Meet their first-ever Community Navigator: Kelsey Prichard
By Chadd Cawson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Columbia Valley Métis Association (CVMA) is pleased to announce they have filled their first-ever paid position. Kelsey Prichard accepted the role of Community Navigator with the CVMA and officially started last week.
It is an exciting time for the association as they have never had a staff person before, and with this new hire it will create many different opportunities
“We’ve never had a paid position like this before so we’re going to start looking at role and responsibilities and goal planning for the future,” says Monica Fisher President of CVMA.
Prichard will have no trouble navigating the community, as she was born and raised in Invermere and has been giving back to the community her whole life.
With a background in social work, this mother-of-three has given her heart to the community in roles with the Columbia Valley Food Bank and Summit Youth Centre, currently working as a youth care worker with Rocky Mountain School District 6.
A perfect fit, as both Prichard and Fisher will be looking at the accessibility of youth housing in the future. “I really just love working with the community,” says Prichard. “Building programs and services for our community members. That’s mostly been my career my whole life in Invermere.”
When Prichard isn’t working for the community, she enjoys the valley for all its recreational glory. An outdoor enthusiast by nature, she enjoys skiing in the winter, or swimming, hiking, and camping in the summer.
“I love enjoying everything the Columbia Valley has to offer and all that fun stuff we get to do here,” says Prichard.
A few of the first responsibilities that she will get to tackle in her new role is switching the accounting to QuickBooks and bringing back Métis Mondays, which will take place at the office of the Chamber of Commerce in Invermere effective May 30.
“Métis Monday, as we’ve done prior to COVID, are from 5 to 8 p.m. in the evening. All are welcome, and this is for anyone who would like to learn more about who the Métis are. We’ll do snacks and chats which will include Métis history, culture, and crafts. We will also be here for anyone who needs assistance with anything including citizenship application during that time. They are just welcome to pop by, like a drop-in,” Prichard tells the Pioneer.
Métis Mondays will allow Prichard to meet the community and get to know its citizens. Alongside Fisher, she will have the opportunity to establish and build relationships while helping to do the citizenship applications and learning about the programs offered through Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC).
“I’m most excited about the community building aspect,” says Prichard. “I think it’s so important right now, especially since COVID, everyone is feeling so disconnected. I’m just really looking forward to building back that sense of belonging and community, and identity for people, and to help them build it for themselves.”
