YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR UPCOMING AGM!
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An Incredible Honor, CCFRS Recognized in the House by MLAAn Incredible Honor, CCFRS Recognized in the House by MLA
In October 2025, Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society was unexpectedly acknowledged in the house by MLA Steve Morissette. An incredibly beautiful tribute, CCFRS was recognized for the dedication and growing impact the organization has on the Cherryville community. Check out the post and video below.
Steve Morissette MLA for Kootenay-Monashee
Today I shared in the house a remarkable organization serving the Cherryville, B.C., Canada, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society. A small but mighty centre that is proof that when people care deeply about one another, they can build something truly special.
A place where practical support meets genuine kindness. There’s a free income tax clinic, food security programs and help with everything from benefits to advanced care planning.
But what makes the Cherryville Resource Centre so special is that it’s not just about services; it’s about belonging. For seniors, that sense of belonging comes through in the seniors services and compassionate communities program. For those living with disabilities, Cherryville’s outreach team helps navigate the often complicated process of applying for supports.
Of course, the Cherryville Resource Centre is investing in the future of the community through its youth and family programs. They invite the community to get involved, to volunteer, to donate or collaborate. The result is a web of support that’s as strong as it is caring.
Behind all of this are the people, the staff, the volunteers and neighbours who make Cherryville shine. They are the beating heart of Cherryville’s commitment to taking care of one another.
To everyone at the Cherryville Resource Centre, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society and the board of directors, thank you. Thank you for showing us what’s possible when we put people first. Your work reminds us that rural doesn’t mean remote. It means resilient. And Cherryville proves that when we invest in community, we build a stronger, kinder British Columbia for everyone.
Click the link below to watch the full video:
ECHO Presentation – Rural Approach to Compassionate CommunitiesECHO Presentation – Rural Approach to Compassionate Communities
Check out this YouTube video presented by Meghan Derkach, Executive Director at Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society.
(1318) A Rural Approach to the Compassionate Community Model – YouTube
Bio: My name is Meghan Derkach, and I was born and raised in a rural community called Cherryville. I have always been an advocate for social justice and equity since a young age. When I was 18, I was having lunch with a group of older adults who were sharing their frustrations about having to leave the Cherryville community because there weren’t enough resources for them to live independently and I remember feeling absolutely broken hearted about it. That was the moment I realized I wanted to support Cherryville aging and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a Concentration in Aging. I was drawn to the aging-in-place model, community development and looked to age-friendly community literature. However, being rural has its unique challenges and many of the “making an age friendly community” infrastructure wasn’t relatable. Working with older adults I soon came to realize you cannot support aging-in-place without addressing access to health care as they are overlapping systems. I then pursued a Health-Focused Master’s in Social Work through University of Waterloo to better understand the complexity behind health care and how to better support rural aging in place. During this time, I was volunteering at Cherryville Food Bank and started expanding its reach to include resources and services to all residents. In 2021 I assumed the Executive Director position after strengthening our organizational and financial health and obtaining multiple grants. 2021 we officially changed our name to include resources as we expanded our vision and mission to meet the needs of all rural residents. Fast forward to 2024, we have implemented a range of services and resources to support rural living for youth, low-income families, persons living with disabilities, older adults, and a variety of community engagement events. In early January, we started to focus on Cherryville residents who had complex health conditions and or living with life limiting illness to advocate for better access to health care within community. These conversations led us to BC Centre for Palliative Care Seed Grant as the Compassionate Community model aligned perfectly with our growing vision and mission. I am excited to share a little more about this grant and how it has unfolded in the Cherryville community.
National Indigenous History MonthNational Indigenous History Month
June is the designated month for celebrating First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples heritage, culture and accomplishments and Cherryville Community Food & Resources wants to create space to recognize this rich history especially today, June 21st as it is the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
First, we want to remember the 215 children recently found at Kamloops Residential School and we stand in solidarity with Indigenous families and communities who are mourning these losses as well as many others, who are residential school survivors, and who continue to be impacted today by the appalling role of colonialism. With the slow, incremental progress the Canadian government has made toward implementing the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation act, non-Indigenous people must stand with Canada’s Indigenous populations and demand for real progress to transpire.
We will be putting orange ribbons in our hamper distributions for the next few months to bring awareness about Orange Shirt Day, a commemorative day for “over 150,000 Indigenous children [who] attended residential schools in Canada from the late 1800’s until…[1996 where]…it’s estimated that over 5,000 died while under residential school care. Now is the time to listen to the stories of survivors and their families and learn from them, so that these mistakes are not repeated. It is a time for conversations about understanding the survivors’ truths and beginning the journey toward reconciliation. Now is the time for an exploration of opportunities to do better for generations of children to come” (BC Achievement Association, 2021). For more information on the meaning behind Orange Shirt Day visit:
https://www.bcachievement.com/2020/09/29/every-child-matters-the-meaning-behind-orange-shirt-day/
https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html
Cherryville resides on the unceded territory of the Syilx tmixw (Okanagan). https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/okanagan/
“The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) was formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan which represents the 8 member communities including; Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band and Lower and Upper Similkameen Indian Bands and the Colville Confederated Tribes on areas of common concern. Each community is represented through the Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) by their Chief or Chairman.
The Syilx/Okanagan people still affirm the land is theirs, as no treaty has been negotiated” syilx.org
How non-Indigenous people can fight colonialism and become allies to our Indigenous communities (as cited by On Canada Project)
“Settlers Take Action
Step 1: Find out whose traditional territory you live on. Visit native-land.ca
Step 2: Click on the links of the territories from native-land.ca and learn more about the original caretakers of the land you now inhabit, their history and the current issues that affect their communities.
Step 3: Read about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its 94 Calls to Action.
Step 4: Email your MP. Tell them you care about the Indigenous people of Canada and want to see action taken to reconcile with them, as described in the Truth and Reconciliation Report. Ask for an update on what they are personally doing to take action. Hold them accountable.” https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction
Support Indigenous Businesses
Shop First Nations is a website that has compiled Indigenous Business across the nation. You can search by province and sub category including: health & beauty, food & beverage, retail, art & entertainment, professionals, construction, attractions, hospitality, legal services and more. For BC specific, check out this website: https://shopfirstnations.com/locations/canada/british-columbia/
Local Resources and Supports
Vernon Friendship Centre: an Indigenous non-profit affiliated with the BC Association of Friendship Centres, providing culturally appropriate health/social programs and services for the North Okanagan community. Check out their website at http://www.vernonfirstnationsfriendshipcentre.com/ or, call: (250)-542-1247.
First Nations Health Authority: the first and only provincial First Nations Health Authority in Canada, working to transform and reform the way health care is delivered to BC First Nations. There are a variety of resources, supports, and services available to BC First Nations listed at https://www.fnha.ca/ For more information specific to the Interior Region, please contact: interior.region@fnha.ca or call: 1-877-440-1140 (toll-free)
For more information about available health benefits including dental, medical supplies and equipment, medical transportation, mental health, pharmacy, and vision, the Interior Region contact is Joyce Kenoras – Phone: 250-318-6634
Final Message
In light of National Indigenous History Month, we interviewed Kathi Shields, a 14 year resident of Cherryville who identifies as Métis. We asked her if she would like to present a message of encouragement to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living in Cherryville and this was her response:
And, “I am very grateful to be living in Cherryville on Okanagan territory”.