We continue to monitor the current situation closely in terms of illness across CVS and we will continue to do this over the winter months. Right now, we will maintain the precautions we introduced in December 2023.
For any people we support who chose to stay home during December, we want to thank you for taking these extra precautions and you have probably been made aware that you are welcome to come back anytime you are ready. We are taking lots of precautions at CVS and we’re happy to report that things are operating as normal, alongside staff and people we support wearing masks to prevent further spread of illness.
Please note: Masks are still required at CVS by all staff and people we support (where possible) until further notice – masks are available at all CVS locations. We are continuing this precaution to reduce the likelihood of further spread of illness across the organization.
Once again, if you are feeling unwell, and have a fever or other more severe cold and flu symptoms, please do not come into your program and only return to your program once you are feeling better.
Other Tools to Prevent the Spread of Cold & Flu
In addition to wearing a mask and staying home if you are feeling ill, please continue to wash your hands regularly. We will encourage the people we serve to do this throughout the day.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are now available for this season and we encourage you to keep up-to-date on these vaccinations. Additionally, free COVID-19 tests are available at most pharmacies so please take the time to pick up a box or two to test if any symptoms are present.
Posted: January 5, 2024 by Miriam Hoolahan
Reminders – Illness & Response – Updated January 5th, 2024
We continue to monitor the current situation closely in terms of illness across CVS and we will continue to do this over the winter months. Right now, we will maintain the precautions we introduced in December 2023.
For any people we support who chose to stay home during December, we want to thank you for taking these extra precautions and you have probably been made aware that you are welcome to come back anytime you are ready. We are taking lots of precautions at CVS and we’re happy to report that things are operating as normal, alongside staff and people we support wearing masks to prevent further spread of illness.
Please note: Masks are still required at CVS by all staff and people we support (where possible) until further notice – masks are available at all CVS locations. We are continuing this precaution to reduce the likelihood of further spread of illness across the organization.
Once again, if you are feeling unwell, and have a fever or other more severe cold and flu symptoms, please do not come into your program and only return to your program once you are feeling better.
Other Tools to Prevent the Spread of Cold & Flu
In addition to wearing a mask and staying home if you are feeling ill, please continue to wash your hands regularly. We will encourage the people we serve to do this throughout the day.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are now available for this season and we encourage you to keep up-to-date on these vaccinations. Additionally, free COVID-19 tests are available at most pharmacies so please take the time to pick up a box or two to test if any symptoms are present.
Posted: December 22, 2023 by cvsadmin
Online Music Night – Winter 2024 – Join us on January 11th 2024
Our Virtual Music Night program is back in January! Please make sure to clear a place so you can dance to Glenn’s music! Happening every 2nd Thursday, starting January 11th, at 7-8:30pm.
The schedule is as follows –
When: Thursdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm
Dates:
For the Zoom link, please contact Dawne Windblad at [email protected]
Posted: December 15, 2023 by cvsadmin
In Memory of Amanda Lokay
This week, we lost a beloved member of CVS. Amanda Lokay, who was Program Coordinator for Discovery 1, passed away on Monday, December 11th, 2023. She was surrounded by her family at the time.
Amanda was with CVS since 2005 and, during that time, she was well loved across our organization. Her passion for her work and care for the people we support will be forever missed. All of us send our loving thoughts to her family and Amanda’s loved ones. Rest in peace, Amanda.
If you have any questions related to Discovery 1, please contact Dawne Windblad or Krissy Elliott until further notice.
We have just found out information relating to Amanda’s Celebration of Life. It will be held on January 20th at St Helen’s Anglican Church (10787 128th Street, Surrey) at 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate Amanda.
Posted: December 1, 2023 by cvsadmin
Staff Announcements in Community Inclusion – Footloose
We wanted to make you aware of an announcement related to our Footloose in Community Inclusion program.
Schuyler Smyth, current Program Manager of the Footloose program, will be going on maternity leave on December 29th, 2023. We are excited for Schuyler and wish her well.
We are excited to announce that Patrick Fowler will be moving into the role of Program Coordinator, Footloose. Patrick previously held this role at CVS and we are excited to see how he develop this program. Patrick will start in this role on December 11th to allow some time to overlap with Schuyler. Once Patrick begins in his role in Footloose, please feel free to contact him at [email protected].
Join me in congratulating Schuyler & Patrick!
Posted: November 27, 2023 by Miriam Hoolahan
Staff Announcements in Community Inclusion & Homes
We wanted to make you aware of a couple of new staff announcements here at CVS.
Olivia deGroot, current Manager of Homes, will be going on maternity leave on January 5th, 2024. We are excited for this exciting new chapter for Olivia and wish her well.
We are excited to announce that Adrienne Mohr, current Program Coordinator of Fusion, will be moving into the Manager of Homes position. Adrienne brings with her a wealth of experience at CVS, having been a Community Support Worker with CVS for 5 years and a Program Coordinator for 3 years. Effective November 27th, Adrienne has started in the role of Manager of Homes in order to have a handover period working with Olivia. We want to congratulate Adrienne for this move and look forward to hearing more about the great work she will do in the Homes program. Adrienne will be working out of the Hub office in Port Moody but also working in community at all of our Homes locations. If you have any questions about the Homes program, you can contact Adrienne at [email protected].
With Adrienne moving out of her Program Coordinator role in Fusion, we are excited to announce that Cheri Barnes, formerly a Community Support Worker at CVS, has assumed the role of Program Coordinator, Fusion, effective November 23rd, 2023. Cheri has been a Community Support Worker with CVS for 10 years and a Shop Steward for 5 years. Congratulations to Cheri and we can’t wait to see how Fusion grows in the coming months. If you have any questions related to the Fusion program, please contact Cheri at [email protected].
Posted: November 24, 2023 by cvsadmin
Holiday Movie Night With CVS!
Grab your popcorn and a comfy chair, CVS is excited to invite you to join us for a movie night on Monday, December 18th at 6:00 pm! For your $5, you will get entry to see Wonka at Coquitlam Cineplex as well as a small pop and popcorn! Running time for the movie is 2 hours (2.5 hours including ads & previews) and is rated PG.
Through the generosity of the Port Moody Foundation and their grant to help us provide fun events for the people we support, we have the opportunity to host this event and we would love for you to join us. Thank you to the Port Moody Foundation for your continued support.
If you would like to attend, please let us know asap– tickets will go quickly, so don’t miss out!
Advanced payment of the $5 is required to secure your tickets.
Reserve your tickets ASAP in the form below
Enter your contact information in the form above to secure your tickets.
Alternatively, you can contact Miriam Hoolahan directly at [email protected]
When: Monday, December 18th at 6:00 pm (come 10 mins early to get your popcorn!)
Where: Cineplex Odeon, Coquitlam
Cost: $5
Reserve Your Tickets Now!
Enter your contact details below
Sign Up – Movie Night Dec 2023
Posted: November 17, 2023 by cvsadmin
DisDaBomb Over the Holidays 2023
DisDaBomb is enjoying a wonderful time this Christmas. We are enjoying getting out and about and showing our amazing bath bombs. Keep posted on this page for pictures from some of our events this holiday season.
Archbishop Carney Christmas Craft Fair – November 11th – 12th, 2023
Happy Holidays everyone!
Posted: November 10, 2023 by cvsadmin
Webinar by Nidus for Community Living Sector
Nidus Resource Centre has asked us to share information related to free webinars that will be taking place twice in November. This webinar is funded through a grant to Nidus from Community Living BC. This is the last of 4 webinars – not a series and no pre-requisites.
Target Audience: This is for CLBC staff, MCFD staff, STADD navigators, community living agencies and community-based organizations like FSI, Vela, PLAN, Inclusion BC. It is also for home share providers, families/relatives, self-advocates and others involved in the sector,
Webinar topic: Discussion will focus on the criteria (legal requirements for making) RA7 and a Will (and how estates are settled if there is no Will). The same topic is offered two different dates and times.
There will be some time for questions.
Click a link to register for the free webinar:
Tuesday, November 21, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/363533062649677397
OR
Thursday, November 23, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8079160197498195040
ALSO
Here is a link to latest Nidus Newsletter, which highlights the newly revised Nidus Resource Centre website – https://mailchi.mp/nidus.ca/newsoctober2023
If you are not already subscribed, join the Nidus Newsletter list – https://nidus.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=039574660d8384af03bf2e83e&id=44b59975a7
Nidus also does a free Q&A webinar each month – the first Wednesday. Next one is December 6/23 – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/624740738299099733
Posted: November 3, 2023 by cvsadmin
Support DisDaBomb this Holiday Season
As we head into the Holiday season, our social enterprise, DisDaBomb, has been ramping up to get our amazing bath bombs into the hands of bath bomb lovers across the Lower Mainland. We wanted to take this time to get in touch to highlight some ways you can support DisDaBomb this holiday season.
Purchase our Bath Bombs
We have a wide range of gifts that are perfect for stocking stuffers and gifts for friends and family. If you are interested in buying bath bombs from us, here are a few ways you can do that this holiday season:
Spread the Word
If bath bombs aren’t your thing and you don’t know anyone who may want them, please support us by spreading the word. Share this blog post, our Facebook page or Instagram. All of this helps us get our message across of what we do and what your social enterprise is all about.
Thank you for the support & happy holidays!
Posted: November 3, 2023 by cvsadmin
Lots of Fun on Halloween 2023
We had tons of fun this past Tuesday at our Halloween parties across the organization. Thank you to all of the staff who took time to plan out these parties and make the day a wonderful one for the people we serve. Check out some pictures and a video of some of the fun that was had!
Upcoming Events