Burnaby BC; December 9, 2009 – SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Lorraine Copas, effective December 14, 2009. Lorraine comes to SPARC BC from Metro Vancouver where she served as the Senior Regional Planner and was instrumental in leading their Regional Affordable Housing Strategy.

Lorraine brings to SPARC BC extensive knowledge and experience working in the areas of research, social policy, and affordable housing, as well as the non-profit and government sectors. Her experience also includes community-based research on a broad range of topics including housing stability, family well-being, and income and social mix which will be invaluable in this new role.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Derek Gent, President of SPARC BC says “Lorraine excels in her experience and passion for evidence-based approaches to achieving social change and her capacity to translate strategies into action. We are very excited about working with Lorraine.”

SPARC BC is a non-partisan, independent charitable organization focused on positive change in the key social issues of income security, accessibility, and community development. By providing research services, consulting, advocacy, and the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities, SPARC BC works with communities in building a just and healthy society for all.
 

Today in The Vancouver Sun, December 08, 2009, Letters Section

Disability advocates ask when will TransLink show leadership in the HandyDART Strike?
Our organizations work with people with disabilities who use HandyDART to overcome the daily challenge of living independently in the community. Our clients, staff and volunteers use HandyDART for the same things that people without disabilities use publicly funded transportation for: going to work or school, getting to the grocery store, and meeting with friends and family. The difference is that many people with disabilities cannot use other modes of public and private transport as people without disabilities when conventional transit service is disrupted. For example, although all of Translink’s vehicles and trains are fully accessible, the distance between a person’s house and the transit system often isn’t.

As this strike drags on into its sixth week, there is not a glimmer of hope that the strike will end soon. On the one hand, MVT Canadian Bus, the company that operates HandyDART, continues to refuse the union’s suggestion to enter into binding arbitration. On the other hand, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1724, the union representing HandyDART drivers in the Lower Mainland has not taken up MVT’s suggestion to return to the bargaining table. Although there are rallies, protests, and letters to the editor in support and against the strike, there is no progress being made towards resolving this intolerable situation.

Where is TransLink? Their silence is deafening. Despite repeated requests in the media from HandyDART users and community advocates, TransLink continues to state it cannot be involved in this dispute and that the strike is between the employer and its workers. This makes no sense to us. TransLink chose MVT to be the custom transit provider in Metro Vancouver. TransLink is ultimately responsible to provide transportation services through HandyDART to people with disabilities, but it refuses to intervene when clearly the relationship between management and workers has completely broken down.

Six weeks is too long to strand people with disabilities in their homes. We urge MVT, ATU and TransLink to come together and end this strike immediately.

Faith Bodnar: BC Association for Community Living
Jane Dyson: BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
Dave Doig: MS Society of Canada, BC and Yukon Division
Emese Szucs: Social Planning and Research Council of BC

Community Agencies call for Immediate Resolution to HandyDART Strike

The BC Association for Community Living (BCACL), BC Coalition of People with
Disabilities (BCCPD) and the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
are calling for an immediate end to the HandyDART strike in Metro Vancouver.
“We are extremely concerned about the impact that this service interruption is having on
people with disabilities and their families in our communities,” said Faith Bodnar, Executive
Director of BCACL.

The Lower Mainland’s HandyDART service is only available to people who need it for kidney
dialysis or cancer treatment.The thousands of people with disabilities and seniors who rely
on HandyDART to get to work, volunteer, attend medical appointments, go shopping, or visit
family and friends have been stranded now for over four weeks.

“HandyDART is crucial for people with disabilities and seniors’ ability to live with independence in the community,” said JaneDyson, Executive Director of the BCCPD. “Most people who use HandyDART live on very low incomes, cannot afford to take taxis and havevery limited transportation options available to them.”

ATU, the HandyDART staff’s union, has asked MVT, the company that operates
HandyDART, to agree to binding arbitration. MVT has rejected this proposal.

“This service interruption must be resolved as quickly as possible,” said SPARC BC ManagerEmese Szucs. “We are urging MVT, ATU and TransLink to come together so that this veryserious situation ends now.”

“People will become increasingly socially isolated and this is a great worry to us. With the
service interruption having no end in sight, our organizations are concerned that it will drag
on into the holiday season. This strike must end now,” said Dyson.

For more information please contact:

Faith Bodnar: BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) 604-777-9100, ext 527
Jane Dyson: BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD)604-875-0188  778-895-6150(Cell)
Emese Szucs: Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)604-718-7756