Community Events and Team News

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

SCI BC – The Gathering

This is an online coffee group for friendly conversation, sharing advising and stories, and connecting with others. Please join us if you can and meet others from all over BC!

How to Connect to Zoom:

From your browser: https://zoom.us/j/88939033043
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: 893 903 3043
Dial-in on a landline (telephone): call +1 778 907 2071 Canada (the local number for BC), and enter the Meeting ID when prompted: 377 049 319
If not in BC, find your local number here: https://zoom.us/u/acMz0fXoVA

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

WHEN: Monday, August 26th | 2:00PM – 4:00PM

WHERE: Online, use the Zoom link provided above!

DIGA – Microgreens Workshop

Join Disabled Independent Gardeners Association At Creekside Community Centre on August 27th for a workshop on Microgreens, presented by DIGA Program Assistant Keith Man.

In this workshop, Keith will discuss the concentrated nutrient content offered by microgreens, with many microgreens being rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper while offering antioxidant properties.

After discussing the health benefits of microgreens, Keith will show you how to grow microgreens at home.

Contact kman@digabc.org to secure your spot!

WHEN: Tuesday, August 27th | 1:00PM – 2:00PM

WHERE: Creekside Community Centre (1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC)

Still Moon Arts Society – Creekside Exploration: A Still Creek Mini Bioblitz Adventure

[ID: a photo taken in the woods of 5 people participating in the Creekside Exploration: A Still Creek Mini Bioblitz Adventure.]

Join us for an evening of discovery and data collection along Still Creek! Our focus will be on invertebrates (bugs and other little critters) who live in the water. We will also tally the diversity and abundance of plants and animals found near the stream. Learn to ID different insects, birds, and plants!

The different sites will be reached by either carpool or bike, there will be an email sent the week of the event to coordinate rides between sites for those who need. We will be moving between two sites on event day. We strongly encourage you to join us at the first site if you are able, as the schedule may change.

Details

Date: Wednesday, August 28
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: The starting point will be the Yin-Yang Bench at Renfrew Ravine Park (Map), see below for other locations.
Age:Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

What to Expect

This event is led by Still Moon’s Stewardship Program Manager, Connelly Stirling, who is keen on community stewardship and loves to share knowledge about birds, bugs, and plants!
We will provide light refreshments, fruit snacks and granola bars, as well as some beverages, such as tea and Bubly. Please bring water to stay hydrated!
Photos and/or videos will be taken to document the event for Still Moon Arts Society’s archival and promotional purposes. You will be asked for consent at the beginning of the event and your choice does not impact your ability to participate fully in the experience.

What to Bring / Wear:

Wear sturdy closed-toe footwear (hiking boots, trail runners, rubber boots with good traction)
Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty
Bring Identification tools if you have them: binoculars, ID books
Bring a full bottle of drinking water
Still Moon will provide all tools, including gloves, shovels, garbage reachers, trowels, sharp boxes, and a first aid kit.

Helpful/Recommended Apps:

iNaturalist: This app is where we will input the different species seen, it also has a great identification tool.
Seek: Another identification tool that can identify plant, fungi, and animal species.
Merlin Bird ID: Great app for identifying birds through images and sound recording.
eBird: Citizen science app for recording bird species seen during the event.
*Note: Please download the apps you are interested in before we head out, facilitators are happy to help you learn the features of the apps at the event. There is no requirement to have a phone or the suggested apps, we are just suggesting them as additional tools for those who are interested.

Approximate Event Timeline:

6:00 – 7:00 pm : Meet at Yin-Yang Bench at Renfrew Ravine Park. Conduct Mini Bioblitz along the boardwalk
7:00 – 8:00pm: Meet at Cornett Road & Natal Street. Conduct Mini Bioblitz along Cornett Road
Note: Times are subject to change and are not exact. We strongly encourage you to join us at the first site if you are able, as the schedule may change if the invertebrate sampling takes longer than expected.

Accessibility

This event requires travel to different sites along Still Creek. The route is bike friendly and we will be carpooling to get from site to site. Sites all have flat, accessible areas. If you need help getting to the site, or have other questions about accessibility, please email connelly@stillmoonarts.ca.

Land Acknowledgement

This event takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories o territories of Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples, who have been stewarding this land since time immemorial. We strive for right relations with the diverse peoples of Renfrew-Collingwood and the land and waters of the Still Creek Watershed.

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.

What is happening in Vancouver in August?

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

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

Collingwood Neighbourhood House – Community Lunch Menu for August

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, August 27, 2024 Summer harvest soup, chicken or veggie quesadilla, salad, chocolate ginger cookie

Thursday, August 29, 2024 Chicken or tofu Thai yellow curry with rice, salad, jello with coconut milk

[ID: Collingwood Neighbourhood House logo.]

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

This week’s menu:

Garden Salad
Hearty Chili with Garlic Toast
Blackberry Sweet Rolls

Fees for this program are non-refundable.

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

WHEN: Friday, August 30th | 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Click Here to Find Your Market!

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.

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

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: Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 | 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Next Level 2 Webinar: Thursday, September 26th, 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, September 19th, 2024 | 7:00PM – 8:15PM

Click here to register and for more information

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!

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