News Archives:
A roundup of all the news, urgent announcements and other things of note that have since become history. We move items here from the homepage once they are no longer timely.
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.
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.
Disability Expo
ConnecTra presents a multi-agency resource fair to put you in direct contact with Metro Vancouver’s biggest and most useful providers of services for people with disabilities.
The Abilities Expo is held at Roundhouse Community Centre, at the corner of Davie & Pacific, from 12:30 – 4:30pm on Wednesday, April 21.
It provides the resources, information and personal contacts to enable a person with disabilities to live a full and inclusive life.
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