ALBERNI VALLEY UNITED CHURCH

At Alberni Valley United Church we are committed to fostering spiritual growth and community support through various services and programs. We gather regularly for worship services Bible study and offer pastoral care for life events such as marriages funerals and baptisms. Additionally we provide counseling services for individuals and families dealing with relationship and family concerns. Our outreach initiatives include ongoing yoga classes and regular meetings with Residential School survivors as part of 'The Road to Reconciliation' (R2R) program. We have also reinstated a Sunday School program to nurture the spiritual growth of children and youth. Our Backpack program which started as a community initiative has evolved into a charitable organization in its own right. It currently supports 125 families by providing food security over the weekend when school based programs are not available. Furthermore we provide essential support to the Backpack program by offering free storage space for their non-perishable goods tables and a large freezer. This partnership helps ensure that Backpack can continue to serve the growing need in our community. Currently the program serves 117 families each week. Through these efforts we remain deeply committed to supporting both the spiritual and material well-being of our community honoring the past and working toward a more inclusive and compassionate future.

To further our commitment to healing and reconciliation we have recently hired a Cultural Liaison worker who is offering dedicated healing sessions for Residential School survivors. In addition we proudly host seven First Nations dance groups providing them with free space in our church hall to practice and preserve their cultural dances. Our 'Road to Reconciliation' (R2R) meetings are held monthly and serve as an essential gathering for both Residential School survivors and members of our congregation. These meetings are a safe space for sharing learning and working towards mutual understanding and healing. The R2R group currently includes 12 survivors and 12 members of our congregation participate regularly. We are honored to welcome guest speakers such as Gord John MP who has joined us twice to share his insights. Other notable speakers Rev Teri Meyer Acting Regional Indigenous Minister Rev John Snow Regional Indigenous Minister. We also provide honoraria to elders and guest speakers recognizing their contributions to our community and the valuable knowledge they share. This practice aligns with our broader charitable work by supporting individuals who play a key role in our educational and healing efforts. In addition to these initiatives we award bursaries to high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education further supporting the development of future leaders in our community.