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.
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
Rock stars apply here
The PlayStation / Xbox game Rock Band is coming to life, and to a pub near you – in aid of improving the lives of Canadians
with spinal cord injury.
The “Rock-Off for Spinal Cord Injury” is from 6pm on Thursday, Feb 4 at Darby’s Pub, Vancouver. It is in support of Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion.
Tickets are $20 and include a burger and a beer. Entry into the Rock Band “Rock-Off” is $2 per person, per song.
Prizes for skills and crowd pleasing antics!
Tickets can be purchased at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre reception desk (818 West 10th Ave), through the Rick Hansen Foundation office at 3820 Cessna Drive, Richmond, or by phone (Jeremy Quan at 604-707-2154) or email jquan@rickhansen.com.
HandyDART service resumes
HandyDART services resumed in Vancouver, BC, on Monday, January 4, with management and union leaders agreeing to binding arbitration.
The HandyDART door-to-door transit service for seniors and people with disabilities was unavailable for the majority of riders since picket lines went up on October 26 – although essential medical trips for dialysis or cancer treatment were maintained under an essential service designation.
MVT Canadian Bus Inc, the US company TransLink contracted the HandyDART service to in October 2008, has agreed to the union’s call to binding arbitration. The province’s senior arbitrator, Vince Ready, will lead this.
The industrial action has been over pay and pensions, with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 – which represents Metro Vancouver’s 500 HandyDART drivers – initially claiming that MVT wanted to axe the Municipal Pension Plans of around half of its drivers to make the service more profitable. (According to management, 46 per cent of drivers were in the Municipal scheme, the rest had nothing.)
The union is also demanding a wage of $25.35 an hour for drivers, up from the current hourly wage of $20.25.
MVT stated at the time that it wanted to offer an RRSP pension to all employees. However, in late December, the company offered the Municipal Pension Plan to all and wage increases of between 16 and 18.5 per cent over four years, said spokeswoman Zdenka Buric.
Drivers rejected this in a Dec. 23 ballot.
“Our apologies go out to all the HandDART riders affected by this,” said Buric. “We feel badly, as we know how difficult this has been for all of them.”
She said full service levels would be available between January 11 - 13 (before then, services are "ramping up" with some people making journeys and others not). Services will bemaintained through the negotiations.
Next event - October workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Thursday, Oct. 29 - and will celebrate our 10th birthday!
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.
We are able to confirm presentations from:
- Canadian 2010 Paralympic curling team member Darryl Neighbour;
- Link-up, which provides "employment services for people with disabilities" (Link-up had been due to appear at the August meeting, but was re-scheduled).
- Buggy Bag Mobility Accessories - including a lap blanket giveaway.
In addition, there will be birthday cake!
More information will be announded near the time.
For more info, contact Stephen
Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org
Free open air concert
Vancouver Adapted Music Society musician Rolf Kempf will be playing - and represnting VAMS - at a free Downtown concert on Saturday, Sept. 12.
He will be appearing on an outdoor stage located at Burrard and Davie, from 5:30pm - 6:10pm, as part of the West End Business Improvement Association's Davie Day event.
The overall event runs from noon till 8pm, and will involve four blocks of Davie Street being closed to traffic.
Next meeting
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Thursday, Aug. 27.
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.
Presenters include Link-up, "employment services for people with disabilities;" Theatre Terrific, "transforming lives through the power of theatre;" a demonstration from Soup 'n Stuff; and a Q&A session with HandyDART.
More info.
Event invitation!
We’re inviting you to help us celebrate “Disability Foundation Day” between 12:30 and 3:30pm on Tuesday, August 25, at The Roundhouse in Vancouver.
It will be a day dedicated to seeing what’s new at the Disability Foundation. Our new Martin 16 sailboat will be on display, as will some of our new music equipment and our latest TrailRiders and several Tetra “Gizmos.”
In addition, we are very excited to be launching our new Chinese language web pages, which will broaden our reach and help ensure that our programs are open to all residents of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Please join us at The Roundhouse – southwest corner of Pacific and Davie in Vancouver. Light refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome!
Easter Seals
Applications are being accepted for the 2009 BC Easter Seals camping program.
It serves individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities aged six through 18 years of age (divided into different age groupings). Campers attend six or seven-day sessions, and there is a maximum supervision ratio of three campers for every counsellor, although a personal support worker can attend.
The first camp each summer is a new campers weekend, which this year is held June 19 – 21, for children that have never been on a sleep-over or one of the Easter Seals programs before.
Next workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Tuesday, June 30.
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.
Presenters include INTERFIT – Integrated Fitness Society, which provides accessible recreation opportunities, and Theo BC, which offers training for health and employment opportunities.
More info here.
Live dates
Joe Coughlin, 2008 National Jazz Award male vocalist of the year, has announced two Vancouver dates, along an appearance in Ottawa. These are:
April 24 & 25: The Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver with the Miles Black Trio
July 3: Ottawa Jazz Festival with the Mark Eisenman Quintet
A legend in Victoria, where he lives, and a guaranteed sell-out in Toronto, Coughlin has been a long-time member of Vancouver Adapted Music Society. His latest album, Things Turn Out That Way, has been getting rave reviews.
The Cellar Jazz Club is accessible, which involves entering via the kitchen. Club owner Cory Weeds adds: "Technically our bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible but some folks have used them without much problem."
Next workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Wednesday, April 22.
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.
Presenters include Triumph Vocational Services, which provides employment programs for people with disabilities, and Michele Cohen, Adventure Travel Specialist for TravelMasters Vancouver.
More info here.
Financial planning
Muscular Dystrophy Canada is running a Financial Planning Workshop at a yet-to-be-announced location on March 14, 2009.
This workshop is intended for people with physical disabilities, and is focused on tax breaks, the RDSP, as well as power of attorney.
It will be held in Vancouver, from 10am-5pm, and is free of charge.
Info: Stephanie Guidobono - phone 604-732-8799 ext 111 or email stephanie.guidobono@muscle.ca
RDSP session
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is hosting a Registered Disability Savings Plan information session in Vancouver on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
It is held from 1:30pm to 4:30pm at Delta Vancouver Suites, Innes Thompson Room, 550 West Hastings Vancouver.
To register (or ask questions) phone 1-800-622-6232 or e-mail rdsp-orgs-reei@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca.
Open house
The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC has an open house from 3pm to 6pm on Friday, March 6, 2009.
The event is held, held at 801 - 409 Granville St., Vancouver (Granville & Hastings), includes a slide show – starting 3:45pm - of a trek to the 6400-meter summit of Mera Peak, in Nepal. This, completed November 2008, raised $2470 in donations for the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC.
RSVP to 604-408-9484 or info@bccerebralpalsy.com.
World Wheelchair Curling Championship
The World Wheelchair Curling Championship is held in Vancouver, BC from Feb. 21 – 28, 2009.
The ten-team tournament will be played on ice, with teams pushing a 19.1-kilogram stone towards a series of concentric rings or circles. All players will deliver the stone from a stationary wheelchair.
It will be held at Vancouver Paralympic Centre (4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver), with tickets ranging from $5 to $40.
Email inquiries here.
Skydive
Vancouver actor and playwright James Sanders, who just happens to be quadriplegic, will see his most important work, Skydive, come back to Vancouver by popular demand.
The award-winning comedy, about two brothers in the
midst of a skydiving adventure gone wrong, opened Jan. 21, 2009 and runs until Feb. 7, at at Granville Island Stage.
The Ariel choreography is
made possible in part by a fiberglass body mould created by Tetra volunteers working with G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre physiotherapists and orthotists.
For ticket info call 604-687-1644.
Family fund deadline
A charitable foundation that provides grants for BC families have established a cut-off date for considering new inquiries.
The Giving in Action Society provides grants that “enable families to stay together by addressing accessibility issues in their home and community,” and reckons to have granted $17,553,518 to 530 families across BC since November 2006.
Its Children and Youth with Special Needs Fund (which provides grants to families with special needs children and teenagers living at home) will stop accepting letters of inquiry after Feb. 1, 2009, because of a backlog of applications. Once one of these letters has been received, the potential client has six months to submit a full application.
Self-employment opportunities
A resource for self-employed people with disabilities has been updated.
The Abilities Business Cooperative – created by ConnecTra – brings together self-employed people with disabilities to support each other, exchange products and services, market collectively and attract the business community. Benefits to members range from discounts to training opportunities.
Christmas with ConnecTra
The next ConnecTra workshop – Christmas with ConnecTra – will be held on Monday, Dec 15, at the Library Square Conference Centre, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver.
It will be held from 1pm to 3pm in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye Meeting Rooms
Guest Speakers are from IAM Cares Society, which provides "employment assitance and support services" for people with disabilities, and inner city regeneration group Building Opportunities with Business.
A light meal is included
More information here.
Travel ruling upheld
The Canadian Supreme Court has upheld a ruling forcing Canadian airlines to offer a free extra seat to disabled and obese people, in a decision released Thursday, Nov. 20.
It essentially means that attendants fly on domestic – not international – flights free of charge.
Press coverage here and here.
Feel the Rush
The Canadian Paralympic Committee has launched a campaign to promote sport for people with disabilities.
At the centre of the campaign is www.feeltherush.ca, a comprehensive source of information for people with disabilities to learn about the sports best suited to their abilities and interests, and to locate national, provincial, or local sporting associations where they can participate.
CD release party
VAMS recording artist sylvi macCormac will be re-launching her most recent albums at Iron Works (235 Alexander Street, Vancouver) from 7pm on Monday, Nov. 17.
Admission for Iron Works is $10. sylvi will be joined by an array of fellow musicians including Michelle A. Richard, Jeff Stanfield, Jayne Dinsmore, and Turtle Joy (Gamelan), MC Betty Rebel67, Sexy Pierre (violin), Wendy Solloway (bass), Astrid (sax), Russell Sholberg (bass) and Michael O'Neill (bagpipe) plus eXtra special guests.
Sylvi’s CDs Coastal Chants (2008), Raven Shadows (2006), Voices & Wheels (2000) and Phoenix (1996) are avail able at www.CDBaby.com and www.highlifeworld.com.
Please note that a performance planned for Siwash Rock (Stanley Park, Coast Salish Territory) on Saturday, Nov 15 has been CANCELLED. There has been a lansdslide in that area, which resulted in that section of the Sea Wall being closed.
More info on sylvi here and here.
Art exhibition
Artist A.J. Brown will be exhibiting her original paintings at Seymour Art Gallergy (4360 Gallant Avenue, Deep Cove, North Vancouver) from Tues. Nov. 4 until Sunday, Nov. 16.
The opening is from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
A.J. works with acrylics, pencil, charcoal, pen, pastels, felt pen, collage, scratch art, and her
cat (right). She is also a potter, writer, poet,
actress, dancer, music composer, and musician.
Her website is: www.handsandpurrs.ca
And see a You Tube video of the launch here.
Next workshop
ConnecTra's next workshop will be on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
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 presenters will be: Dr Udo Erasmus, who will speak about “life wellness,” and a representative from Access Works to talk about paid and volunteer opportunities with the 2010 Winter Olympics.
More info here. And there is an in-depth interview with Dr. Erasmus in the latest edition of the ConnecTra newsletter, The Link, here.
September Presentation
ConnecTra programs administrator Stephen Street will be making a presentation for Neil Squire Society’s graduating Employ-Ability class on Friday, Sept. 19.
The talk will focus on leisure and social opportunities for people with significant disabilities.
The Employ-Ability project aims to help up to 214 people with major physical disabilities who require specific adaptations to take part in an employment assistance program.
The talk will be at Neil Squire Society’s Western Regional Office, 220 - 2250 Boundary Rd., Burnaby, BC.
Reach for the sky
BCMOS runs its gliding program, Easy Gliders, throughout the summer until Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2008 (the first flights of the year were mid-May).
Easy Gliders operates in conjunction with Hope Gliding Centre (operated by Vancouver Soaring Association). Participants travel to Hope, BC, for flights.
Flying the flag
Boccia player Paul Gauthier, of Vancouver, will be one of three flag bearers at the Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympics.
Beijing 2008 will be Gauthier’s fourth Paralympics, and he will be recording events on his online blog.
He wrote: “Being a Paralympic athlete is one of the most amazing opportunities and to be a part of the Games for the fourth time only makes it more special.
“The Opening Ceremonies are always incredible – being greeted by so many people from all over the world who are all sharing in the excitement of something so big are what make the Paralympic Games one of the most thrilling times of any athlete’s life.”
The opening ceremonies are held Saturday, Sept. 6 and the Paralympics run until Wednesday, Sept. 17
More information on Gauthier and his sport, boccia, here.
By land, sea and air
Sister societies to ConnecTra that offer hiking, sailing and gliding for people with disabilities have commenced their summer seasons.
The British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) season runs until Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 – although the TrailRider is available year-round.
Hiking is at Pacific Spirit Regional Park (4915 West 16th Ave. ) at UBC on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with theme hikes to other destinations at weekends. Info here.
The Disabled Sailing Association of BC (DSA-BC) season runs unitl Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.
Sailing ranges for beginner sessions to racing, held at Jericho Sailing Centre, (1300 Discovery Street, Vancouver,BC). There are various regattas throughout the season. Info here.
BCMOS runs its gliding program, Easy Gliders, throughout the summer until Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2008 (the first flights of the year were mid-May).
Easy Gliders operates in conjunction with Hope Gliding Centre (operated by Vancouver Soaring Association). Participants travel to Hope, BC, for flights.
August Workshop
The next ConnecTra workshop will be from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday, Aug. 26. It will be held in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye meeting room of the Library Square Conference Centre, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver.
Speakers will be: Barb Vincent, Job Developer, Triumph Vocational Services; Herb Torrance, Paralympic boccia ball coach.
A late lunch will be provided.
To book a place or discuss the event, contact Stephen Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org
Himalayan fundraiser
Long-time BCMOS members Linda McGowan and Doug Reid are fundraising for a TrailRider trek to the Nepal Himalaya, set for October 2008.
The fundraiser, a pub night, is held at the Paddle Wheeler Pub (810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster – part of the New Westminster Public Market) from from 5pm to 9pm on Wednesday, July 30. Entry is $20, which includes a beer and a burger.
Linda, of New Westminster, and Doug, of Vancouver, aim to trek for 18-21 days to Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 5,360 metres (17,600 ft). More about the expedition here.
Concert
Joe Coughlin, 2008 National Jazz Award “male vocalist of the year,” is playing two rare Vancouver dates. A legend in Victoria, where he lives, and a guaranteed sell-out in Toronto, Coughlin appears at the Cellar Jazz Club July 25-26. The best part of it is. . . he’s recording a live CD (and haven’t you always wanted to be on a live album?) slated for a 2009 release.
Coughlin, an incomplete quadriplegic, has been a long-time member of Vancouver Adapted Music Society. His latest album, Things Turn Out That Way, has been getting rave reviews.
The club is accessible, which involves entering via the kitchen. Club owner Cory Weeds adds: "Technically our bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible but some folks have used them without much problem."
Promoting Access
SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) is running an access campaign, Access is Everyone’s Business. It is promoting the importance of customers with disabilities to businesses across the province, and how best to offer an inclusive service. It states: “People with disabilities represent approximately 20 per cent of the consumer market.”
Hearing Impaired
The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People are hosting the International Congress for persons with hearing loss in Vancouver.
Held July 2 – 5, 2008 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center, it will bring together policy-makers, service providers and family members to consider hearing accessibility, services and programs for people with hearing impairments. Info here.
Picture Perfect
British Columbia Paraplegic Association is hosting a photo contest to illustrate the lives of people with disabilities – Your World, Your Eyes. Submissions must be from or else feature someone with a mobility impairment. Deadline is June 30, 2008.
Contest details here, submission form here, more info: photocontest@bcpara.org or phone 1-877-324-3611.
June Workshop
The next ConnecTra Workshop is Thursday, June 26, 2008 in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye meetings room of the Library Square Conference Centre, Vancouver.
Presenter Nicola Oliver, Progams Manager for BC Centre For Ability, will discuss programs that enhance an individual’s job-readiness. Then, Sheila Polard, Aquatic Supervisor of the Stan Stronge Pool, will discuss the recreational and therapeutic services their programs provide.
More information will be posted here nearer to the time.
To book a place or discuss the event, contact Stephen Street: 604-688-6464 ext. 115, or sstreet@disabilityfoundation.org
Wheels in Motion
Once again, the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion challenge will be
promoting awareness of spinal cord injury and raising funds for research.
This year’s – the sixth annual Wheels in Motion – is held Sunday, June 8 at locations across Canada. Connectra's sister society British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) , along with a TrailRider, will be taking part in the Pacific National Exhibition (2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver) event that day. There is free admission to Playland with a $20 donation.
Other Lower Mainland Wheels in Motion locations include: North Shore (Park Royal Village), Richmond (Minoru Park), Burnaby/New Westminster (Mercer Stadium) and Surrey (South Surrey Athletic Park).
Musicians with Disabilities
Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) has produced a showcase CD to highlight BC’s musicians with disabilities, Strait Goods.
According to the VAMS website, the disc “demonstrates convincingly that disability is no barrier to musicianship. Our hope is that it will inspire others with significant physical disabilities to pursue their passions and search for ways to realize their dreams.” Listen to samples here.
2008 Paralympics Medals
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics has unveiled the medals for the Paralympic Games.
The Paralympics run in Beijing from September 6 – 17, 2008, with equestrian events held in Hong Kong and sailing in Qingdao.
According to their official website, the medals feature a jade disc and the emblem of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Info here.
Search for a Star
British Columbia Paraplegic Association and Tourism Richmond are looking for volunteers with disabilities to be photographed for promotional campaigns.
Pictures will be taken at various locations in North and Central Richmond on Saturday, May 10, 2008 and Steveston on Sunday, May 11, 2008. They will be used for promotional purposes by both organizations and the Accessible Tourism Project at 2010 Legacies Now.
They would prefer people aged 35 and older, with personal transportation. Models should bring a backpack, binoculars or cameras and have clothing that “suggests spring and fall weather” – i.e. a jacket and hat. There is payment available ($50 for a half day, $100 for a full day).
Info: phone: 604-326-1222, or email cfrancisco@bcpara.org
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