Local coalitions are taking on advocacy and planning work to help decrease poverty in Nanaimo, while also promoting the concept of a living wage

Joanne Bevis and Lynn Burrows are members of a Nanaimo coalition called Ending Poverty Together. They’ve also been actively involved in organizing and convening a set of public forums in Nanaimo that focused on decreasing poverty — particularly child poverty.

To me, we have this crisis that there’s such a high proportion of kids who don’t have enough food, don’t have enough clothes, can’t play sports – all those things kids should do. …I think it’s all of our responsibility and that’s why we called the group Ending Poverty Together.  — Joanne Bevis, in Nanaimo News Bulletin (Jan. 22, 2015)

The coalition has pulled together a broad range of agencies and individuals, along with representatives from the City of Nanaimo, to work toward a plan that can decrease poverty levels in the city.

Download the 2014 Child Poverty Report Card for B.C. in PDF format

On January 22, 2015, the Ending Poverty Together coalition hosted a forum called “Changing the Dynamics of Poverty for Children and Families.” It was attended by 150 people, who heard presentations by Adrienne Montani (coordinator, First Call B.C.), Emily Mileczko (executive director, Early Childhood B.C.) and Dr. Paul Hasselback (medical health officer, Island Health).

Lynn Burrows (left) and John Horn (right) at the February 12 planning meeting

On February 12, 2015, approximately 50 people met at Beban Park Centre to begin the work of identifying action steps toward meeting the goal of decreasing poverty in Nanaimo. John Horn, social planner for the City of Nanaimo, told the group that their action planning steps would eventually find their way into an official Nanaimo Child Poverty Action Plan. A draft version of that plan was also presented to participants. It’s hoped that a final plan will be ready within two months.

Four main areas for advocacy and action have thus far been identified: (1) affordable childcare; (2) living wage; (3) social inclusion; and (4) incomes, skills, training. Participants in the February 12th workshop divided into four groups based on the topics. The goal was to identify actionable items, with clear directions, to begin the work of decreasing child poverty in Nanaimo.

We speak with Joanne Bevis and Lynn Burrows of the Ending Poverty Together Coalition, and hear comments from John Horn, City of Nanaimo social planner. For more information about the work of the coalition, contact John Horn at 250-755-4491 or by e-mail — john.horn (at) nanaimo.ca

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audio: John Horn @cityofnanaimo, Joanne Bevis, Lynn Burrows on #povertyreduction in #Nanaimo http://t.co/Pnf0TjB79J pic.twitter.com/RWJEM61i5M

— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) February 19, 2015