Additional homeless shelter beds now offered in Vancouver

> 140 more beds available than this time last year

Jake Wray News Editor

easonal homeless shelters in Vancouver that provide relief during

the winter months will offer more beds than they did last year, according to a press release from the BC government.

A total of 10 shelters with 300 beds—an increase over 160 emergency shelter beds last winter—will open on November 1. The release said that in previous years winter shelters didn’t open until December. The provincial government provided approximately $2.8 million in funding for the shelters—a 75 per cent increase over the $1.6 million in provincial funding in 2016.

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson said the extra beds are available because of the extra funding from the provincial government.

“Temporary shelters, though not a permanent solution, fill a critical gap in getting people off the streets and connected to outreach workers and services that will support the transition into safe, permanent housing,” he said

in the release. “We're grateful for the BC government’s funding boost this year to open more shelter spaces, a month earlier than usual, on top of 600 temporary modular homes. This winter, providing a warm place to sleep, a meal, and access to health services can make all the difference to getting people back on their feet and into secure homes.”

The City of Vancouver provided $720,000 in funding for the shelters.

Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing, said the provincial government is working on long-term initiatives to combat homelessness, on top of the temporary winter shelter program.

“We want people experiencing homelessness to get the services they need. That’s why we are working with the City to make sure people in need not only have access to a warm bed, but also meals and health services to help them stabilize and transition into permanent housing,” she said in the release. “Although this is a temporary solution, our government is working on a homelessness action plan that includes long-term strategies to tackle a crisis that has been ignored for too long.”

Photo by Jason Payne via ‘The Vancouver Sun’

C C Although this is a temporary solution, our government is working on a homelessness action plan that includes long-term strategies,” Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing.”

Career planning workshop held at Coquitlam campus

> Presentation provides guidance on how to choose a career

Colten Kamlade Staff Reporter

D ouglas College hosted a career planning workshop for students at the Coquitlam campus October 26.

The two-part workshop is run by Gurmit Grewal and Kristen Rattray, with the second session to be held November g. The first session covered everything from how personal values affect employment decisions, to how external factors shape choices. Only a few people attended, so there was plenty of opportunity for one-on- one time with the counsellors.

Grewal said people invest a lot of time in their jobs.

“We spend roughly one third of our lives at work,” she said.

If such a large portion of life is spent in the workplace, Grewal said, people should put serious thought into their careers.

“We spend a lot of time giving thought to decisions like buying a car ... If only people would spend that much time thinking about their careers,” she said. “How many people take a car for a test drive before they

actually buy it? Pretty much everyone.

But how many people actually go out, and ‘test-drive’ a career?” she asked. Grewal said it’s important

to start thinking about careers while still in college.

“I worked with a lot of adults in their forties,” she said. “These were individuals who had done the shotgun approach to career planning.”

According to Grewal, those people shared the same sentiment.

“I would hear it over and over again, ‘I wish I had done this while I was in college,” she said.

The workshop also touched on how values can help guide people into careers that they will feel good about.

“There are some career theorists who see values as the most important places to start when we're looking at career,’ Rattray said. “If you can really connect your values to what your'e doing... that’s going to give you some clear satisfaction.”

Rattray spoke about the importance of values generally in people's lives.

“[Values] help organize what’s important to us,” she said. “[Value] also impacts our choices and the decisions we make ... very specifically in the career-planning experience.”

Even if you missed this workshop, Douglas College offers career counselling services to students.

You can book appointments online on the Douglas College website.

Photo via pacificpremiere.com