Welcome to the
ConnecTra Society
Rewarding activities for people with disabilities.
Happy birthday: ConnecTra is 10 years old - thanks to all our members, funders and donors who make the organization possible.
ConnecTra was formed November, 1999.
Next event - February 2010 workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Thursday, Feb. 26.
It will be held from 1pm to 3pm in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye meeting room of the Library Square Conference Centre, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver.
The theme will be sexual health, with a presentation by Vancouver Coastal Health sexual health clinician Christine Zarowski.
For more information, or to confirm attendance, please contact Stephen
Street at 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org
Disability culture festival
The Kickstart disability arts & culture festival runs at various Vancouver locations from March 8 – 27 to promote the various talents of people with disabilities.
“In Canada and around the world, artists and
performers with disabilities are contributing to
one of the most radical and effective aspects of disability culture – challenging conventional notions of beauty, form and motion,” says Catherine Frazee, Professor of Distinction, School of Disability Studies & Co-Director, Ryerson RBC Institute for Disability Studies (quoted on the Kickstart website).
Together, the various events encompass music, visual art, dance, multi-media presentations and workshops – aiming to “produce and present works by artists with disabilities and to promote artistic excellence among artists with disabilities working in a variety of disciplines.”
Hip hop dance artist Bill Shannon, pictured above, performs March 20 - 21.
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.org
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.
Joe Coughlin award and album
Joe Coughlin, the jazz legend
and longtime VAMS member,
has been announced Canada’s
best male jazz singer – for the
second year in a row – and
just released a new album.
Coughlin was announced Male
Vocalist of the Year in the
2009 National Jazz Awards.
And his new CD,
Lowdown West Broadway, is just hitting the stores. It was recorded live at Vancouver’s Cellar jazz club last July - more info and sound samples here and here. Joe, backed up by a truly stellar rhythm section, has never sounded better than on the 13 standards here.
Video site
A video-sharing site “designed by and for the disabled people across the world” has been launched.
This is your chance to tell your story, share your journey, seek encouragement or help someone who is struggling.
Webby Talents is an online community “designed to unite persons with disabilities through the posting, sharing and discussion of personal videos.”
RDSP information
ConnecTra is providing information to members about "the first disability savings plan in the world”– the
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
RDSP plans are designed specifically for people with disabilities, and offer substantial returns over a minimum 10-year period. People under 30 will be the main beneficiaries, and the maximum
age to obtain government grants is 49.
There was a deadline in early March for people wanting to retroactively receive government grants and bonds for 2008, but RDSPs can be opened any time. More info in the official PDF.
Full report of the presentation here. And email us if you want to know more.
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.
Soar like an eagle
ConnecTra member Cleo
Pawson (right) is reaching new
heights after seeing her
artwork go on display
outside Vancouver City Hall.
She painted a two-metre
tall fiberglass bald eagle for
the Eagles in the City project
- which follows on Orcas in
the City in 2004 and Spirit
Bears in the City in 2006.
The fiberglass statues will
be auctioned off in April
2010, raising money for the
B.C. Lions Society for Children
with Disabilities and the Canucks for Kids Fund.
More information here, here and in Pawson's photo diary of the project.
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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