For immediate release
October 6th, 2010
BURNABY INTERCULTURAL PLANNING TABLE WINS WELCOMEBC AWARD
BURNABY – Burnaby Family Life is proud to announce that it has received a prestigious WelcomeBC award on behalf of the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table. Today has been proclaimed WelcomeBC Day by the provincial government and BIPT has been awarded the province’s first WelcomeBC award for its success at building partnerships, creating new solutions for services in Burnaby and helping newcomers feel welcomed in their new homes.
The Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table (BIPT) is a collaborative interagency effort to maximize the sharing of best practices of the community services sector in Burnaby and collaborate in joint service delivery. Creating engagement opportunities for the whole community, BIPT creates improved sources of information and resources, increases awareness of existing information and resources and helps to identify and resolve gaps in services for people who are new to Canada.
As co-chair of the BIPT, Jeanne Fike was on hand at a provincial government announcement this morning to receive the award. “For decades, I've been part of Burnaby's transformation from a bedroom community to one of Canada's most diverse and thriving cities,” said Fike. “Recognizing Burnaby's changing needs, dozens of local agencies took action through BIPT and the Welcoming Community initiatives. Strengthening the social and economic fabric of Burnaby has been the highlight of my career.”
“On behalf of the members of the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table, I want to thank the province for recognizing our community development work,” said Fike. “I also personally want to acknowledge everyone who has made this possible, especially the United Way for initial funding for our work and helping us to achieve the goals we set for this initiative.”
“We’ve achieved so much more through partnerships and working together than any one single organization could do on its own and it’s making a big difference for the people of Burnaby,” added Fike. “I’m looking forward to new initiatives that we can take on together. It’s all about making Burnaby a stronger, more welcoming and more inclusive community.”
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BACKGROUNDER
Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table
In April 2010, the United Way awarded Burnaby Family Life $35,000 per year for three years to coordinate the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table (BIPT) project. The BIPT Project is a community capacity building/community convening initiative developed to provide better sources of information and community connectivity to the multiple stakeholders working to address the needs of immigrants and refugees and develop Burnaby as a Welcoming Community.
BIPT Membership
Burnaby Board of Trade
Burnaby Community Connections
Burnaby Family Life
Burnaby Hospital
Burnaby Public Library
BC Ministry of Child and Family Development
Burnaby RCMP
Burnaby School District
Fraser Health Authority
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Immigrant Services Society of BC
Journey Home Community
Literacy Now
MOSAIC
South Burnaby Neighbourhood House
St Leonard's Youth and Family Services
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
United Way
Vancouver Lower Mainland Family Services Society
BIPT Website
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