History
It started simply as a desire to work with other like-minded individuals, and grew to being focused on how to address the challanges within our community. New, innovative programs and services are needed to educate, support and inspire individuals to effect positive change - and collectively we felt we had the skills, the passion, the experience and the ability to do something about it!
On January 11, 2004, we had our first informal meeting under the guise of a social visit and dinner. We agreed to call ourselves "The Octa Group" - Octa being an acronym for "only creative thinking allowed".
At a consequent meeting, we decided that we wanted to develop and deliver
our programs through a non-profit society. After consulting with a lawyer,The Octa
Collective Society (Octa) was incorporated on April 21, 2004.
When we put our heads together to discuss what kinds of programs we wanted to offer, we looked at existing programs and focused on what was missing. All of us had worked with barriered adults to help them get back into the workforce, so we started exploring ideas related to reducing these barriers. Most lack employability or "soft" skills - the communication, personal management and teamwork skills that help people to enter the workforce and sustain employment. It made sense to ensure that children - especially vulnerable children - had the opportunity to develop these skills along with self-esteem and confidence in a positive environment. Knowing that these skills can be developed through exposure and experience with the arts, we unanimously agreed that offering an arts outreach program based on the Arts Umbrella model in Vancouver fit perfectly into our society mission and values.
When we approached Arts Umbrella to tell them what we wanted to do, the timing couldn't have been more favourable. Under their Provincial Arts Outreach Program, they were already looking at various options in terms of expanding their programs outside of Vancouver.
In October 2004, the Arts Umbrella Board granted approval for a three-year agreement with Octa to develop and manage the artsREACH program in Victoria.
On January 17, 2005 a three-year agreement between the two non-profits was signed.
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