WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
(EVENTS, NEWS, & AWARENESS)
Still Moon Gardeners’ Gathering: Solstice Strawberry Feast
Are you interested in Natural Dyes? Gardening? Community?
At Still Moon’s Gardeners’ Gatherings, we weed, water and maintain the Colour Me Local Dye Garden. Volunteers work together to tend the garden and discuss gardening tips and questions.
At many of these gatherings, we bring a dye pot and fabric strips so we can experiment with natural dyeing while we work! At other sessions, you will be able to take home seeds or flowers to transplant into your own garden. or balcony.
We have a special project this year: making the garden more water-efficient and drought-resistant. At many of our garden sessions, you will have the opportunity to create clay irrigation pots (Ollas). These pots will be buried in the garden beds, where they can be filled with water that will slowly be released into the soil’s root zone. We’ll also discuss tips for waterwise gardening.
The Schedule (tentative since the weather affects garden timing):
- Saturday, April 26, 9:30 am -11:30 am | Prepare Beds for Planting, Compost Discussion, Take home Golden Rod & Lupin
- Saturday, May 10, 9:30 am -11:30 am | Plant Seedlings, Sow Seeds, Make Clay Irrigation Pots
- Saturday, May 31, 9:30 am -12:30 pm | Water, Weed, Final Planting, Make Clay Irrigation Pots
- Saturday, June 14, 9:30 am -11:30 am | Water, Weed, Dye Experiments
- Saturday, June 21, 9:30 am -12:30 pm | Weed, Water, Summer Solstice Strawberry Feast, Make Clay Irrigation Pots
- Saturday, July 5, 9:30 am -11:30 am | Water, Weed, Dye Experiments
- Saturday, July 19, 9:30 am -11:30 am | Water, Weed, First Indigo Harvest
- Saturday, August 9, 9:30 am -11:3 0am | Water, Weed, Harvest
- Saturday, August 23, 9:30 am -11:30am | Water, Weed, Harvest
- Saturday, September 13, , 9:30 am -11:30am | Weeding, Watering, Harvest
- Saturday, October 11, 9:30 am -11:30am | Clean Up, Seed Harvest, Take some seeds home to grow your own plants for dyeing or otherwise enjoying.
The Garden:
Still Moon’s Colour Me Local Dye Garden will be bumping with crops of Coreopsis tinctoria, Scabiosa atropurpurea, Rubia tinctoria, or Persicaria tinctoria over the summer and fall.
Join us to start this beautiful process starting April!
The Invitation:
Join the Still Moon team for some fun getting your hands dirty, while connecting with other gardeners in the community. Play outside with us and take your knowledge to your own garden spaces!
Notes:
- This is a free-to-attend experience
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing & closed-toed shoes
- Bring a water bottle and a hat for hot weather
- Food will not be provided. Feel free to bring your own snacks
- Tools will be provided. Feel free to bring some if you have (gardening gloves, hand trowels, knee pads/mat to kneel on if you have one)
>> If you play an instrument, feel free to bring it along and join in with the chorus of neighbours who jam in the garden!
>> You can choose to attend one or all of the gatherings, that’s up to you!
Accessibility:
– The Colour Me Local Dye Garden is an unpaved grass garden located in the northwest corner of Renfrew Ravine Park, and wheelchairs may require assistance.
– There is free parking in the neighbourhood.
– Washrooms are not available onsite, but can be found at the Renfrew Community Centre located 5 minutes away (~300 meters)
– There are benches available.
About Colour Me Local Dye Garden:
Still Moon’s Colour Me Local Dye Garden, located on the West Side of the Renfrew Ravine, is a community engaged initiative focused on planting, maintaining, harvesting, processing and using plants most known for their pigments. In addition to natural dye extraction, the garden supports pollinators, insects and wildlife, and is home to many Indigenous plants stewarded by our Indigenous neighbours.
About Still Moon Arts Society
Still Moon Arts Society mobilizes community and creates positive change through eco-arts and environmental stewardship programming, and produces the annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival. Still Moon is a registered charity whose mission is to inspire vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature.
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st | 9:30AM – 12:30PM
WHERE: Colour Me Local Dye Garden (3958 Renfrew Street #3998 Vancouver, BC)
COST: Free | Click here to register and for more information!
Real Talk Women’s Pizza Party
Women with intellectual disabilities get together with Certified Sexual Health Educators to discuss dating, love, relationships, and sex.
Come join Certified Sexual Health Educators Ashley & Hayley, and Peer Facilitator Alison on Monday June 23rd from 11am – 1pm for an in-person Real Talk Women’s Pizza Party.
The event is free. It is for women with intellectual disabilities, and anyone who identifies as a woman is welcome to attend. If you want to bring a supporter or a friend with you – that’s totally fine! If you register in advance you will get an email reminder the day before the event. It’s also ok to just show up.
Click here to find out more about how to prep for a Real Talk event, and feel free to email kelsey@real-talk.org if you have any questions about the event.
Everyone has questions about dating, love, relationships and sex.
Questions like:
- How do I meet a boyfriend / girlfriend / partner?
- How do I let my family know that I want to date?
- How can I make sex safer?
- What is consent?
It’s totally normal. But sometimes it can be hard to know where to get good information. At this event, we’ll watch some Real Talk videos, and have a conversation hosted by Certified Sexual Health Educators. We’ll talk about where to get good information, who can support us with this stuff, and how to figure out confusing situations. People are welcome to talk about things, or to just listen if they don’t want to talk.
WHEN: Monday, June 23rd | 11:00AM – 1:00PM
WHERE: Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI) – 336 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC
COST: Free | Click here for more information!
Collingwood Days 2025 (July 11-19)
Celebrate Collingwood Days this July!
From July 11-19, 2025, join us for a vibrant week filled with art, festivities, and performances.
Experience the rich cultural diversity of Renfrew-Collingwood as local artists and performers showcase their talents through art exhibitions, storytelling, and historical-cultural presentations.
Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of community and creativity!
Click here for more information!
SAVE THE DATE! Spectrum’s Annual Summer Picnic!
WHEN: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
TIME: 2:00PM – 5:00PM
WHERE: JOHN HENDRY PARK – TROUT LAKE – PICNIC GAZEBO
Save the date to join us for the Spectrum’s Annual Summer Picnic!
We are also looking for volunteers that would like to assist in the setup, clean up, and take down of the event. If you’re interested in being a part of the Picnic Team, please email Spectrum’s office at reception@spectrumsociety.org
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in the summer for another fun day of socializing, good food, and sunshine!
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.
What is happening in Vancouver in June?
Click on the link below to see what’s happening:
https://www.destinationvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/vancouver-events/
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Click here to find your market!
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
Canada Disability Benefit
For information about the Canada Disability Benefit, including how to apply, please visit the Canada Disability Benefit website or contact Service Canada at 1-833-486-3007 or 1-833-467-2700 (TTY).
We are pleased to share an important update on the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), a key milestone in strengthening Canada’s social safety net and advancing the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities.
The Canada Disability Benefit Regulations came into force on May 15, 2025, paving the way for implementation.
What is the Canada Disability Benefit?
The benefit provides financial support of up to $200 per month to eligible people with disabilities with low income. Individuals must be between 18 and 64 years old. It is administered by Service Canada and represents a significant step forward in addressing financial barriers faced by many people with disabilities. The first month of eligibility is June 2025, with payments beginning in July 2025 for applications received and approved by June 30, 2025.
If an individual qualifies for the benefit, payments will start the month after their application is received and approved. If the application is approved in July 2025 or later and an applicant was eligible for payments in earlier months, they will get back payments. There will be no payments before June 2025.
Details on the eligibility requirements are available on the dedicated CDB webpage (Do you qualify – Canada.ca).
When to apply?
Applications for the benefit will open on June 20, 2025. Individuals cannot apply before this date.
How to apply?
Applications can be submitted online through the application portal, by phone, or in person at a Service Canada Centre.
What is needed to apply?
Individuals who have been approved for the disability tax credit and who meet most of the eligibility criteria will receive a letter starting in June. The letter will include a unique application code and instructions on how to apply.
Before a person applies, they should gather the following information:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Direct deposit information. Service Canada asks everyone to sign up for direct deposit because it’s the fastest and most reliable way to get payments.
If an individual does not receive a letter and thinks they may be eligible, they can still apply. The following additional information will be needed:
- Mailing address
- Net income (line 23600) from their 2024 notice of assessment.
Additional Support
Community-based navigator services are being supported to help individuals access the benefit and related programs, especially those in underserved or marginalized communities. These organizations are well-positioned to provide culturally appropriate and accessible support across Canada.
To help raise awareness about the Canada Disability Benefit, Service Canada, through their Community Outreach and Liaison Service, is actively communicating with regions and organizations to provide information about the benefit and explore whether outreach activities, such as hosting an event, would be valuable for staff, volunteers, or clients.
For information about the Canada Disability Benefit, including how to apply, please visit the Canada Disability Benefit website or contact Service Canada at 1-833-486-3007 or 1-833-467-2700 (TTY)
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!
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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)
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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, July 10th | 4:00PM – 5:30PM
Next Level 2 Webinar: Wednesday, July 23rd | 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, July 17th | 7:00AM – 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
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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!