Membership

Principal Members


The principal membership shall consist of participating Cultural associations which are representative of the West Indian Islands in the Caribbean and the CARICOM nations, and have paid the dues specified in Article 2.1.

Individual Members


Individual Membership shall consist of individuals, other than bona fide members of the member Associations, invited by the Board of Directors to join the Organization, in recognition of their demonstrated contribution and interest in the work of the Organization. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Associate Members


The Board of Directors at the Board's discretion, may grant Associate Membership to any Association that supports its aims and objectives. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Honorary Members


The Board of Directors, to individuals whose service to the community is extraordinary and exemplary, may confer honorary membership. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Associations


The BCOCCA member associations are:

    • Antigua and Barbuda Association of British Columbia
    • Barbados Cultural Association of British Columbia
    • Grenadian Cultural Association of British Columbia
    • Guyanese Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia
    • Haitian Canadian Cultural Association
    • Jamaican/Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia
    • St. Kitts/Nevis Cultural Association of British Columbia
    • St. Vincent & the Grenadines Cultural Association of Greater Vancouver
    • Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of British Columbia.

Committees

Caribbean Community Health Support Group

 

Mission:

 

To promote healthy living within the Caribbean Community in British Columbia through links with established health organizations. 

Membership:

 

The Health Support Group consists of not more than nine members at any given time. Group members have a wide variety of backgrounds to bring input from a cross section of the community and are invited by the existing group or BCOCCA. 

Accountability:

 

The Health Support Group functions as a self administering group under the auspices of British Columbia Organization of Caribbean Cultural Associations (BCOCCA) with the group leader – (Program Coordinator) providing frequent updates on its activities to BCOCCA.

 

Purpose & Objective:

 

1) The group provides health programs and information on health topics via the Internet regarding:

Diseases and treatment modalities involving the heart, blood vessels, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, kidney, inflammation, infection, immunity, reproductive organs, breast, endocrine glands, tumors, collagen, bone, skin, eye and ear; also

       Disorders of fluid and electrolyte balance, blood, nutrition, metabolism and the central nervous system

 

2) Information on the elements of disease and disorder prevention such as:

    • Physical fitness and core training
    • Relaxation techniques
    • Eating and drinking properly including diet supplementation
    • Inspirational strategies
    • Elimination of toxins from the body
    • Inflammation control
    • Mental Exercises; and
    • Specific disease prevention
    • By facilitating educational sessions (such as forums and webinars), but members do not themselves teach unless qualified to do so. 

Group:

 

Finderson Alves                        604-375-3457                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Donna Carter-Wellington          778-885-7696                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grafton Rouse                         604-583-2428                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                                           

Maureen Simon                       604-362-4890                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neville Thomas                        604-274-6550                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Winston Fagan                        604-521-0799 

Barbary Humphrey                  604 591 9153                       

Meetings:

 

  • The group meets at least once a month at a time and place agreeable to the group
  • The group leader sets the agenda with input from the group members
  • Minutes are circulated electronically to group members and to the board of BCOCCA
  • The group may invite guests or non-members to attend meetings as it sees fit

 

Finances:

 

  • The group researches its own avenues of financing the program
  • Funds granted or donated are deposited in a BCOCCA account established for the group
  • The group makes plans collectively and makes decisions by general consensus including:

(a) The allocation of funds, ie. Budgeting

(b) Dispersion of funds, ie. spending

  • The group is responsible for its own accounting procedures and presents financial accounting to BCOCCA in a timely manner

 

Links:  

 

 

                        fraser health logo

                        www.harmonyhealth.ca

                        www.options.bc.ca

                        www.bccancer.ca

                        www.psychosissucks.ca

                       

            Diabetes Canada

                        www.diabetes.ca

            Kidney Foundation

                        www.kidney.ca

                        www.kidney.org

            Heart and Stroke Foundation

                        www.heartandstroke.ca

                        www.heartandstroke.com

            Vancouver Coastal Health

                        www.VCH.ca

Events:

 
 

 

BCOCCAHealthPoster

Member Organizations

Principal Members


The principal membership shall consist of participating Cultural associations which are representative of the West Indian Islands in the Caribbean and the CARICOM nations, and have paid the dues specified in Article 2.1.

Individual Members


Individual Membership shall consist of individuals, other than bona fide members of the member Associations, invited by the Board of Directors to join the Organization, in recognition of their demonstrated contribution and interest in the work of the Organization. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Associate Members


The Board of Directors at the Board's discretion, may grant Associate Membership to any Association that supports its aims and objectives. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Honorary Members


The Board of Directors, to individuals whose service to the community is extraordinary and exemplary, may confer honorary membership. They have voice but no vote in decision-making.

Associations


The BCOCCA member associations are:

Representatives Duties

 

1) The primary duties of the Representatives are to keep the lines of
communications open between the Board and the member Associations that
they represent.

 

2) Submit the names of their members wishing to sit on any of the
various committees that may be appointed by the Board from time to time in
order to deal with issues and concernsbrought to the Board by the
Representatives and which are of concern to their members.

 

Role of Member Associations:

 

1) To ensure equal representation on the BCOCCA Board by selecting
members from their association to run for elected office.

 

2) To ensure member representation on some / or all of the various
committees that BCOCCA may elect to appoint from time to time.

Mission and Purpose Statement

The mission and purpose of BCOCCA is:

 

  • To provide a national focus for representing the common concerns and interests of its member associations, nationals of the Caribbean and neighbouring countries, former nationals and their families living in British Columbia.

  • To advocate on behalf of the nationals of the Caribbean Islands and their neighbouring countries and former nationals and their families, on issues and decisions that affect their general welfare and basic rights.

  • To develop and maintain a system of communication, information sharing, and networking among those associations that comprise the organization.

  • To actively encourage, facilitate and support the development of regional and umbrella associations of individual Caribbean Islands and neighbouring country groups in other geographic regions of Canada.

  • To promote closer community relationships and to develop better linkage with other ethno-cultural groups and organizations.

  • To establish and maintain contact with government offices across Canada, which represent the individual Caribbean Island, and their neighbouring countries.

  • To establish and maintain contact with the appropriate ministries and departments of the government of Canada and of the provincial and municipal government on matters relating to the business or interest of the organizations and its members.

  • To promote a national identity based on self-worth; pride in the heritage of the Caribbean Islands and neighbouring countries; equality and fairness for all nationals and former nationals of these countries who are domiciled in Canada.

  • To promote among the citizens of Canada an appreciation for the culture of the Caribbean Islands and their neighbouring countries.

To perform the above aims and objectives without impinging upon, restricting, hindering, controlling, or duplicating the functions of the member associations as far as their individual constitution and aims and objectives are concerned.

 

Governance

BCOCCA is an Umbrella Organization comprised of:
(i) A nine (9) member Board of Directors, with
(ii) One (1) representative from each of its member Associations.

 

 

Membership representation on the Organization shall be limited to ONE (1) delegate or authorized representative and TWO (2) alternate delegates from each Member Association. At least one of these delegates shall be the President or Past President or a person who has served at least 2 years on the Executive Board of the Member Association.BCOCCA's structure includes nine (9) member associations:

 

Antigua and Barbuda Association of British Columbia

Barbados Cultural Association of British Columbia

Grenadian Cultural Association of British Columbia

Guyanese Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia

Canadian Haitian Cultural Association of British Columbia

Jamaican/Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia

St. Kitts/Nevis Cultural Association of British Columbia

St. Vincent & the Grenadines Cultural Society of BC

Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of British Columbia

BCOCCA has the following Board of Director membership:

 

Neville Thomas - President BCOCCA. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Natalie King, Vice President - BCOCCA. Email:

Grafton Rouse, Treasurer - BCOCCA. Email: 

Winston Fagan, Secretary - BCOCCA. Email: 

Monifa Ayinde, Director - Grenada. Email: 

Marilyn Perrin, Director - Trinidad & Tobago Email: 

Roger Moore, Director - Barbados, Email: 

 

Our Executive

"As President of British Columbia Organization of Caribbean Cultural Associations, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on behalf of the Caribbean Community to identify and execute Community Building initiatives which embrace BCOCCA'S mandate." 
                                                                                                                                     Neville Thomas    

BCOCCA EXECUTIVES:

President:  Neville Thomas

Antigua and Barbuda

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Vice-President: Natalie King

St Vincent and The Grenadines

Email: 

 

Treasurer: Grafton Rouse

Barbados

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Secretary: Winston Fagan

Jamaica

Email: 

 

Director: Monifa Ayinde

Grenada

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Director: Marilyn Perrin

Trinidad and Tobago

Email: 

 

Director: Roger Moore

Barbados

Email: 

 

Director: Edward Morrissey 

Antigua and Barbuda

Email: 

 

Past President: Westin Samuel

St Kitts and Nevis

Email: