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Community Events & Team News

REMINDER:
Spectrum’s Office will be closed Monday, October 14th


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


Sustenance Festival

Sustenance Festival Opening Night

You are invited to the Sustenance Festival Opening Night, on World Food Day, Wednesday, October 16th.

Join with other community organizations and government officials to celebrate our relationships with land, food, culture, and community. Indigenous food sovereignty and food security knowledge holders will speak about their work, with a panel of municipal leaders responding with a facilitated discussion.

PROGRAM:

3:00pm Welcome hour, snacks & mingling

4:00pm Speakers

5:30pm Dinner

6:30pm Panel discussion

7:30pm Q&A

8:00pm Closing

Sustenance Festival aims to centre Indigenous voices, strengthen relationships between organizations, municipal staff, and elected officials, and celebrate community-led land, food, and culture programs through a month-long series of engaging public events and workshops.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 16th | 3:00PM – 8:00PM

WHERE: Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street Vancouver, BC)

COST: FREE, but please click here to register!


Copy/Paste Culture

Copy/Paste Culture

Fingerprint Gallery is thrilled to announce “Copy/Paste Culture” the highly anticipated debut solo show of Julian Thom opening on October 18th at 6pm.

Julian Thom’s debut solo show, Copy/Paste Culture, presents a vibrant exploration of repetition, transformation, and the influence of patterns in contemporary art. Drawing from people and places that have shaped his experiences, Julian employs an iterative process that brings depth and familiarity to his work, inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications of “copy and paste” in society.

The show challenges us to question the saturation of trends, the pressure for constant novelty, and the temptation of imitation in our fast-paced, social media-driven world. It urges viewers to consider how the act of copying is ingrained in both societal systems and our personal lives.

In Copy/Paste Culture, however, copying is not a limitation. Julian embraces the act of borrowing as a vital part of the creative journey, using found printed media—such as books and discarded prints—to layer texture, history, and meaning into his compositions. Through his experimentation with colour and materials, familiar motifs are reborn into a new and bold visual language.

Copy/Paste Culture opens on Friday, October 18th, from 6-10pm at Fingerprint Gallery, located near Olympic Village Station.

The exhibition runs daily from October 19th through 27th, with viewing hours from 11am – 6pm.

About the Artist

Julian Thom is a Vancouver-based illustrator with a BA in Design: Illustration from the Ontario College of Art and Design and an MA from the Glasgow School of Art. His design philosophy embraces a repetitive and iterative approach, using inspiration from his travels and experiences to build visual libraries for sketching and creativity. Julian has worked with notable brands like Aritzia and Hills Dry Goods, bringing a unique perspective to each project through his distinctive visual approach.

https://www.julianthom.com/

WHEN: Friday, October 18th | 6:00PM – 10:00PM

WHERE: Fingerprint Gallery (663 Market Hill, Vancouver, BC)


The Only Animal’s Slow Social Club

Slow Social Club

Join us this fall, as we prepare for the season of rest through a series of relaxed creative gatherings. Our team is piecing together an oversized, eco-printed and dyed patchwork ‘duvet’ to help set the stage for our upcoming performance events. Explore various techniques for botanical printing alongside plant gathering, environmental sound art, and short excerpts from the Listening in Relation reading group (which you can join, see above!). You can add a printed patch or two to our creation, or take your ‘makes’ home to use in your own projects.

FREE. Materials provided. Register at https://www.roundhouse.ca/events/

The Slow Social Club is an extension of “Poetics of Possibility”, an invitation to explore future possibilities and to inspire community dialogue through an ongoing laboratory of experimentation.

WHEN: Sunday, October 20th | 1:30PM – 4:30PM

OTHER DATES: October 27, November 3, November 1, November 24

WHERE: The Roundhouse Community Centre, Room C. (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC)

COST: FREE, click here to register!

More info: https://www.roundhouse.ca/event/the-only-animals-slow-social-club/


The Lumiere Festival 2024

Lumière Festival 2023: Vancouver dates, locations, details - Vancouver Is Awesome

The Lumiere Festival provides meaningful space and opportunities for emerging and professional artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to create and share their work within the community.

This free, four-day festival from Nov. 7th – 10th, 2024 will feature small to large-scale illuminated artworks, light based projections, and dynamic performances following the theme of Elements.

Click here to see the locations!


What is happening in Vancouver in October?

[ID: FANG-Tastic Halloween | Britannia Mine Museum | October 19th - 20th & 26th - 27th, 2024]

Click on the link below to see what’s happening:

https://www.destinationvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/vancouver-events-in-october/


Collingwood Neighbourhood House – Community Lunch Menu for October

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 October 15, 2024 Fall harvest soup, salmon salad or veggie wrap, salad, and chocolate coconut muffin
Thursday October 17, 2024 Beef Shepherd’s pie (veggie option available), salad, and baked apple
Tuesday October 22, 2024 Green(s) soup, mini-meatball or veggie subs, salad, and brownie
Thursday October 24, 2024 Ground pork or tofu in black bean sauce with noodles, salad, and lemon poppyseed cake
Tuesday October 29, 2024 Tomato soup, ham and cheese sandwich, salad, and dessert
Thursday October 31, 2024 Chili with garlic bread, salad, and pumpkin cake

[ID: Collingwood Neighbourhood House logo.]


Community Lunch Program at Renfrew Park Community Centre

[ID: a photo of the Renfrew Park Community Centre.]

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.

This week’s menu:
  • Apple Celery Salad
  • Lamb Stew with Warm Roll
  • Apple Pound Cake

WHERE: Renfrew Park Community Centre, Kitchen (Room 110) – (2929 E 22nd Ave, Vancouver, BC)

WHEN: Friday, October 18th | 12:00PM – 1:00PM


[ID: logo of Vancouver Farmers Markets.]

Click Here to Find Your Market!


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


BC Hydro – Free Portable Air Conditioners

[ID: a photo of an installed portable air conditioner.]

Available for income qualified households and individuals referred by regional health authority programs.

If you live in an income-qualified household and/or have received a recommendation letter from your regional health authority’s Home Care Program you may be eligible for a free portable air conditioner (AC).

This program is available year-round. If you apply during the winter and fall, you’ll have your evaluation completed and receive your unit sooner than during warmer months. Homeowners can also choose to self-install their units, which may help in receiving a unit quicker, during the summer.

This offer includes:

  1. One portable AC unit: Portable units are on wheels and are installed by connecting a flexible duct hose through an open window. They’re plugged into a standard wall electrical outlet.
  2. A one-time installation: You’re responsible for ongoing maintenance, take-down and reinstallation. If you own your home, you can opt to self-install your unit.

A portable AC unit is ideal for small, closed-in areas, like a bedroom. It can help create a safe cooling space during extreme heat events during the day and at night. For more information on how to prepare for heat events, see guidance from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

How to apply:

  1. Review the eligibility criteria to make sure you qualify.
  2. If you rent your home, you’ll need to get your landlord’s consent. Complete the landlord consent form [PDF, 1.7 MB].
  3. Apply online for your free portable AC unit.
  4. After you apply, our team will reach out to you within a few weeks to let you know if your application is approved.*
  5. Approved applications will then be forwarded to our contractors. Our contractor will contact you within one to two weeks to schedule a visit to your home.
  6. Customers who own their homes can choose to self-install their units or have the AC installed for you.

There are no fees or shipping costs.

* Please note that air conditioning units are available on a first come, first served basis amongst qualified applicants subject to funding. 


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: Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 | 10:00AM – 11:30AM

Next Level 2 Webinar: Tuesday, October 22nd, 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, October 24th, 2024 | 10:00AM – 11:15AM

Click here to register and 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!