Kelowna Communauté Nouvelles

January is Braille Literacy Month in Canada, a time to recognize braille as a cornerstone of literacy, learning, and independence for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. That’s where your hands can help. Funds raised through Braille Nails will help support CNIB’s braille literacy programs, ensuring they have access to instruction, materials, and tools that allow them to learn to read and write independently. Just as we would never question the importance of print literacy for sighted children, children who are blind deserve the same foundation for success.

Many individuals seeking support have turned to The Salvation Army for food, clothing and practical assistance, with more than three million visits reported last year in Canada and Bermuda. Donors continue to play a crucial role in helping The Salvation Army provide essential services in 400 communities across Canada.

Alexis Root founded Recovery Kidz Society to support families impacted by substance use disorder, and said a private donor recently reached out hoping to help someone in need. As she usually did, Root went to Shoppers Drug Mart in Pitt Meadows and purchased a $500 gift card that was displayed on the store floor. But when the family went to use it, the gift card “didn’t work,” said Dan, the recipient.

Charitable giving in Canada is on the decline, according to the Fraser Institute’s latest generosity index, which analyzed tax returns to track private donations across the country. The study shows that fewer Canadians are donating, and the value of donations has also fallen.

The Government of Canada is committed to advancing long-term reform alongside First Nations across the country—so child and family services put children, families, and communities at the centre of care. Today, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, announced that the Government of Canada will be submitting a detailed plan to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) to reform the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program — one that respects regional approaches while operating within a coherent national framework.

Kat Williamson (left) and Cheryl Smith are counsellors for Mountain Muskox, a non-profit that offers free peer-support groups for people who have suffered trauma and loss in the mountains. (Tyler Harper/Nelson Star) Cheryl Smith is her truest self in the mountains.