BeConnected Newsletter

BeCommunity Newsletter

Winter 2017 Edition

January 5th 2017

Our VISION is to provide the supports you need for the life you want. For individuals, family, and the agency to Be Connected in the community.

New Year, New Newsletter!

Happy new year and welcome to the first edition of the BeCommunity Newsletter! Our last newsletter was called BeConnected...and then we took that name as our new company name! This new BeCommunity newsletter will be emailed seasonally and is our opportunity to keep you informed of important news and events at what is going on here at BeConnected.

This email list will only be used by Kristen to send BeConnected's newsletter four times annually. Should you wish to opt out of this newsletter please email [email protected]. Any friends and family of BeConnected wishing to be added to this email list can also contact [email protected].

Welcome to 2017!

From everyone at BeConnected we would like to wish you a Happy New Year and we look forward to Being Connected with you all again in 2017!

2016 SOCK's Campaign

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our annual SOCK's campaign. SOCK's stands for the Spirit of Community and Kindness. Each year we donate warm woolly socks filled with essential items and seasonal treats to those living on the streets in our community.

This year two overflowing boxes of SOCK's were presented to the Victoria Cool Aid Society's Rock Bay Landing Homeless Shelter and were gratefully received. Your generosity allowed us to show the true spirit of the season to those who may be struggling at this time of year.

Annual BeConnected Art Show

The annual BeConnected Art Show is back at the Spiral Cafe for the month of January! Have a cup of coffee and enjoy artwork created by individuals in the BeCommunity. All pieces are for sale and 100% of the proceeds go to the artist.

Join us on Friday January 6th from 5:00-7:00pm for our Grand Opening!

Support Spiral Cafe by purchasing

a beverage or a snack while

enjoying the music of Peter

Bourne and all the art created by individuals here at BeConnected.

Thank you to Michelle for hanging the pieces and for organizing this year's event!

Trauma Informed Practice Workshop with Kim Barthel

BeConnected is proud to co-host the workshop Trauma Informed Practice with Kim Barthel on February 7th, 2017.

With 25 years of experience in the field of occupational therapy, Kim's approach to serving individual's is visionary and eclectic yet grounded and "doable" in daily life.

For more information about this workshop click the button below.

More Information

Annual Nog and Cheer

Every year BeConnected hosts a gathering for families at Head Office. Come and meet new Coordinators, review the past year, and talk about plans for 2017 with us! The Nog and Cheer is scheduled for Tuesday January 10th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. Please RSVP to [email protected] if you plan on attending. Hope to see you there!

Vancouver Island Vision Hockey Team

BeConnected is a proud sponsor of the Vancouver Island Vision, a Special Hockey International Team based out of Nanaimo Recreation Adaptive Hockey.

We wish the Vision success in their tournament next week in Southern California. The 6th Annual ACT Winter Hockey Festival is hosted in Valencia, California from January 13th to 15th 2017.

The Vision will be playing against the Rocky Mountain All Stars, East Coast Jumbos, Capitol All Stars, Valencia Flyers, and the California Condors.

Did You Know?

We post a monthly calendar on our website which includes BeConnected events as well as low cost community events and resources.

Find it in our latest news along with our event posters!

There was a lot happening at BeConnected in 2016! To finish off the first edition of the BeCommunity Newsletter we've compiled our top 10 biggest moments last year.

1. Milestone Birthdays! We had several milestone birthdays at BeConnected this year. David Lowe turned 30, Stuart Elliot turned 50, Bernice Lorenz turned 60, David Green & Helen Rutherford turned 65, and Roy Michaux turned 70!

2. Approved for New Services - BeConnected is now approved to provide services to individual's who qualify for CLBC's PSI in Greater Victoria, Westshore, Sooke, Saanich Peninsula, Southern Gulf Islands, Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley and Mid-Island.

PSI stands for Personalized Supports Initiative which provides an individualized and personalized approach to meeting the needs of individuals by coordinating existing community supports to help people to maintain or increase their independence. PSI services support adults who have both significant limitations in adaptive functioning and either a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For more information about PSI click here.

3. My Community Conference - On May 11, 2016 BeConnected supported Self Advocates for a Brighter Future to host their 3rd My Community Conference. This years theme was Health and Wellness. The conference was a full day of presentations and interactive activities such as chair yoga and art therapy. Can't wait for My Community 4!

4. International Day of Persons with Disabilities - On December 3rd we co-hosted a Film Festival to celebrate International Day of Person's with Disabilities. The film festival consisted of eight short films from around the world starring people with disabilities and was followed by a panel discussion with local self-advocates.

5. BC Challenger Jamboree -

On June 18th we sponsored and co-hosted the Annual BC Challenger Jamboree at Hampton Park with 27 Challenger Baseball teams attending from all over the province! It was a fun day with a round of games, BBQ lunch, entertainers, and a medal ceremony!

6. One Day 2016 - On September 10th we had our biggest One Day event yet! Over 1,000 people visited Topaz Park for a BBQ lunch, music, activities, face painting and more! We also had a marketplace with almost 30 different vendors!

7. New Children's Resources - This year BeConnected opened two new homes, Highrock and Shearwater, in order to support children, youth, and their families by providing residential and respite services.

8. Advocacy - When the BC government announced the 2016 budget in February, advocates from across the province reacted to the elimination of the subsidised Bus Pass for people with diversabilities. BeConnected assisted our self advocates to take action and voice their opinions. They made signs, attended rallies, and even wrote a letter to the Premier!

9. Retirement - This year one of our long term employees retired. Michael Woodman has worked at BeConnected for 25 years! We wish him a happy and relaxing retirement!