1. A fundraising event in Kelowna brought in $42,500 for Foundry Kelowna bringing the youth and mental health services hub one step closer to opening its doors.

2. A Sunshine Coast woman has created a podcast to highlight BC\’s child care crisis and hopes the voices of mothers struggling to find adequate child care will bring more attention to solving the problem.

3. The YMCA of Northern BC is offering free summer memberships to young people after recognizing that Canadian teens are not getting enough exercise.

4. According to the WHO, 1 in 10 older adults has experienced some form of abuse in the last month but there are also simple ways to protect BC\’s senior citizens who are at an increased risk of abuse as they age.

5. June is National Stroke Awareness Month and the BC Ambulance Service has partnered with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to raise awareness of the signs of a stroke with new F.A.S.T. informational decals pasted onto the exterior of ambulances.

6. The North Peace Seniors Housing Society is working on adding a fifth building to their network amid a heavy need for seniors housing in Fort St. John.

7. Vancouver\’s latest tent city has received a new trespass notice one month after the city had an injunction application denied by the courts in an attempt to evict the campers.

8. Yesterday, a colourful stream of thousands of people with and without disabilities celebrated their way down a Richmond street, in British Columbia\’s first-ever disability pride march.

9. The BC Liberals confirmed Thursday that one of their MLAs will serve as Speaker once the legislature returns June 22 but says the speaker won’t \”prop up\” an NDP-Green alliance.

10. BC’s Liberal Party is warning that instability in a minority legislature (where the NDP and Greens plan to bring down the government in the coming weeks) could quickly lead to yet another election.

Diverse abilities celebrated in B.C.\’s first ever disability pride march
\’I’m really proud of my CP swagger and my CP swagger makes me who I am,\’ says woman with cerebral palsy
CBC By Ash Kelly, Posted: Jun 15, 2017 7:01 PM PT

WATCH: Disability Pride March on CBC\’s the National [27:10]

LISTEN: Disability Pride March on CBC radio (Early Edition) [01:19:50]

LISTEN: Disability Pride on BC Almanac
Faith Bodnar, executive director of Inclusion B.C., Alexander Magnussen, an inclusion consultant, and Lauren Stinson, a youth leadership mentee at North Shore Disability Resource Centre, on disability pride. Master Gardener Brian Minter answers questions.

LISTEN: Richmond célèbre les personnes handicapées
Un événement bien spécial avait lieu jeudi à Richmond. Pour la première fois en Colombie-Britannique, une marche a été organisée pour célébrer les personnes handicapées et célébrer les personnes de toutes capacités.

Inclusivity always on the minds of these Richmond teachers
Graeme Wood / Richmond News
JUNE 7, 2017 02:13 PM

COCO Cafe celebrates 6 years of \’indescribable\’ impact in the community
June 16, 2017 Nanaimo News Now NANAIMO — One of the Nanaimo area\’s most beloved establishments is celebrating six years of changing people\’s lives, while eyeing a major expansion at the same time.

Catherine Frazee: Look into the dark corners of history
CATHERINE FRAZEE / Times Colonist JUNE 15, 2017 12:07 AM
History has a role in the national conversation about medically assisted death, despite protests to the contrary.

‘Why is there not someone with her?’:
Parents say special needs students are under-supported in Abbotsford schools
Abbotsford school district needs to do more to include designated children in classrooms, some say
Abbotsford News KELVIN GAWLEY Fri Jun 16th, 2017 10:49am

Basic income best way to help families reliably put food on the table: report
June 15, 2017 By Erica Alini National Online Journalist, Money/Consumer  Global News

At our CVS Annual General Meeting on June 26th there is a Special Resolution on the Agenda asking CVS Members to approve the updating of our Bylaws to comply with the new Society Act.

The Special Resolution will read as follows:

WHEREAS the directors of the Society have recommended that the bylaws of the society be rescinded in their entirety and replaced with the new Bylaws attached hereto as Schedule \”A\”.

RESOLVED AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT

1.  The Bylaws of the Society be rescinded in their entirety and replaced with the Bylaws attached hereto as Schedule \”A\”.
2. The amendments to the Bylaws shall be effective upon filing the Transition Application  pursuant to the terms of Part 16, Transitional Provisions of the Societies Act.

Summer is finally here! After a long winter, with lots of snow and cold weather its now time to enjoy what summer brings. We have 3 events this summer, starting with a lunch-time BBQ at CVS on June 30th from 11:30-1pm. There will be food, music and fun.

The next event is our annual summer picnic at Barnet Marine Park on July 21st from11:30 – 1:30.  Again, lots of food, music and games. Every year a water fight has broken out and people get wet! Maybe you should bring a towel..

In August there is another CVS lunch-time BBQ on August 25th from 11:30 – 1:00.

To start off the Fall, mark your calendar for September 14th for a CVS Pub Night at the Burrard Public House that creates an inclusive and safe space for people to get a burger and a beer. Posters and tickets will be ready in August.

A survey team from CARF International* will be visiting on Wednesday, June 28 to Friday, June 30.

Community Ventures Society\’s services were originally surveyed by CARF in the Summer of 2005, and received a three-year accreditation award in the areas of employment and community services. CVS was successful in 3 subsequent surveys, and is currently certified until June 2017 in the following areas of service:

• Community Housing
• Community Integration
• Host Family/Shared Living Services
• Community Housing and Shelters (Children and Adolescents)
• Foster Family and Kinship Care (Children and Adolescents)
• Respite (Children and Adolescents)
• Governance Standards

CARF Canada operates as a private, independent, not-for-profit corporation providing an accreditation program for human services providers. Over the years, CARF International has built a reputation for its respected accreditation practices and is now able to provide well-established accreditation services in the fields of aging services, behavioural health, child and youth services, employment and community services, and medical rehabilitation. In recent years, several Canadian government ministries have endorsed CARF to provide accreditation services to their contracted providers.

Nanaimo teacher disciplined for locking autistic boy in storage room
By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff, May 24, 2017
A Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools substitute teacher has been suspended after admitting to locking a six-year-old autistic boy inside a storage room.

Alberta legislature unanimously approves creation of disability advocate
James Wood, Calgary Herald, Published on: May 24, 2017
The Alberta legislature voted unanimously Wednesday to create the new position of disability advocate within the government.

WATCH: Parents say union creates classroom challenges for special needs kids
By Nadia Stewart Videojournalist  Global News
Nicole Kaler’s 16-year-old daughter, Maya, has autism and she’s thriving at school. However, her mom says that success comes after years of fighting.

Five startling things Betsy DeVos just told Congress
Valerie Strauss May 24 at 4:34 PM Washington Post

Order of Canada book recognizes disability advocate Geraldine Braak Milestone collection highlights longtime Powell River resident Ionatan Waisgluss
Powell River Peak May 24, 2017 08:00 AM
Powell River resident Geraldine Braak recently received a new book in the mail, a publication in which she and 49 other Canadians are celebrated for their contributions on a national level.

The Price of ‘Disability Denial’
Opinion, New York Times, Catherine Kudlick, May 24, 2017
It was 1989 and I was immersed in my first teaching job, a one-year gig at Barnard College, with the possibility of something long-term.

Ontario suit alleges people with developmental disabilities denied services
PAOLA LORIGGIO TORONTO — The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Apr. 24, 2017

Lawsuit filed by Timmins family alleges people with developmental disabilities denied necessary services
Class-action lawsuit alleges unreasonable wait lists deny care to people with disabilities
By Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press Posted: Apr 24, 2017

Yona Lunsky and Rob Balogh: People with developmental disabilities are invisible in the mental-health system
The Province, Published:April 22, 2017
With the recent federal commitment to increase mental-health funding across Canada, we need to turn our attention toward a group of individuals who are currently invisible within Canada’s mental-health system…

TV debate marks show time for B.C. election; parties look to turn on voters
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, April 25, 2017 6:23AM EDT
VICTORIA — It\’s show time in British Columbia\’s election campaign with Wednesday\’sdebate between the three party leaders offering a high-stakes chance to leave a mark on the campaign with about two weeks to the finish line.

Accessibility activists want to ditch iconic symbol highlighting the wheelchair, not the person
The Forward Movement pushing the province to adopt dynamic wheelchair symbol
By Lauren Pelley, CBC News Posted: Apr 24, 2017

A Syrian Family Finds Acceptance for their Disabled Children through Canadian Resettlement
Apr 23, 2017 | Feature Story, Local Story
By Erla Cabrera, Ottawa, Canada – 24 April 2017
A Syrian mother recalls the warm welcome received upon her family’s arrival

‘If You’re Not Going to Reduce Poverty When You Have a Strong Economy, When Are You Going to Do It?’
BC can learn from Newfoundland’s efforts, says advocate.
By Katie Hyslop Yesterday | TheTyee.ca

‘Heartbreaking’: Medical standoff leaves man with cerebral palsy stranded at hospital for weeks
Washington Post By Theresa Vargas April 21
Alex Scott cannot speak.
If he could, he might be able to answer a crucial question that has pitted the people who speak for him against one another and left him stranded in a Northern Virginia hospital for three weeks.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Inclusion BC or the staff.