SPARC - Social Planning And Research Council
Last Update: Monday, 29-May-2006 06:13:17 PDT
106-2182 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada V6K 2N4
Tel (604) 736-8118
Fax (604) 736-8697
SPARC of B.C. is a provincial non-profit society that carries out research and social planning activities, and provides
public information and education to help people plan for the social well-being of their communities.
Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities
SPARC has been working with and on behalf of people with disabilities for more than 15 years. SPARC operates a
parking permit registration for people with disabilities and promotes public education about accessibilitv. SPARC has
made considerable strides with this program, with over 104,000 permits issued up to 1992/93.
Community Development
SPARC assists groups and communities to look at emerging needs and opportunities. It helps people build on their
strengths. SPARC emphasizes co-operation and collaboration among all sectors of the community. It seeks inclusion
of those who have traditionálly been left out of planning and declslon-making.
- organizes training and skills development processes for community development
- assists communities to develop their own social planning initiatives
- helps non-profit societies, communities and the government develop effective systems for the provision
of family, youth and children's services in B.C.
Membership
We encourage you and your organization to become members of SPARC and to become informed of the latest trends
and developments in social policies and programs. Support SPARC in its efforts to work with others towards community
well-being.
As a member. vou will receive:
- SPARC News: Community Affairs in British Columbia, an informative quarterly publication which provides
information and commentary on social affairs in the province. It also includes an annual listing of
resources for people with disabilities. We welcome your contributions to SPARC News.
- Members also receive reduced rates for programs and workshops organized by SPARC.
- Invitations to SPARC's Annual General Meeting, conferences, policy development activities and other
special events.
Over 4,000 people and 170 organizations have joined SPARC. We welcome vour membership and participation.
Publications
SPARC publishes a variety of reports and handbooks to promote public understanding and discussion of social and
economic issues that concern people in B.C. communitics. These include popular examinations of the effects of
government policies such as welfare and privatization, guides to building skills in community development, and
explorations of alternative approaches to social issues such as housing.
Research and Consulting
SPARC's planning and rescarch team provides effective and responsive consulting services on a wide range of social
issues for communities, organizations and government. The team also conducts research and publishes reports on current
and emerging public policy issues. Recent work in partnership with communities includes: community health and
well-being, community economic development, multicultural issues, aboriginal issues, women and planning, poverty and
child welfare.
Consulting projects have included: evaluation of social and employment seryices, child care needs assessments,
affordable housing studies, social planning studies, research into driver behaviour and planning for child, youth and
family services.
SPARC welcomes feedback on its research, and actively seeks research partners in the community. Let us know how
we can be of use to you in your community.
Community Text Tools
Community Text Tools is a desktop publishing service for non-profit and community groups. Community Text Tools
provides a full range of desktop and manual print production services including newsletters, reports, brochures, flyers,
Ietterhead, advertisements and questionnaires. As a non-profit based enterprise, its goal is provide low cost and
community responsive desktop publishing services to community groups and organizations in the non-profit sector.
Please contact us for further information on how this service could benefit you or your organization.
Contact Points
We are a charitable organization with members and directors from all regions and diverse communities of British Columbia.
For more information, please contact our Executive Director, Rupert Downing at:
106-2182 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada V6K 2N4
Tel (604) 736-8118
Fax (604) 736-8697
Parking Permit Program
Information & Enquiries
Tel (604) 736-4367
SPARC: A federally registered charity under the Canada Income Tax Act #0303958-09-27. A provincially registered
non-profit organization incorporated in 1966 under the .Societies Act of British Columbia #7493.
A United Way Member Agency.
