We wanted to share a post published by Inclusion BC on October 4th about Inclusion Month. This year, Inclusion BC has set the focus for Inclusion Month on Inclusive Housing. This important topic is near & dear to our hearts at Community Ventures Society. Throughout October, we will be covering a variety of topics related to Inclusion. Here is some more information from Inclusion BC about Inclusive Housing –
The B.C. government has proclaimed October 2021 as Community Inclusion Month. In the month of October, communities across B.C. are promoting inclusion, celebrating diversity, and bringing awareness to the strengths and abilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 2010 the Canadian Government agreed to follow the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This official document helps governments and communities protect the human rights of people with disabilities. Article 19 in the UNCRPD says people with disabilities have the right to live independently and be included in the community.
This year Community Inclusion Month will focus on inclusive housing, because all people have the right to live and belong in their community and everyone deserves a place to call home.
From years of working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them, we know that:
- Inclusive housing builds strong and accessible communities where everyone belongs, feels valued, and has the chance to contribute,
- Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face barriers like poverty, isolation, and need housing that is safe, affordable, accessible and,
- To be truly inclusive all housing must consider the unique needs of all people.
At CVS, we know first-hand how important inclusive housing is to the individuals we serve and their families.
For more information about this topic, please visit the Inclusion BC website at https://inclusionbc.org/community-inclusion-month-2021/.
Posted: October 9, 2021 by cvsadmin
Welcome to Lindsey Mantle, Program Coordinator of our Adult Surrey Home
We wanted to take this opportunity to welcome and congratulate Lindsey Mantle to her new role as Program Coordinator of our Adult Surrey Home. Lindsey is taking over for Linda Johnston who is soon retiring from CVS.
Lindsey worked in the Community Inclusion since 2019. She started off as casual staff and then got a position in the Discovery program. Lindsey developed an amazing relationship with the person she supported and their family. Lindsey also worked with our Westcoast Family Centres partnership for a few months before applying for this position.
Lindsey started in this new role on October 4th and we would like to welcome her. Lindsey can be reached by email at [email protected].
Posted: October 9, 2021 by cvsadmin
Community Inclusion Month 2021 – Opening the Door to Inclusive Housing
We wanted to share a post published by Inclusion BC on October 4th about Inclusion Month. This year, Inclusion BC has set the focus for Inclusion Month on Inclusive Housing. This important topic is near & dear to our hearts at Community Ventures Society. Throughout October, we will be covering a variety of topics related to Inclusion. Here is some more information from Inclusion BC about Inclusive Housing –
The B.C. government has proclaimed October 2021 as Community Inclusion Month. In the month of October, communities across B.C. are promoting inclusion, celebrating diversity, and bringing awareness to the strengths and abilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 2010 the Canadian Government agreed to follow the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This official document helps governments and communities protect the human rights of people with disabilities. Article 19 in the UNCRPD says people with disabilities have the right to live independently and be included in the community.
This year Community Inclusion Month will focus on inclusive housing, because all people have the right to live and belong in their community and everyone deserves a place to call home.
From years of working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them, we know that:
At CVS, we know first-hand how important inclusive housing is to the individuals we serve and their families.
For more information about this topic, please visit the Inclusion BC website at https://inclusionbc.org/community-inclusion-month-2021/.
Posted: October 1, 2021 by cvsadmin
Happy Community Inclusion Month!
It is now October and CVS welcomes another Community Inclusion Month! 2021 has been another tough year for inclusion – social distancing and limiting our exposure in the community. In many ways, we have been forced to keep at a distance from one another and our community versus practicing inclusion.
CVS will be doing a number of initiatives throughout Inclusion Month this year. You will notice our recent article in the Tri-City News about our social enterprise, DisDaBomb, was published in yesterday\’s (September 30th) paper. We will also have another article where our Executive Director, Linda King, discusses Inclusive Housing. Additionally, there will be some events in the community that we will be letting you know about in the next week or so. In the meantime, if you pass by our office early next week, you\’ll see some signs to wish everyone in our community a Happy Inclusion Month!
Inclusion BC has also launched its October campaign and, this year, it will be focusing its efforts on Inclusive Housing. Visit Inclusion BC\’s Community Inclusion Month website for more information! www.inclusionbc.org/community-
Posted: September 28, 2021 by cvsadmin
Resources to Help you Reflect on Truth & Reconciliation Day
CVS has pulled together a set of resources to help you take some time on the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation on this Thursday, September 30th, 2021.
All CVS offices will be closed in observance of Truth & Reconciliation Day. We invite all of you across our community to take the time to reflect on what this day represents and learn more about everything related to understanding the past.
We encourage you to visit our resources page which can be accessed by clicking here.
Posted: September 25, 2021 by cvsadmin
Welcome to Ryan Tom, our New Employment Coordinator
We wanted to take this opportunity to welcome Ryan Tom, our new Employment Coordinator at CVS. Before joining the CVS team, Ryan spent six years with the North Vancouver School District as an Autism Support Worker at Carson Graham Secondary School. During his time there, Ryan specialized in the life skills classroom, where he worked with complex learners doing various teaching. Those consisted of interview and job prep, classroom management, developing workout goals, and implementing safe self-regulation plans. Ryan still works very closely with Carson Graham as he volunteers his time as the basketball coach for their program.
Ryan is very excited to join the team and cannot wait to meet everyone. Ryan can be reached by email at [email protected].
Please join me in welcoming Ryan to the team!
Posted: September 25, 2021 by cvsadmin
Changes in Our Homes
Gillian Reyes, Manager of Our Homes, wanted to announce a few changes to staffing at Our Homes.
In addition to the ongoing hard work and commitment of Permanent Supervisor Brandon Lee, we are excited to announce two new Permanent Supervisors in Our Homes –
We would like to congratulate Twinkle Dhawan as Permanent Supervisor at Surrey Heights. As well, we would like to welcome and congratulate Jessica Nagra who will be working as Permanent Supervisor at a new home in Burnaby.
Finally, we would like to take this time to thank Jen West for her help in temporarily stepping in to support Our Homes as we worked through these transitions. This assistance was invaluable.
Posted: September 25, 2021 by cvsadmin
Changes in the Shared Living Team
We are excited to announce some changes in our Shared Living team. As our existing Assistant Manager of Shared Living, Kylie Isaacson, shortly embarks on maternity leave, we are welcoming Salima Ladha to the team. Salima will work with Colin Wood in the Shared Living team as the Assistant Manager of Shared Living.
Additionally, as previously announced, the Shared Living team has welcomed Dawn Walsh as the Assistant Manager of Adult Respite.
For more information on Shared Living and the Shared Living team, please visit our Shared Living page on the website.
Posted: September 17, 2021 by cvsadmin
September is FASD Prevention & Support Month – Attend the Webinar on September 27th!
We wanted to pass on some information from InclusionBC related to FASD Prevention & Support Month. During September, British Columbia proclaims September as FASD Prevention and Support Month, and communities across the province gather to raise awareness about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The first FASD day was celebrated on September 9, 1999, and in 2016 FASD day was expanded to become a month of awareness.
Surrey Place Webinar – FASD: A Whole-Body Diagnosis
This year, Surrey Place will recognize FASD
The webinar features Myles Himmelreich, peer mentor and international motivational speaker. Myles will speak about his lived experience and the newest research findings on the correlations of physical impacts due to prenatal alcohol exposure. A clinical FASD specialists and a parent advocate will join Myles to share their experience and practice.
FASD: A Whole-Body Diagnosis will equip individuals, families, caregivers, and the community with information to understand that FASD is a whole body-diagnosis and provide tools to improve health outcomes and life expectancy. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session and learn where to access resources on FASD.
To register, please click here.
Posted: September 17, 2021 by cvsadmin
September is Disability Employment Month!
September is Disability Employment Month in British Columbia and provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce, and the employers and communities who support their success.
By raising awareness about the skills that people with disabilities can bring to the workplace and encouraging businesses to build inclusive, diverse workforces, people with disabilities have more opportunity to contribute to the economy, earn an income, and better support themselves and their families.
Community Ventures Society knows first-hand about the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce. We work with the individuals we serve daily to help them gain employment and improve their skills to be value-added members of the workforce.
There are many examples of people with developmental disabilities contributing their skills to the workforce. Check out the video below for one of those stories:
Posted: September 17, 2021 by cvsadmin
National Day of Truth & Reconciliation
All CVS offices will be closed on Thursday, September 30th, 2021 in observance of the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation. Our offices will re-open on Friday, October 1st, 2021.
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