Powell River Diversity Initiative (PRDI) has received provincial funding for a study that will look at possible solutions to the city’s troubling social issues.
Lyn Adamson, executive director for Powell River Employment Program (PREP) Society, which oversees PRDI, made a presentation to City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, December 1.
“[The study] is to see what is working and where some of the priorities need to be set in terms of citizens,” she said.
Adamson said the study builds on the work that was started during the Groundswell community inclusiveness conference in January of 2014.
The study has been made possible by a $52,000 job-creation grant from the BC government and will employ four full-time researchers for seven months.
The city’s most recent Vital Signs report identified the city’s higher-than-average child poverty levels and short supply of affordable housing as key areas of concern.
According to Adamson, the study could help the city develop its social-development strategy and is part of the larger picture of developing sustainable communities.
“We are hopeful that the city agrees that it’s good work and needs to be carried out,” she said. “After it’s complete, we will present to council and say this is what we think is a template for a social-development plan.”
Councillor Rob Southcott, who holds the city’s development portfolio, said the study should incorporate a wider view of how the community’s social needs hold equal importance to meeting its economic and environmental ones.
“Social planning has been traditionally seen in terms of looking after the needs of low income, disadvantaged people in society, the socialistic side of government,” said Southcott, “but what we want to do is in alignment with the city’s strategic objective of sustainability.”
Prior to the 2014 election, city council’s social planning focus was primarily on housing, said Southcott.
With the 2014 election, mayor Dave Formosa established a social planning portfolio, which Southcott was given.
Southcott explained he had an idea to create a social action and policy advisory committee similar to what PRDI will be doing with its job-creation grant.
A draft terms of reference was put together, but in the summer the work stalled after council decided to fine tune councillors’ portfolios. Southcott said his work with the city development department is more closing linked to questions of land zoning, official community plan and economic development.
Southcott said he is pleased PRDI is picking the project up. “It really jives with the vision council has for social planning,” he said.
He added the time is right to undertake this work as the city reassesses its strategic priorities.
“We want to come out of this with some answers on how social planning affects everyone in this community’s life, and how it relates to the entire community, not just to the ones in need,” he added.
Southcott explained the definition he uses for successful communities includes one that sustainability is reached, not only for economic development and environmental concerns, but also the social ones.
The results of the PRDI study are expected to be presented to council in June.
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