South Cariboo Community Planning Council (SCCPC) activities in 100 Mile House have a significant boost in staff time this summer, thanks to a Canada Summer Jobs federal grant.
Madison Ardiel is a summer student who, until September, is adding 30 hours each week to the nine hours per week budgeted for SCCPC executive director Marna Forsyth.
"We are really excited to have her on board. She has a lot of skills that are definitely going to help her be successful this summer [as our public relations assistant]," says Forsyth.
This includes Ardiel's background in the community, her personality, and some of the strengths that led her to be the Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School 2016 Valedictorian, and Citizen of the Year graduate, Forsyth explains.
Ardiel says she is "very excited" about working with the community and gaining public relations experience this summer, the mentoring from Forsyth, and meeting all the people on the board and the many businesses and organizations involved with SCCPC.
"I love people, and I love giving back to the community. So, this is kind of a perfect opportunity to do both – connect with different people in the community, get to meet them myself, and then present them with the [SCCPC] platform and invite them to come and join us, and be a part of it."
She will be studying General Sciences at Simon Fraser University this fall, which Ardiel says she hopes could lead to her working in social services in 100 Mile House down the road.
This year, the SCCPC is doing a "big membership drive" for which she has been working hard to help get the pamphlets ready, she adds.
"We're looking for individuals, businesses, corporations and organizations – basically anybody who would like to become more involved in the community, and establish more connections within the community."
Ardiel explains that on the fundraising side, she has been working on a raffle for this fall.
"It's still in the works, but it will be coming soon, and the draw will be at our AGM, which is Sept. 15, noon-1:30 p.m., at South Cariboo Rec. Centre."
Everyone is welcome to attend, but only members will be able to vote at the annual general meeting.
Lunch will be provided, so RSVP to southcariboocommunityplanning@gmail.com if you wish to attend.
If you have questions about SCCPC, or to arrange a meeting with Ardiel, e-mail your request to madison.sccpc@gmail.com.
"Watch out for us this summer because we are definitely going to be out and about in the community more, just trying to get more involved, handing out brochures, putting up posters," says Ardiel.
"And stay tuned because there is more to come."