BeCommunity Newsletter Fall 2019 November 15th 2019

Our newsletter is back in action and there's a lot to catch up on since last winter!

Upcoming Events

Appreciation Gala Tonight, BeConnected will once again be hosting its annual Employee and Service Provider Appreciation Gala The gala is a great way for personnel to all get together and be recognised for the great work they do. To see the list of personnel receiving years of service awards, click here!

Friends and Family Holiday Lunch The holiday season is fast approaching! Join us for our annual Friends and Family Holiday Lunch at the Edelweiss Club on Saturday December 7th from 12:00-2:30pm. Please RSVP to cmyra@beconsupport.ca by November 29th. If you will have children under 10 years old attending please include their age so Santa knows to bring a gift! Click here for more details!

SOCKS Campaign Each year at BeConnected we collect donations of warm socks and other comfort items in order to support the men, women, and children living on the streets of our community. All BeConnected program locations and Head Office will be accepting donations of socks, snacks, small gift cards, lotion, and other small items until December 9th. All items will be donated to the Victoria Cool Aid Society's Rock Bay Landing Homeless Shelter.

Nog and Cheer BeConnected's Annual Nog and Cheer for family members is set for Tuesday December 3rd ! Join us at Head Office to get together with other family members and find out what's happened this past year and what's in store for 2020! This year we have also invited John Davies, a consultant with a leadership background at CLBC and financial management with World Financial Group, to talk about how to prepare a robust financial future for someone with a developmental disability. Money Talks with John Davies - 3:00pm Family Nog and Cheer - 4:00pm Please RSVP to kkay@beconsupport.ca. Hope to see you there! This year our Cowichan Valley Office will be holding their own celebration! Join our Cowichan Valley Coordinators on December 12th from 2:00-5:00pm for an Open House. They will also be accepting donations of socks and comfort items for some of our individuals in need.

Family and Friends Ice Festival Skate Announcing our 2nd annual Friends and Family Ice Festival Skate on December 24th from 1:15-2:15pm! Pearkes arena will be turned into a giant snowglobe! Admission and skate rentals are free! Not a skater? Come socialize in the lobby and enjoy hot chocolate and snacks! Hope to see you there!

Highlights

BeSocial Club Canucks and BC Lions Trips Our BeSocial club has been busy this year with a trip to both a Canucks game and a BC Lions game! Coming up in early 2020... Canucks vs the Blues!!

My Community 4 The 4th My Community Conference was a huge success! Over 60 self-advocates attended this full day conference complete with a chair yoga session and the SABF favourite, SANGO! Our amazing volunteers also served up a fantastic pancake lunch! Looking forward to My Community 5!

Challenger Jamboree The Hampton Challengers took a big road trip this year all the way to Kamloops for the BC Challenger Jamboree on June 15th. We had a full day of great weather playing teams from all over British Columbia. Best off all - we all came home with a medal! Way to go Hampton Challengers!

One Day 10th Anniversary This year OneDay celebrated its 10th anniversary! The weather was fantastic and everyone had a great time celebrating this milestone. BeConnected has been a proud sponsor and organising agency of this fantastic free community event since the beginning. We hope to contribute for many more years!

In Memorium

Lara Erickson Aug 17, 1977 - Oct 5, 2019 Lara's energy, enthusiasm for life, and her hugs will be greatly missed. A gathering will be held in memorial of Lara on Nov 17th from 1:00-4:00pm at the Juan de Fuca Fieldhouse.

Latest News

My Community BC Map The Family Support Institute, CLBC, and the BC Community Asset Mapping Network has created a crowd-sourced online resource of inclusive and accessible places in BC. Search the map for inclusive community places that are welcoming, accessible, and respectful or add your own! Find the map here.

2019/2020 BC Budget In February the BC Government announced their 2019/2020 budget. Highlights include a $50/month raise to PWD, a long-overdue increase for shared living providers, and an investment in respite for parents of children with disabilities. For more information visit the BC Budget Web Page or their plain language Highlights Document.

Bikers for Autism BeConnected Contractor Chris Hamilton worked with a group of individuals to build a simulated motorbike for a large Autism awareness fundraiser in Vancouver. When kids sit on the bike and hit the throttle, air blows up simulating a motorcycle ride! Great work Chris!

Health and Wellness

Fit in Fitness This past spring we offered our Fit in Fitness incentive for all employees. Employees who purchased the Regional May Pass, allowing unlimited access to Greater Victoria Rec Centres for the month of May, were reimbursed. The pass can also be used towards the purchase of an annual pass!

November is Employee Appreciation and Wellness Month! This month is full of workshops and events geared towards employee wellness and appreciation! From the Gala to training opportunities we have it all! Be sure to check out our calendar for all the great events!

Kristen Kay Director, Programs and Service Quality BeConnected Support Services Head Office 240-4243 Glanford Ave | Victoria, BC | V8X 2J5 Ph: 250.727.3891 | Fx: 250.721.2571 | office@beconsupport.ca Duncan Office 202-321 Festubert St | Duncan, BC | V9L 3T1 Ph: 250.748.3858 | Fx: 250.748.3859

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