Hon. Murray Coell Photo Gallery Home Page

Photo Gallery
Honourable Murray Coell
Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services

Click photo to enlarge			PROVINCIAL FUNDING ALLOWS MORE JOB TRAINING FOR YOUTH UNDER BLADERUNNERS PROGRAM VANCOUVER – The number of youth taking part in BladeRunners programs in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo will nearly double as a result of $475,000 in provincial funding, allowing more young people to train for jobs in B.C.’s booming construction and trades sectors, Murray Coell, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services, announced April 4. Read the April 4 news release. Photo details. Background: Visit the BladeRunners website. Read Minister Coell's remarks.

Click photo to enlarge			MORE SUPPORTS FOR THE HOMELESS ANNOUNCED SURREY – The federal and provincial governments will provide $20.8 million for projects in Victoria, Kelowna, New Westminster, Prince George, Terrace and Fort St. John. New developments will provide support services such as counselling, treatment for mental health and addictions and services that link people to job training and stable employ employment. Read the news release. Photo details. Background: Visit the BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			PROVINCE FINALIZES BARKERVILLE AGREEMENT VANCOUVER – A 15-year capital site management agreement has been finalized to manage the Barkerville historic site. The agreement includes an additional $1.65 million in transition funds from the Province to facilitate effective operation of the provincial heritage property. The agreement with Barkerville is the last of 13 heritage sites in B.C. to move to community-based models. Read the March 10 news release. Photo details. Background: Visit our ministry's Barkerville page. Visit Barkerville Historic Town online.

Click photo to enlarge			VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH JOINS PROVINCE'S ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE VANCOUVER – Through the Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative (AEPI), Vancouver Coastal Health will identify future job opportunities and share the information with aboriginal organizations so they can better match training programs to the wide range of upcoming jobs within the health sector. Vancouver Coastal Health currently employs more than 27,000 people. Read the news release Photo details. Background: Visit ministry's AEPI website. Visit the Métis Provincial Council of BC AEPI website.

Click photo to enlarge			DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE RECEIVES $2M TO BOOST COMMUNITY’S ECONOMY VANCOUVER – Minister Murray Coell joins representatives from Bell Canada and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralymic Winter Games to celebrate the announcement of $2 million for the economic revitalization of the Downtown Eastside. Read the news release Photo details. Background: Visit the Vancouver Agreement website. Visit the VANOC 2010 official website. Visit the BC Government's 2010 Olympics website.

Click photo to enlarge			PARTNERSHIP INCREASES JOBS FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE VICTORIA – Aboriginal people will have greater access to job opportunities in B.C.’s strong retail sector through a partnership signed Nov. 15 between the Province, Thrifty Foods and aboriginal organizations. Through the Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative (AEPI), Thrifty Foods will identify future job opportunities within its retail grocery outlets so aboriginal organizations can better match training programs to upcoming employment trends in the sector. Read the news release Photo details. Click for another photo same event. Background: Visit ministry's AEPI website. Visit the Métis Provincial Council of BC AEPI website.

Click photo to enlarge			$23.4 MILLION FOR LITERACY AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES VANCOUVER – The Province is investing $23.4 million to improve library services and promote innovative literacy programs in schools and communities across B.C., Premier Gordon Campbell announced Nov. 3. Over half this amount will go toward implementing recommendations contained in the strategic plan, Libraries Without Walls: The World Within Your Reach, produced after extensive consultation with library representatives over the last year. Read the Nov. 3 news release and four backgrounders. Photo details. Background: Visit ministry's Public Library Services branch website. Download Libraries Without Walls strategic plan PDF. Visit the province's Achieve BC website.

Click photo to enlarge			ICBA ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVINCE TO ASSIST ABORIGINAL PEOPLE ENTER CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY VICTORIA – In a move that bolsters cooperation among B.C.’s construction industry, the provincial government and aboriginal organizations, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of British Columbia (ICBA) has become a partner in the Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative (AEPI). The provincial government has provided $900,000 over three years through the Economic Measures Fund to implement AEPI agreements. Read the Oct. 28 news release. Photo details. Click to view another same from same event. Background: Visit ministry's AEPI website.

Click photo to enlarge			PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE TRANSFER OF SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE VICTORIA – On October 12, 2004, Minister Coell and Aboriginal Housing Management Association President Ray Jones presented a plaque to the M'akola Group of Societies board member David Seymour to commemorate the transfer of social housing units for aboriginal people. The event took place at Mungo Martin House in Victoria. Read the news release. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			MINISTER HELPS RAISE LITERACY FUNDS FOR B.C. VICTORIA – Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell was one of 140 volunteers selling copies of the daily paper on street corners here Sept. 30 in support of CanWest Global Foundation's Raise-a-Reader Day. Almost $56,000 was raised for local literacy programs; the national effort brought in $1.66 million — double last year's effort. A matching grant from the Province helped raise close to a million dollars in B.C. Read Sept. 9 news release. Background: CanWest Global Foundation's Raise-a-Reader website. Literacy BC website. Use the National Adult Literacy Database. Visit Ministry of Advanced Education's adult literacy website.

Click photo to enlarge			FORMER HOSPITAL TO BECOME SUPPORTIVE SENIORS HOUSING ENDERBY – The Province, through BC Housing, will help to develop at least 15 new units of affordable housing at the site of the former Enderby Hospital. The Provincial Rental Housing Corporation, which is administered by BC Housing, is purchasing the property and building from Interior Health. Read the news release. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			PARTNERSHIP STREAMLINES IPP APPROVALS KELOWNA – The provincial government has signed a partnership agreement with the Union of BC Municipalities to facilitate the development of independent power projects (IPPs), increasing investment in clean energy sources and ensuring the energy needs of British Columbians are met. The agreement was signed here Sept. 22 during the week-long UBCM convention. Read the news release. Photo details. Background: Ministry link to Union BC Municipalities 2004 convention.

Click photo to enlarge			MORE SENIORS HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE CENTRE VICTORIA – Plans for the Aberdeen Project, a new development that will combine supportive seniors housing, a health care centre and other services for seniors and their families were unveiled here Sept. 13. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2005. Read the Sept. 13 news release and backgrounders. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			HOUSING INTEGRATED WITH PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE VANCOUVER – A new 216-bed development with emergency shelter, transitional housing and resource programs officially opened in downtown Vancouver Sept. 10. The Salvation Army Belkin House is the first facility in Canada to provide such a wide range of services to help homeless people, those at risk of homelessness and low-income families become self-sufficient. Read the Sept. 10 news release. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ESQUIMALT SENIORS ESQUIMALT – Seniors here with low to modest incomes have more housing options with the Sept. 7 opening of 39 units of new supportive seniors housing at Esquimalt Lions Grafton Lodge. Joining representatives from the Esquimalt Lions and tenants of Esquimalt Lions Grafton Lodge for the ribbon cutting are Victoria MP David Anderson [second from left], Esquimalt Mayor [third] Darwin Robinson and provincial minister responsible for housing Murray Coell [fourth]. Read the Sept. 7 news release. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			NEW MIXED-INCOME HOUSING IN COAL HARBOUR VANCOUVER – BC MLAs and Cabinet ministers celebrated the announcement July 28 of the construction of 111 units of mixed-income housing for seniors in Coal Harbour. The new units, located at 1616 Bayshore Drive, a prime downtown location, will offer affordable housing options for low-income seniors involved in the performing arts and allied professions. This development is a multi-partnership initiative between three levels of government and PAL Vancouver (Performing Arts Lodge), a non-profit organization. Read the July 28 news release and backgrounder. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing website.

Click photo to enlarge			INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE NANAIMO – Seniors here with low to moderate incomes have more housing options with the official opening July 20 of 45 units of much needed assisted living housing. Kiwanis House, located at 1233 Kiwanis Crescent, provides affordable independent apartments with support services for seniors and is the first non-profit development to be completed under the Independent Living BC program. Read the July 20 news release and backgrounder. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing's Independent Living BC website.

Click photo to enlarge			AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING FOR ISLAND SENIORS LANGFORD – Seniors here will benefit from 60 new assisted living apartments. Provincial, health authority and community leaders took part June 8 in a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the M’akola Housing Society’s four-storey development on Goldstream Ave. The project is expected to be completed by May 2005. Read the June 8 news release. Photo details. Background: Visit BC Housing's Independent Living BC website.

Click photo to enlarge			PARTNERSHIP INCREASES JOBS FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE VICTORIA – An innovative partnership between the provincial government, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) and aboriginal organizations will increase job opportunities for aboriginal people in B.C.’s booming construction industry. As part of the partnership, the BCCA will identify future job opportunities in construction so aboriginal organizations can better match training programs to upcoming employment trends in the sector. Read the news release. Click for photo and event details Read the Minister's remarks. Background: Visit the Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative website.

Click photo to enlarge			MINISTER IN BARKERVILLE FOR TASK FORCE REPORT BARKERVILLE – While Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell was here in May to receive the Barkerville Task Force Report, he posed with [left to right] Tracey Carson, who plays Mrs. Thompson, Barkerville's schoolteacher; a visiting parent from Lloyd George School in Kamloops; another visiting parent from Kamloops; Carol McGregor, who runs King and Kelly House Bed and Breakfast; and Barkerville manager Robin Sharpe. Click for another photo from same event. Read about historic Barkerville. Visit our ministry's Heritage Branch website.

Click photo to enlarge			COMMUNITY CHARTER: REGULATORY BEST PRACTICES GUIDE RELEASED VICTORIA – The Regulatory Best Practices Guide was written to encourage the best possible use of municipal regulatory authority in relation to broad spheres of jurisdiction outlined in the Community Charter. On hand for its May 17 release were Union of BC Municipalities President Frank Leonard; Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell; and BC Chamber of Commerce President John Winter. Background: Visit the ministry's Community Charter website. The Regulatory Best Practices Guide is available in HTML format or as a downloadable PDF file.

Click photo to enlarge			BEST PRACTICE: PROMOTING SAFE AND SECURE B.C. COMMUNITIES VICTORIA – The Province is providing $100,000 to improve traffic safety. The funds will be administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and used by local governments to bring together teams throughout their communities to tackle projects to reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents. Municipalities will be encouraged to use the Traffic Safety Commission sponsored by the Capital Regional District as a “best practices” model for other local governments to follow. Read the news release. Photo details. Visit Union of BC Municipalities website. Visit CRD Traffic Safety Commission website.

Click photo to enlarge			OKANAGAN MAINLINE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION MARKS 25th CONVENTION KAMLOOPS – Salmon Arm Mayor Colin Mayes (new president of the OMMA), Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell, Cache Creek Councillor Ida Makaro (OMMA executive) and Kelowna Councillor Ron Cannan (past president of OMMA) cut the celebratory cake to mark the municipal association's 25th convention. Visit the ministry's Local Government department website. Visit CivicInfo's website.

Click photo to enlarge			NEW AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING UNITS FOR ISLAND NANAIMO – Seniors and people with disabilities will benefit from 363 new assisted living units announced April 29 for Vancouver Island. These new apartments will give people better access to affordable housing and personal care services. Murray Coell, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services and Ida Chong, Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services visit with Phyllis Wrigley, a resident of the Nanaimo Seniors Village, where the event took place. Read the April 29 news release. Visit BC Housing's Independent Living BC website.

Click photo to enlarge			HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY AT B.C. LEGISLATURE VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell welcomed six holocaust survivors at a ceremony at the Legislature. The six survivors lit six candles to remember the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis between 1933-1945. Joining the Premier at the ceremony were Nisson Goldman, chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress (Pacific Region); Rita Akselrod, vice-president of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre; Lilian Boraks-Nemetz, holocaust child survivor; and Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell. Holocaust Memorial Day was marked around the world on Sunday, April 18, 2004. Background: Premier's remarks on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Download ministry's Holocaust Remembrance Day factsheet.

Click photo to enlarge			ASSISTED LIVING HOUSING UNITS BENEFIT B.C. SENIORS BURNABY - On April 7, 369 new assisted living units were announced through the Independent Living BC program, at an official ceremony held at Nikkei Home in Burnaby. After the announcement, Health Minister Colin Hansen, Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services Ida Chong, and Minister responsible for Housing Murray Coell [far right] visited with Nikkei Home tenants Mr. and Mrs. Jiro Kamiya. Read the April 7 news release and backgrounder. Visit BC Housing's Independent Living BC website.

Click photo to enlarge			WESTERN AND TERRITORIAL MINISTERS EXAMINE A RENEWED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP CALGARY – The western and territorial ministers responsible for Aboriginal affairs met here April 5 and identified priorities they will advance at the meeting of the Federal - Provincial -Territorial Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and the National Aboriginal leaders later this year in Ottawa. Background: Read Final Communiqué. [pdf 30 kb] Visit the ministry's Aboriginal Directorate website.

Click photo to enlarge			GRANT OF $30,000 WILL ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ VANCOUVER – The Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services has provided a grant of $30,000 to support a province-wide summer reading program for over 75,000 children. Starting at the end of the school year, all B.C. children can visit their local public library to join the many free reading activities. The program also offers helpful tips to parents to support their child’s reading and out-of-school learning. Photo details. Background: Read about the library association's Summer Reading Club. Visit the ministry's Public Library Services website.

Click photo to enlarge			INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS CREATE NEW ECONOMIC INITIATIVES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA COMMUNITIES VANCOUVER – The federal and provincial governments are each contributing more than $29 million towards 57 “green” and community infrastructure projects, with a total value of approximately $108 million, under the Canada-British Columbia Infrastructure Program. Read the news release and backgrounder. Click for photo and event details. Background: Read about the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program.

Click photo to enlarge			SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL ENERGY SECTOR JOBS VANCOUVER – As part of the B.C. government's Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative, the Province, Duke Energy Gas Transmission and aboriginal organizations have launched a new partnership to increase job opportunities for aboriginal people in British Columbia's booming energy. The energy firm will identify future job opportunities within the company and make this information available to aboriginal organizations so that they can better match their training programs to those job opportunities. Read the news release. Click for photo and event details. Background: Visit the ministry's Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative website.

Click photo to enlarge			POWER OF 10: STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN VICTORIA – For the past decade, The Body Shop has promoted its award-winning, STOP Violence Against Women campaign and raised funds to support violence prevention programs and shelters across Canada. On International Women's Day, Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell took part in the company's Power of 10 event at Victoria's Bay Centre. Click for photo and event details. Background: Visit the ministry's Stopping the Violence Web site. Visit the ministry's International Women's Day Web site.

Click photo to enlarge			POLICE SUPPORT ABORIGINAL JOB OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT VANCOUVER – An agreement signed March 2 between the provincial government, aboriginal organizations and the Vancouver Police Department will help develop employment opportunities for aboriginal people in law enforcement. The province provides $900,000 over three years to the program, through the Economic Measures Fund. Read the news release. Photo details. Background: Read about Economic Development Initiatives (Treaty Negotiations Office). Visit our ministry's Aboriginal Employment Partnership Initiative website.

Click photo to enlarge Photo: Heritage Society of BC			CELEBRATE HERITAGE WEEK FEB. 16-22 VICTORIA – Heritage Society of B.C. President Maureen Arvanitidis presented Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell with a copy of this year's Heritage Week Poster to help decorate his new office. British Columbia marks Heritage Week this year Feb. 16 - 22. Background: Visit ministry's Heritage Branch Web site. 2004 Heritage Week poster. Provincial Proclamation Heritage Society of BC Web site.