Community Resource Bus Schedule

Community Resource Bus 748-8281
Mondays – Crofton Community School 8:45AM - 11:45AM

Tuesdays – Kuper Island 10:20AM – 1:00AM

Wednesdays – Malahat First Nation 10:30AM – 1:30AM

Thursdays – Sherman Rd, Curling Rink 9:30AM – 12:30AM

Fridays – Lake Cowichan, Saywell Park 9:30AM – 12:30AM

Alicia and Emilia say farewell

Alicia and Emilia, our Canada World Youth volunteers have completed their Cowichan rotation and are on their way to Mozambique. They have been a huge asset to the project, helping to get the bus ready for the road, assembling the toy and book data base and participating in the on board program. We will miss them!

Rainbows Into the Community

The Resource Bus began its innagural trip into the Cowichan Valley mid-October. Our first visit was to the Curling Rink in Duncan. Here are photos of our first trips out, rainbow included!

More bubbles and fun at the Walk.

We were especially fortunate to have our inaugural story telling on the bus at The Walk of the Nations. The story was told by John from the Quw'utsun Cultural Centre, and he told the story of the Whale and the Thunderbird. Thank you John! The bus filled with eager young listeners, and after John was done, the story telling chair was filled with a steady stream of young story tellers, telling stories to even younger ones and their parents. It was a great day!

The Resource Bus attends The Walk of the Nations Oct 3rd

What's so special about the Cowichan Valley? The spirit of community and the Walk of the nations. "The Walk of the Nations began in 2008 as a legacy of the Cowichan 2008 North American Indigenous Games. The Walk Committee came together and started to plan an event that would see the entire community come together and walk for acceptance, understanding, respect and reconciliation of all peoples living in the Cowichan Valley." (from the Walk of the Nations web site). That's our ED Maureen Gallinger blowing bubbles.

http://www.walkofthenations.ca/index.php

Our Beautiful Bus! 99.9 COMPLETE!!!

Isn't she gorgeous!

Canada World Youth Volunteers

From Toronto and Mozambique, we are pleased to welcome Alicia and Emilia's valuable contribution to the project. There's Bill working in the background--almost done!

Cowichan Community Resource Bus

Cowichan Community Resource Bus: "larger size. View Older Posts for the full story. email: karen.allen@cowichanfamilylife.org"

London Drugs Supports Community Resource Bus

Press Release

September 5th was a special day for both London Drugs and Cowichan’s Community Resource Bus. Allen Peabody, manager of Duncan’s new London Drugs, hosted a community day and made a generous presentation to the Resource Bus project.

On site to receive the donation of over $1000 worth of items from the project’s wish list were executive director Maureen Gallinger and project coordinator Karen Allen of Cowichan Family Life Association.

The Community Resource Bus is the realization of a vision held by community agencies aiming to provide all children with access to early learning opportunities. The bus will promote the value of literacy and will give young children a head start in their readiness for school entry.

Colourful and friendly, the resource bus will make regular stops throughout the region where children aged 0-6 will board with a parent or caregiver. It will be a welcoming place where families can gather together in a fun, safe, learning environment. Early Childhood Educator Birgit Larsen will lead a StrongStart BC Outreach program that will encourage sharing and playing together, singing and reading stories, cooking, crafts, nature study, and dress up for imaginative young children.

The bus, donated by School District 79, will contain a book lending library, Literacy Backpacks, a toy lending library, resources for parents, a computer station, a food and a clothing bank.

Hosted by Cowichan Family Life Association, the Resource Bus is the result of several key community agencies coming together to guide and contribute to the project. This is a brand new initiative for the Cowichan Valley. Currently completing a retrofit, the bus is targeted for an October start date to begin its scheduled outreach to designated stops in the community.

The bus has tremendous potential to build community capacity, strengthen families and make stronger neighbourhoods. Gallinger says, “Karen and I are very pleased to welcome London Drugs as a corporate partner on this exciting community project.”

Members of the community can join the fun by registering with London Drugs’ “Here’s Looking at You, Baby” Photo Contest. Pre-registration takes place in the studio located in Duncan Mall (old CD Plus store) on September 14 from 9:30am-5pm. with all proceeds going to the Resource Bus. The contest takes place from September 15-30 with well-known photographer Lisa Petterson.

For more information about the Resource Bus, contact Karen Allen at 250 748-8281

Wish List

Cowichan’s Community Resource Bus has a Wish List
We welcome your support! Let us know how you would like to help out.

Fuel ($5000)
Tires
Awning-full size RV
Fantastic Fan
Portable Generator
Banner
Gazebo/Sun Shelter
Sandwich Board
Indoor Carpet 4.5 ft x up to 9 ft
Outdoor RV Carpet
Folding Table
Laptop Computer
Craft Materials/Supplies
Hole Punch
Cutlery
Drinking Cups for Children
Plastic Bowls/plates
Mugs
Serving Plates
Drain Board/Rack
Juice/Water Jug
Kitchen Towels/dishcloths
Step Stools (2)
Tool box and basic tools
Shelving for storage (books/toys)
Flares
Metal mailbox
Door mat
Back Pack First Aid kit
Mirror

Building the Cabinetry

Bill from Silver Fox Woodworking on the job.

Our Shiny New Floor.

Materials donated by Valley Carpet One. Thank You!! Watch for some amazing transformations over the next few weeks as Bill gets busy with the cabinets!

Construction Location

Our Resource Bus is staying at Providence Farm while the remainder of the construction takes place. http://www.providence.bc.ca/

Stuffy Buddies Needed!

Each child will receive a Stuffy Buddy after 5 visits to the bus. A Stuffy Buddy is a friendly stuffed toy that a child can keep. The toy is a reading buddy to which the parent or child can read in order to help encourage literacy at home. Do you have spare small stuffed toys in good condition? Please save them for the bus! Drop them off at Cowichan Family Life, 2-C 2753 Charlotte Road, Duncan.

New Paint

Here we are with Rob, one of the painters at Cowichan Collision.

Before and After

Here we are with a brand new coat of paint.

Heat, Water, Power

We had these services installed at Greg's RV. We are ready for the cold weather!

Visions for a Resource Bus

Our bus, like other buses in the province of BC are modelled after the successful and well-loved W.O.W Bus (Words On Wheels) in Parksville. You can find resource buses in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, and Powell River. A new bus project is now getting started in Vernon. We hope OUR BUS will look this great when's its completed.

Ready for a new coat of Paint

July 2009,

Sanded, taped and ready for a brand new coat of paint at Cowichan Collision. When all is said and done, our bus will be a cheery yellow. Stayed tuned for pix!

Resource Bus visits Children's Day

July 12 2009
The resource bus makes its first community appearance on Children's Day as part of the Duncan Cowichan Festival.

Reource Bus donated by School District #79

April 2009
Here we are having a look at the bus to see what kind of electrical, plumbing and heating services we can have installed by Greg's RV.