WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
(EVENTS, NEWS, & AWARENESS)
Spectrum’s Seasonal Office Hours
Wednesday, December 25th – CLOSED
Thursday, December 26th – CLOSED
Wednesday, January 1st – CLOSED
ConnecTra and DIGA Holiday Party
Celebrate the holiday season and another great year with your ConnecTra community on Wednesday, Dec 4th, from 1 – 3 PM at Heritage Hall – 3102 Main St, Vancouver.
This free in-person event will include hot beverages, some treats, and a chance to get to know the ConnecTra Society community. Choose to participate in our Lantern Making Workshop from 1-2 PM or our Cookie Decorating from 2-3 PM or both! Spaces are limited. Please select at check out.
Lantern Making Workshop with Still Moon Arts Society:
Join the Still Moon Arts Society and ignite your creativity at a community holiday lantern-making workshop! Take your lantern home, illuminate it with a tealight or LED candle, and let its glow brighten your wintry nights.
Participants will receive a glass mason jar and various colours of tissue paper to create beautiful and festive lanterns. Options for designs include evergreen trees, starry nights, snowy vistas, and more abstract patterns.
Still Moon Arts Society inspires vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature.
Cookie Decorating:
Participants will receive their own decorating kits with cookies, icing, and more!
WHEN: Wednesday, December 4th | 1:00PM – 3:00PM
WHERE: Heritage Hall (3102 Main St, Vancouver, BC)
COST: FREE! Click here to get your free tickets now!
Real Talk – CQC Holiday Dim Sum Brunch
Come join us for our last event of 2024!
CQC (Connecting Queer Communities’) is a social group for folks with cognitive disabilities who are 2SLGBTQIA+, who might be curious or questioning their gender or identity, or who might want to spend time in queer community! We meet a few times a month and go to queer events in the Lower Mainland together. For CQC’s final event of 2024, we’ll be getting together on Saturday December 7 from Noon to 3pm at the 336 Columbia Hub to eat some Dim Sum, listen to some music, and maybe do some karaoke!
Note: You must register in advance if you want to come to this event – so we know how much food to buy. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
WHEN: Saturday December 7, 2024 | 12:00PM – 3:00PM
WHERE: 336 Columbia St. New Westminster
COST: FREE!
WHAT TO BRING: Just your fabulous self.
VIFF – Accessibility
VIFF is committed to making our events and screenings accessible to as many people as we can, and we strive to remove barriers to access whenever possible. For more information, please email accessibility@viff.org
Ticketing
For ticketing assistance, you can reach us at on the VIFF Infoline 604-683-3456 or feedback@viff.org
Wheelchair Positions: We encourage patrons requiring wheelchair positions to call ahead to reserve. The adjacent companion seat is also available to reserve.
Support Companions: Support persons who accompany patrons with disabilities are eligible to receive a complimentary ticket. Contact the Infoline to book ahead or book in-person at the Box Office.
Accessible Tickets: We offer a limited number of discounted tickets to each film for folks who face financial barriers and may not be able otherwise to attend a film. Discounted tickets are available on our website or at the Box Office while quantities last.
Accessible Screenings
Captioned Screenings: Our Wednesday matinee Captioned Screenings welcome Deaf and hard of hearing audiences, along with anyone who benefits from captions.
Relaxed Screenings: Our monthly Relaxed Screenings are open to anyone who could benefit from a more casual, supportive and laid-back experience.
SHOWING: Flow (Relaxed Screening)
In a future without humans, a solitary black cat survives a tsunami and finds refuge on a sailboat with a ragtag crew of animals: an excitable Labrador, a drowsy capybara, a materialistic lemur, and a gallant secretary bird. As he navigates a mystical, flooded world with his new companions, the cat must overcome both his fear of water and his wariness of others. Having made a splash at Cannes 2024, this atmospheric animated feature, complete with an orchestral score, provides an enthralling, emotional adventure for all ages.
Grounded with the use of animal sound recordings in lieu of any dialogue, Latvian director Gints Zibalodis’ sophomore feature deploys a dynamic virtual camera and gorgeously rendered environmental detail to bring to life a mysterious post-apocalyptic setting in which only artifacts of humanity’s influence remain. An entertaining allegory about the challenges and virtues of teamwork plays out through Flow’s delightful cast of critters.
WHEN: Sunday, December 8 | 12:30PM
WHERE: VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC)
Click here to watch the trailer and to purchase tickets!
What is happening in Vancouver in December?
Click on the link below to see what’s happening:
https://www.destinationvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/vancouver-events/
Collingwood Neighbourhood House – Community Lunch
Join us every Tuesday and Thursday for an affordable three-course meal at our Multipurpose Room (5288 Joyce Street) for only $7-8 from 12:15-1:30pm.
Buy your tickets at Collingwood Neighbourhood House reception!
For questions, email Susanna Chu at schu@cnh.bc.ca or call 604-435-0375.
![[ID: Collingwood Neighbourhood House logo.]](https://www.spectrumsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cnh.png)
Community Lunch Program at Renfrew Park Community Centre
![[ID: a photo of the Renfrew Park Community Centre.]](https://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/renfrew-park-community-centre-landing.jpg)
Meals include a hot entrée, salad or side dish, dessert, coffee or tea. We try our best to use locally grown seasonal vegetables and fruit from community gardens! Lunches will be served on a first come first served basis. Lunch can be bought in person with cash/credit card or online with a credit card, limit of 4 per person. Limited number of lunches available.
Adults/Seniors $7.62+tax | Children/Youth $6.19+tax
Fees for this program are non-refundable.
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French Onion Soup
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Mini Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce and Sweet Potato Mash
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Carrot Raisin Cake
WHERE: Renfrew Park Community Centre, Kitchen (Room 110) – (2929 E 22nd Ave, Vancouver, BC)
WHEN: Friday, December 6th | 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Vancouver Community Fridge Project
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The Vancouver Community Fridge Project is a decentralized food distribution network and mutual aid initiative created to provide healthy, free food and essential supplies to our communities across lower mainland.
Our mission is to combat food insecurity by encouraging our communities to take part in laterally-directed mutual aid, starting with providing free, safe, non-policed, accessible and nutritious foods through community fridges and pantries.
All fridges and pantries that are apart of the VCFP network will be operating on a strict no policing, no-shame policy. This means, the VCFP does not condone patrolling how fridge users engage with the fridge, gatekeeping, or any exclusionary or harmful behaviours. The fridges should be accessible, welcoming places based on trust and communication of needs, established by and for the community.
FINANCIAL UPDATES
Disability Alliance BC – MY DTC
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a tax benefit from the Government of Canada. It is meant to help people with disabilities and their families reduce the amount of income tax they have to pay. Benefits like the Registered Disability Saving Plan and the new Canada Disability Benefit coming in July 2025 can be accessed when you have the Disability Tax Credit.
My DTC is a free online guide to the Disability Tax Credit created by Disability Alliance BC. It has information on benefits, eligibility and the overall process, as well as tools to help with applying. Please note, My DTC does not allow people to apply for the DTC directly. This is done through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Visit My DTC here to explore the guide.
BC Hydro – Customer Crisis Fund
If you’re a residential customer experiencing a temporary financial crisis, such as a loss of employment or benefit income, unanticipated medical expenses, or a death in the family and you’ve fallen behind on your BC Hydro bill, you may be eligible for a grant payment to avoid disconnection of your service.
Eligibility for a grant
To receive a grant from the Customer Crisis Fund, you need to meet a few criteria:
- Be a residential account holder.
- Be applying for a grant for your primary residence account.
- Your account must have payments overdue by at least 21 days or be facing disconnection. You can apply as early as when you have a balance owing on your account, but your application will be on hold until your payment is 21 days overdue or your account is facing disconnection.
- You must have experienced a life event, within the last 12 months, that caused a temporary financial crisis.
- Have an outstanding balance of $1,000 or less, and have demonstrated some attempt to make payments towards your bill.
You may receive one grant per account holder annually (one per year). If a grant application is denied and your circumstances change, you can apply again in the same year.
Click here for more information and how to apply!
![[ID: logo of BC Hydro Power Smart]](https://ecofitt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/bchydro.jpg)
Inclusion BC Provincial Budget Alert 2024-2025
Spectrum is a member of Inclusion BC and supports their provincial advocacy on behalf of individuals and families with developmental disabilities.
Click here for their report on the provincial budget announced for 2024-2025.
![[ID: logo of Inclusion BC]](https://files.constantcontact.com/5484ef30101/c09a3cee-3809-41f2-964f-ab73cfcb439f.png)
![[ID: a logo on a white background with text that reads: 'Plan Institute for caring citizenship']](https://planinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Plan_Institute_logo_2016_tagline-grey.jpg){kind=logo}
Plan Institute Webinars
The Plan Institute has FREE upcoming regular webinars on the topics of the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and Wills, Trusts and Estates Planning.
RDSP
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a Canada-wide registered matched savings plan for those with disabilities to better financially plan for their futures. The Level 1 webinar is meant for those who want to learn about what the RDSP is, who qualifies, and how to apply. The Level 2 webinar is for those who already have a RDSP, or have already taken Level 1.
Next Level 1 Webinar: Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 | 10:00AM – 11:30AM
Next Level 2 Webinar: Tuesday, December 11th, 2024 | 10:00AM – 11:45AM
Click here to register and for more information
Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning (BC Only)
This webinar is meant for those who want to become better informed on the process of wills, trusts and estate planning to better secure the future of your relative or loved one with a disability. There is a limit of 60 participants so early registration is encouraged!
Next Webinar: Thursday, December 12th, 2024 | 10:00AM – 11:15AM
Click here to register and for more information
REFERRAL PROGRAM
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Is there anyone you know that is looking for meaningful work?
If you have a friend, family member or meet someone in the community that is interested in joining the team and you refer them to Spectrum, you could be eligible for a referral bonus!
If the person referred is hired and maintains at least 6 months of consistent employment with Spectrum, we will award a $250 Referral Bonus.
*for more information on the program, please email hr@spectrumsociety.org
We thank you for bringing us quality applicants/employees!