Wishing everyone a great Community Living Month
CLBC has heard from many community groups who are planning events to recognize and promote inclusion in their local communities in October. Please let us know about your plans through CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca, and we can help get the word out.
As we did last year, CLBC will be seeking to profile these events and news on our web site and via our social media channels.
Community Living Month is also a time to think about recognizing the inclusion champions in our midst. During October, CLBC will open nominations for this year’s Widening Our World (WOW) award to recognize British Columbians who make extraordinary contributions.
Take a look at last year’s winners here, and get ready to send in your nominations.
CLBC Board members visit communities across B.C.
This June board members visited three communities to hear from individuals, families and service providers. On June 10 Board Chair Tom Christensen and member Mona Murray spent the day in Kamloops where they met with provider Ask Wellness and talked heard from others at an open house.
On June 20 Board members Joanne Curry, Diane Friedman, Onkar Biring and Jane Holland spent the day in Surrey where they had a tour of Milieu Family Services and met partners and stakeholders at a Surrey office open house.
And on June 29, Board members Eileen Steward, David Everett and Dave Babych met individuals served by CLBC, providers and partners in the Vancouver area, and visited a staffed residential home.
“I was inspired throughout the day,” said Chair Tom Christensen of his Kamloops visit, “and am excited to bring the information I learned back to the rest of the CLBC board to make sure CLBC continues to respond appropriately to individuals and families.”
CLBC’s next strategic plan
In June CLBC published a news story about its work to develop a new strategic plan. We have been working over the summer to draft priorities and goals for a new plan that will take effect in April 2017.
During the months of August and September CEO Seonag Macrae has been talking to stakeholder groups and visiting 14 communities across the province to gain feedback.
Priorities are becoming clear for improving outcomes, strengthening relationships and building better systems as we face strong growth. CLBC plans to complete this plan and bring it to our Board for approval in November.
Register today for the Oct 21 – 23 Family Focus Conference
CLBC is pleased to be a sponsor of this upcoming event bringing together more than 350 family members, self-advocates, service providers community partners and friends.
This conference was designed by families, for families, who believe that full societal inclusion and participation of people with disabilities is achievable. Over the course of three days, participants will be inspired by keynote speakers and have access to a wide variety of educational topics presented by family members who are experts in their respective fields.
One of those speakers is international expert Janet Klees, who CLBC is pleased to help bring to B.C. to speak with families.
She brings a wealth of experience for families to draw upon to support their loved ones to live meaningful, secure and inclusive lives. Learn more and register here.
Inclusive housing: A new stream for the Nov. 20-23 BCNPHA conference
In March CLBC hosted a forum with representatives from across our sector, the housing and community planning fields, to help identify the kinds of housing that advance inclusion. Input led to a report found at this link on a framework that outlines five elements of inclusive housing.
Now CLBC is working with partners to sponsor a new inclusive housing stream at the November 20-23 BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) conference in Richmond. The stream will include six sessions that help non-profit housing groups and developers to understand why they should consider creating inclusive housing. Anyone interested in helping find housing solutions should attend. You can register here.
