Community Options for Children and Families Victoria
1595 Bay Street V8R 2B5 Victoria, BC, Canada

Check out VI Parents Share/Care Network Hot off the press, this is a private Facebook group for all kinds of parents of kids with any and all kinds of disabilities. Join us to build community, because... NONE OF US IS AS SMART AS ALL OF US!!

Here's the link for the report: https://rcybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CYSN_Report.pdf

Please support Community Options when you shop at Hillside during the holiday season (November 27 - December 20, 2020). 1. Shop at any Hillside Centre retailer (including Thrifty Foods & Canadian Tire). 2. Bring your Hillside receipts dated November 27 - December 20, 2020 to Hillside Guest Services.... 3. Let them know that you would like to support Community Options for Children & Families. The total value of your receipts will be added to our total points. Receipts will be stamped and returned to you. Thank you!

Music therapy is truly amazing and wonderful!

Sibshops look a little different right now, but still providing a fun space for siblings to connect with each other, at the Victor School accessible playground.

The upside of being a respite caregiver- it's FUN!

CHILDREN'S RESPITE CAREGIVERS NEEDED Our Respite Caregivers develop special relationships with a family by sharing some of their time, energy, and skills--basically by being their unique wonderful selves! We'd love to add new caregivers to our team... people who might like to supplement their income, grow meaningful relationships, and gain more experience in the dynamic field of community support. If you or anyone you know is interested, check out our website or send us an email at [email protected] I promise we'll get back to you ASAP! Spread the word.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HAVE FUN WITH YOUR FAMILY

Sibshops are now happening at COCF, led by the multitalented (she can sing, she can dance, she can skateboard!) Carla Hyslop We can only accommodate 3 participants at a time to maintain physical distancing. We’d love to be able to include more siblings in the groups next time we offer them. Does anyone have a lead on a larger space (hall, meeting room, warehouse, dance studio) that we might be able to use for our groups? Your ideas are welcome! Here’s an inspirational sibling pic for you, Hunter and Braden Gandee. Google them for a cool story. Siblings, arise!!

COVID-19 update: We are currently on restricted office hours due to needing to limit contact between people. Administration staff will be at the office from 10:00 - 2:00 Monday - Friday if you need to speak to someone directly on the phone. Sorry, no in-person visitors will be allowed. Our coordinators will be checking voicemail and email messages from home and will get back to you. Please follow the recommendations made by the BC Ministry of Health regarding COVID-19 including social distancing and routine precautions to keep yourselves, your loved ones and our community safe!

At our last SibTeens gathering, the group talked about disability as it related to Japanese culture. This was followed by making and eating sushi!

From the staff and Board of Community Options, we wish you and your family a holiday season of love, joy and relaxation!

We had lots of fun at our Christmas Open House! It is always great to visit with our COCF family! Many thanks to the businesses that donated prizes for this event - Bolen Books, Market on Yates, John's Place, Il Terrazzo, Royal B.C. Museum, Root Cellar and Craigdarroch Castle. We are very grateful for their generosity!

We are looking forward to seeing you at our Christmas Open House today! Our Christmas elves are busy getting everything ready for our 4:00 - 7:00 event.

https://www.engage.gov.bc.ca/accessibility/ Today is the last day to log in and share your thoughts on accessibility legislation with the government of BC. Follow the link to share your thoughts.

Santa and the COCF staff and Board are looking forward to celebrating the start of the holiday season with our Christmas Open House! Thursday, Dec. 5 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 250-380-6363 if you plan to come.

We hope you will be able to join us at our annual Christmas Open House on Thursday, December 5 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for Hillside Mall's annual "Night of Lights" are available to purchase at our office. Kick off your holiday shopping with an evening of specials, tasty treats, musical entertainment and great prizes (including a $4000 travel voucher). Tickets are $5 and all proceeds go towards the Community Options Family Support program.

Inclusivity means....tell us what it means to you!

Building a community where #everyonebelongs #community #communitypartners #inclusion #

You can always tell when our SibKids programs start up again ... little bits of glitter can be found everywhere :)

Unfortunately, we have to cancel next week's Burger & Beer Night due to a lack of ticket sales. We will keep you posted if we decide to try again later this year!

Here's a great opportunity to let your candidates know what matters to you.

Burger & Beer Night is happening next week! Call 250-380-6363 (ext. 204) or email [email protected] to reserve your tickets. The event is on Thursday, October 3 at the Moon Under Water Pub from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. In addition to the food and drink, there will be a 50/50 draw and a trivia contest. Come and join the fun!

We are looking forward to our Burger & Beer Night fundraiser on October 3. We hope you will be able to join us for a fun night out!

We are excited to present two upcoming youth employment workshops. Learn about food service and customer service with hands on learning and community tours. Bot...h workshops are facilitated by members of our Employment and Youth Services Teams. August 28, 2019 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Food Service Orientation A morning of job tasting in the kitchen with former red seal chef, Amanda. Our day will include preparation and cleanup of a simple lunch in a commercial grade kitchen. We will talk about all the different sights, sounds and smells involved in kitchen work and what types of food prep related jobs would make a great first job. We will also break down the different tasks included in kitchen work and give examples of how we can practice at home. August 29, 2019 - 9:00 am to 2:30 pm Customer Service Tour Join us for an employment-focused Community Cruise; a day of interactive exploration including site tours with community partners at three jobsites. Activities will include guided behind-the-scenes tours of each jobsite and a fun employment-related scavenger hunt! This 1-day camp will give youth an opportunity to see first-hand a variety of customer service roles and begin to think about where they see themselves fitting in to the work-world after high-school! Space is limited. Sign up today!

Our Family Dinner BBQ (originally scheduled for August 22) has been postponed. The new date is Monday, Sept. 9 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Jill at 250-380-6363 or [email protected] if you are able to join us!

Our next Family Dinner is on Thursday, August 22 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 250-380-6363 if you can join us!