For almost seven decades, the Kamloops Society for Community Inclusion has helped adults with developmental disabilities find connection, growth, and a real sense of belonging. As the organization approaches its 70th anniversary in 2026, Executive Director Melody Frisk reflected on how far the society has come and where it is headed next.
Founded long before inclusion became the widely recognized term it is today, the Society has long stuck to its firm belief in its core mission: supporting people to live lives that are entirely their own. The organization is funded through Community Living British Columbia and offers a wide range of services, including community inclusion programs, outreach, employment supports, and housing.
“We have one remaining group home, and several properties where people are able to live independently in housing that truly belongs to them,” says Frisk. Safe, individualized housing has been a major focus for the Society, believing that home is not simply a place to live. It is the foundation for both a connected and empowered life for their clients.
Inclusion, Frisk explains, goes far deeper than showing up somewhere. It means being welcomed, valued, and part of something real. “I come to work for not only a paycheck, but because I feel like I belong. I am part of a team,” she says. That same sense of purpose and connection is what the Society works to bring to every individual it serves.
The organization is currently channeling that same spirit of growth into strengthening its governance structure. With guidance from consultant Kim Mangan, they have developed a board of directors that focus on stronger governance practices, policy development, accountability structures, and how a board can work collaboratively with operations to guide a nonprofit forward.
The goal is to ensure the Society’s next seventy years are as steady and successful as its first. New board members are needed to help build that future. Specifically, they would love someone with extensive financial expertise, ideally a CPA, as well as a real estate lawyer to help manage the properties the Society owns.
They would also like to see someone with strong human resources or labor relations knowledge, a person who understands impact measurement, since the organization has spent two years building tools to better evaluate how its work supports individuals and families. Finally, someone deeply interested in governance itself. Every one of these skills strengthens the organization’s backbone.
This is not a passive role. The board hires leadership, oversees finances, supports long-term planning, and ensures the organization stays true to its mission. Board members are external volunteers from the community who believe in inclusion and want to make a lasting impact.
Despite the seriousness of the work, the atmosphere is anything but intimidating. Frisk describes the current board as collaborative, curious, and laid back. Members include people working in the field, parents of adults served by the organization, and even international students. A diversity of voices is seen as a major strength. “We want perspectives that help us see where our blind spots might be,” she says.
Prospective board members will not be left to figure things out alone. The Society is committed to mentorship and supported learning. Volunteers can grow new skills while directly contributing to the strength of a vital community resource.
With a new website underway, and workshops continuing, such as a legal education series run with Pro Bono Students Canada and sessions hosted by Inclusion BC, the Society remains focused on preparing its foundation for a stronger future.
“We are zooming out and making sure the foundation is strong. That preparation gets you through the ups and downs,” says Frisk.
Those interested in joining the board can visit inclusionkamloops.ca to learn more. The work is meaningful, the environment is welcoming, and there has never been a better time to take part in a community legacy of belonging.