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Community Events & Team News


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
(EVENTS, NEWS, & AWARENESS)


Collingwood Neighbourhood House – Cedar Carving

Join us on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 7 pm for our weekly cedar carving program. This program is free with priority for Indigenous youth, elders and families.

For more information, call 604-435-0323.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 14th | 5:00PM – 7:00PM

WHERE: Collingwood Neighbourhood House (5288 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC)

COST: FREE!

Collingwood Neighbourhood House


SCI BC – Online Games Night!

ZOOM connection info is below

Make staying inside fun! Hang out with SCI BC peer Nicole for a night of games! Choose an old favourite, or venture into the unknown and learn a new one. Join in, connect, play and have a great time!

You’ll need to register for a free account from Board Game Arena https://www.boardgamearena.com/ beforehand to be ready to play.

How to Connect to Zoom:

  • From your browser: https://zoom.us/j/83870102526
  • From your mobile phone or tablet: download the Zoom app from your app store, then use the meeting ID to get in to the meeting. Meeting ID: 838 7010 2526
  • Dial-in on a landline (telephone): call +1 778 907 2071 Canada (the local number for BC), and enter the Meeting ID when prompted: 838 7010 2526
  • If not in BC, find your local number here: zoom.us/u/acMz0fXoVA

If you have any questions please contact our InfoLine at 1-800-689-2477 or info@sci-bc.ca.

WHEN: Friday, January 17th | 7:30PM – 8:30PM

WHERE: Online (Zoom link above!)

Spinal Cord Injury BC


VIFF – Accessibility

Vancouver Film Festival | Vancouver's Best Places

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

Click here to review VIFF’s Accessibility Page 

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: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Relaxed Screening):

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl's latest teaser trailer is here to remind you that penguins are pure evil | VG247

WHEN: Sunday, January 19th | 11:30AM

WHERE: VIFF Centre: Lochmaddy Studio Theatre (1181 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC)

Click here to watch the trailer and purchase tickets!


Inclusion BC – Call for Proposals 2025

Everybody Belongs is British Columbia’s premier event dedicated to intellectual and developmental disabilities, inclusion, and diversity. We will welcome delegates to River Rock Resort in Richmond, BC on June 19, 20 and 21, 2025.

We encourage you to submit proposals that:

  • Are led by people with lived experience.
  • Represent diversity within the disability community and honour the experiences of Indigenous, LGBTQ2S, and racialized communities from across Canada.
  • Include music, art, film/video, movement, interactivity and great storytelling.
  • Use person-first or identity-first language.
  • Support full inclusion of people with disabilities in community life.
  • Allow all attendees to participate fully.
  • Promote evidence-based practices.

The deadline to submit a proposal is January 15, 2025.

Click here for more information!


What is happening in Vancouver in January?

Destination Vancouver | go2HR

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 Menu for January

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.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025: Thai curry veggie soup, tuna or veggie melt, salad, and orange chocolate muffin

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025: Jerk chicken or mushroom with rice and beans, salad, and mixed berry cake

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025: Peanut soup, egg salad wrap, salad, and apple cupcake

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025: Pork or tofu stir fry noodles, salad, and mini-lemon tart

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025: Hearty veggie winter stew, chicken or veggie pesto flatbread, salad, and chocolate chip cookie

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025: Beef or lentil pasta bolognese, salad, and panna cotta

[ID: Collingwood Neighbourhood House logo.]


Vancouver Community Fridge Project

[ID: a photo of an open fridge, inside is various fruits and vegetables.]

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.

Click Here to Find A Fridge!

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.

Learn How to Get Involved! 


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.

[ID: Disability Alliance BC logo.]


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]


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]


[ID: a logo on a white background with text that reads: 'Plan Institute for caring citizenship']

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: Thursday, January 16th | 4:00PM – 5:30PM

Next Level 2 Webinar: Tuesday, January 21st | 4:00PM – 5:45PM

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, January 16th | 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Click here to register and for more information


Community Support for Spectrum

Donate money for charity vector design illustration isolated on white background 1843828 Vector Art at Vecteezy

Spectrum is a registered charitable organization that fundraises to provide the extra things that aren’t covered by government funding.  We appreciate the support our community provides in these ways:

Donations: We receive donations through our monthly giving program from both community members and our employees.

Different ways you can donate to Spectrum Society

  • You can make a donation online through CanadaHelps.org on our secure donation page here.
  • You can complete this Donation Form and send a cheque to our office.
  • You can join our monthly giving club and provide us with permission to make a monthly deduction from your bank account.  Complete this Donation Form and email it to donations@spectrumsociety.org or mail it to our office.
  • As an employee, you can give us permission to make a deduction from your payroll each pay period. Complete this Donation Form and email it to donations@spectrumsociety.org.
  • Remember Spectrum Society for Community Living when you are preparing your Will.  We have an Endowment Fund that provides us with regular income to assist in providing supports to people with disabilities in the Community.  Please call if you have any questions about this.

Click here for more information!


REFERRAL PROGRAM


[ID: a graphic design with a yellow background. There is a white hanging sign with bold yellow text that reads: 'Employee Referral Program'.]

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!