We wanted to inform you of the date for the 2021 Community Ventures Society Annual General Meeting (AGM). Our 2021 AGM will be held on Monday, June 28 at 4:00 PM on Zoom. We will email you the link directly once you confirm your attendance.

CVS is interested in growing our membership base to strengthen our network. Membership enables individuals to participate in our AGM and other events and only costs $5. To become a member, please complete the membership form by clicking here and send it back to us by emailing [email protected]. From there, we will arrange payment of the $5 membership fee by etransfer to [email protected].

The agenda for the AGM on June 28th is as follows:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the Minutes of Annual General Meeting June 22, 2020
3. Auditors Report & Finance Director’s Report – Ryan Gorder & Melda Okucu
4. Appointment of Auditors for Fiscal Year 2021/2022
5. Nominations Report
6. Election of Directors
7. Set Membership fee for the coming year
8. Video Annual Reports
   • President’s Report – Jenna Christianson – Barker
   • Executive Directors Report – Kevin Lusignan
   • Operations – Linda King
   • Finance – Melda Okucu
   • Communications – Miriam Hoolahan
   • HR & Quality Assurance – Pete Stone
   • Children’s Services – Joanne Weidinger
   • Shared Living  –  Colin Wood
   • Children’s Individualized Services – Amrita Sidhu (nee Dhoot)
   • Employment and Community Inclusion – Diana McPhee & Dawne Windblad
9. Closing Remarks & Adjournment

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual General Meeting. If you have any questions about the AGM or membership, please contact Kevin Lusignan or Miriam Hoolahan at your convenience.

Bingo Night is back!

CVS will be hosting another virtual Bingo night on May 19th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm. We will be letting people into the virtual room at 6:25 – 6:35, then we will have the instructions and do any Q&A needed and then we\’ll get started. We hope to have up to 40 families & individuals so we ask everyone who wants to join to register (see details below).

This virtual Bingo Night is part of a series of evening programs we are launching at CVS. We are able to deliver this Evening Program due to the being awarded a grant from the RBC Foundation. We are very grateful for this grant and the Foundation, so we can enhance our programming at CVS for the individuals we serve and their families.  

Please RSVP by May 12th at noon to Linda King by email ([email protected]). Once you register with Linda, you will be sent Bingo cards and you will receive them before the event on May 19th. Also, people can come to the office to pick them up, we just need to work out a mutually convenient time in line with social distancing protocols. In your RSVP to Linda please also send your mailing address (or email) if you want the Bingo cards mailed/emailed out to you.

We are planning to play 4-6 rounds of Bingo depending on how long each round is as we plan to finish by 7:30pm. And yes, there will be prizes that will then be dropped off or mailed out AND there will also be door prizes.

Bingo Night will be held via zoom, and a zoom link will be sent out a few days before the event.

We hope you can make it – it\’s going to be a lot of fun!

Dear self advocates and families –

Please join Community Living BC (CLBC) this Thursday, April 29 for an opportunity to hear from Dr. Daniele Behn Smith, Deputy Provincial Health Officer, about the latest health and vaccine information and guidance on COVID-19.

Participants will also hear an update from Ross Chilton, CEO of CLBC. The call will be hosted by CLBC Board Chair Michael J. Prince.

When: Thursday, April 29
Time: 11:35 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)

How to call in:
Vancouver: 604-681-0260
Elsewhere: 1-877-353-9184
Participant code: 37568#

* Due to the large number of participants, please call in at 11:25 a.m.

Self advocates and families are invited to submit COVID-19 health questions in advance by end of day Tuesday, April 27 to [email protected] with the subject line: APRIL 29 CLBC Call. This will allow us to answer as many questions as possible.

Family Support Institute of BC is launching a new series of workshops, entitled FSI Learning Explorations, that will begin on Monday April 26th.

FSI Learning Explorations are available to all families/individuals offering the chance to connect, learn, and share virtually in the safety and comfort of your own home. Please take advantage of the opportunity to participate in these informative and exciting events!

Topics will vary and include:

• Recipes for Respite
• Wills & Estate Planning
• Representation Agreements
• Sexual Health
• Inclusive Education Film Series

New workshops will continue to be added regularly so keep an eye out for new listings. To learn more about these sessions or to register, please visit the FSI Learning Explorations page by clicking here.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is hosting a virtual leadership panel on anti-Asian racism on May 1st. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been growing instances of anti-Asian racism globally. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will welcome a broad of leaders to discuss this important topic.

For more information on the event or to register, click here.

Additionally, the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership will be hosting a 3-week series around anti-racism in the community. The series is entitled \”Dismantling Barriers & Fostering Belonging – An Anti-Racism Initiative\”. To find out more, please visit their website.