It鈥檚 the 14-year-old in 4-H who gets a loan to buy a calf that pays for college. It鈥檚 the single mom survivor of violence who feels broken and alone on her first day of Bridges and completes the program feeling capable of building a healthy life for her kids.
It鈥檚 the young Philipino father who came to Vernon through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP program and went on to open a handyman business that took second place in the Enterprize Challenge and earned the caretaker鈥檚 contract for Murphy鈥檚 Landing, the new housing development for medical students.
These are the moments, the lives, the ripples of positivity that staff at Community Futures North Okanagan are reflecting on as they celebrate 40 years of making an impact in Vernon.
鈥淭here have been so many of those special moments that we鈥檙e proud of 鈥� the small things that are actually really big,鈥� says Chelan Cotter, a business advisor who has been with CF North Okanagan for 23 years.
The organization was once a one-person, one-room presence in the same building where drivers鈥� licenses are renewed. That鈥檚 how Michele Hill first found Community Futures 30 years ago, when she needed a loan to start her business, Hill Environmental. To give back to the organization, Hill began volunteering on the loans committee in 2006 and later served on the board for nine years, eight as chair. After a recent break, Hill has just rejoined the board.
鈥淭he way Community Futures has grown and risen to meet the challenges of this community in a grassroots way is just incredible,鈥� says Hill. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very much client-driven and that鈥檚 a big part of our success: clients and community are first and foremost in every service we offer.鈥�
Today, a team of 45 staff lead a range of employment, business and economic development initiatives that continuously adapt and improve to meet market needs. It鈥檚 the largest Community Futures in Canada and is looked upon as a leader in the sector.
Community Futures Highlights:
鈥� 1996, moved into current building on 33rd Street;
鈥� 2019, earned the Employment Program of BC contract, merging 10 local employment programs into a one-stop shop model;
鈥� 2020, opened THE VIEW co-work space downtown;
鈥� 2019-2024, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) opens to address labour shortages;
鈥� 2015, started the Enterprize Challenge;
鈥� 2024, opened Murphy鈥檚 Landing, workforce housing developing for medical students.
鈥淚 think the turning points have always been and continue to be our willingness to take risks, to stretch ourselves and learn new things, to build partnerships and relationships so we can take on the big things,鈥� says Kim Lauritsen, who joined Community Futures in 2001 and is now employment services manager. 鈥淎nd the fact that we have a long-standing management team and amazing staff who are willing to do hard things.鈥�
Indeed, ask any long-time staff what makes the organization special, and, after a nod to courageous clients, they鈥檒l say: It鈥檚 the team.
Cotter tells of a team member with a mobility challenge whose house was flooded and needed help moving; 10 coworkers showed up on a Saturday to help move. And then there was that snowstorm when Vernon came to a grinding halt with snow too deep for cars to get around.
鈥淭here were still five of us here. We walked to work,鈥� says Cotter. 鈥淲e knew we would have clients out waiting on the street, and we couldn鈥檛 have that.鈥�
On Oct. 23, those who have been a part of the Community Futures community have been invited to an open house celebration. Lauritsen says it will be a special day to mark milestones and thank everyone who contributed along the way.
鈥淲e are immensely grateful to the community partners, funders, clients and team members who have made all of our successes possible and so worthwhile.鈥�
