SOCIAL FORUM EXAMS SOLUTIONS

In 2004, Chilliwack RCMP busted 174 grow-ops. Last year, that dropped
to 50 and this year it stands at 29, according to Coun. Sharon Gaetz.

The city councillor cited this fact as one sign of hope during a
forum on Friday for the city's social issues advisory committee
(SIAC). Gaetz referred to examples of the city, police and others
working together on an issue--in this case grow-ops--and come up with
solutions such as the city's grow op bylaw.

"We went after grow ops from a health and safety point of view," she said.

Gaetz was one of several presenters at the forum, which looked at key
issues such as the housing and homelessness, crime and public safety
issues, health and addictions services, and how these are all
interconnected. About 60 people representing a range of community
groups gathered at the UCFV Theatre for the presentations and to
break into groups to look at how to continue to tackle local social problems.

Coun. Mel Folkman, who chairs SIAC, updated members on health issues
and cited another example of how the community worked together to
solve an issue. In this case, it was the $35 million renovation of
Chilliwack General Hospital. With concern about losing services to
the new Abbotsford hospital, the community raised $5 million on its
own and generated another $30 million at the regional level, Folkman
said: "As a community, we said this is is a priority."

The social issues advisory committee is an initiative of Mayor Clint
Hames, who was the opening speaker. Hames covered a number of topics
but the underlying theme was the need for all people to feel included
in the community.

"We make belonging in our community conditional," he said. "Until we
make people welcome in this community, they will never achieve." --staff