-564-2688Toll Free: 1-800-278-7177

www.redcross.ca/nbcyukon