It\’s been an exciting few weeks for our folks in PoCo and the DisDaBomb bath bomb team. This past week, we were excited to team up with Save-on-Foods in New Westminster to create some Valentine\’s-inspired bath bombs to raise funds for BC Children\’s Hospital.
These special heart-shaped bath bombs are in some of our new vibrant colours and smell amazing. All proceeds go to support the BC Children\’s Hospital Foundation, helping us make a difference in our community.
So, if you are stopping by the Save-on-Foods at 1025 Columbia Street in New Westminster or in the area, don\’t forget to pick up a bath bomb in support of BC Children\’s Hospital.
If you want to treat that special someone to a Valentine\’s Day gift that will make them feel and smell great, DisDaBomb is the perfect gift. If you are interested in buying some of our bath bombs – we sell boxes and single bath bombs – please pop into the PoCo office (Unit #1120 – 1368 Kingsway Ave) or email your order to [email protected].
Can you believe it\’s been over a month since Christmas? Time is flying. As we begin 2018, we have been reflecting on the joy our 2017 Christmas Hampers brought their lucky recipients.
Children\’s Services had another successful Christmas Hamper Campaign. In addition to presents and gift cards being donated, we raised $1,110.00. We also added an additional family who we learned had an extremely tough year.
Through your generosity, four families had a fantastic Christmas full of food, gifts and fun. Here are a few photos to show you how big-heartened our community was for their special Christmas Hampers.
Thank you once again to all who donated & we can\’t wait to help more families when we start organizing for our 2018 Christmas Hamper Campaign later in the year.
familyWORKs is having a meeting on Thursday, February 15th from 7-8:30pm to discuss the employment support and options available to individuals who do not qualify for CLBC services.
It should be an informative evening for all. Please see the poster below for further information. To register either email Bob at [email protected] or call 604-944-7741
Please join me in congratulating Claudia Cota to the Position of Manager of Finance for the Community Ventures Society. Claudia is no stranger to CVS as she previously served as our Finance and Administrative Coordinator from 2014-2016.
Claudia is well educated and has a Bachelor of Education from Babes-Bolyai University, in Romania. She has also recently earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Accounting from Simon Fraser University and is currently enrolled in the CPA PEP Program.
Claudia has worked in both the public accounting industry as well as the private enterprise sector.
With a heart for social justice, Claudia has previously worked with children with disabilities in Romanian orphanages, to improve their quality of life through education and life-skills programs. Accordingly, Claudia brings values, skill and leadership to CVS.
It was announced this week that TransLink will be implementing a new hands-free access program for users who aren\’t physically able to tap a Compass Card at SkyTrain fare gates. This new program will soon be available and individuals will be able to gain access by using a radio-frequency identification card.
The $9 million Universal Fare Gate Access Program, funded by the federal and provincial governments and TransLink, provides eligible customers a radio-frequency identification enabled card (RFID) to automatically open accessible fare gates when they move within range. The card is read by an antenna above the gate and automatically opens without the need to tap a card.
Disability and seniors advocates have been waiting for a permanent solution since the Compass Card was introduced in January 2016. When first introduced, the new tap system was found to prove impossible for use by some passengers. In March 2016 the authority said it had come up with a system where an attendant would be made available to help — or a gate would be left open for those who needed it. Advocates for people with disabilities said gates would be regularly closed with no available attendant, and that sometimes a gate would be open at one end of a station but not the other.
More than 40% of SkyTrain stations with the tap fare gates have been outfitted with the RF readers. By the end of the year, all SkyTrain and SeaBus stations will be equipped with the systems.
Community Ventures Society (CVS) is happy to hear that this has been implemented and will finally be available. Individuals in our community utilize public transit often and having this system will help many individuals out significantly.
The program is now open for applications, please visit translink.ca/opengates for more information or to register.
This 3-day event is designed to provide a robust learning environment that will facilitate strategic approaches to inclusion and belonging for all students in B.C.’s elementary and secondary schools.
The theme for this year\’s conference is Creating the Future: Partnerships for Inclusive Learning. The conference will be held at the University of British Columbia and is intended for individuals who have an interest in inclusive learning and will include teachers, administration, parents, paraprofessionals, therapists and other members of a school-based team.
Topics include:
Universal Design for Learning (Dr. Jennifer Katz)
Positive Behaviour Supports (Dr. Brenda Fossett)
Transition & Employment (Dr. Paul Malette)
LiteracyAcross the Curriculum (Vicki Rothstein)
Self Regulated Learning (Dr. Nancy Perry, Dr. Deborah Butler, & Dr. Leyton Schnellert)
The New Curriculum (Shelley Moore)
Social Emotional Learning (Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl, Dr. John-Tyler Binfet)
Community Ventures Society is a proud sponsor of the event and is encouraging people in our community to join this wonderful conference.
Registration opens on February 1st. To find out more about the conference or to register from Feb 1st onward, please visit the BC Summer Institute website.
At Community Ventures Society (CVS), we are committed to inclusion. We know that when people are able to work in their community it promotes economic and social inclusion. At CVS, we help our members find employment in the local community as well as support members in a range of ventures.
We stumbled on an excellent example of this in action and thought we would share it with our community. John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son venture inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colourful and fun socks. As a company, they have a mission to spread happiness through socks.
Recently, the BBC did a spotlight on John\’s Crazy Socks and highlighted how this crazy idea from John has turned into a million dollar business. Back in 2016, the 21-year-old told his dad, Mark, that he wanted them to start a business when he graduated from high school, but he wasn\’t sure what kind. He chose the sock business as John loved socks and always had worn crazy and colourful socks his whole life. His dad agreed and John\’s Crazy Socks was born.
The business started in 2017 and only a year on, they say they\’ve made US$1.4m in revenue, raised $30,000 for charity, and shipped socks to customers including Canada\’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former US President, George HW Bush.
The best part of this story so far is not only the financial benefits John & Mark have realized but also the social dividends it\’s paid. John\’s Crazy Socks hires people with disabilities and they give 5% of their profits to the Special Olympics. They also have a corporate motto that doing the right thing is the best business, always placing people first – whether that\’s their customers or their employees.
Overall, John\’s Crazy Socks is a great example of what can be possible. CVS continually strives to develop opportunities for its members, that benefit them but also the community at large. In 2018, we hope to focus even more on these efforts so stay tuned.
To learn more about John\’s Crazy Socks, click here or watch the video below:
Please join me in congratulating Scott Bewley for his appointment to the position of Senior Director of Operations at Kinsight (formerly the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living). Scott\’s last day at CVS will be February 23rd.
Scott has made a significant impact on the Community Ventures Society with his skill and his leadership. His efforts helped us grow in size, we have much better financial systems, and he represented us in the community very well.
We will be sad to see him go and he will be very much missed. Good luck Scott!
familyWORKs is having a meeting on Monday, January 29th from 7-8:30pm on the topic of Person Centred Planning with the Facilitator Bob Kashyap. Please see the poster below for further information.
Our Winter/Spring 2018 sessions are starting in February.
Come hang out with the girls! Join us for our women\’s only group devoted to friendship
building, social skills practice and fun activities. Must be 19 or older. 2018 is set to be a fun year for us all and we are looking at a variety of activities for the upcoming sessions.
A couple of spots have opened up but space is limited. To register or for more information, please contact Holly Calver at [email protected] or 604.939.8070 ext. 2028.
When?
6 sessions will be held every second Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 pm.
February 26th, March 12th, March 26th, April 9th, April 23rd & May 7th
Doors open at 6:15 pm
You need to register for this program – space is limited. There is a $30 registration fee.
Where?
Community Ventures Society, 2322 St. John\’s Street, Port Moody, BC.
For more information on this event or other CVS events, please visit our Events Calendar.
Posted: February 7, 2018 by cvsadmin
DisDaBomb Teams Up with Save-on-Foods to Raise Funds for BC Children\’s Hospital
It\’s been an exciting few weeks for our folks in PoCo and the DisDaBomb bath bomb team. This past week, we were excited to team up with Save-on-Foods in New Westminster to create some Valentine\’s-inspired bath bombs to raise funds for BC Children\’s Hospital.
These special heart-shaped bath bombs are in some of our new vibrant colours and smell amazing. All proceeds go to support the BC Children\’s Hospital Foundation, helping us make a difference in our community.
So, if you are stopping by the Save-on-Foods at 1025 Columbia Street in New Westminster or in the area, don\’t forget to pick up a bath bomb in support of BC Children\’s Hospital.
If you want to treat that special someone to a Valentine\’s Day gift that will make them feel and smell great, DisDaBomb is the perfect gift. If you are interested in buying some of our bath bombs – we sell boxes and single bath bombs – please pop into the PoCo office (Unit #1120 – 1368 Kingsway Ave) or email your order to [email protected].
Happy Valentine\’s Day everyone!
Posted: February 2, 2018 by cvsadmin
Christmas Hamper Campaign Update
Can you believe it\’s been over a month since Christmas? Time is flying. As we begin 2018, we have been reflecting on the joy our 2017 Christmas Hampers brought their lucky recipients.
Children\’s Services had another successful Christmas Hamper Campaign. In addition to presents and gift cards being donated, we raised $1,110.00. We also added an additional family who we learned had an extremely tough year.
Through your generosity, four families had a fantastic Christmas full of food, gifts and fun. Here are a few photos to show you how big-heartened our community was for their special Christmas Hampers.
Thank you once again to all who donated & we can\’t wait to help more families when we start organizing for our 2018 Christmas Hamper Campaign later in the year.
Posted: January 31, 2018 by cvsadmin
familyWORKS meeting
familyWORKs is having a meeting on Thursday, February 15th from 7-8:30pm to discuss the employment support and options available to individuals who do not qualify for CLBC services.
It should be an informative evening for all. Please see the poster below for further information. To register either email Bob at [email protected] or call 604-944-7741
Posted: January 31, 2018 by cvsadmin
Meet our New Manager of Finance Claudia Cota
Please join me in congratulating Claudia Cota to the Position of Manager of Finance for the Community Ventures Society. Claudia is no stranger to CVS as she previously served as our Finance and Administrative Coordinator from 2014-2016.
Claudia is well educated and has a Bachelor of Education from Babes-Bolyai University, in Romania. She has also recently earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Accounting from Simon Fraser University and is currently enrolled in the CPA PEP Program.
Claudia has worked in both the public accounting industry as well as the private enterprise sector.
With a heart for social justice, Claudia has previously worked with children with disabilities in Romanian orphanages, to improve their quality of life through education and life-skills programs. Accordingly, Claudia brings values, skill and leadership to CVS.
Posted: January 25, 2018 by cvsadmin
TransLink Launches Universal Gate Access Program for People with Disabilities
It was announced this week that TransLink will be implementing a new hands-free access program for users who aren\’t physically able to tap a Compass Card at SkyTrain fare gates. This new program will soon be available and individuals will be able to gain access by using a radio-frequency identification card.
The $9 million Universal Fare Gate Access Program, funded by the federal and provincial governments and TransLink, provides eligible customers a radio-frequency identification enabled card (RFID) to automatically open accessible fare gates when they move within range. The card is read by an antenna above the gate and automatically opens without the need to tap a card.
Disability and seniors advocates have been waiting for a permanent solution since the Compass Card was introduced in January 2016. When first introduced, the new tap system was found to prove impossible for use by some passengers. In March 2016 the authority said it had come up with a system where an attendant would be made available to help — or a gate would be left open for those who needed it. Advocates for people with disabilities said gates would be regularly closed with no available attendant, and that sometimes a gate would be open at one end of a station but not the other.
More than 40% of SkyTrain stations with the tap fare gates have been outfitted with the RF readers. By the end of the year, all SkyTrain and SeaBus stations will be equipped with the systems.
Community Ventures Society (CVS) is happy to hear that this has been implemented and will finally be available. Individuals in our community utilize public transit often and having this system will help many individuals out significantly.
The program is now open for applications, please visit translink.ca/opengates for more information or to register.
Posted: January 24, 2018 by cvsadmin
BC Summer Institute – Registration opens Feb 1st!
Save the date- August 20-22, 2018
The Family Support Institute of BC recently announced that it will be hosting its 3rd BC Summer Institute in Vancouver this August 2018.
This 3-day event is designed to provide a robust learning environment that will facilitate strategic approaches to inclusion and belonging for all students in B.C.’s elementary and secondary schools.
The theme for this year\’s conference is Creating the Future: Partnerships for Inclusive Learning. The conference will be held at the University of British Columbia and is intended for individuals who have an interest in inclusive learning and will include teachers, administration, parents, paraprofessionals, therapists and other members of a school-based team.
Topics include:
Community Ventures Society is a proud sponsor of the event and is encouraging people in our community to join this wonderful conference.
Registration opens on February 1st. To find out more about the conference or to register from Feb 1st onward, please visit the BC Summer Institute website.
For all questions, please contact Angela Clancy at 604-540-8374 or
email: [email protected].
Posted: January 23, 2018 by cvsadmin
Million Dollar Sock Entrepreneur Inspiring a Community
At Community Ventures Society (CVS), we are committed to inclusion. We know that when people are able to work in their community it promotes economic and social inclusion. At CVS, we help our members find employment in the local community as well as support members in a range of ventures.
We stumbled on an excellent example of this in action and thought we would share it with our community. John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son venture inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colourful and fun socks. As a company, they have a mission to spread happiness through socks.
Recently, the BBC did a spotlight on John\’s Crazy Socks and highlighted how this crazy idea from John has turned into a million dollar business. Back in 2016, the 21-year-old told his dad, Mark, that he wanted them to start a business when he graduated from high school, but he wasn\’t sure what kind. He chose the sock business as John loved socks and always had worn crazy and colourful socks his whole life. His dad agreed and John\’s Crazy Socks was born.
The business started in 2017 and only a year on, they say they\’ve made US$1.4m in revenue, raised $30,000 for charity, and shipped socks to customers including Canada\’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former US President, George HW Bush.
The best part of this story so far is not only the financial benefits John & Mark have realized but also the social dividends it\’s paid. John\’s Crazy Socks hires people with disabilities and they give 5% of their profits to the Special Olympics. They also have a corporate motto that doing the right thing is the best business, always placing people first – whether that\’s their customers or their employees.
Overall, John\’s Crazy Socks is a great example of what can be possible. CVS continually strives to develop opportunities for its members, that benefit them but also the community at large. In 2018, we hope to focus even more on these efforts so stay tuned.
To learn more about John\’s Crazy Socks, click here or watch the video below:
Posted: January 22, 2018 by cvsadmin
Congratulations to Scott Bewley
Please join me in congratulating Scott Bewley for his appointment to the position of Senior Director of Operations at Kinsight (formerly the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living). Scott\’s last day at CVS will be February 23rd.
Scott has made a significant impact on the Community Ventures Society with his skill and his leadership. His efforts helped us grow in size, we have much better financial systems, and he represented us in the community very well.
We will be sad to see him go and he will be very much missed. Good luck Scott!
Posted: January 19, 2018 by cvsadmin
familyWORKs Meeting
familyWORKs is having a meeting on Monday, January 29th from 7-8:30pm on the topic of Person Centred Planning with the Facilitator Bob Kashyap. Please see the poster below for further information.
Posted: January 19, 2018 by cvsadmin
Join Us for Girl\’s Night!
Our Winter/Spring 2018 sessions are starting in February.
Come hang out with the girls! Join us for our women\’s only group devoted to friendship
building, social skills practice and fun activities. Must be 19 or older. 2018 is set to be a fun year for us all and we are looking at a variety of activities for the upcoming sessions.
A couple of spots have opened up but space is limited. To register or for more information, please contact Holly Calver at [email protected] or 604.939.8070 ext. 2028.
When?
6 sessions will be held every second Monday evening from 6:30-8:00 pm.
February 26th, March 12th, March 26th, April 9th, April 23rd & May 7th
Doors open at 6:15 pm
You need to register for this program – space is limited. There is a $30 registration fee.
Where?
Community Ventures Society, 2322 St. John\’s Street, Port Moody, BC.
For more information on this event or other CVS events, please visit our Events Calendar.
Upcoming Events