Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) continues to provide care, comfort and connection to individuals and families in the Corridor throughout the COVID-19 health crisis. We have stayed on the front lines and maintained the delivery of our services during the pandemic by adapting programs to be offered by phone or video platform. British Columbia has now entered Phase 3 of its Provincial Restart Plan, allowing more businesses to open as protocols and health guidelines allow. SSCS has also begun the gradual process of easing more restrictions at its facilities.
For Phase 3, our doors are open and the main office is accessible to the public Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Community members are not required to wear a mask to enter the reception area, however only one person at a time is permitted. We also ask that you sanitize your hands upon entering and exiting the building. Please contact us at community@sscs.ca or 604 892 5796 in Squamish or pemberton@sscs.ca or 604 894 6101 in Pemberton with any questions or to book an appointment.
Here’s an update on how our programs are being offered in Phase 3:
Adult and Family Services
Better at Home: Seniors who want help with getting groceries, picking up medication, picking up library books, or just having someone to talk to can contact this program to be matched with a volunteer. Or, if you’d like to volunteer to support a local senior, you can also be matched up with someone. To access this service or to volunteer, call 2-1-1 or email SSCS at betterathome@sscs.ca.
Counselling Assistance Fund: This fund is for men (over 15 years of age), couples and families, to help pay for private counselling services. Many community counsellors are currently offering video and phone counselling services during the health crisis. To apply for this fund, go to sscs.ca/counselling-services/counselling-assistance-registration.
Family Support Program: Support for parents in their role as caregivers by strengthening family life, leading to healthy child and family development. Services may include; counselling support and child/parent conflict resolution, assessment and goal planning, parent education, budgeting and household management skills, communication skills and referrals to community services and supports. For Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish email yvonne.mcskimming@sscs.ca.
Homeless Outreach: If you or someone you know needs housing or basic needs support. In Squamish, contact Lisa Young at 604 848 9605 or lisa.young@sscs.ca, and for Whistler/Pemberton, contact Chaelyn Falconer at 604 698 9034 or chaelyn.falconer@sscs.ca.
Housing: In-person rent payments (debit/cheque/cash) are being accepted at the Squamish Main Office Monday to Friday between 8:30am-4:30pm. No mask is required, however tenants are asked to please sanitize their hands upon entering/exiting. Physical distancing measures remain in place at all SSCS Housing locations. We ask that people refrain from visiting Castle Rock Family Housing, Centrepoint or Riverstones Apartments if they are feeling ill, or have travelled within the past 14 days. The Castle Rock Family Housing playground is now open.
Life Skills and Community Employment Services: Our Community Living Program welcomes participants to attend summer programs (mostly outdoors) each morning and Zoom video classes in the afternoons. Our team continues to engage participants by offering programs such as Sports/Games in the Park, Life Skills/Employment classes, Fitness, Exploring Trails, and Work Chat Rooms using the Zoom video platform. Virtual service delivery is keeping us connected while making new friends. Individual supports for participants are arranged for by their support worker and scheduled based on interest and need. Please contact community@sscs.ca for more information.
Pemberton Food Bank: Services are available Monday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm by appointment only. Contact: Loralee Seitz at foodbankpemberton@sscs.ca or 604 698 5521.
Poverty Law Advocacy: For Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, legal support and advice continues to be offered over the phone and through email correspondence only. For assistance, contact Peter Yates at 604 389 8069 or peter.yates@sscs.ca.
Settlement Services: In partnership with Capilano University, we continue to provide support to immigrants and newcomers to Whistler and Pemberton online and at the Whistler Foodbank during the health crisis. Services include:
- Supported access to government and local community services including social benefits
- Help to understand documents, application forms and processes
- Health and healthcare information
During the COVID-19 health crisis, Whistler Welcome Centre settlement services, support, and updates are available online at welcomewhistler.com/settlement-services or please contact info@welcomewhistler.com or 604 698 5960 for more information.
Stopping the Violence (STV): Our STV counsellors will support women through phone calls, emails and video chats offering emotional support, referrals to community resources, help with navigating the legal system and creating a safety plans. For Whistler/Pemberton/Lil’wat/Southern Stl’atl’imx communities contact Jane at jane.walser@sscs.ca or phone 604 698 6909. For Squamish, contact Lise at lise.hamilton@sscs.ca or phone 604 892 5796.
Youth Services
SSCS continues to provide safe and fun activities for youth 12 to 24-years-old. We are now offering more face-to-face group and individual opportunities! Join into one of our programs offered Monday to Friday.
Monday
- 1:30pm: Virtual Games on Instagram
Tuesday
- 2-4pm: Everybody Eats Snack Deliveries
Wednesday
- 1-4pm: Dog Walks and Donuts
Thursday
- Treasure Hunt Begins and runs until found!
- 5:30-6:30pm: Art Together at Howe Sound Secondary School
Friday
- 1:30pm: Visit us at the Squamish Skate Park for free food, drinks, prizes and games.
- 3:30-4:30pm: LIFT Fitness Class for Girls 13-24-years-old at Brennan Park Recreation Centre field
For more information on programs contact Youth Services Coordinator Caitlin Anderson: caitlin.anderson@sscs.ca, 604 815 3004.
Follow Squamish Youth Worker on Instagram or Squamish Youth Services on Facebook. Additional information and resources can be found at sscs.ca/youth-programs.
Children Services
Child Development: Our child development services continue to source more online resources and activities, and will be keeping our www.seatoskykids.ca website updated and fun for you! If you have concerns about your child’s development and want to connect with any of our professionals contact community@sscs.ca for more information.
Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program (HPOP): We are now hosting HPOP in the Park sessions for this summer on Mondays and Wednesdays. These group sessions follow physical distancing guidelines, as well as, offering a free lunch and a weekly guest speaker. Registration is mandatory to control the number of people at the gathering. Please email hpopstaff@sscs.ca to subscribe to the weekly emails and receive the link to register for a drop-in session in the park.
IDP Playgroup: The Infant Development Program (IDP) is meeting in Squamish at Brennan Park on Fridays from 10 to 11:30am. Registration is required. Please contact Annie McDonald, annie.mcdonald@sscs.ca or Laurie Low, laurie.low@sscs.ca to inquire or if you have any questions regarding infant development. IDP is also running a group in Whistler at Bayly Park on Mondays from 10 to 11:30pm, and in Pemberton at Pioneer Park on Thursdays from 10 to 11:30am. Contact gabi.moeller@sscs.ca for more details.
Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP): Our SAIP counsellors continue to support children and youth through video chats, phone calls and emails providing counselling services. To make an appointment with a counsellor in Squamish, Pemberton or Whistler, call 604 567 9089.
StrongStart and Parent-Tot drop-ins remain suspended until further notice.
If you have questions or concerns about your newborn to 3-year-old child’s development, please contact our Child Development team to inquire about the services that we offer. Please email community@sscs.ca.
SPARK: The next session is in November with registration opening on October 1 at 10am. For more information, go to www.seatoskykids.ca/spark.
Childcare Services
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR): We continue to offer workshops, network meetings and circle time virtually, and are taking referrals from essential service workers and non-essential workers for childcare. In-person Mother Goose program began in Whistler and Squamish in July, following all health guidelines and protocols. CCRR Walks are also happening on Thursdays at 9:15am from Brennan Park Recreation Centre to the Adventure Centre. Contact lisa.mcintosh@sscs.ca for information.
Childcare: The summer childcare programs that SSCS currently has open are prioritizing space for essential service workers (ESW) until August 31. We have also welcomed back our regular families as space allows. For July and August, we have the Dandelions and Dragonflies preschool-aged program open 8:30am-5pm and a school-aged summer camp at Squamish Elementary open 8am-6pm. All of our childcare programs will be open and back to regular programming in September. Please contact cheryl.simpson@sscs.ca for more information.
SSCS would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the individuals, stakeholder groups and businesses in the community for their continued support during this unprecedented time. Please, help us meet the critical needs related to the current crisis so we can continue to provide much-needed supports to those most vulnerable and in need.
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