Hi everyone, in case you missed the update from CLBC CEO Ross Chilton about COVID-19 vaccinations and second doses…here it is!
COVID-19 vaccine fraud…
The Government of Canada has issued warnings to Canadians about COVID-19 vaccine fraud. There are reports of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines sold on the internet and from other unauthorized sources.
- Do not take these fraudulent vaccines, as they may pose serious health risks. They are not effective at protecting you from the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Report the incident or source immediately.
- Refer to Government of Canada sources for accurate vaccine information.
The only way to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is through your local public health authority (i.e. Interior Health).
You can find more information on COVID-19 frauds here.
NEW Mental Health Literacy Guide for Autism!
The Autism Mental Health Literacy Project (AM-HeLP) through York University have created the Mental Health Literacy Guide for Autism! The guide is designed to bring awareness to and share knowledge around issues related to Autistic mental health. Their website says that the guide is meant to be read by everyone — but most importantly by Autistic adults, family members, professionals, policy-makers and leaders.
There’s also a series of 6 animated videos made to go with the guide — here is the first video in the series:
You can also check out the guide here:
Long Weekend Safety…
As we head into the Victoria Day long weekend, it’s important to find ways to enjoy the holiday that keep each other safe and healthy — that means continuing to follow public health orders!
To support public health and safety, for example, Kelowna has announced the return of its Safety Education Ambassadors this weekend. Part of the annual Parks Ambassador Program, the Ambassadors were part of the City’s response to last summer’s rise in local COVID-19 cases around the Canada Day long weekend.
“Last year our ambassadors played an important role with over 9,000 interactions over the six weeks they were out in the community, and we found that people were responsive and willing to adjust their behaviour with simple friendly reminders. Once again the ambassadors’ role in our more popular spaces will be to monitor, educate and encourage the public to make smart choices while pandemic restrictions are still in play.”
Lance Kayfish, Risk Manager for the City of Kelowna
So check out the message from Mayor Basran, and, this long weekend, remember to keep each other safe and healthy by following public health orders (like keeping a safe social distance, at least 6 feet apart) — and any reminders from the Safety Education Ambassadors are to help everyone make good choices!
May 2021 CLBC Home Share Update
Hi everyone
Hope this finds you well and enjoying the sunshine.
Please see this link for the May 2021 update from CLBC on Home Share.
Have a great week,
The Home Share Team at Community Connections Support Services
End of an Era…
Hey everyone, as you’ve probably heard, as of tomorrow (May 15th) we will no longer be providing our community support services in Kelowna. This is a bittersweet moment for us, as this decision was not made lightly, and we have many fond memories of the community support program over the years.
So, today, we are celebrating! We are celebrating all of the wonderful people we have supported. We are celebrating all of the wonderful employees that we have worked with as we have provided supports. We are celebrating all of the achievements and memories that have come along with our time providing these services.
As we mark 30 years providing support in our communities, we are grateful that we have had all the opportunities and experiences in community support with you along the way. We remember with joy all the Naramata retreats, the Canucks trips and the sports games, the road trips and the beach days. We remember with pride supporting and celebrating community living month with our friends and colleagues at Pathways. We remember with gratitude all those who participated, supported, and celebrated WE Days with us in Kelowna.
This is absolutely a big change. It marks the end of an era in our agency’s history. But, with every ending, comes a new beginning. We know that all the people we have supported will continue to make great memories and to explore new opportunities with whatever comes next.
Even though the time has come to wish everyone we supported in community support all the best, we will still be around in the community providing our other supports. We will also still be around on here, our own corner of the internet. We welcome you to drop us a line here any time, and you’re always welcome to leave comments for discussion.
Thank you all for being part of our community support here at Community Connections!
Sincerely,
Jackie & Brian
SOBC “Women in Sport” event!
Special Olympics BC (SOBC) is hosting a virtual forum called “Women in Sport” on May 31, with four featured speakers:
- Amanda Jones, UBC’s only full-time female strength and conditioning coach, will discuss Physical Activity.
- Lois McNary, Special Olympics BC’s Vice President, Sport, and member of the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame, will discuss Leadership.
- Kimberly Rutledge, psychology and biology student at UBC Okanagan, advocate for mental wellness, science, and inclusion, and the sister of SOBC–Kelowna athlete Kassidy, will discuss Sexual Health.
- Shelbi Snodgrass, counselling psychology master’s student and mental performance consultant, will discuss Mental Wellness.
Find more information, including the link to register, here.
VIDEO: Getting Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine
Special thanks to CLBC for circulating this awesome resource from the Planning for People Network of Ontario.
Click here to watch a video in plain language about what it is like when people go to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
CLBC Update
Hi everyone, you can see CLBC’s May 5th update bulletin for individuals and families here. Lots of good info!
Mental Health Week
Hey everyone, we are marking the end of 2021’s Mental Health Week with this post of resources we found through the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA):
- Check in on your mental health (an online checklist)
- Identify when positivity turns toxic (and 4 ways to combat it)
- 7 steps you can take using words to help find your calm
- List of emotions beyond “fine” (to help you naming your emotions)
As well as other articles published for Mental Health Week, and more resources gathered together by CLBC.
Wellness Together Canada also offers resources tailored to coping with COVID-19. You can find more on their webpage here.
There is also a YouTube version of the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities virtual course for families and caregivers called “Mental Health for Adults with Developmental Disabilities during COVID-19.” You can find that series of videos here.
