Where change begins: Mission high school students are helping shape the city's Official Community Plan through a youth-led initiative.

Mission youth help shape city policy through PlanH-funded project

In the City of Mission, the voice of its young people is helping shape the future – one policy at a time.  Thanks to a $15,000 grant from the PlanH program’s Healthy Public Policy stream, Mission has taken a big step toward becoming a more youth-informed city. Led by Sharel Isabella, a Senior Policy Planner…

Youth job training program builds skills – and community – in North Cowichan 

Youth job training program builds skills – and community – in North Cowichan 

In Crofton and Chemainus, school breaks are becoming a launchpad for skill-building and connection. Thanks to a PlanH Community Connectedness grant, North Cowichan Parks and Recreation has been running a Youth Job Training Series that’s equipping rural youth with real-world skills – while strengthening their sense of community.  The initiative offers in-person training on days…

BCHC Executive Director Vanessa Manuel (left) and Age-friendly Communities Program Lead Alyssa Roehrich in the BCHC booth at the BCRPA event last week.

BCHC supports healthy aging at BCRPA’s ‘Aging Forward’ event

BC Healthy Communities (BCHC) staff joined professionals from across the province on June 21-22, 2025, for Aging Forward: Connection & Inclusion Through Recreation, an inaugural event hosted by the BC Recreation & Parks Association (BCRPA) at Langara College in Vancouver. As an event sponsor, BCHC highlighted its support for age-friendly initiatives and its commitment to fostering…

BC Healthy Communities welcomes Vanessa Manuel as new executive director

BC Healthy Communities welcomes Vanessa Manuel as new executive director

The Board of BC Healthy Communities Society (BCHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Manuel as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective February 3, 2025. The announcement was made by BCHC Board Chair, Chris Lovelace. “Vanessa brings an extraordinary health-related background that aligns seamlessly with our mission at BC Healthy Communities,” said Lovelace….

Exploring the role of power in equitable community engagement

Jacob Cramer is a Researcher & Planning Assistant with BC Healthy Communities. As a society working to reduce systemic inequities, our systems should work to fairly redistribute opportunity, resources and power. Currently, community engagement processes are building a system which tries for fair opportunity, but often neglects to distribute power and resources. As planners and public…