Happier and more peaceful…
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
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.
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.
It’s ok…
Vaccinations
Hey everyone, CLBC has issued further information about vaccinations – you can check it out here.
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.
BE PREPARED: Make a Plan!
As part of our Emergency Preparedness Week series, we are focusing today on making an EMERGENCY PLAN — that means have a plan on what you will do right away when an emergency happens.
There is a list of details to think about on the GetPrepared website, and this is a great place to start making your plan. It’s also important to think about any accessibility or disability related needs.
There is a video here you can watch that will help you with your planning – check it out!
