Penticton: Upcoming Fire Extinguisher Training April 12 & 13

Please see the note from Margaret at COPCS:

Hello,
Fire Extinguisher training will be offered to the public on Tuesday, April 12th and Wednesday, April 13th in Penticton. Sessions will run every half hour from 8:30am to 12:00pm on both days. The training will take place at Fire Station 2 at 285 Dawson Avenue, Penticton. The cost to attend is $5.25 and you need to RSVP to Jody at
250-490-2311. During the training you will have an opportunity to learn more about fire safety and practise using fire extinguishers.
Thanks,
Margaret Milsom
Central Okanagan Professional Caregivers Society

This Friday! Kootenay Community Council Dinner and Dance

Hi All: please see the note from CLBC about the upcoming (soon) dinner and dance:

The Kootenay Community Council is proud to officially announce their Annual Dinner & Dance!

 When: Friday, March 18th

Where: Rotocrest Hall, 312 19 Ave North, Creston.

 For more information on this event, please see the poster attached—We’d like to make this event the best it’s ever been, so be sure to forward this email to community partners and to the individuals we serve.

pdf icon Dance-poster-2015-updated.pdf

Penticton: April 22 Workshop Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma

The Central Okanagan Professional Caregivers Society invites you to attend the upcoming */‘Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma’/ *workshop, to be held on Friday, April 22^nd in Penticton. *(See Attached Flyer)* For helping professionals, one all too common consequence of compassion fatigue and burnout is that we become emotionally exhausted and trying new things feels profoundly draining and beyond our reach. This workshop will provide*//*participants with*/a safe and reflective space/* for: -Understanding the similarities and differences between Compassion Fatigue (CF), Vicarious Trauma (VT), Burnout (BO) and Moral Distress (MD) -Recognizing signs and symptoms of CF and VT that you and others may be experiencing. -Developing personalized skills and tools for combating CF and VT. -Taking beginning steps toward implementing your *Personalized Self-Care Plan* that includes both inner and outer work for alleviating or preventing CF and VT. -Caring for YOU! Please register early for this recommended workshop. *This Workshop is offered _FREE_ to Home Share Providers funded by CLBC Southern Interior Region including Host Agencies * Thank you! Margaret Milsom – Central Okanagan Professional Caregivers Society pdf icon Compassion-Fatigue-Penticton.pdf

RDSP workshop register today

Hi all:

Some info on an RDSP workshop coming up.

Hello, Very beneficial for the people we support if you can attend.  Please RSVP to Linda Farr if you plan on going.
Come out to the next Family Forum meeting and learn about the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Start at 6:30 PM

Where:  CLBC Offices at 1060 Manahattan Drive office, Suite #104

Please RSVP to Linda Farr at linda.farr@gov.bc.ca or by calling 250-712-3610 by 4 PM on Monday, March 14th

About the workshop:

The RDSP helps Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future.

You should consider opening an RDSP if you have a long-term disability and are:

  • Under age 60 (you must apply before the end of the calendar year in which you turn 59);
  • A Canadian resident with a Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • Eligible for the Disability Tax Credit; and
  • Looking for a long-term savings plan

**To help you save, the Government will pay a matching Canada Disability Savings Grant of up to $3,500 a year on your contributions

**The Government will also pay a Canada Disability Savings Bond of up to $1,000 a year into the RDSPs of low-income and modest-income Canadians

**No contributions are necessary to receive the bond.

**Grants and bonds are paid into the RDSP until the end of the calendar year the beneficiary turns 49 years old

**Money paid out of an RDSP will not affect your eligibility for federal benefits, and will have little or no impact on social assistance payments

This workshop is offered In Partnership with:  the Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada

For more info go to: www.rdsp.com

Employment and Social Development Canada www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/savings/index.shtml or

Canada Revenue Agency www.cra.gc.ca/rdsp

Some info on the PWD increase announced recently

Hi All: For those receiving PWD benefits, here is some info from the province on the PWD increases announced recently:

  • The province announced a rate increase for disability assistance in the Budget on February 16, 2016.
  • Please note that the annual subsidized bus pass will continue and there has been no change to the application process. Clients who have the annual pass will receive their renewal package starting in late summer:
  • Beginning September 1, 2016, all clients who have the Persons with Disabilities Designation will receive a monthly rate increase to use as they choose. The options for people receiving disability assistance > are as follows:
    1. If they don’t receive a subsidized annual bus pass or > the Special Transportation Subsidy, then they will receive a $77 > monthly rate increase to spend as they choose.
    2. If they already have a subsidized annual bus pass they have the option of keeping that bus pass and receiving a rate increase of $25 per month beginning in September. They also have the option to turn in their bus pass at any time after September 1 and receive the full $77 increase in the following months.
    3. If they receive the Special Transportation Subsidy (STS) worth $66 per month, they will receive an STS payment of $329 in April  to cover the April to August 2016 time period. Starting in September, they will automatically receive a monthly rate increase of $77, which  includes the STS and an additional $11 a month rate increase. Further information is available at:  www.sdsi.gov.bc.ca/pwd/increases.html

pdf icon Factsheet-SDSI-Rate-Increases_Budget-2016.pdf
pdf icon 3747_DisabilityAssistanceRateIncreases_Graphic-FULL.pdf

Great News! Feb 26, 2016…!

Sorry, it’s been so busy lately that I haven’t had a chance to tell you all about some of the cool stuff that’s happening. We have some serious artists in our midst and a couple of them are featured in this issue of GreNewspaper pileat News – Check it out here! Have you got something you’re working on and want to let people know about? Let me know!

Great News! Feb 26, 2016…!

Sorry, it’s been so busy lately that I haven’t had a chance to tell you all about some of the cool stuff that’s happening. We have some serious artists in our midst and a couple of them are featured in this issue of GreNewspaper pileat News – Check it out here! Have you got something you’re working on and want to let people know about? Let me know!

View the Art of Neil Whiteoak!

View the art of Neil Whiteoak!  On display December 15th, 2015 –  February 28th, 2016 at the Nelson Public Library.  602 Stanley Street, Nelson, BC.
Neil Whiteoak

  Neil’s Background:

Born in 1986, Neil Whiteoak’s warm and engaging personality makes him a well-known and loved member of the Nelson community. Graduating from LV Rogers in 2005, this quiet gentleman continues on his learning journey. Neil’s determination to express himself artistically is inspiring to all who know and support him.

Neil’s Art:

….is his greatest passion – creating works daily. Neil “paints and draws the beauty that is inside of him The Express (year unknown)”. As an amateur artist, Neil’s area of interest lies in the abstract use of vibrant colours and spirals. He envisions any surface as a potential canvas.

Neil’s Interests

When Neil is not using his canvas, he enjoys socializing at local coffee shops, volunteering at Sheer Talent & Anchors and strolling Baker Street – frequently pausing to absorb the city’s sights, sounds, textures and aromas. A car buff and collector of vintage license plates, leisurely drives are a favourite. Rhythmic music and close connections with others bring him joy. He is a lover of nature and seems to draw inspiration from the earth and being outdoors.

A facebook page with info on Neil’s art

2015 Bi-Annual Interior Self Advocate Conference: Living with Diverse Abilities

October 27 & 28 in Vernon
GENERAL INFORMATION
This conference is being put on by Interior Regional Self Advocates in BC. This year’s theme is about Living Successfully with Diverse Abilities. There will be workshops about employment, bullying and internet safety, relationships, and cooking healthy meals.

On Tuesday evening there will be a dinner and dance. There will be a local band, Feet First, and the theme for this year’s dance is a Halloween/Harvest theme. Prizes will be given out for best dancer and best Halloween costume. Prepare to Party!!
InCommon.TV will also be at the conference. INCOMMON.TV is a web-based story-sharing channel. There will be an opportunity for self advocates to share their experiences and be video recorded if they would like.
LOCATION AND HOTEL INFORMATION
Prestige Hotel & Conference Centre
4411 32 St
Parking is available at the hotel.
REGISTRATION
Conference cost is $25 and must be paid before the conference date. No payment at the door. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis so register now to avoid disappointment.
Conference Agenda:

Day One – Tuesday, October 27, 2015

11:00- 12:30
Conference Registration and Lunch. Lunch to begin at 11:30AM

12:30-1:00
Welcome speeches from Tom Christensen, Chair of CLBC Board of Directors and Vernon’s Mayor Akbal Mund

1:00 PM to 2:15PM – Keynote Presentation

Key Note: Dr. Rachelle Hole, UBC Okanagan professor and Co-Director for the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship, along with the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship Self Advocates Dale and Leanne Froese present:
“Claiming Full Citizenship and Living Successfully with Diverse Abilities”
October is Community Living Month and this year we are exploring what it means to be “Full Citizens”. Based on learning from the “Claiming Full Citizenship Conference” hosted by the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship in Vancouver on October 15 – 17, this keynote will explore what citizenship means, why it is important and how we can achieve it.  They will talk about how self-advocates in other countries like Australia and New Zealand are living successful lives as full citizens and engage the audience to ask, “What can we do to promote full citizenship in our own lives?”
2:15 to 2:30
Coffee, tea and cookie break
2:30-3:00
Self-Advocates from Salmon Arm College
3:00-4:00- Choose Workshop A or B
Workshop A:
Kayla is here to help bridge the gap between disability and diverse ability; let’s build a bigger, brighter future one step at a time and be open to new opportunities.” If we are given the chance, people with diverse abilities can show our skills and work as a team with an employer; we can bring new ideas to make a business stronger and go through the challenges together. I am here to help employers and individuals see that our weaknesses are not a barrier; they are an opportunity to build a better future.”
Workshop B: Chelsea Muskens CLBC Regional Advisor and Lindsay Lorraine Project Coordinator from In Common Storytelling Society of British Columbia team up for a fun interactive workshop. They will help you create an impactful story as a group that can be shared with the global community. The story/ video will inspire and empower the viewer to consider how they could make changes in their daily lives to be more inclusive and promote change within their communities.
Use your voice to share with the global community what a good Quality of Life means to you!

4:00-6:00
Free time or do an interview with InCommon TV
6:00-10:00
Dinner and Halloween Dance
Day Two – Wednesday, October 28
7:00-8:30AM

Breakfast

8:30-10:00 – Keynote Presentation
Sheila Adcock is the Program Coordinator of Career Development Service, an agency governed by the Trail Association for Community Living. CDS is dedicated to providing holistic respective employment & community inclusion supports to individuals living independently in the community.
Sheila will be providing an overview of all of the programs offered at CDS which include employment services and so much more eg: “Getting to Home” homelessness project, Outreach Services provided to specialized populations living independently in the community and various Social Enterprise businesses that provide employment opportunities as well as generate revenue for the agency.

10:30-11:00
Coffee and tea break, and checkout
11:00-12:00-Choose Workshop A or B
Workshop A: 11:00 to 11:30AM – Self Advocates, Rose Vair from Vernon and Krystian Shaw from Kamloops would like to share with you information and tips about bullying and Internet safety. 11:30 to 12:00PM – Angel Nelson and Aaron Basarowick are a happy couple from Penticton.  Aaron and Angel met 3 years ago and have recently just moved into together.  They are now excited to be planning a wedding for 2017!  They invite you to come listen to tips and advice for a healthy relationship and the steps they took to move in together.

Workshop B: Mary Hicks is a Clinical Dietitian working for Health Services for Community Living. She has developed and presented courses on healthy eating, diabetes, celiac disease, and heart health, and has experience teaching to a diverse group of people. In this 1 hour session you will learn some ideas to improve your health through diet while maintaining your budget, tips to reduce your risk of obesity, and some ideas to promote weight loss. This session should be attended by anyone interested to reduce their risk of chronic disease. Prior to wrap-up you will be asked to challenge yourself to make a commitment to change 1 thing to improve your health.

12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-2:00
Closing speeches by Jennifer Love and Elizabeth Hamilton
REGISTRATION FORM
DEADLINE: October 1, 2015
Name________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address______________________________________________________________
City/Province/postal Code______________________________________________________
Telephone Number/E mail______________________________________________________
Please inform us of any special dietary requirements._______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Please inform us of any mobility requirements.____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Support staff can attend for free but will need to share a room with the individual they are supporting. Will you be bringing a support person? ____Yes or ____ No
CONFERENCE FEES:
The registration fee is $25 and includes meals and hotel. (No payment at the door!)
To keep costs down most people will need to share a room.
Can you share a room? ______Yes ______No
Who would you like to share a room with? _______________________________________
I don’t need a hotel room______
Please make your cheque out to: Community Living BC
And mail or drop off your cheque and registration form to:
Attention: Elizabeth Hamilton
Community Living BC
#201, 2802 – 30th Street
Vernon, BC V1T 8G7

CONFERENCE CHOICES (Please circle)
1. Registration for Full conference: Cost is $25

2. Choice of Workshops on Tuesday & Wednesday:

First Session: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday. Please choose one:
Workshop A – Helping Bridge the gap between disability and diverse ability or Workshop B- Your Quality of Life, Your Voice – Let us help you tell your story and share your vision with the global community
Second Session: 11:00 AM to Noon on Wednesday. Please choose one
Workshop A- Our journey as a couple and Bullying and Staying Safe Online or Workshop B – Eat Better – Feel Better “Tips and Tricks to Eat Well on a Tight Budget”

Questions? Call the Vernon CLBC office 1-250-549-5490 or the CLBC office closest to you.

Accessibility