The ORCA Bus
The ORCA Bus is an initiative of Success by 6® Powell River in partnership with PRESS (Powell River Education Services Society), a non-profit entity of School District 47. The bus will bring early childhood development (ECD) programming and resources to outlying communities in the Powell River area, and will be supported by volunteer seniors. The objectives are to address transportation and isolation as barriers to accessing urban-based services and quality early childhood programs in the Powell River region, as well as the social benefits of having seniors sharing their wisdom and life experiences with the youngest members of the community. The ORCA bus will travel from Saltery Bay to Lund, including Texada, bringing information, programs, activities and fun to neighbourhoods along the way. The bus will literally be a vehicle for intergenerational exchanges, for early childhood development, for learning and connecting, and for bringing services like early literacy supports, information about health and nutrition, puppets, stories and cultural exchange to all areas of the region.
School District #47 donated a decommissioned 82-passenger school bus to the project. The bus has been painted, and plans are underway to refit the interior. Community members who are interested in volunteering with the renovation effort are invited to contact Kim Barton-Bridges at 604-485-3090, or kim@successby6powellriver.ca.
Launch is planned for November.
The Early Childhood Years
The grounds for investing in our children’s earliest years are well-established. Research shows that every dollar spent on early, enriched opportunities for children avoids up to seven dollars later in health, social service and justice system expenses. According to the latest research on brain development, the most critical period of a child’s development is from conception to age six. Amazingly, 90% of the brain’s growth occurs by age 5. This is when a young child is developing emotional and social attachment, language and motor skills. If a brain is stimulated from infancy, children will learn easily and function well physically. Early stimulation will help a child reach his or her full potential as an adult.
contact Kim Barton-Bridges, Interim Coordinator, ORCA Bus Project:
604 485-3090
kim@successby6powellriver.ca
