Poverty Reduction Strategy

Community Together to end Poverty - HW-NUTS'-ULWUM (As One):

The CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum (As One) Poverty Reduction Strategy is a solutions-focused approach identifying themes and recommended action items to reducing poverty in Ladysmith and Stz’uminus.

This Ladysmith Council-endorsed document was developed through extensive engagement with local residents about the challenges experienced by people living in poverty.

It is a plan that has been created by the community, for the community.

Council then created the Poverty Reduction Task Group in 2022 to lead the implementing of the strategy, supported by $50,000 in funding received from the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).

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Community Dinner & Dialogue

The Town is hosting a series of community Dinner & Dialogue events as part of the ongoing CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum (As One) Poverty Reduction Strategy implementation.

The first of the four events organized by the Town’s Poverty Reduction Task Group of local agencies is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Aggie Hall.

Ladysmith and Stz’uminus residents are invited to this free dinner to learn about the Town’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and continue the ongoing conversation on local solutions for improving affordability, equity and inclusion.

Community Dinner &amp; Dialogue Dec 14 2023

Employer Seminar Series

In partnership with the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, we are looking to host a four-part seminar series for employers, businesses and organizations in the Ladysmith/Stz’uminus area.

These sessions aim to offer training, education, and support to reduce barriers when recruiting, hiring, and retaining people earning a low income and/or seeking employment. Each seminar will include a guest/panel speaker(s) to share stories and expertise with an opportunity for discussions.

Funding for this has been made possible through provincial poverty reduction planning & action funds awarded to the Town of Ladysmith.

Take the survey to let us know your availability.

Employer Survey graphic - final Oct 2023

Fruit Rescue Project

Do you have extra fruit on trees or veggies in your garden that you could use some help picking? Each year, an abundance of apples, cherries, plums and more are grown locally, but not always harvested.

As part of the CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Town of Ladysmith is supporting the Ladysmith Resource Centre Association (LRCA) in launching a Fruit Rescue project to make sure any extra food grown is harvested and shared within the community.

How it will work: Area residents are invited to contact the LRCA's Fruit Rescue Coordinator, Shannon Crowards, by emailing shannon@lrca.ca or calling 250-245-3079, if you have fruit trees or gardens that you would like help harvesting.

After each harvest, one third of what is collected will go to the owner, one third will be shared with the volunteers and the last third will go to the LRCA Food Bank and/or other partner organizations who will distribute the fruit within the Ladysmith and Stz’uminus communities to those who need it.

Additional information can be found by visiting the LRCA's website.