Hey everyone, applications for the BC Recovery Benefit open tomorrow (Dec 18) – check out more info here to see details in the news release.
UPDATE: here is the direct link to where you can determine eligibility and apply.
Be “Avvy Savvy”
As the snow starts to fall, we are headed into Avalanche season! Thanks to Jackie for passing along this article about avalanche safety – be “avvy savvy” this year!
FSI Newsletter
The latest news from the Family Support Institute of BC is here, check it out.
Not all masks are the same…
Hey everyone
Interesting article from Business Insider that talks about the efficiency of some mask types/ materials to keep you and others safe.
The link to the article is here. Stay safe everyone!
End of an era… thanks COPCS!!!
From Karen Milner, on behalf of the Home Share Team at Community Connections:
We would like to say a huge thank you and sad farewell to the Central Okanagan Professional Caregivers Society (COPCS). It must have been a difficult decision to dissolve the society in July 2020 but understandable given the size of the organization and the scope of the work on a handful of dedicated volunteers.
Since 2008 this group has worked tirelessly to support caregivers in positive, practical and meaningful ways.
Some of their many accomplishments have been:
- Securing discounts at local retailers for their membership.
- Developing a benefit package.
- Representing home share providers on a provincial working group that was mandated by Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction to address common issues for caregivers province wide.
- Developing a home share provider appreciation award dinner.
- Instrumental in the Parliamentary decision for provincial increases for home share providers.
- Organizing countless well attended seminars and workshops with local and international presenters.
- Informing home share providers of any current news pertaining to caregiving and upcoming courses and workshops.
- Acting as a resource for the myriad of questions and concerns faced by caregivers.
- Creating celebrations every year for their membership…BBQ’s and holiday gatherings, fundraisers and prizes!
- Keeping home share providers informed during this difficult pandemic year of Covid 19.
Good luck and thank you to Margaret Milsom and Jack Sawatzky who were instrumental in organizing COPCS, breathing life into it and volunteering hundreds of hours! Thanks also to the incredible volunteer boards over the years and to Colleen Anderson, the COPCS representative in the south Okanagan.
Your efforts, ethics, spirit and work will be sorely missed!
CLBC HSP Conference Call
Hey everyone, the next teleconference call for service providers and Home Share Providers with Dr. Behn Smith will be Dec 8th:
Date: December 8, 2020
Time: 1 – 2:15 p.m.
Call in: Vancouver 604-681-0260, Elsewhere 1-877-353-9184
Participant code: 37568#
Important Survey…
Hi everyone: please see the attached invitation/ info for an important CLBC survey involving home share. The survey is here: https://survey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eldXDuH2cFTpTr7
Remember Together, Apart…
Hey everyone, as we observe Remembrance Day, let’s keep each other safe by staying apart. Consider watching ceremonies online, booking a time to visit the Okanagan Military Museum, or checking out more local information here:
You can visit the Legion website here to see other ways to support and observe Remembrance Day while keeping a safe social distance apart (at least 2m or 6 feet).
Celebrate Caregivers this Month!
Hey everyone, last month we celebrated Community Inclusion month…this month, we invite you to join us — and other organizations in North America! — in celebrating CAREGIVERS!
While the first Tuesday of April has been adopted as National Caregiver Day in Canada, we are having caregivers take over the month of November on our blog — you can expect to see posts each week with Great News! that recognize and feature caregivers, training opportunities and resources, Frequently Asked Questions (and a summary of answers) and suggested topics!
To start us off, we are featuring the Caregivers Resource Expo — where you can find resources under the topics of connecting, empowering, and supporting caregivers — on the Carers Canada webpage. Check it out and pass it on!
COVID-19 Updates
Hey everyone, there have been changes to COVID-19 restrictions in our province this week — this news article explains a bit about these new provincial restrictions, and gives a good ‘overview’ on where the province sits as it relates to stats on COVID-19 cases. Many thanks to Jackie for passing this along!
