Getting to the Doctor On Time- or at all

I'm sure all of you know at least one person who hurt themselves this winter and found themselves scrambling to get around. Last year WCSS had 22 requests for long distance drives through our volunteer based 'Helping Hand' Program. Helping Hand is a program that can help in more ways than just driving- food prep, light housework, new parent support, senior support are some examples. For the this blog post, I'm going to focus on the driving. Getting to a doctor/specialist appointment in Vancouver can be a big problem. Even if you own your own car, many procedures require you to leave with a friend. For many Whistlerites asking a friend to take a day off work and drive to the city and back feels like an imposition. For some, there isn't a friend who even has a car and/or the means to skip a day of work. Thankfully, due to the ongoing funding source of the Re Use It and Re Build It Centres WCSS has some money available to cover costs for volunteer driver's gas. And even more thankfully, Whistler has some dedicated volunteers who will drive people to these essential appointments (big shout out to Carleen Leidal and David Oakes). Unfortunately our dollars at WCSS can only stretch so far and we can't offer this service to residents of neighbouring communities. And truly, as Whistler grows with more permanent residents we're uncertain as to how sustainable the program is long term.

So, what to do? Well, over the past year this issue has been brought up in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and representatives from health, social services, nonprofits, First Nations, and community groups have had multiple meetings to discuss our perceived needs as service providers on behalf of our clients. The trouble is, while we all agree that there is a need, we are not sure how big it is and if given certain options, would people in need of health transportation even want the style we've discussed? Realizing before we can really come up with solutions, we need to research the facts. In comes, Vancity with some funding for a researcher. Margaret Forbes in consultation with the Sea-to-Sky Health Transportation group designed an online survey to find out what is going on for people.

It is our hope that the online survey will be distributed widely to people who may be impacted by this issue. Please share this survey with your networks, family and friends as the more people who fill it out, the more comprehensive our information will be. This survey will remain active until May 31, 2013.  The online survey can be accessed at:

http://fluidsurveys.com/s/Sea-to-Sky-Health-Transportation-Need-Survey/

If you'd rather to a pen & paper survey, Margaret can get one to you if you email her at  s2s.htsurvey@gmail.com or call 604-902-3647.

If this blog has inspired you to become a volunteer driver with the WCSS Helping Hand Program, please contact Melissa Deller- helpinghand@mywcss.org or 604-902-0865. WCSS is always recruiting for extra drivers and the commitment is really based on your schedule.

Drug and Alcohol Education in Whistler

These kids have a lot of knowledge! As a new member to the WCSS Outreach team, it has been super exciting to be involved with the youth in Whistler. One of my new roles is getting into the classrooms to teach our Healthy Choices program. Some of the topics we cover are: decision making, bullying, acceptance, nutrition, drugs and alcohol, toxic chemicals and risk management.

Every time I have a chance to work with these kids I am blown away at how intuitive they are. Some examples are: one grade four student was very keen to educate his classmates on the efforts large corporations make to market sugary products to children. Right!? At the high school, students are quite aware that Whistler has a unique demographic and they are mindful of what that means for access to substances.

My favorite thing about this program is that it does not tell youth what decisions are right or wrong, rather; it equips them with the knowledge and critical thinking skills, which allows them to make their own choices. Empowering these kids with the information and confidence to think independently is very important to me, and the best news is, it can be really fun!

There are so many stories that get missed; a cup of coffee with the SNAP coordinator can provide an opportunity for these stories to be heard.

There are so many stories that get missed; a cup of coffee with the SNAP coordinator can provide an opportunity for these stories to be heard.

Growing old is not an easy task. Society inundates us with the benefits of one’s youth and only offer ways to “turn back the clock on aging”, not embrace the aging process and normalize it. As one ages there will be losses of physical abilities, friends, partners, independence and list can go on.

Having support can make the difference in how one manages the challenges they face as they age. As the Senior Needs Action Planner(SNAP) my role offers outreach services to those 55+. What is outreach and why do we need it in such a small community where everyone knows everyone? Outreach workers provide a confidential non-judgmental listening ear with the knowledge of the local resources and support that one could access in their time of need. Some examples of situations or conversations that are common in an outreach role are, grief support, caregiver support, and helping one navigate the health care system. This role can be viewed as ‘the connector” to resources.

Why does a cup of coffee make such a difference? In some cases the older population do not have the same social connections as they once did. It can be that the cup of coffee might be the only social outing that individual has in a week. Social Isolation among seniors is difficult to identify, and more common than people want to recognize. That cup of coffee connects an individual with resources they might not be aware of, such as a being matched with a volunteer for weekly coffee or a walk.

Here are 2 examples of the experience I have had as the Seniors Outreach worker. A daughter called me from out of town, to inquire about her parent living in Whistler. She was unaware of what was available in Whistler and wanted to know how she could start a conversation about the possibility of moving into a retirement home, assisted living, or nursing home. Hard stuff, as an outreach worker, I was able to provide the differences between all the housing options, and some resources on each style. When you are equipped with information, making decisions is less overwhelming and easier to express to the one you love.

Another example of how a Seniors Outreach worker can help is when I was approached by an older adult whose main caregiver was leaving town which would result in them being alone. This situation was causing them to feel worried as they were uncomfortable being alone. They shared their concerns and together we created a plan that would help them feel confident, supported and manage for the time they were living alone. When I met with this person at the end of their time alone and we discussed the past week they were so grateful they were successful I received a big hug.

Each day can bring a new challenge in outreach. April 2012 to April 2013 I have had 154 meetings with seniors in Whistler. Most often the cup of coffee offers a space to speak, a comfortable area to discuss a challenge that someone is facing. Many times I’ve been able to support seniors, as they are unaware of resources available for their health care and support.

Setting the Record Straight

I’m Setting the Record Straight!

Taking on the role of manager at the WCSS Re-Use-It Centre has been quite an adventure.  The month of May – my first month – was epic to say the least.  I entered the store at the busiest time of the year.  Spring cleaning and the 1000’s of seasonal workers leaving town made for some mind blowing donations.  At times I wondered if we could be buried alive!  And although the donations continue to pour in in record numbers (thank you Whistler!) I finally have my footing and am getting down to the business of running this important place. 

We have two important roles; to support those in need by raising funds for Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) programs/services and to promote sustainability.  At the Chamber of Commerce Business Awards night a couple weeks back WCSS won the Sustainability award.  It was very cool, because it was the first big high five for the sustainability side of what we do.  Before managing this store I was not a regular to thrift shops but I decided to fully embrace the spirit of the award and go as the Re-Use-It girl!  I shopped off the rack at the store for my outfit (photo above).  Dress - $15, earrings - $4, necklace - $3, handbag - $3, wrap - $5.  I did the same for the Oysterfest at the Bearfoot Bistro. Pants - $6, top - $3.75, ring - $2, bra - $3.50.   I loved my outfits!

I am a true Re-Use-It Centre advocate now! This place rocks!  And it is amazing how many rumours are circulating out there that aren’t just true.  So as the new manager, I need to set the record straight on a few of those Re-Use-It myths. 

1.       The Employees get all the good stuff.  Nope!  Not even close to being true.  In the month of May we processed 2219 garbage bag equivalents of donations.  In June it was 2443 bags.  That is a lot of stuff!  And consequently a lot of great stuff!  If the employees did in fact get all the good stuff, they would essentially have moved the Re-Use-It Centre to their homes.  Not something any of us want.  Sure there are perks to this back breaking work, in that we get to see everything before it goes on the floor, but we all exercise a great deal of restraint when deciding what we purchase to take home.  We gotta love it!

2.       We’re Expensive.  Sure our primary role is to fund the many important social programs in Whistler, but we are still a business.  And it would be just plain silly of us not to do our best to remain competitive in the discounted retail environment.  So we price check our competition regularly.  This includes Consignment and Thrift shops in Squamish and Vancouver as well as Walmart and the dollar stores.  Ask us about it next time you are in the store. 

3.       What about all those TV’s?  Here is the myth busted about all those TV’s wrapped up outside.  We’re not taking them home!  They’re broken!  We have a very success recycle program whose proceeds are becoming important contributors to all those programs we support.  Actually you can bring down pretty much any electronic thing with a cord and we can put it into its proper recycling spot.  That goes for your lights, bulbs & drinking bottles too.  When you recycle with us you support your community. 

4.       We throw things away.  Ok we do!  Not a lot, but we do.  Of the 2219 bags of donations we got in May, 235 of those went into the land fill.  Along with all the great things that come in, we do get garbage – broken things, ripped, torn or unusable items that just don’t qualify for our store or our charitable partners.  We even get people’s garbage (we hope by accident) every once in a while.  But don’t you think it’s pretty amazing that of the 2219 bags of donations only 235 went into the land fill?

The health of our community depends on the success of the Re-Use-It Centre.  Thank you for your support Whistler – be it as a donor or a shopper.  We love seeing the smile on your face when you offer your spring cleaning donations to our receivers or when you find that perfect ‘treasure’ for a fraction of its real cost!   

Cheryl Skribe – Manager, Re-Use-It Centre,Whistler

Old News with guest blogger Vicki Crompton

So, Baby Boomers, here we are –on the brink of official old-agedom.  I consider myself slightly behind the leading edge – born in 1947 when peace was new, optimism ran high, and young men and women were breeding apace.  We are the product -the embodiment of their optimism, lobbed confidently into a future built on foundations of peace, antibiotics, plastics, refrigerators, two car garages, and cheap mortgages. 

Fast-forward a lifetime.  We have been a force to be reckoned with. We have  worked for gender, sexual and ethnic equality, fueled the exploding world of communication technology and made a religion of recycling .  On the other hand, we have unraveled the peace, amassed monster debt, and compromised our environment.  As it turns out, we aren’t any better than anybody else. There are just more of us. Innovation has occurred in response to our numbers. Think of kindergarten, racquetball, and marketing strategies directed to our considerable buying power. 

So now we are peering around the corner, wondering how the world will respond to this next stage. We aren’t shiny and new any more. We’re losing hair and gaining weight. But we are entering an exciting stage of our lives – the perfect storm – when money, time, and health converge. I know we aren’t all rich, fit, layabouts, but if we’ve played our cards right, many will have some happy, productive years ahead. And those of us who live in Whistler have jumped the gun – we are in paradise already.

As we have always had an impact in the past, we now look to the future and hope our community will be able to respond to our needs.  As we have grown and evolved, so has Whistler. When it was young and raunchy – so were we.  Early on, old people left the community – it simply wasn’t practical to stay.  But now, many who have lived and worked here forever – who have brought up their families here - want to stay; to ‘age in place’.  Many who have had vacation homes in Whistler want to retire here. The good news is that changes to make Whistler a senior friendly community are already happening. The Mature Action Committee (MAC) has worked hard to establish cost controlled seniors housing.  A Seniors Needs Action Planner has been hired by Whistler Community Services to assess the needs of local seniors and respond to them.  We are on the cusp of change. Whistler seniors have a great opportunity to be part of creating a dynamic vision for our community.  The future looks bright – put on your shades!

The Story of (Whistler's) Stuff

I just watched an amazing short on “stuff”. Things you buy to wear or use in your house. On the website storyofstuff.org, a cute animated picture educates you on some pretty scary statistics. The short looks at the story of stuff, from extraction of raw materials from the earth to the end disposal of these materials, and looks at a system in crisis. For example, in the US, after 6 months only 1% of the good purchased in that time are still in use. This means that 99% of purchased goods make their way to the landfill every 6 months. This got me thinking about the story of “Whistler’s stuff”, and where it ends up!

Whistler is perceived as a place with wealth. The outside world thinks of Whistler as a playground for the rich, a ski resort with big fancy houses and lots of material goods. The big question facing Whistler is what to do with things when they are no longer desired by the owner? The other side of the coin is most of us that live and work here don't have a lot of wealth, but we also need and have stuff.

Up until about 15 years ago, everything went to the landfill. It was located then where the town centre now exists. Locals who lived here tell me the dump was the best picking in town, as EVERYTHING went into it. Then about 13 years ago, the RMOW, Whistler Community Services and some local service groups like Rotary and the Lions got together to help build a thrift store that could take donations of used goods.

Right now the new management team at the WCSS Re-Use-It Centre in Function Junction are starting to drop that ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look that most employees get in May. There is a lot of STUFF at the store! It is the time of year that most of our seasonal workers leave and locals spring clean their closets. If you ever want to see what happens to things people are getting rid of, the receiving area of the store is an interesting place to observe for an hour or so. It is a testament to our team’s constitution that they don’t just throw in the towel and walk away from the job; or rather crawl out from under hundreds of black garbage bags to leave. At the store every single bag is opened, any of that 'Whistler stuff' that is clean enough, and still useable is sorted, priced and put out onto the shelves. Most of us have never physically worked as hard as many of the staff at that store. And the items coming from those bags are amazing! 

It turns out that Whistler has good STUFF.

But the story would come to an unhappy ending there if the stuff just sat on shelves. There always has been a strong contingent in Whistler that understand that they can bypass the material economy, help the environment and save themselves a lot of money by shopping second hand. In Whistler, is has almost become chic to tell your friend that the new designer shirt you are wearing was found at the Re-Use-It Centre. 

Last year there were 49,000 purchases made at the store. And over 300 metric tonnes of good were saved from the landfill. That shows that Whistler’s stuff can be used again. If you have goods that you no longer want, and they are still in clean, unbroken and useable condition, we want your Stuff! And if you have a friend that doesn’t know where to take their old stuff, tell them about the Re-Use-It and Re-Build-It Centres.www.mywcss.org

Finally, if you want to get rid of BIGGER stuff like furniture or appliances that still work, arrange for a pick up at the Re-Build-It Centre at 604-932-1125 or rebuildit@mywcss.org . Watch for the first ever Community Clean & Care Day Saturday, June 16^th, where we will be picking up donations of used furniture and household goods in Bayshores. For more information contact the Re-Build-It Centre.

Whew, Hello Spring Cleaning Season!

Spring has Sprung! It's that time of year where you start to think about changing up your skis for running shoes, your snowboards for downhill bikes, your jackets for bikinis and board shorts... well, maybe nobody's jumping in the lake just yet, but there's more than a hint of warmth in the air, and goggle tans are plentiful...

Spring means different things to all of us. Here at Re-Use-It Centre it means Hard Work! Between the seasonal workers starting to leave town, and realizing their suitcases are already more than full, and our locals who get struck by that "everything must go" spring cleaning feeling, we end up with piles of treasures to sort and sift through... all kinds.

At times the pile is overwhelming; no matter how fast you work, the pile gets bigger. The sensation of moving backwards is hard to ignore! Our super staff have managed to develop a wonderfully Zen attitude of "all good things in time". And truly we do rely upon and expect the silly season; Whistler just wouldn't be Whistler without it.

What does this mean for you, our community of shoppers and donators? If you're making a donation, remember we're open 11am to 6pm and be sure to donate in our opening hours so we can make the most of your donated items. You can bring them in bags or boxes, and the only things we'll pass on are helmets and kids safety equipment, for safety reasons.

If you're a shopper, well... get into it! This is the best time of year to score awesome thrifted items. We still hold our weekly clothes sales, and follow our 50% off after 3 weeks deal... The quality of donated items at this time of year is unreal, and we're starting to put out summer clothing and sports equipment, so make sure you get yourself down to rifle through the treasure.

Here is the taste of the treasure we're seeing this week:

 The classics surface regularly at The Re-Use-It Centre. Give yourself a taste of culture on those rainy spring days!

Decorate your home with a piece of art.

Keep warm with a stylish Burton women's hoodie on the days when summer feels a little far away...

 Keep the kids happy with many many titles to choose from at only $1 each!

Invest in a paddling pool for the hot summers

And what goes better with a paddling pool than a summery bikini?












Dress the part for summer in one of our surf brand tshirts...

Or, if it's not feeling like summer at all to you, perhaps you're looking for a pair of spring skis to enjoy the plentiful snow base we're still seeing on the hill?


Come by to divest yourself of some material possesions, then shop to fill the space your spring cleaning has left in your life!

We'll see you soon!


Helen, Manager at The WCSS Re-Use-It Centre