At the opening ceremony of BC Care Providers Association’s 40th Annual Conference and Celebration in Whistler, CEO Daniel Fontaine announced three items of significance to both the organization’s members and B.C.’s continuing care sector at large.
Speaking to approximately 500 conference delegates, Fontaine announced that BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) will be moving to the 14th floor of Metrotower One in Burnaby, effective September 1, 2017. The office will provide additional space for new personnel for both BCCPA and SafeCare BC. The expanded space will also feature a dedicated training room that will comfortably accommodate up to 30 people and allow for rural members to access e-learning opportunities.
“We are very excited about moving and expanding our overall capacity to support our members,” says Fontaine. “The additional space will support our ability to increase our focus on both home care and assisted living. Furthermore, the new SafeCare BC training centre will be a huge benefit not only for the continuing care staff who will use it, but also for our seniors, who will benefit from well-trained care givers.”
Further to that news, Fontaine also announced that the BCCPA Board of Directors have approved a $40,000 fund which will be directed in part toward 40 Concerts in Care events to be held at care homes and assisted living sites around B.C. This initiative is meant to acknowledge BCCPA’s 40th anniversary as the leading voice for seniors care in B.C.
“For BCCPA, turning 40 has been as much about celebrating our past as bringing forth new initiatives to improve quality of life for those in care,” adds Fontaine. “We could not be doing this work without the amazing support we receive from our membership.”
Lastly, Fontaine told delegates that he had received news of a “significant drop” in WorkSafeBC injury claims for residential care providers in 2016. The actual percentage drop will be released at a later date.
“A few years ago we were looking at a fairly negative picture when it came to workplace injury rates in B.C.” says Fontaine. “The numbers to be released by WorkSafe BC in the coming weeks are going to demonstrate that our decision to establish SafeCare BC and invest in safety programs and training was a good one.”
