
COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH: Let’s celebrate!
Hey everyone, we posted last week to kick off Community Inclusion Month. This week, we are exploring community inclusion through how we participate. COMMUNITY is one of the 7 keys to citizenship listed in Inclusion BC’s video. Everyone has a right to be included in their community. It’s part of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), check it out here.
Given that we are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, we can consider how we want to participate in community while still keeping ourselves and others safe and healthy — such as getting outside into local parks (like the upcoming Spooktacular Pumpkin Walk coming up in Kelowna), or participating in an online community, like on the Inclusion BC Facebook page, through an event listed in the Family Support Institute’s Calendar for Connection (like the upcoming Halloween Howl), or alongside your favorite interests and hobbies (like on Pinterest) — or, in the comments section here, too!
Want to hear more about online communities? Let us know in the comments!
CLBC Update for Individuals and Families

Hi everyone, you can find CLBC’s latest update for individuals and families here.
It’s COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH!

Hey everyone, October is COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH – so let’s celebrate inclusion in our communities!
All month long, we will be posting ways to celebrate inclusion, ways to build inclusion, and ways to explore the meaning of inclusion.
To get started, here are some places you can check out all month long for community inclusion month information, events, and posts:
- Here is the page for CLBC’s Widening Our World (WOW) Awards, which will be updated with this year’s winners during Community Inclusion Month. The awards this year will focus on people who helped make a difference in the lives of people with diverse abilities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CLBC’s Facebook page and Twitter page will be updated with information and events throughout Community Inclusion Month.
- Inclusion BC is working with CLBC during Community Inclusion Month to raise awareness about inclusive housing. Watch Inclusion BC’s video below, or check it out with their Key to Home website here.
- In keeping with the inclusive housing theme, Inclusion Canada announced they are going to share new resources through their Pathways to Homeownership project.
- Inclusion Canada also has a webpage about deinstitutionalization in Canada. Check out these powerful milestones, experiences, and progress in community inclusion here.
Small Business BC celebrates Accessibility!
Hey everyone, Small Business BC is celebrating Accessibility Month through September by offering a month of free business education webinars that feature ASL interpretation and closed captioning. Their webinar “HOW TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT YOUR BUSINESS” is running on Monday (Sep. 27) from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. You can find out more (and register) here. Know someone who owns a business who could use some help making it more accessible? Send them the link!
Their website also has information about workplace accessibility grant funding. You can check out more information via YouTube as well:
Find out more about what Small Business BC has to say about accessibility on their Accessibility Month webpage, here.
Federal Election!

Hey everyone, the federal election is happening TODAY — and just in case you’re not sure what ID to bring with you when you go to your polling station, here is a page from Elections Canada with a list of all the acceptable ID options!

Voting Day…

Hey everyone, the federal election is happening on Monday, September 20th.
There are health and safety precautions in place for voting day, you can read more about them here on the Elections Canada website or check out their video.
Elections Canada also has a page of COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions set up here.
Voting Day Accessibility!

Hey everyone, we posted about the federal election coming up on Monday, September 20th.
Check out the video below all about what help is available on Election Day, and share it with anyone else who might be interested!
If you can’t find the accessibility information you’re looking for, call Elections Canada (1-800-463-6868 or (TTY) 1-800-361-8935).
CLBC Update for Individuals & Families

Hey everyone, CLBC’s update for August 27th is now posted. All CLBC updates are posted on their website here and you can sign up to get updates using the link to the sign up page.
Highlights included this update:
- Government News: BC proof of vaccination requirement starts Sep. 13, masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces, and the Government of Canada has made Sep. 30 a federal statutory holiday (National Day of Truth and Reconciliation)
- Elections Canada: information for people with disabilities (election is Sep. 20)
- WOW Awards: nominations are open until Sep. 9
- Family Support Institute (FSI): list of upcoming free Family Hangouts
- CLBC’s website: helpful information and resources for wildfire preparedness
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): suggestions for dealing with the stress of natural disasters, as well as free, confidential support and crisis lines available 24/7 offering immediate help
ONLINE: Summer Swing & Social!
Hey everyone, the Nelson CARES Society is having their social on the 26th – share the info below, all are welcome!
- Time: Thursday, August 26th at 6:00pm
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6291747361
- Meeting ID: 629 174 7361
- Passcode (if required): CARES


