Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Glen Pine Pavilion Winter Market from Friday 4pm–9pm and Saturday 9am–3pm! ⛄ The market features local vendors, crafters, and artisans. Learn more here: glenpine50plus.com/special-even...

#ICYMI Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available! Immunization is an important way to reduce the risk of serious illness this fall and winter. It can also reduce spread, which offers an extra layer of protection to vulnerable people in our communities.

Today, on National UNICEF Day, we recognize the power of collective action to change the lives of children, here in B.C. and around the world. @unicef.org

This week, we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Week — a time to recognize the rights, strengths, and contributions of children, youth and adults with Down syndrome across B.C.

Looking for some family friendly Halloween activities this season? 👻 The annual Heritage Halloween celebration at Mackin House is back on October 25 from 12pm - 3pm. There will be Halloween crafts, candy, face painting, and more! 🎃 Check it out here: www.coquitlamheritage.ca/events/herit...

Last week I met April through the @BCFPA. April has been a long-time foster caregiver in BC alongside her partner. This conversation was so rich and insightful – it made it hard to narrow down the moments to share!

More families will now have more access to high-quality child care closer to home. New spaces are opening in 14 communities across the province, which gives more opportunities for kids to learn and grow. #ChildCareBC Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/32927

Join us in practicing how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during the largest earthquake drill #BCShakeOut tomorrow October 16 at 10:16am. Beyond the drill, we are encouraged to critically review our emergency preparedness plans and supplies. Learn more here: www.shakeoutbc.ca

If you’re looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate Diwali this year, drop by the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam tonight from 6-8 pm for some food, vendors, and a live performance. Most activities are free and all-ages! Learn more here: www.coquitlamheritage.ca/events/diwal...

Hard to believe that it’s already the end of the first week of fall session in the legislature.

Young people are facing an increasingly complex world. I’m so glad that female-identifying and non-binary youth & young adults around the province can now access Healing House as part of their recovery journey. This program will provide a safe space & help give them the hope & support they need.

Starting this school year, early literacy screenings for Kindergarten students will help kids by identifying reading challenges earlier, so they can get the support they need from the start 📚

BC Students will now gain life-saving skills they'll carry for life. CPR and AED learning is now part of the Grade 10 Physical and Health Education curriculum - empowering students with the knowledge to be better equipped in emergencies. Learn more: curriculum.gov.bc.ca

Students are officially back in school, so remember to drive safe and be aware of your surroundings. 🚸 Slow down in school zones 🛑 Stop for school buses when red lights are flashing 🚶🚶‍♀️ Always yield to pedestrians Learn more at roadsafetybc.ca

Stay safe and cool during hot weather 🌡️ Follow local resources for warm weather resources: 📍 City of Coquitlam: www.coquitlam.ca/1088/Warm-We... 📍 Kwikwetlem First Nation: kwikwetlem.com ☀️ Visit weather.gc.ca for weather alerts 🎒 Check out more tips at preparedbc.ca/ExtremeHeat

Stay safe and up-to-date on emergency information and resources: For local resources: 📍 City of Coquitlam: www.coquitlam.ca/304/Emergenc... 📍 Kwikwetlem First Nation: kwikwetlem.com For up-to-date information: 🔥 BCWildfire.ca ⚠️ EmergencyInfoBC.ca 🚗 DriveBC.ca 🎒 PreparedBC.ca

The next few days are going to be hot and Environment Canada has issued Heat Warnings for Metro Vancouver & the Fraser Valley. 🌡️ Stay safe & stay cool by following these tips: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/.... ❄️ Find cooling centres & resources in Coquitlam here: www.coquitlam.ca/1088/Warm-We...

Wildfires, flooding & extreme weather events can be stressful for both children & parents. I’m thankful for organizations like Triple P that are providing tools & resources to help parents guide their children through these difficult times triplep-parenting.ca/ca/triple-p

I’m thrilled to hear that Core Inn Youth Project on #saltspringisland has received an Island Health Youth Resiliency Grant! This funding will boost the Core Youth Centre’s harm reduction program, allowing youth on Salt Spring Island to access more crucial supports for mental health & substance use

Know before you go: Camping safety ⛺ It's camping season! Remember these wildlife safety tips and stay safe this summer. Learn more about enjoying BC Parks safely this summer: bcparks.ca/plan-your-tr...

Know before you go: Hiking safety 🥾 Our #BCParks and trails offer fantastic hiking opportunities and views. Remember that wildlife encounters can happen anywhere, from the remote backcountry to your favorite busy trail. Use these tips to #staysafe when encountering wildlife this summer.

Know before you go: wildlife safety 🐻 🦌 Stay safe this summer when visiting our beautiful #BCParks. BC Parks offer amazing opportunities for wildlife spotting, but encounters with the wild animals can be dangerous if you aren't prepared. ❌ Never feed the wildlife 🖐️ Stay a safe distance away

Walking into the Gitxsan Child and Family Services I felt incredibly welcomed. The spirit of all the people who work there was incredibly warm.

Day #2 of our Northwest BC tour! It is an incredibly beautiful place with people who are doing essentially important and hard work every day!! More videos to come!!

Day 1 of the Northern tour Thank you so very much to the Northwest Child Development Centre in Smithers for welcoming me. It was inspiring to hear about the integrated wraparound services & supports provided to communities in the North, including some of the most remote & hard to travel to places

This week we are touring Northwest BC. I have the opportunity to meet with MCFD direct service staff, community providers & Nations. Today we started on the beautiful territory of the WET'SUWET'EN. I'll be posting more about the important work being done & the dedicated staff & professionals!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to tour Sunny Hill Health Centre at @bcchi B.C. Children’s hospital as well as BC Centre for Ability jointly with our Minister of Health @josieosborne.bsky.social.

It’s been a year since BC's Representative for Children and Youth issued the Don’t Look Away report, and Colby’s sacred story remains in our hearts and minds. We need to do better, and we will.

📢 We want to hear from you! Please take some time to share your ideas on how we can get critical infrastructure projects like hospitals, schools and student housing built faster in B.C. 🏥 🏫 Public engagement is open now 👉 news.gov.bc.ca/32556

Our province's tech and gaming industry is growing and some of the best games in the world are developed right here in B.C. 🎮 🕹️

Hopeful parents can now apply for up to $19,000 to help cover the cost of a single IVF cycle, so more families have the chance at parenthood. Funding will be income tested, so the people who need the most help will get it. Learn more here: StrongerBC.gov.bc.ca/HealthCare

Youth & young people with care experience deserve the opportunity to gain skills & knowledge without barriers, financial burden or worry. Thank you Youth in Care Canada for compiling a great list of post-secondary supports. Check out the list of supports: youthincare.ca/british-columbia

Know before you go! Travel safe this summer by looking ahead and getting important updates while on the road. 🚗 DriveBC.ca ⚠️ EmergencyInfoBC.ca ☀️ Weather.gc.ca 🔥 BC Wildfire Service 🎒 PreparedBC.ca Learn more travel safety tips: blog.gov.bc.ca/emergen.../d...

#DYK first-time home buyers may be eligible for a tax exemption and other resources that make things easier to get into their first home? These include: 🏠 First Home Savings Account 🏠 Home Buyers' Plan 🏠 First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit 🏠 First-Time Home Buyers' Plan

Despite efforts to improve the legal system, too many survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence still face a justice system that doesn’t work for them. That is why the Attorney General appointed Dr. Stanton to conduct an independent review on how B.C.’s justice system treats survivors.

Despite efforts to improve the legal system, too many survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence still face a justice system that doesn’t work for them. That is why the Attorney General appointed Dr. Stanton to conduct an independent review on how B.C.’s justice system treats survivors.

Registration for the future skills grant is now open! The grant helps equip people with the skills necessary for in-demand jobs, enhancing their skills and career progression. Over 300 programs are eligible 🌱💻🔧 💼 Learn more and apply today! news.gov.bc.ca/32477 #FutureReadyBC

Yesterday I had the opportunity to stop in at the Everybody Belongs conference. It was inspiring to see so many people come together to take action on meaningful inclusion and belonging for all. Thank you to Inclusion Canada, Inclusion BC and Aspire Richmond for hosting the conference.

#DYK there is an official BC Wildfire app, where you can: ✔️ Get the latest wildfire info right on your phone ✔️ Report a wildfire instantly ✔️ Save your location to receive personalized alerts and notifications Its important to stay informed and stay safe. Learn more at BCWildfire.ca

Today is #InternationalDayofPlay - a day to highlight the importance of play for people of all ages, and especially children and youth. Through play, young people express themselves, discover new things and develop skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

What a great resource from the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks to help young people in and from care grow their skills and pursue their goals! Find out if you’re eligible to apply for a Dream Fund bursary before June 16.

We're providing funding to communities to better equip local governments & First Nations to respond to emergencies. Locally, Coquitlam will receive $40,000 to support Incident Command System200 training & Kwikwetlem First Nation will receive $40,000 towards tabletop exercise & operational equipment.

It’s BC Child and Youth in Care Week! This week, and every week, we recognize all the amazing accomplishments of children and youth in and from care. Thank you to the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks and all our partner organizations doing great work to improve the lives of young people in BC

June is National Indigenous History Month and today marks the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. This month, and every month, we honour and celebrate the cultures, traditions, and strength of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

The Community Housing Fund (CHF) is one of the ways we are building affordable housing. Housing proposals are open now for non-profit housing organizations, housing co-operatives, municipalities, First Nations and Indigenous-led housing societies 🏘️ Learn more: www.bchousing.org/projects-par...

Today, BC's minimum wage is going up to $17.85 an hour. Since 2024, minimum wage increases every June automatically based on the previous year’s average inflation rate in BC. Minimum wage increases are one of the ways we're making a difference for BC workers. Learn more: gov.bc.ca/MinimumWage

Everyone deserves equitable access to strong public services, but too many people are left behind due to systemic racism. Since 2022, the Anti-Racism Data Committee has helped us make progress towards a more equitable province. Learn more about this year's report here: news.gov.bc.ca/32401

We're taking action to make communities safer by increasing support for law enforcement to better address non-violent crimes and protect local businesses. Safer communities mean a stronger economy. Learn more here: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...

In #BC economic development, partnership with First Nations and conservation and sustainability go hand-in-hand. That is why our critical minerals vision works in partnership with First Nations, guided by BC's Declaration Act, to grow the economy. Learn more ➡️ News.gov.bc.ca/32395

#DYK the copper and aluminum we produce in BC are some of the lowest carbon in the world? Our abundant critical minerals are essential to modern technology that will power the future, create jobs and developing sustainably.