May 9, 2012
Mayor Shari Green and Council
I am writing to you to request that council take action to prevent the loss of a valuable resource in our community.
As you are probably aware, the City of Prince George has been one of 52 communities in Canada to host a group of Katimavik volunteers. These young Canadians are currently providing valuable volunteer services for the following non-profit organizations in our community:
• Carney Hill Neighbourhood Society • Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum • Canadian Diabetes Association • Prince George Public Interest Research Group • Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George • Sacred Heart School • St. Vincent de Paul Society • The Canadian Red Cross Society • Caledonia Ramblers • Northern Pride Centre Society • Two Rivers Art Gallery
As part of the most recent Federal budget, the 30 year old Katimavik program has been cancelled effective June, 2012.
This decision will not only have a significant detrimental impact on the young men and women who would have participated in the program but also seriously affect 7 community groups in Prince George who rely on these dedicated full time volunteers to provide important core services to the residents of Prince George. The impact is significant given that it means 30,000 to 50,000 volunteer hours over a 3-5 years before Katimavik moves to help another community.
In summary, important community services will all be adversely affected by the elimination of Katimavik – services our community cannot do without.
On behalf of the local Katimavik project, the community groups they are supporting and the residents of Prince George who will be impacted by the loss of this national volunteer organization, I respectfully request:
That council direct the Mayor’s office to petition the Federal Government to reinstate the Katimavik program and work with Katimavik to seek alternative long term funding solutions to ensure the ongoing viability of this important program.
Furthermore, that the City of Prince George invite other communities to join in this petition through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
As you may know, the City Council for the City of Guelph in Ontario has unanimously approved a motion very similar to this and correspondence will be coming to you from FCM, but I am writing to you now, as this issue is so time sensitive (Katimavik programming is scheduled to end June 30,2012). I am hoping you will take action as soon as possible as a matter of urgency.
I have attached a press clipping from the Guelph Mercury for your review:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/711474--guelph-city-councillors-to- urge-feds-to-continue-katimavik-program
Katimavik has become a part of our country’s fabric. In 1977, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau established Katimavik, which has enlisted over 30,000 Canadian youth and supported more than 500 community non-profit organizations across Canada.
Will Prince George join Guelph, along with the two MP’s who are taking the lead in parliament to reinstate this vital Canadian program, so that it can continue to help our local economy, provide much needed services for our residents and build the leaders of tomorrow. All at little cost to Canada, as indicated in Heritage Canada’s recent Summative Evaluation of Katimavik.
Our organisation, Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club has felt first hand the benefit of the Katimavik volunteers. Our current project, the Universal Boardwalk at the Ancient Forest Trail, could not have progressed though Phase #2 without the 800 hours of volunteer work carried out by the Katimavik volunteers in 2012.
Katimavik’s vision is to civically engage youth committed to building a nation, one community at a time.
Katimavik’s mission is to engage youth in volunteer service and foster sustainable communities through challenging national youth service programs.
One of Katimavik’s objectives is to positively impact Canada by exposing Canadian youth to the regional and cultural diversity of the country and its two Official Languages Katimavik’s program model.
Prince George has been a very fortunate beneficiary of Katimavik’s vision, mission and objectives, and on behalf of our organisation we ask that the Prince George City Council consider approving a similar motion to that of the Municipal Council of the City of Guelph to see the restoration of funding to Katimavik programs.
Respectfully,
Nowell Senior President - Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club Project Coordinator – Ancient Forest Trail/Universal Boardwalk
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Home > News> Local > Guelph city councillors to urge feds to continue Katimavik program
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Scott Tracey, Mercury staff Tue Apr 24 2012 2 2 Recommend
Guelph city councillors to urge feds to continue Katimavik program
GUELPH - City councillors voted unanimously this week to lobby the federal government in an attempt to save the Katimavik youth volunteering program.
Former councillor Mike Salisbury urged councillors to take action, noting the government's plans to scrap funding for the program will not only impact the thousands of young people currently enrolled, but will also have a detrimental impact on Katimavik communities.
Salisbury noted there are more than 10 non-profit groups in Guelph currently benefitting from full-time Katimavik volunteers, including the Katimavik rescue rally Young people protest government cuts to the YMCA-YWCA, Guelph Katimavik youth volunteer program on Parliament Hill Monday. Later Environmental Leadership, the
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/711474--guel... 5/10/2012 Page 2 of 4
Guelph Community Health Centre, that day Guelph councillors passed a resolution asking the government Ignatius College and the Hillside to maintain Katimavik. FRED CHARTRAND/The Canadian Press Festival.
In its most recent budget, the federal government announced the program's funding would dry up as a cost-cutting measure. Katimavik has an annual budget of approximately $15 million.
Salisbury's pitch got a boost from Guelph MP Frank Valeriote, who sent a letter to councillors urging them to support the program.
"I therefore respectfully urge you, on behalf of the many young men and women in Guelph and across Canada affected by this decision now and in the future as well as the hundreds of Canadians and communities who will no longer benefit from the community service of Katimavik participants, to both support this program and to urge the federal government to continue Katimavik funding," Valeriote wrote.
Wayne Greenway, senior partner at local career mentoring firm Career Aviators, said he has never seen a program which has as much impact on participants as Katimavik.
"It's an incredible model ... which changes people's lives," Greenway told councillors, adding each Katimavik group typically donates 10,000 hours of time per year, and projects normally stretch over three to five years.
"Do you really want to lose 30,000 to 50,000 hours of volunteer time?" Greenway asked.
It seems not.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of a motion asking Mayor Karen Farbridge to send the federal government a letter expressing support for Katimavik and urging it to find funding alternatives which would allow the program to keep functioning.
stracey@guel phmercury. com
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Everything Is In It For All Of Us! Thank you to Guelph City Council and Mayor for caring about our youth and our By: Colleen49 country. This is an example that all other city councils across Canada should follow.@ Apr 25, 2012 12:45 PM What's In It For the Kids - the full time volunteer hours put in by the Katimavik participants IS real work experience. They are helping non-profit organizations throughout Canada who desperately need enthusiastic, stable volunteers in order to help so many people in Canada who need it - it may be through a food bank; helping in a daycare or a highschool; teaching special needs children; helping with the elderly - there are so many different types of volunteer work that these youth are doing through this program. And the benefits are immeasurable as these youth grow up into contributing, employed adults - something that the Conservative government should be striving for in this time of high unemployment and youth apathy. Best yet, they are less likely to use our social assistance programs and employment insurance later on in life. I would rather invest in our youth now then pay for them later. Wouldn't you?
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What's in it for the kids?
Yea, they get experience working at a food bank. They get to live away from home, but By: MaxPenner so what. You don't need a government funded program to do that. I understand that Apr 24, 2012 6:14 PM these yongsters don't know what direction to go with their lives, but I don't see this helping. It just delays things. Real work experience is what they need.
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