Carol Sheridan, chair of Healthy Living Coalition and manager of Oliver Parks and Recreation introduced the Women’s Institute to the object and aims of the group at the September meeting.
Many are professionals from many fields of work and have been assessing what needs we have ie: lack of transportation, health care needs, recreation, steady jobs, accommodation for pickers, integration of new immigrants, etc.
How do we get our citizens to get to know each other like one big family and form a healthy community? This is difficult as there has been a big increase in people segregating themselves into 55 years and over, seniors, early retirees who only live here in the summer, golfers, professionals, struggling families; all because we are losing affordable rental housing to real estate buyers wanting to get out of big cities.
There is available housing but not affordable housing; the idea is very good but people in the community all need to be able to participate, so we need a good community project and a project where everyone has a chance to be part of it.
We were all asked to tell about one special happening this summer. We are making up quilts for burned out families from a big pile of cutout squares. Two are ready to be put on a frame for tying.
Our next meeting will be October 1 at 1:30 at the Community Services Building when Heidi Frank, the new administrator for the Town of Oliver, will give us an insight into her interesting job.
We welcome newcomers and interested people to our meetings, where we learn about our community and work for improvements around the town. We learn what is available and what needs doing. Phone Helen at 250-498-4705.
Helen Overnes
Special to the Chronicle
