In 2015, I wrote about the work that Joan Rush is doing with respect to advocating for better dental care for people with developmental disabilities. As an ardent advocate she has since continued her quest to provide better dental care for our loved ones.

Joan spoke at the IBC annual meeting last spring and gave a presentation on the dental clinic project. The Minister of Health said she would have to develop a business case for a specialized dental clinic that was supported by the Faculty of Dentistry in order to gain Ministry of Health Support. Joan applied for a grant from the Vancouver Foundation to cover the cost of preparing the business case.  Joan got the grant and completed the research to support the Help Teeth Hurt Business Case and sent it along with a letter to the Minister of Health, Terry Lake in December.

Joan is doing important work and you can follow her at her website Help Teeth Hurt. A lack of proper dental care can lead to other health complications, behaviour issues and disease. I am grateful for what she is doing and I am asking for you to join us in advocating for change. To help you can contact your local MLA and the Minister of Health Terry Lake at terry.lake.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Thursday is Music Night at Community Ventures Society!

When: Thursdays from 6:00pm-8:00pm

January 5,19  & February 2, 16, & March 2, 16

Where: 2322 St. Johns Street, Port Moody

Details: Enter off of Spring Street, light dinner or snacks- cost is $5, people who need support should bring a support person. For more information call Dawne at 604.838.6381 or go to communityventures.ca

Did you know that the City of Port Coquitlam offers free emergency preparedness (EP) courses to help residents prepare to survive on their own for at least 72 hours after a major disaster, such as a power outage, severe storm, flood or earthquake.

We are encouraging all of the people we serve, their families and our staff to be prepared!

Personal preparedness is a key component of the City’s EP program. The more residents can take care of themselves after a major emergency, the more the City’s resources can be directed to restoring services.

Learn four valuable EP skills in one day
There are four topics discussed within a 4-hour single Saturday session. These sessions are provided four times a year. Please see below for further details.

Participants age 16 and up will learn about:

• Personal Preparedness – Learn how to help yourself, your family, your co-workers and your neighbours in those first 72 hours and beyond.
• Rapid Damage Assessment – Identify unsafe conditions in a single-family dwelling to help determine if your home is safe to occupy after an earthquake. Information is provided as general building/safety information; it does not certify you to be qualified to perform post-earthquake damage assessment.
• Basic Fire Suppression – Learn basic fire chemistry and classes of fire, how to use a fire extinguisher, and basic steps for fire response and intervention in the event of water, gas and electrical problems. Includes hands-on extinguisher training.
• Light Urban Search and Rescue – If someone is trapped in a home during a disaster, do you know how to identify if and how you can help? Learn what to do. Includes a hands-on component.

All courses run 9 am – 1 pm at No. 1 Fire Hall, 1725 Broadway Street, and will include refreshments.

This one-day course covers all four topics:

• Personal Family Preparedness;
• Rapid Damage Assessment;
• Basic Fire Suppression; and
• Basic Light Urban Search and Rescue.

Early registration is recommended as seating is limited. Priority will be given to Port Coquitlam residents.

Hi Everyone, check out our new CVS Video produced by Jazzfly Video Productions. They did an excellent job helping us to \”tell our story through video.\”