Welcome to the
ConnecTra Society
Rewarding activities for people with disabilities.
Gardening group’s upcoming meetings
The Disabled Independent Gardener’s Association is hosting two events for people with disabilities interested in gardening – ranging from indoor plants to container gardening to community plots to backyard planting. DIGA promotes accessible growing, which ranges from the use of specially adapted gardening tools to practices such as raised bed growing. Events include:
Create a planter with “Cool Seasonal Edibles,” from 2 - 3:30 pm on Tuesday, Aug. 31, featuring Emily Budinski from BC Council of Garden Clubs talking about plants to grow in the fall and winter to harvest in early spring. It is held at George Pearson Centre's “Activity Wing,” 601 – West 59th Avenue (use the entrance next to the Stan Strong Swimming Pool, between Oak & Cambie). Participation costs $10. Free parking.
Lecture: “Plants for Winter Interest,” from 2 - 3:30 pm on Friday, Sept. 24. Shelley Brignall from Phoenix Perennials will introduce plants that provide months of winter interest and an antidote against those dark and cold days of the year. Held at Phoenix Perennials, 3380 No 6 Road, Richmond. Participation is $5, with free parking.
Contact Betty Cheung, DIGA Program Coordinator, if you want to attend – phone 604-688-6464 ext 106 or email bcheung@disabilityfoundation.org to reserve a place.
Next event - ConnecTra's October workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be held in late October at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver.
The Roundhouse is fully accessible. There is underground pay parking available, and the venue is across the road from the fully accessible Yaletown-Roundhouse SkyTrain station. (See map here.)
The event will feature a presentation on the Registered Disability Savings Plan. This investment opportunity was designed specifically for people with disabilities, and offers substantial returns – for those eligible – which can subsequently be cashed without impacting benefits or pensions.
More detals here.
Latest newsletter
Check out ConnecTra's latest newsletter, The Link, which is online now. Read it here.
Free children's sport wheelchairs
An initiative to promote physical activities in children with disabilities offers free sports wheelchairs to BC children under six.
The BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, with funding from the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Let’s Play program and the Ministry of Education, is launching providing free sport wheelchairs in communities throughout British Columbia.
According to their consent form “Inclusive physical activity for children at a young age helps to set the foundation for basic movement skills, increased self esteem and independence, healthy attitudes towards exercise, and strong social bonds that remain with them throughout their lives. Tap into these benefits now and participate in this great program!”
If you have a child with a physical disability who could benefit from having access to a sport wheelchair, email
letsplay@bcwbs.ca.
Events calendar
This calendar lists events, lectures, presentations and other happenings arranged by or involving the Disability Foundation, which includes ConnecTra (the full list of affiliated societies is to the right of this page).
Jim Byrnes/VAMS Music Saves
Vancouver Adapted Music Society’s Music Saves Video Project showcases a stellar array of West Coast music scene names.
Produced by Shore 104 FM, it features VAMS members Jim Byrnes, Sylvi MacCormac and
Rolf Kempf, joined by The Sojourners, Ndidi Onukwulu, Geoff Hicks, Shaun Verreault, Adaline, Daniel Wesley, Shane Turner and Jets Overhead in an amazing cover of Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released.
Watch the video, and if you like it, please, please pass the word along. VAMS is making this a word-of-mouth ("viral") project.
Jobseekers website
A website specifically for jobseekers with disabilities has just been launched: jobs.abilities.ca
It is run by the Canadian Abilities Foundation in partnership with Workopolis, Canada's largest job site with nearly 4 million users a month.
The site promotes itself as “for job seekers to gain exposure to employers who are committed to diverse work places. Also, it is a place for employers to gain a competitive edge by recruiting and hiring people with disabilities all across Canada.”
Users can post resumes or search for vacancies.
Recording studio open
Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) has opened the city’s most modern studio for musicians with disabilities.
Built at Vancouver’s GF Strong Rehab. Centre (4255 Laurel St., Vancouver, BC) the studio allows playing, composition and multi-track recordings – in 24-bit, 96 khz DVD-quality audio.
According to Vancouver music scene veteran Bobbi Style, of Coquitlam: “With most studios, even if owners are accepting of a person in a wheelchair, it’s difficult to get around. You find that you can’t get over to the mixing desk, or to use the computer. These places just aren’t made to be accessible. They are also very expensive.”
To book a studio session, email or call (604-688-6464 ext. 128) VAMS manager Kirk Duncan.
Get on board Wheels recording project
Longtime Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) member sylvi MacCormac is looking for people with disabilities to provide voices - spoken and singing - to her latest Wheels recording.
Sylvi will be recording people with disabilities for musical compositions and soundscapes. She will record adult and children's voices, speaking and singing, including people who have never sung before along with seasoned professionals. Recording will take place on location and at the VAMS accessible studio at G.F. Strong Rehab.
The intent of WHEELS is to inspire excite and empower people, encouraging individual creativity and collaborative creative projects. Please add your voice to this project.
More about sylvi. Email her here.
Accessible vacation accommodation
A BC-based foundation which supports people with disabilities and their families is attempting to create a fully accessible vacation accommodation.
The Abilitas Foundation is fundraising to create the lodge on a ranch located 20 minutes west of Merritt, BC. When completed, the Cold Water Ranch, will be available for people with disabilities (and their friends, family and carers) at no charge
The project will offer both respite accommodation and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities (including ranch tourism) to people with disabilities living in BC.
An archive of previous news coverage can be found here.
The ConnecTra Society thanks the British Columbia Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance for their ongoing support.
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