Kardel Newsletter, Events & Programs
Congratulations on Your Retirement! 

Over the last 29 years Janice, Vivian, and Terry have been a tremendous asset to this company!  Their loyalty to the people we support has been proven again and again. Now, a new phase of their lives is beginning. It's with a combination of sadness for us and excitement for them that we wish them all a happy and fulfilling retirement. 
Best wishes as you begin your next adventures; you'll be greatly missed!!

Changes to the Annual Bus Pass Program

You may have now heard that the BC government has announced the end of the annual bus pass program for those who collect the Persons with Disabilities benefit. 
Kardel encourages you to learn more about this impending change and the impact it will have on the lives of those with disabilities.  Below you will find more information.  
You may consider signing the petition that has been created by Inclusion BC to bring back the annual bus pass program and raise the rate of PWD. 
Here are the major points of the petition:
*             Bring back the $45 per year bus pass for people with disabilities.
*             Eliminate the new $52/month bus pass fee.
*             Let everyone receiving PWD benefits keep the $77/month increase.
*             Raise the PWD benefit rate to $1200 per month by October 1, 2016 to reflect the cost of living.
You can read the full petition by clicking  HERE.

Progressive Ideas to Support
People Living with Autism 

On Tuesday, February 16th we co-hosted this seminar with Vancouver Island Autistic Homes Society.  We welcomed Dawn Allen and Beth Olivieri from GH Autism Supports in North Carolina.  Over 100 people attended the event and enjoyed hearing about the innovative ways their team came up with to support individuals who were negatively impacted by the recession and loss of jobs in 2008.  Dawn and Beth also shared their vision to support individuals who will be affected by dementia in the near future.  Their progressive ideas were an inspiration! 
Amelia News

February, 1996: Maureen Thomas and her eager new staff  walked into an empty house and made it a home for four wonderful women; Linda, Judy, Marlene and Jo-anne. Some of the staff are still here to this day. (Hermine Bogensberger, Kate Forster and myself).  Judy and Marlene moved in on February 15, 1996 and Amelia house was in full swing.
Amelia house was the last group home created from the 380 plus residents at Glendale.
 

 
When we left, we took the pictures from the walls and the plates from the kitchen.   The first year was noted by the famous snowfall of Dec 1996. We all remember that! Staff pulled together and literally weathered the storm.
I have many memories of those first years, some sad but most were happy. We had lots of Christmas parties with Santa and music with Barrie surrounded by children everywhere. We went kayaking in Sidney harbor. We went to the Girl Guide camp for a weekend. Oh those Times Colonist 10 K runs!
But my favorite memory of all time is watching Judy Troughton (who at 50 had spent a great majority of her life on a stretcher) being raised up over my head on a ski lift and skiing on Mt. Washington.
Amelia has had many changes and many people have come to call this home.   This month we celebrate the possibilities of the years to come and remember the past milestones.
 Amelia House has always had a special feeling of peace and joy. I know that it will continue to do so. Cory, Kim, Kate and Jenn would like to extend an invitation to you all, " come for afternoon tea".
 
Janice Bradley
Sentinel News
 
"The Retired Life" by Vicki Cordick


  Vicki has been living the high life since she retired from Futures on October 30th, 2015.  Vicki has ventured out into the community and has been doing some volunteer work @ Jeneece Place and at the Victoria Rainbow Soup Kitchen.  At Jeneece Place, she enjoys visiting with the families staying there (over a cup of coffee of course), while the chocolate chip cookies she has made for the kiddlets bake.  At the Soup Kitchen, Vicki puts a smile on everyone's face while she hands out cutlery to those waiting for their lunch.  Vicki has also been working at the Kardel Office every second Friday.  She really enjoys the variety of people she interacts with on a daily basis.
 
Vicki recently enjoyed seeing the Wizard of Oz at The McPherson Playhouse.  She is hoping for a Musical of Mrs. Doubtfire to come out in the near future.  Vicki is now also a part of the Best Buddies program @ UVIC and has 2 best buddies that she enjoys going for coffee with, out to Hockey Games and the other events hosted by Best Buddies.  In the upcoming months, Vicki plans on finishing her life story "Over the Rainbow" and revealing it at her birthday party on May 1, 2016.

Home Share News


Last October, Tony moved to a new house with his housemate John and his Home Share Providers, Bob and Kim. The house needed a lot of work and they've been renovating non-stop for the last three months! Tony's new room is finally ready and he's very pleased with it. It's newly renovated and looks very modern but Tony has kept the large field-stone fireplace, as well as some of the old brickwork, as a nod to the original design.
 
Tony is already well invested in his new home, having put in lots of work over the last few months. His specialty is demolition and removal. It's hard work but also fun at times - Tony and Bob had a great time taking sledgehammers to the stone bar in the basement. Tony is happy to help with the renovations and points out that he always wears proper safety gear. Bob reports that it's been great having Tony's help. Tony is "super strong" and there were a lot of jobs, such as dry walling, that couldn't have been done without him.
Tony likes his new neighbourhood; he's right next to Swan Lake and within walking distance of Uptown, where he makes frequent trips for supplies.

Futures Club gets a Facelift!             


The team at Futures Club has been working hard to freshen up the look of their rooms with a new coat of paint and updated art work. Everyone chipped in to help, and a special thanks goes out to Christy (and her family!), Lindsay, and Noel for the extra hours they put in to get the job done.   


Individual Support Network News       
"Cruising" to Vancouver



Jaime has a very busy schedule and loves to participate in a wide variety of activities.  Here
she is learning guitar with Sophia, and taking a "cruise" to Vancouver with Larissa. 



Guitar lesson with Sophia
Lakes Road House News         


The team at Lakes Road House got into the spirit of taking a stand against bullying by showing up to work in their pink t-shirts. 
Later in the day they joined their friends at the gym to play some parachute games. 



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