Links

health & wellnes

Advocacy   

BC Coalition of People with Disabilities   604-875-0188

www.bccpd.bc.ca
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is a not-for-profit organization that represents people with all types of disabilities throughout BC.  Their mandate is to raise public and political awareness around issues of concern to the disability communities and to create change.

BC Human Rights Tribunal   604-775-2000

www.bchrt.bc.ca

The BC Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body created by the Human Rights Code.  It is responsible for accepting, screening, mediating, and adjudicating human rights complaints covered by the Human Rights Code in BC.

Canadian Human Rights Commission   1-888-214-1090

www.chrc-ccdp.ca

The Canadian Human Rights Commission aims to settle complaints of discrimination in employment, to ensure that federally regulated employers provide equal opportunities for designated groups, and to develop information and discrimination prevention programs.

Employment Standards Branch   604-660-4946

www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb

The Employment Standards Branch administers the Employment Standards Act and Regulation, which set minimum standards of wages and working conditions in most workplaces.

Ministry of Housing and Social Development   1 866 866-0800

www.gov.bc.ca/eia/

The Ministry of Housing and Social Development is committed to providing assistance to those in need, and helping people who are able to work achieve sustainable employment.

PovNet   604-876-8638

www.povnet.org

PovNet is an online resource for advocates, people on welfare, and community groups and individuals involved in anti-poverty work, providing up-to-date information about resources in British Columbia and Canada.

Residential Tenancy Branch   604-660-1020

www.rto.gov.bc.ca

The Residential Tenancy Branch provides landlords and tenants with dispute resolution services and information under British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.

Tenancy Resource and Advisory Centre   604-255-0546

www.tenants.bc.ca

TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre works to improve legal protection for tenants and to promote community action for the purpose of protecting and increasing the supply of affordable rental housing in B.C.

ConnecTra is a connecting agency, linking people with disabilities to activities and programs that will, over time, allow them to gain confidence and become more active and involved in community life (it also includes self-employment group Abilities Business Co-op). ConnecTra is one of the six affiliated societies that make up the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation

Others are:

British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to explore the outdoors, centered around the TrailRider. This is a specially designed, single-wheel, remote access wheelchair that enables the user, propelled by two able-bodied helpers, to take part in wilderness and recreational activities.

Disabled Independent Gardeners Association provides people with significant physical disabilities the opportunity to become involved in gardening. DIGA recognizes gardening as a recreational activity that can enable people with disabilities to develop skills, build self-confidence, learn and grow.

Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia promotes freedom and independence by providing people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in an exciting and challenging outdoor sport. Uses a specially designed adaptive sailboat, the Martin-16, which allows joystick or (mouth-operated) sip 'n' puff control. DSA has affiliates in Victoria, Chemainus, Kelowna, and other cities across Canada.

Tetra Society of North America provides volunteer engineers to design and construct customized assistive devices for people with significant physical disabilities. Volunteers work one-on-one with people with specific needs that cannot be met by commercial assistive devices.

Vancouver Adapted Music Society works with musicians of all levels of ability. Provides karaoke and entry-level music making, along with fully equipped performance studios at the GF Strong Rehab Centre and George Pearson Centre, both in Vancouver. The society also promotes more accomplished musicians through its website, by arranging performance opportunities, staging concerts and through recordings.