Capilano House Update: SAVE THE DATE: Mingle of the Jingles

Summer through the eyes of our Self Advocates
Making opportunities happen………
Capilano House Update:
North Shore ConneXions
Society (ConneXions) is a
non-profit organization that
supports families and serves
children and adults living with
a developmental disability.
Our vision is a community
where all people with
disabilities have equal
opportunities to lead active,
fulfilling lives and are
recognized as contributing
members of the community.
Community ConneXions
Newsletter
Edited by: Sonia Dhir
Other contributors
in this issue:
Mike Fricker
Tammy Koert
Wendy Padwick
Supported Recreation
Opportunity for your Child
North Shore ConneXions Society
(ConneXions), The North Vancouver
Recreation and Culture Commission
(NVRC), District of West Vancouver
Parks and Community Services division
and The Ministry of Children and Family
Development (MCFD) have partnered
to support children and youth with
special needs access integrated day
camps in North and West Vancouver.
Families with children or youth with
developmental disabilities can apply
through the Access Coordinators in
North and West Vancouver Recreation
centres for support from an Inclusion
Worker while attending Summer
Camps. The Inclusion Worker contract
hours are funded by MCFD. Therefore,
to access the program children must be
eligible for (or in receipt) of Children
with Special Needs (CYSN) services
through MCFD. Eligibility for MCFD is as
listed below:
For more information, contact either:
JUSTINE TAYLOR
Manager, The Summit
North Shore ConneXions Society
Phone: 604.904.0842
Email: justinet@nsconnexions.org
“Eligible children” refers to those
children who:
1. Are eligible for Autism Programs
based on the criteria outlined in
the Eligibility for Autism Programs
policy, or;
2. Are eligible for the At Home
Program, based on the criteria
outlined in the Eligibility for At
Home Program policy, or;
JODY SHAW
Programmer
North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission
Phone: 604.983.6388
Email: campsupport@nvrc.ca
3. Have a developmental disability,
and are:
- residents of BC, and;
- under the age of 19
RIVA NELSON
Access Service Coordinator
West Vancouver
Phone: 604.925.7279
Email: accessibility@westvancouver.ca
Building Bridges to Employment
Sponsored by
1070 Roosevelt Crescent
North Vancouver, BC
V7P 1M3
T: 604.984.9321
F: 604.984.9882
www.nsconnexions.org
New group home set to meet long-term residential needs
JUNE 2015
West Shore Constructors
office located at
1000 Roosevelt Crescent
For over 40 years, West Shore Constructors
has been a leader in bridge building, marine
construction, pile driving and industrial
transport; operating throughout the Lower
Mainland and across British Columbia, Alberta
and the Yukon. As construction contractors,
their guiding principles are: a focus on the
client, professionalism in all of their activities,
safety on their project sites and a respect for
the environments they work inning May of 2014,
West Shore Constructors was approached by
Employment Specialist, Raman Manhas, about
carving a position for a job seeker with a
developmental disability. After a few discussions,
West Shore Constructors decided to hire two job
seekers! One job seeker is currently responsible
for filing invoices and computer cleaning for two
hours a week and the other job seeker is busy
cleaning the office twice a week. Both employees
have now been successfully employed for over a
year at West Shore Constructors. These positions
were carved to highlight the job seekers’
strengths and abilities, and to assist the senior
staff with tasks at the main office.
When asked “What does this job mean to you?”
ConneXions job seekers said, “Having this job
makes me happy. I enjoy making money and
working independently.”
The ConneXions employment programs are
currently looking for local businesses that have
an interest in hiring employees with a variety of
skills and abilities to meet their needs and be
productive members of the team.
Some accessibility features in
the 4500 square foot home
include two wheelchair
accessible showers, an
elevator and lower kitchen
counters.
Construction of the new home
is slated to be finished this
fall.
Stay tuned for more updates
on this exciting project
in future Community
ConneXions Newsletter
publications as well as
regular updates on our
Facebook (facebook.com/
nsconnexions) page!
Making opportunities happen…
North Shore ConneXions
Society (ConneXions) is a
non-profit organization that
supports families and serves
children and adults living with
a developmental disability.
The Society was founded in
1956 by a group of parents
advocating for better social and
educational services for their
children with special needs.
Since its inception, ConneXions
has grown immensely and
offers a wide range of
programs and services to
meet the evolving needs
of the individuals that we
support.
Recreation and Education
related activities are provided
through The Summit. These
programs are geared towards
enhancing social, physical and
life skills. As a communitybased program, The Summit
provides recreation, social and
educational options for people
Please contact Raman Manhas at 604.984.9321
or via email at ramanm@nsconnexions.org for
more information.
SAVE THE DATE: Mingle of the Jingles 2015
SAVE THE DATE - December 9, 2015 marks a milestone year for a
popular ConneXions event! We invite you to attend our tenth annual
Mingle of the Jingles holiday variety show and silent auction that
will be held at Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver.
Construction is well underway
for a new wheelchair
accessible group home being
built on Capilano Road. The
new home will replace a
1940’s era home and has been
designed to meet the longterm needs of the clients who
will reside there.
This will be one of the most memorable and exciting things you’ll
do during the holiday season…so be sure to mark this date on your
calendar and get in on the fun!
For more information about event performers, donors and sponsors, please visit: www.mingleofthejingles.com.
with developmental disabilities.
As a facility, The Summit is
an exciting and supportive
place for these individuals to
participate in programs that
support their needs. Anyone
who has a disability is eligible
to access services through The
Summit, for a small fee. No
referral is required.
Blake and Brian, out and
about and enjoying the
beautiful sunny day
ConneXions also offers a
variety of other programming
options including Day Programs,
Education & Community
Awareness, Employment, Family
Support, Respite Services and
Residential Options. To access
most of these services, a
referral through Community
Living British Columbia (19
years of age and over) or
Ministry of Children and Family
Development (under 19 years of
age) is required.
Shiamak superstars
dancing away on a
Friday afternoon
Moe is doing a great job
being our volunteer
dog walker
To learn more about our
programs and services, please
visit our website at www.
nsconnexions.org or contact
us via phone at 604.984.9321
or via email at info@
nsconnexions.org.
24 thAnnual
invites you to our
Friends & Family Picnic
Come join us for a day of fun in the sun!
2015 Annual General Meeting
Body art, tasty food, slap-shot hockey, sumo wrestling and lots of fun!
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Sunday, July 5, 2015 11:30am – 2:00pm
REGISTRATION: 6:00PM
Capilano Rugby Club, 304 Klahanie Court, West Vancouver
AGM: 6:30pm-8:30pm
RSVP to ConneXions by June 26, 2015: 604.984.9321 / info@nsconnexions.org
*The event will go on rain or shine as we now have access to indoor facilities!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NORTH SHORE CONNEXIONS SOCIETY, OUR PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEERING OR DONATIONS
please visit www.nsconnexions.org or call 604.984.9321 today!