WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
(EVENTS, NEWS, & AWARENESS)
Farewell and Best Wishes to Judy Smith!
As Judy embarks on her retirement from Spectrum, we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for this exciting new chapter in her life.
Judy dedicated 22 years to our organization, providing unwavering support and building meaningful connections with both employees and those we serve. Her friendly face was a constant source of comfort and familiarity in the office, and she will certainly be missed.
Congratulations on your retirement, Judy! We wish you joy, relaxation, and new adventures ahead!
SCI BC – Get Wild Dance Class
Get Wild is a seated based exercise class run by Utah-based instructor Sutter. We dance for an hour building up intensity and speed of movements for a great cardiovascular workout. We modify all movements for each individual to challenge balance, strength and endurance in a way that protects the shoulder joint. Come join us on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays!
How to Connect to Zoom:
- From your browser: https://utah-health.zoom.us/j/95432957916?pwd=aGJmSFdSbkJObTdselB3VEtTZlBPQT09
- Meeting ID: 954 3295 7916 | Password: 909190
If you have any questions please contact our InfoLine at 1-800-689-2477 or info@sci-bc.ca.
WHEN: Monday, October 28th | 3:30PM – 4:30PM
WHERE: Online (Zoom). Please use the link provided above.
COST: FREE
Halloween Parade and Dance Party
Come to this annual FREE spooky community event!
Parade around the Centre to start at 7:00pm followed by a Dance Party in Gym D at 7:30pm. Entertainment, ghostly games, tricks and treats included.
All ages event, children must be accompanied by an Adult.
No registration, just drop in for free! Wear your costume for a ghoulish good time!
WHEN: Thursday, October 31st | 6:45PM – 9:00PM
WHERE: Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier Street)
COST: FREE
Sustenance Festival | Dye Garden Tour & Seed-Saving
This event is Part of the City of Vancouver Sustenance Festival. Sustenance Festival is a food-focused city-wide festival that celebrates and shares local food-inspired workshops and events in public spaces in Vancouver. Since 2009, the city-wide festival has provided a unique platform locally and internationally that gives space to explore the growing concerns around food in our world.
The Colour Me Local Natural Dye Garden was created by Still Moon Arts Society and community members in 2019. The Dye Garden and surrounding Renfrew Ravine provide plants to use for dye workshops and community art, in addition to supporting pollinators and Indigenous medicinal programs. Natural dyes created from the plants’ leaves, flower or roots produce a range of vibrant colours which can be used for dyeing natural materials, including cotton, linen, wool, and silk. During this event, you will be shown around the garden and learn its history, and you will be able to participate in seed harvesting and take home some dye-plant seeds to grow yourself.
Details
- Date: Saturday, November 2
- Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Location: Colour Me Local Dye Garden, 3958 Renfrew Street #3998 Vancouver, BC
- Age: Open to ages 14+ (all ages with an adult)
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing & closed-toed shoes
Getting There
- The closest bus stop for the #16 bus is NB Boyd Diversion @ E 22 Ave (2-min walk)
- The closest bus stop for the #25 bus is E 22nd @ Renfrew (5-min walk)
- The 29th Ave Skytrain Station is a 10-minute walk away.
- There is limited free street parking in the neighbourhood.
- We recommend walking, taking the bus, riding your bike, or carpooling when possible.
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 street parking in the neighbourhood.
- Washrooms are not available onsite but can be found at the Renfrew Community Centre located a 6-minute walk away (~350 m). Renfrew Community Centre has gender-neutral washrooms available.
- There are benches available.
Land acknowledgement
The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival and all of Still Moon Arts’ programming take place on the unceded territories of Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
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 Arts is a registered charity whose mission is to inspire vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature.
Thank you to our Funders & Partners
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Vancouver Parks Board, the Province of British Columbia, the Betty Averbach Foundation, and the many other supporters, donors, and volunteers who make Still Moon Arts’ programming possible. Your contributions are invaluable and greatly appreciated.
The Lumiere Festival 2024
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?
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 29, 2024 Tomato soup, ham and cheese sandwich, salad, and dessert
Thursday, October 31, 2024 Chili with garlic bread, salad, and pumpkin cake
Community Lunch Program at 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.
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Mango Sesame Slaw
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Mild Coconut Thai Chicken Curry with Rice
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Pineapple Muffins
WHERE: Renfrew Park Community Centre, Kitchen (Room 110) – (2929 E 22nd Ave, Vancouver, BC)
WHEN: Friday, November 1st | 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Vancouver Community Fridge Project
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
BC Hydro – Free Portable Air Conditioners
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:
- 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.
- 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:
- Review the eligibility criteria to make sure you qualify.
- If you rent your home, you’ll need to get your landlord’s consent. Complete the landlord consent form [PDF, 1.7 MB].
- Apply online for your free portable AC unit.
- After you apply, our team will reach out to you within a few weeks to let you know if your application is approved.*
- 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.
- 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!
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.
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, November 13th, 2024 | 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Next Level 2 Webinar: Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 | 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, November 21st, 2024 | 7:00PM – 8:15PM
Click here to register and for more information
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!