“No man is an island” is a well-known saying, meaning that as individuals we are all an important part of the bigger “continent” which is mankind and that what we do, or what we don’t do, has effects on us all; this is also true for organizations such as BCANDS.

BCANDS maintains close ties with organizations, governments and service providers across the province and Canada in relation to health and disability information and services available to the Aboriginal communities and persons within British Columbia. BCANDS continually establishes, solicits and maintains strategic partnerships to assist in our work in addressing our client’s important and diverse needs.

Throughout BCANDS history the Society has played a lead role in a number of provincial initiatives / alliances and has established several service agreements through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with a variety of leadership organizations. Some of these include:

Memorandum of Understanding – First Nations Health Society

Memorandum of Understanding – Union of BC Indian Chiefs

Memorandum of Understanding – First Nations Summit

Memorandum of Understanding – Metis Nation British Columbia

Memorandum of Understanding – United Native Nations

Memorandum of Understanding – Northern Health Authority – Aboriginal Health

Memorandum of Understanding – Provincial Health Services Authority – Aboriginal Health

Memorandum of Understanding – Vancouver Coastal Health Authority – Aboriginal Health

Memorandum of Understanding – First Nations and Inuit Health – Nursing Directorate

Memorandum of Understanding – First Nations and Inuit Health – e-Health Solutions

Memorandum of Understanding – First Nations and Inuit Health – Environmental Health

Memorandum of Understanding – British Columbia Government Employees Union

In addition to the above, to ensure that our client’s and communities voices are heard and their priorities recognized, BCANDS team members and Board actively serve on a variety of health and disability related committees and working groups. Some of these include;

Co-Chair – Community Living British Columbia – Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Member - Assembly of First Nations – National Disability Working Group

Associate Member – First Nations Health Director’s Association

Member – First Nation Health Manager’s Association

Board Member – Family Support Institute

Member - AIDP /ASCD Steering Committee

Member – Canadian Library Association 

Member – Ministry of Social Development – Community Relations and Service Quality - Quarterly Working Group - Region 1