This website is a project of the Community Network, an inclusive community organization of stakeholders with a holistic perspective. The website aims to be the most complete online guide to community, social and government agencies and services in the communities of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the Katzie First Nation.
It is made possible through the generous sponsorship of The United Way of the Lower Mainland, Fraser Health and the District of Maple Ridge.
What is the Community Network?
The Community Network (CN) was formed in 1999. It is an inclusive umbrella organization of community nonprofit agencies, government representatives and other interested stakeholders in the communities of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the Katzie First Nation. CN provides an opportunity for community-wide planning, development of community solutions and collaboration. CN supports and encourages opportunities for children, youth and family members of all ages to increase their capacity to improve their quality of life. CN fosters a “culture of connectiveness.”
The Community Network’s Mission:
Provide direction to the development of continuous, cohesive, and responsive social services for the communities of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie First Nation.
Provide opportunities and supports for individuals and families to build their capacities to live healthy lives as contributing members of the community.
Ensure a broad community focus with a planned, proactive, preventive, integrated approach to providing services.
The Community Network’s Values and Principles
Community Leadership: To build the capacity of emerging leaders through mentoring and networking To embrace change and respond creatively and appropriately when addressing community needs
Collaboration: To work within a collaborative and cooperative framework building connections amongst community partners and the community at large. Through mutual support and integrated services, agencies and individuals trust and value the commitment and success of all network partners
Respect: CN recognizes equality and inclusiveness as a significant principle through which all others are viewed. Respect and integrity guide our relationships with each other and with the community as a while. CN acknowledges and supports network partners to make choices that fit their individual or organizational values.
Communications: Members share information in a transparent and open manner. There is an effort to establish a common language and understanding that supports common goals and outcomes. By actively promoting communications, CN creates a system that values the input of all members, partners and the community as a whole. These systems help provide a context that is consistent and meaningful for new members, emerging leaders and the community as a whole.
Decision-making: Decision-making is made by members in attendance at monthly meetings on a consensus basis. On key decisions every effort is made to provide opportunities for all members of the network to provide input.
Monthly meetings
CN monthly meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at Thomas Haney Secondary School in Room 2008. All CN meetings are open to the general public. Those wishing to become members need to fill in a registration form providing contact information, acknowledging the CN purpose statement and giving approval to CN to utilize membership lists when supporting community initiatives that reflect CN’s purpose and goals.
The purpose of the monthly meetings is to:
- Implement annual work plan (begun in 2005)
- Discuss community trends, identification of gaps, issues and to celebrate successes
- Sub-Committee and Task Group Reporting
- Community planning/problem solving
- Celebrating partnerships and identification of potential partnership opportunities
- Encourage collaboration
- Hear delegations and presenters
- Round table sharing on current member’s plans and programs