MLA Breakfast with United Way BC – Sharing Partnership Stories
Working Together to Serve People in Need
Addressing complex social issues and serving people in need takes commitment from many partners. United Way BC’s provincial programs are fuelled by the generosity and commitment of our individual and corporate donors, volunteers, and our strong partnership with the Government of BC.
United Way BC recently hosted a breakfast for MLAs to celebrate this trusted partnership, thank MLAs for their support, share stories and information about United Way BC’s vital services, and ensure that MLAs, especially those who have been recently elected for the first time, are aware of United Way BC’s presence and impact throughout BC.
On April 17, 2025, members of the Legislative Assembly from both sides of the aisle and staff from United Way BC gathered, coffee in hand, for the 2nd MLA breakfast to discuss the United Way initiatives that touch British Columbians’ lives.
CEO Michael McKnight acknowledged the range of complex issues that BC residents are now facing, from housing needs to the increased cost of food, to social isolation and climate emergencies. “The way forward is working together towards common goals,” said McKnight. “We know these issues and concerns are shared across caucuses and we recognize the trusted partnership of United Way BC and the Government of BC to create solutions.”
United Way BC’s collaboration with the BC Government means we can offer support and services to those affected by wildfires; people who struggle to put dinner on their family’s plates; seniors feeling bereft by loneliness; and kids whose parents can’t afford after school or summer programs.
We were honoured to host the Honourable Sheila Malcomson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction at the event. Minister Malcolmson spoke positively about United Way BC’s Regional Community Food Hubs, which aim to ease food insecurity and nurture long-term, sustainable, access to healthy meals for many British Columbians who are struggling.
We appreciate the Government of BC’s ongoing commitment to collaboration, bringing together non-profit partners, residents, businesses, all levels of government, the agricultural sector, and other funders to meet the food needs of people across BC.
The Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, also addressed the crowd, lauding the positive impact of UWBC programs for seniors—especially Better at Home, which helps seniors with non-medical, day-to-day tasks like grocery shopping and light housekeeping. This service allows aging adults to live independently in their own homes for longer, increasing quality of life and improving health outcomes. For United Way BC, the connection between mental health and better aging is eminently clear, and Minister Osborne’s observation that “social connection is part of a good life,” was well received.
MLAs from two political parties, representing urban as well as rural areas, were at the breakfast, and the there was a great diversity in the questions they asked UWBC staff.
Whether we were fielding inquiries about Emergency Response, Healthy Aging programs for seniors, or the School’s Out programs for at risk children, we appreciated the level of interest from the MLAs in the room. It was clear that all provincially elected people are looking for practical, effective, and human-centred solutions to some of the most pressing issues in their regions.
United Way BC currently has funding relationships with five different provincial ministries. Because of this support, many people have been helped by the partnership between United Way BC and the Government of BC. You can read some real-life examples here:
- “Mary”(an alias), who called BC 211 to learn what low-income housing options for seniors might be available for her.
- Myrna, a senior from Nanaimo, whose local Better at Home program has provided her with support
- Basma and Zahra, from Surrey, who participated at a School’s Out Summer program in a youth-led camp that promotes confidence and a sense of belonging
- Jacob and Jessica, from Kitwanga, co-owners of Indigenous-led organization Tea Creek, who received the Food Infrastructure Grant to foster community food self-sufficiency in BC’s Northwest region