WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
(EVENTS, NEWS, & AWARENESS)
Improv Karaoke
On the last Wednesday of every month…
Come play improvised music in a collaborative setting! Open to improvising musicians of all genres and experience levels. Small ensembles will be randomly created from musicians that register (that’s you!) to play short sets together.
- Free/$10/$20/$xx
- Admission is free; donations are welcome at the door (cash only).
- Cash bar by donation.
- Set up 6:30pm-7pm
- Music 7pm-10pm
- Listeners are always welcome and do not need to register.
*This event is recorded via photograph, short videos, and audio for archival purposes. Photographs and short videos may be posted via Instagram in the spirit of sharing. Please reach out to us if this is not within your comfort and we will absolutely respect your request no questions asked!
To Participate:
- Registrations will open 1 week prior to each monthly event.
- Please register via Eventbrite if it is your first time coming.
- Drop-in registrations at the door are available but capacity-dependent
- If it says Sold Out, come anyway and we’ll do our best to slip you into an ensemble!
Bring with you:
- your instruments, cables, amps, and smiles!
- Available on-site: drum set, piano, two guitar amps, bass amp.
- *Electronic Instruments and Laptops welcomed.
When you Arrive:
- Come say “hi!” to one of our hosts at the check-in counter and create your very own karaoke-card!
- Returning musicians: help us out by finding your karaoke-card!
- Please check in with us before 7pm in-person to play in Round 1 (starts 7pm sharp).
- Rushing from work/other places to be? We love that you’re coming out anyway and will include you in Round 2.
- Priority will be given to those who have checked in on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This event will be co-hosted by Mike WT Allen, Matthew Ariaratnam.
“If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our organizer Andrea Wong at improv.karaoke.yvr@gmail.com. She is friendly. :)”
*Thank you for coming out and supporting the improvised music community!
*This event is presented as part of the NOW Society sponsored Residency Program, hosted by the NOW Society at 8EAST. Please visit nowsociety.org and 8east.ca for more details.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 30th | 6:30PM – 10:00PM
WHERE: 8East (8 East Pender Street Vancouver, BC)
CNH – Make Your Mark: Open Art Studio
Join us at the CNH Annex to work on old and new art projects! Every Thursday, we offer space for sketching, watercolour painting, acrylic painting, origami, embroidery, knitting, crocheting and more. This is also a great opportunity to drop by our art studio to learn and share skills.
Drop-ins are welcome, no registration is required. Basic art materials are provided by donation.
WHEN: Thursday, May 1st | 3:30PM – 5:30PM
WHERE: CNH Annex (3690 Vanness Ave, Vancouver, BC)
COST: Free
Burnaby Blooms
Burnaby’s favourite springtime celebrations returns in 2025 as the City welcomes Burnaby Blooms. Join us on Sunday, May 4 at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Deer Lake Park.
Enjoy entertainment, roving performers, eco-artist meet and greets, family activities, free talks and tours, plant sales, community groups, food trucks and more!
Burnaby Blooms promotes the long-term sustainability and the ecological health of our community in a fun and creative environment. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for hours of fun at the City’s favourite spring festival.
Free admission and entertainment. The event is designed to happen rain or shine.
Reminder: due to construction, parking at Shadbolt Centre’s upper and underground lots will be unavailable. Parking is available at City Hall and Deer Lake Centre public pay parking lots; parking in the vicinity is limited. Alternate transportation is recommended. Onsite bike valet is available near the Shadbolt Centre surface lot. Please refer to our public parking map for more information.
WHEN: Sunday, May 4th | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
WHERE: Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn (6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC)
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
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: Bob Trevino Likes It (Hearing Assistance)
John Leguizamo has a peach of a role in this indie crowd-pleaser inspired by a strange turn of events in writer-director Traciey Laymon’s life. “Lily Trevino” (Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira) is a lonely young woman in her 20s, a care giver saddled with a toxic, narcissistic dad, Robert (French Stewart) who takes all he can and gives nothing in return. After a fight, he cuts her out of his life — until Lily looks him up on Facebook and happens across Bob Trevino (Leguizamo), a gentle, genial contractor who happens to live nearby, and who turns out to be an altogether better dad…
Laymon’s film doesn’t offer an awful lot in the way of drama, but the characters are sketched with such care and attention, it’s immensely likable and very moving.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 29th | 2:00PM
WHERE: VIFF Centre – Lochmaddy Studio Theatre (1181 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC)
What is happening in Vancouver in May?
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 April
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.
- April 29, 2025: Chicken or veggie tamales, beans soup, pico de gallo, and lemon cake. Special collaboration with Ancestral Foodways
![[ID: Collingwood Neighbourhood House logo.]](https://www.spectrumsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cnh.png)
Vancouver Community Fridge Project
![[ID: a photo of an open fridge, inside is various fruits and vegetables.]](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606859191214-25806e8e2423?width=entropy%26cs&optimize=medium)
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 Without Poverty | CDB Overview
Follow these steps:
1. File your tax return.
Need help? There are free tax clinics available to help you.
2. Apply for the Disability Tax Credit
Fill Form T2201 – Download the form from the Canada Revenue Agency website. Fill in Part A.
Find a Medical Practitioner – Take the form to a qualified medical practitioner to certify the impairment by completing Part B.
Submit Your Application to the CRA – Mail the completed form or submit it online. The CRA will review your application and send a notice of determination.
While you wait for the applications to open, see if you qualify for other federal programs like:
- Registered Disability Savings Plan
- Canada Workers Benefit
- Disability Supplement
- Child Disability Benefit
3. Apply for the Canada Disability Benefit
Applications for the Canada Disability Benefit open in June Payments start in July 2025!
STEP ONE: File your taxes for free
STEP TWO: Get help with your DTC application
STEP THREE: Learn more about the CDB
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.
Credit Counselling Society
The Credit Counselling Society is an accredited non-profit that helps Canadians solve their money problems. We do this by providing free credit counselling, low-cost debt solutions, and education to help you manage your money better.
Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and tools for building the financial success that everyone deserves. We’re here to help you through your difficult times and towards a better future.
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, May 14th | 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Next Level 2 Webinar: Tuesday, May 27th | 7:00PM – 8:45PM
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, May 22nd | 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Click here to register and for more information
Community Support for Spectrum
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'.]](https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/thumbnails/007/558/360/small/employee-referral-program-hanging-sign-on-yellow-background-for-business-marketing-flyers-banners-presentations-and-posters-illustration-vector.jpg)
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!