Category: Check it out

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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!

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COVID-19 prevention practices…

The Government of Canada has issued reminders about personal prevention practices we all must use to keep each other safe and healthy.

The vaccination rate is climbing steadily in Canada. However, vaccines cannot prevent you from passing the virus to others. That’s why we must continue to:

  • Stay at home and minimize interactions.
  • Wear a mask and wash hands when necessary.
  • Follow the advice of your public health authority.
  • Avoid non-essential travel.

Until it is safe for everyone to do otherwise.

There are more personal preventative practices here.

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FSI Calendar for Connection!

Looking for something socially-distanced and safe to do? Check out the Family Support Institute’s Calendar for Connection here!

Here’s how they say it works:

Looking for ways to meet new people and stay socially connected? This calendar was created to help people with diverse abilities know about different fun and inclusive opportunities to connect with others during COVID-19.

Double click on any event to view more details or click the button below to check out events and activities happening all over BC. We are always looking for new events to share on our calendar! If you would like to add an event to our calendar, please contact: fsi@fsibc.com.

Family Support Institute CALENDAR FOR CONNECTION
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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

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Mental health and support networks…

The Government of Canada has recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many of us. Stress and anxiety can be worse for those who do not have access to their regular support networks.

Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of any age across Canada can access immediate:

  • Mental Health and Substance use support.
  • Free and confidential resources.
  • 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

See the full list of supports available here.

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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.

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