Happy New Year everyone! January 1 marks the nine month point in my tenure as Executive Director for BC CRN. Thank you to everyone who has been so welcoming and passionate about sharing the history of the association and their vision for its future. I feel privileged to work with volunteers, contractors and Board members who care deeply about making a difference in the lives of adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and self-neglect.
In the Chinese calendar, 2025 is Year of the Snake beginning on January 29. The snake is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. These are all good attributes to help set our vision for the coming year as we continue to shake off the post-pandemic challenges, take in what we have learned, and move forward together in a good way.
It is also an important reminder to remain curious about other cultures and perspectives, particularly as we work to build community safety nets around adults who are made vulnerable by the growing pressures of the current social and economic climate in our province and country.
Over the past few months, it has been very rewarding to meet and get to know people from our partner organizations – Seniors First BC, Nidus, United Way of British Columbia, Family Caregivers of BC, the Public Guardian and Trustee, the Health Authorities, Community Living BC, the RCMP and the many provincial organizations across the country dedicated to eliminating abuse. We will continue working hard in the coming year to strengthen our partnerships and collaborations to ensure the greatest impact.
In 2025 the BC CRN Coordinator’s Conference will be held Oct. 6-8 in Richmond, BC. This internal conference is an opportunity for Coordinators from our Community Response Networks (CRNs) to come together and share the innovative work that is being done across the province, learn from each other and leaders in this sector. To this end, we are very grateful for continued funding support from the BC Ministry of Health which values the power of communities to develop networks of support to take care of their own.
I am beginning the year very grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many passionate, caring and dynamic people. Best wishes to all for a healthy, productive, and rewarding year ahead!
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
