Approximately 6,000 people live on the west coast of Vancouver Island, occupying nine communities scattered over more than 350,000 hectares of Nuu-chah-nulth territory. The communities are the District of Tofino, District of Ucluelet, Macoah, Hitacu, Esowista, Ty-Histanis, Opitsaht, Ahousaht and Hot Springs Cove. There are five Nuu-chah-nulth nations within the west coast region: hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation).
This very small number of residents over a very large and remote area makes it difficult to provide essential community services equally across the region. Seeing this as more of a challenge than a problem, service providers banded together to form the Coastal Family Resources Coalition (the Coalition) in 2003. Working together, the Coalition is able to share local knowledge and act in unison to provide the best services possible to local communities.
The Coalition is a multidisciplinary network of health and social service providers that aims: to address the needs of children, youth, families, and communities within the region, and; to improve communications between service providers, agencies, communities, and funders.
The Coalition’s overall goal is to advocate for, and advance health promotion efforts in the region. Monthly meetings are held from September until June in alternating communities to provide an opportunity to network, share resources, identify health priorities, and reduce service delivery duplication. You can learn more about the Coalition activities and stay in the loop about our regular meeting locations by subscribing to our email list (see below).
The Coastal Family Resource Coalition is coordinated and administered by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) and guided by the CFRC Executive Committee. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is a registered charity based on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Established in 2000, the CBT is the only organization in Canada that is both a community foundation and a UNESCO biosphere region. They pair this spirit of community with the power of a global presence to bring more people together for a shared understanding. They are one of 1,800 community foundations worldwide implementing United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce poverty, end hunger, ensure quality education, and protect the environment. The CBT also oversees the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region (CSBR), one of Canada’s 18 UNESCO biosphere regions, and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. The CBT team works to strengthen the development of all citizens, communities, and the ecosystems on which we all depend, for a future we can all be proud of. The Coalition serves all west coast communities and contributes to building strong and united cultures. It helps the CBT achieve its mission by facilitating the local sharing and exchange of knowledge and experience that promotes social and cultural sustainable development.
Contact the Coastal Family Resource Coalition
coordinator@coastalcoalition.ca