Newsletter Nov Dec 2014 - Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association

November
December
2014
Brain Injury Alliance Formed in BC
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association is part of the newly formed 2014 Brain Injury Alliance. Sourcing funds, especially
from government, is the sole reason for the creation of the 2014 Brain Injury Alliance. The Brain Injury Alliance is NOT
in competition with any other entity. In fact all of the members of the Alliance are long standing members and strong
supporters of the Brain Injury Association of BC. Members of the Alliance have met with the BCBIA on several
occasions to ensure that there is no duplication of mandates or activities. Since its formation in the spring of 2014, the
Alliance has been working to obtain adequate and secure funding for community based brain injury associations in BC.
Representatives of the Alliance have met personally with more than a dozen MLA’s and presented at 4 sites of the
recent “Government Standing Committee on Finance” province-wide consultations. A document entitled “The Brain
Injury Legacy Fund” has been distributed to all MLA’s and can be found on the newly developed Alliance website:
braininjuryalliance.ca. More information can be found in the upcoming edition of the Headline magazine.
Upcoming Events: Mark your Calendars!
FVBIA Workshop on ABI & Mental Health Issues
Cascade Community Church, Abbotsford BC
See page 6 for details
December 3, 2014
FVBIA Annual Christmas Party and Auction
Cascade Community Church, Abbotsford BC
See page 4 for details
February 27, 2015
Pathway to Hope Gala in honour of John Simpson See page 10 for details
The Theatre by the Hard Rock Casino, Coquitlam, BC
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
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November 7, 2014
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
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November
December
2014
November
December
2014
Chuck Jung Associates – Psychological and Counselling Services
Vancouver: (Main Office)
Surrey:
Abbotsford:
nd
Chilliwack:
Langley
1303 – 750 W. Broadway
101 – 8501 – 162 St
260 – 2655 Clearbrook Rd
101 – 45625 Hodgins Ave.
206 – 20641 Logan Ave.
Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1H1
Surrey, B.C. V9N 1B2
Abbotsford, B.C. V2T 2Y6
Chilliwack, B.C. V2P 1P2
Langley, B.C. V1M 2G5
Tel: (604) 874-6754
Tel: (604) 874-6754
Tel: (604) 852-7885
Tel: (604) 792-7177
Tel: (604)-874-6754
Fax: (604) 874-6424
Other locations in Port Coquitlam and Richmond
Website address: www.chuckjung.com
Contact us at one of our locations for more information or to book an appointment.
ARTWORKS
The Photo Club is completing their card project. Cards will be available for sale at the November 7th
Conference and also at the December 3rd Christmas Dinner. These are beautiful cards produced by survivors
who have come together to learn about photography. Then worked together as a self-directed group to go on
photo shoots throughout the Fraser Valley and surrounding areas taking amazing photos. From these photos
produce have come these cards. The tough part for the group was to pare down their pictures to the few that
have made it to card production.
Coming to a place near you!!!!
Langley: FVBIA is pleased to offer an 8 week art program instructed by Bob Barrett. Bob has been teaching art
in Langley for 2 decades. This will be an interesting program as Bob will be working with folks individually to
ensure each participant is able to progress at their own pace.
Chilliwack: Stay tuned for a possible water color class or two or three!!
Abbotsford: Something is coming – not sure when – stay tuned.
Hope: Participants are currently completing a program and are busy producing crafted cards.
Social Media
Want to stay on top of current research, news articles, inspirational stories/quotes and FVBIA
activities? We are sending out fewer emails and are putting some great articles and research
information out on social media instead.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
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Like our facebook page www.facebook.com/FVBIA and/or join us on twitter @fvbi and stay in
touch! Check out our new and improved website too! www.fvbia.org. The website has a twitter
feed and is linked to our facebook as well.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
4
November
December
2014
November
December
2014
John Simpson Editorial: These are the comments and thoughts of
John Simpson not necessarily shared by the Board and the staff of
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association.
IN MEMORY OF PETER VAN RHEENEN
I was very sorry indeed to learn that Peter Van Rheenen had passed away
on Wednesday, October 8th of this year. Peter had been battling cancer for
the past approximately twelve months.
I can quite honestly say that I cannot think of another civil servant who did
more to promote services for the brain injury population, survivors, families
and many professionals have been the beneficiary of Peters support. I first
met Peter in the very early 1980’s. He was the one who joined Janet
Williams of the National Head Injury Foundation and myself for lunch to
discuss the plan introduced in the States where fines from moving offences
would go into a fund to help uninsured brain injured and spinal cord
injuries.
Peter was instrumental in heading up a review, which was initiated by the
then Minister of Health, Peter Dueck. That took place in 1987 and 1988
and in fact the results of the review were available at the Pacific Coast
Brain Injury Conference in 1988. Peter had attended every day of the very
first Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference in October of 1987. There were
many benefits from that review, one of which was the development of
Larkin House for the very severely brain injured. The Traumatic Head
Injury Program was established in 1989, now Acquired Brain Injury
Services in each Health Authority.
Peter put us in contact with other ministries and civil servants to the great
benefit of survivors and families. There is no doubt in my mind that Peter
was amongst the very best of the best. I cannot think of anyone who
singlehandedly did more to guide the association in those early days.
After Peter retired, I maintained contact with him. I grew to know him as a
husband, father and to his great delight becoming Opa to his first grandson
and later to a granddaughter.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
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Peter left us far too early and our condolences go out to his wife, Karen,
their two daughters and two grandchildren.
November
December
2014
Workshop Partner
Acquired Brain Injury &
Mental Health Issues
8:45
Dr. John Higenbottam, PhD, Chair, Department of Psychology - Douglas College
Brain Injury and Mental Illness
10:30
Rod Macdonald, MSW - Manager, Fraser Health Acquired Brain Injury Services
Silos to Partnerships - Building an ABI Informed System of Recovery
1:15
Tonia Grace, Partner - Grace, Snowdon & Terepocki, LLP
Acquired Brain Injury and the Law
3:15
Mary Fayant, Elder – Kent Institution
The Needs of the Aboriginal Population with ABI
Gold Sponsors:
Chuck Jung Associates
Psychological and Counselling Services
$100.00 for full-day workshop
Register at http://braininjurymentalhealthissues.eventbrite.ca
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
Continental Breakfast, lunch and refreshments included.
6
Sponsor opportunities and Exhibitor booths available
Contact Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association at 604-557-1913 or email info@fvbia.org for details
November
December
2014
PhotoClub
Featured Photographer:
Fred
Fred was working in a cabinetry business when he injured his back at work in 2009. The combination of
medications used to treat the back injury led to seizures and an acquired brain injury.
He doesn’t remember anything from the first year after that, relying on what others have told him, journals
and videos that his family took.
“I was motivated and driven before my injury and was just focused on getting back to work afterwards. We
just thought things would just go back to normal.” Fred wasn’t able return to the cabinet store that he
worked in before his injury but he helps out at their family store. Fatigue, thought processing, focus and
balance problems affect his work but he is committed to being there to help out his wife.
His wife and daughter are his biggest supporters and advocates. His injury has challenged all of them and it
seems that he worries about the impact it has had on his daughter who was 15 at the time.
Friends and family slowly faded out of their lives as he changed after his injury. Fred’s main connection to
others came from the other people in the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Coffee & Chat group and PhotoClub.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
7
He made it clear that the groups are an important part of his life when he has the time and energy to go.
November
December
2014
“My wife says that I came home smiling after my third or fourth meeting. Brain injury affects us all differently
but we share similar things.” Chuckling, he said "Sharing and listening at the meetings made me realize I
wasn't crazy."
"Describe brain injury as much as you like, you can’t understand it unless you’ve experienced it.”
Fred wasn’t a photographer before his accident, but when he heard about FVBIA’s PhotoClub, he decided to
try it with a digital camera loaned to him by a friend.
When asked what inspires him to take pictures, he paused to think about it for a second and comes up with
“nothing really, I just like to try to capture things with the camera. Something just makes me pick up the
camera and take a picture. I take close up photographs and use just the camera to try different things rather
than change them with the computer”.
Whatever it is that makes him pick up the camera and shoot helps Fred to deal with the damage to his sight
perception and ironically he has a good eye. The images in Fred’s photos are detailed and serene much like
the man behind the camera appears to be.
The brain injury has affected his balance and many other aspects of his life but Fred says he seems to be
getting used to it. Over time, the brain learns to compensate for issues and Fred is adapting along with it.
“My new normal is now ‘my’ normal,” he stated with a wry smile.
Photographs Contributed by Fred – FVBIA PhotoClub 2014
Members of FVBIA’s PhotoClub
held a “work-bee” recently to put
their beautiful greeting cards
together. See page 9 for photos.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
8
The Greeting Card project is
generously
sponsored
by
Soroptimist
International
of
Abbotsford Mission.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
9
November
December
2014
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
10
November
December
2014
November
December
2014
The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association, OneAreaCode and
Replay Board Shop have teamed up to raise awareness of the
importance of wearing a helmet while on wheels. On Friday,
September 12, 2014, Natasha Herrick from FVBIA presented
Amanda March of OneAreCode.com and Randy Monchalin of
Replay Board shop with a donation so local youth in need can
get a new skateboard helmet. Replay has been giving out a
helmet a week and OneAreaCode was able to expand this
project to give away even more helmets! FVBIA is very pleased
to be able to partner on this initiative.
For more information, check out Replay Board Shop on twitter,
Instagram and Facebook or Fraser Valley Brain Injury on
Facebook or Twittter @fvbi.
This is the latest tweet/facebook note from Replay. “Our lucky
winner this week … was stoked to come in and pick up his free
lid!! Thanks to @oneareacode @protec
and#fraservalleybraininjuryassociation for helping us put lids
on kids!!
#replaysquad #staysafe #puttinglidsonkids #kingsofabby #nextg
eniskation#protec #fraservalley #abbotsford #lowermainland
Jewellery for Sale
Looking for a special gift of jewellery for
that special someone?
Angela Taylor is producing some beautiful
pieces and is kindly donating the proceeds
to Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association to
help support the PhotoClub.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
11
For more information, please contact Mary
McKee at 604-897-1452.
November
December
2014
FRASER VALLEY BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION
#201 – 2890 Garden Street
Abbotsford, BC V2T 4W7
Telephone: (604) 557-1913
FAX: (604) 850-2527
Toll Free 1-866-557-1913
info@fvbia.org
Date: January 1, 2015
Membership Expiration
Date:
December 31, 2015
MEMBERSHIP NOTICE
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY/PROV:
POSTAL CODE:
PHONE NO.:
EMAIL:
Please check the box if you would like to receive our newsletter by mail rather
than by email.
TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP
Individual
Individual - Family
Supporting
Professional
Century Club
Patron
Corporate
Donations
COST
Please Check One:
Person with a Brain Injury
Family Member
Friend
Professional Field
AMOUNT
$10.00
$25.00
$50.00
$50.00
$100.00
$500.00
$1,000.00 +
Courtesy Membership (membership will not be
denied any person with a brain injury or family
member due to an inability to meet membership
fees)
$0.00
Payment Enclosed
TOTAL
Why take out a membership?
Your membership supports the activities of the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association. Government and funders are interested in
how many members are part of our organization.
We are counting on the support of our membership to help us maintain the same quality of service as we have over the past
sixteen years so please take the time to fill out the membership form and contribute whatever you can.
Charitable tax receipts are available upon request.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
12
Membership will not be denied to anyone due to an inability to pay membership dues.
November
December
2014
For your convenience you can DONATE to FVBIA
through Paypal with a major credit card. Simply click
on the Donate button below.
FVBIA is a registered charitable organization and can
issue Charitable Tax Receipts for eligible donations.
Thank you for your support!
FVBIA Groups &
Drop-in Programs
Abbotsford/Mission:
Drop-In:
Wed 4 – 7 & Fri 1 - 4 p.m.
5:30 meal on Wednesday
103 – 2776 Bourquin Cres. W. Abbotsford
Contact Communitas at 604-850-6608
Abbotsford/Mission Coffee and Chat:
Meeting on the 4th Monday of each month
204 – 2890 Garden St. Abbotsford
Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452
Tax Deductible Contributions
Endowment funds offer permanent financial support because of
the income generated through careful investment
management. The FVBIA endowment fund will benefit people
with acquired brain injuries of today and tomorrow in
perpetuity.
Art and Photo Clubs:
Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452
Your contribution will leave a lasting legacy that is forever
linked with Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association.
Chilliwack:
Drop-in:
Contact 604-792-6266
Tues 10am - 1pm, Thurs.12pm - 3pm
Lunch at 11:30 Tuesdays
45966 Yale Rd, Chilliwack
If you are interested, tax deductible contributions can be made
to FVBIA’s endowment fund through the Abbotsford
Community Foundation.
Chilliwack in the Now Support Group:
Contact 604-557-1913
Toll-free 1-866-557-1913
Thank you to all of our advertisers!
Langley
Langley Art & Photo Clubs
Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452
FVBIA welcomes submissions and advertising. Please call us at
604-557-1913 for advertising rates.
The content of submissions or editorials does not necessarily
reflect the views and opinions of the FVBIA and may be edited
for length.
Ads in this newsletter are not an endorsement of services
provided by the advertisers.
Hope
Community Leisure Program
Contact 604-869-9494
Wed & Fri 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
19855 Owl St. Silver Creek
Drop In/Leisure Programs and Support Groups funded in
part by Fraser Health ABI Program and ICBC.
#201 – 2890 Garden Street Abbotsford, BC, V2T 4W7
Phone: 604-557-1913 Fax: 604-850-2527 Email: info@fvbia.org Website: www.fvbia.org
Member Agency United Way of the Fraser Valley
Funded in part by the Fraser Health Authority Acquired Brain Injury Program and the Province of BC
Page
13
This is an E-newsletter. If you prefer to have it mailed to you,
Please call 604-557-1913 or Toll-Free 1-866-557-1913 or email
info@fvbia.org
Langley Coffee and Chat:
Meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month in the
Games Room at the Douglas Recreation Centre
20550 Douglas Crescent
Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452