As we ring in the New Year, all of us at Community Connections are wishing you the best for a 2019 filled with happiness and prosperity!
Happy Holidays!
From all of us, to all of you — wishing you a safe and happy holiday!
It’s the Winter Solstice!
Today (December 21st) is the Winter Solstice, which is officially the “shortest” day of the year!
While today marks the least amount of daylight we see for the year here in the Northern Hemisphere, it also means that the nighttime is the longest of the year. Close to the North Pole, there is darkness 24 hours a day! Here is a picture that shows how that works: https://goo.gl/images/1paZiy
The opposite of the Winter Solstice is the Summer Solstice, which will be on June 21st. When it is time for the Summer Solstice at the North Pole, there is daylight for 24 hours a day!
If you want to learn more about how the Winter and Summer Solstices work, you can check out this YouTube video:
Stories for Caregivers
Thanks to COPCS for circulating this YouTube video highlighting a homeshare provider’s story.
Have you come across a story that you would like to share? Send us the link!
Update on Home Share Working Group
Hi everyone, thanks to COPCS for sending around an update regarding the Home Share Working Group, and their efforts on behalf of home share providers:
Dear COPCS Members:
We want to share news from the Home Share Working Group’s meeting held on December 12th in Vancouver.
CLBC presented a proposal to support improved communication with the 4,000 home share providers across the province. Action will be taken to create a new subscriber based newsletter which will be delivered every two months. All of COPCS members will be sent the newsletter via email.
If you would like to receive updates regarding the Home Sharing Working Group, please send an email to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca In addition, COPCS will be updating members at our regular business meetings. The next Home Sharing Working Group meeting will be held on February 15th in Vancouver.
Sincerely,
Executive Members of the Central Okanagan Professional Caregivers Society
COPCS Christmas Party!
Thanks to COPCS for sharing these great photos from their Christmas Party last weekend!
Cool Arts Winter Newsletter & Invitation to Holiday Party
Thanks to CoolArts for passing along their newsletter and a party invitation!
Hello Cool Arts friends, family, and supporters:Please find the Cool Arts Winter Newsletter and an invitation to our Holiday Party & Art Sale attached.If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via return email (info@coolarts.ca) or give me a call in studio.Hope to see you at the Holiday Party – if we miss you, have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see you in the new year!With warmest regards,Elana BizovieAdministrative Assistant
Cool Arts Society
250-899-6381
www.coolarts.ca
CoolArts_WinterNewsletter_2018_19.pdfA stellar sky!
The team out at the Kelowna office was in for a treat tonight with a beautiful winter sky – though the pictures don’t do it full justice!
How are the winter skies out your way?
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Today, we join people all over the world as we celebrate how far we have come in support of community inclusion. And, we also join in as we look forward to “what’s next” in this movement.
Since 1992, the United Nations has celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities each year. Looking ahead to the future, this day is a big part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which pledges to “leave no one behind.” You can read more about the UN’s Agenda here.
More locally, here are some of the ways people are looking at this year’s theme, which is “empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”:
The BC Government has put together a series of articles on their website that reviews how the province has supported removal of barriers – and how they plan to keep removing barriers in future. The list includes resources that are already available (such as CLBC, CAYA) as well as new ones. One new strategy is a Cross-Ministry Disability Strategy Reference Group. This group, made up of 18 assistant deputy ministers, is going to explore ways that ministries and government agencies can better collaborate in providing supports for people with disabilities.
The SelfAdvocateNet website has a page for this day and how it remains relevant. They’ve also included information on events, including the Film festivals taking place in our communities. CLBC has also added film festival information on their events page.
Our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, also took this opportunity to highlight the steps Canada is taking, including the proposed Accessible Canada Act – our first national accessibility law.
So, let us know what’s going on in your community and how you will be celebrating today! Leave us a comment or send us a photo.
Shopping Shenanigans
With the holiday season nearly upon us, many turn to shopping for presents and checking out what is new in stores.
While this can get stressful, Denise, Dave, Doreen and Samantha took a break from the frenzy to have a spot of fun – check out their video!
Thanks for sharing with us, guys!
