Season 2 Episode 8: Everyone belongs to someone (with Jackie Dickinson and Jen Ford)

In this episode of the Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton and Cole Stefiuk are joined by Jackie Dickinson, Executive Director of the Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) and Councillor Jen Ford, who serves on the WCSS board of directors.  

Jackie reveals her secret to caring, which is recognizing that everyone belongs to someone. They discuss the connection between municipalities and social services, where the money comes from, and the benefits to WCSS of raising their own unrestricted funds through the Re-Use-It centre, the Re-Build-It centre and the Bottle Recycling Program.  They review the past 30 years of the WCSS, and how the organization has adjusted during the COVID-19 pandemic. New initiatives including their food and hygiene kit delivery programs and temporary isolation sites are just some examples of how the WCSS has adapted to changing community needs. They discuss the connection between housing security and social security, and the importance of understanding what creates a security net.  They further the conversation with the idea of a social prescription, which was the framework for the collaboration between WCSS and the health clinic and discuss the success of that connection.  Lastly, Jackie invites the listener to get involved and join the Together movement. 

It’s ok to not be ok.  Free, confidential mental health and wellness support is available through Whistler Community Services Society. Outreach workers are just a click away and are here to help. Book an appointment at mywcss.org/contact-outreach