Meet Our Communities
PRINCETON, BC
Princeton community members hosted a wide variety of events including a community leaders workshop, a high school student wellness event, town council presentations, a community-wide mocktail party, a film screening and panel discussion, and a student-led AUD group at Princeton Secondary. Click below to read more!
*A special thanks to the Princeton Community Health Table, Interior Health, and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan & Similkameen.
SOUTH OKANAGAN, BC
We are excited to partner with Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre on a year-long community engagement program in Oliver and Osoyoos. This initiative has already expanded access to care and brought greater balance to the Festival of the Grape, a key event in BC’s Wine Country. To promote awareness and conversations around responsible consumption, Desert Sun provided over 300 attendees with free water, mocktail recipes, and educational resources on AUD and mindful drinking. Stay tuned for more events in Winter and Spring 2025!
“It made significant impacts in our community. We’ve seen measurable improvements in both awareness and engagement around AUD. The community’s support has been incredible, and it’s heartening to witness tangible changes.”
-Ed Staples & Nienke Klever, Princeton Residents
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC
One theme that emerged from the Campbell River Community Foundation’s Vital Conversation workshop was the importance of storytelling and the voices of those with lived experience in shaping conversations about AUD. This recognition led the community to embrace the local theatre as a space where these narratives could be shared and heard. As part of this effort, How to Fail at Relationships, a play written and performed by two Campbell River residents, was sponsored to bring these themes to the stage. Blending humour, poetry, and raw honesty, the performance opened space for reflection and conversation, reinforcing the broader initiative’s goal of fostering understanding, reducing stigma, and supporting diverse paths to recovery at the community level.
PRINCE GEORGE, BC
Prince George took an important step toward reshaping how AUD is understood and addressed at the community level with a Vital Conversation workshop, hosted by the Prince George Community Foundation. At the workshop, local organizations, healthcare providers, and community members came together to share insights, identify strengths, and discuss ways to drive meaningful change. The discussions highlighted the community’s long history of grassroots action, strong partnerships, and commitment to inclusivity as key foundations for future initiatives. With this momentum, the groundwork has been laid for continued action, and there are many ways to get involved in shaping what comes next!
“We are dedicated to this work because we have seen how alcohol use disorder is a root cause of social issues within communities, and also how supporting better understandings and treatment options can make such a huge difference to so many.”
– Aaron McRann, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen
KAMLOOPS, BC
We are excited to partner with United Way BC to launch a community-driven initiative in Kamloops! Early efforts are already underway, with key collaborations forming around Thompson Rivers University, youth engagement, and local industry involvement. The initiative builds on the momentum of ReThinking Drinking: A Community Conversation on Alcohol, where diverse stakeholders—from healthcare providers and educators to Indigenous leaders and business representatives—came together to discuss opportunities for change.
This is just the beginning! With many community partners already involved, there is incredible potential to drive lasting change, and we welcome all those interested in joining in!
NANAIMO, BC
We’re partnering with the Nanaimo Foundation to launch a community workshop and discussion on Wednesday, April 2nd at the Coast Bastion Hotel —and you’re invited!
This is your chance to be part of a collaborative discussion on alcohol use and community well-being. We’ll explore how we can work together to promote awareness, improve access to care, and support healthier choices in our region. Whether you’re a service provider, educator, business owner, or community member, your voice matters in shaping local solutions.
✅ Free event
✅ Lunch included
✅ An opportunity to connect and make a difference