CONTINUITY NEWS Supporting families in Manitoba to plan for an enriched quality of life for their family member with an intellectual disability DECEMBER 2011 Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic The 2nd Annual Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic was held at the MTS Iceplex on November 9th & 10th, 2011. This event allowed 18 corporate sponsored teams with over 250 local hockey enthusiasts to team up with former NHL greats to play hockey and raise funds for the Jets True North Foundation and Continuity Care. The tournament kicked off with an exciting Draft Night experience held on the evening of November 9th, where each participating team had the opportunity to draft an NHL alumni to play with their team throughout the tournament. Draft positions were determined by the total dollars raised by each team. Congratulations to the Richardson Pioneers for raising the most money and earning first pick in the draft, choosing - HHOF.

Continuity Care was the official volunteer provider for the event and we would like to thank all of the volunteers for donating their time to help out with the driving of the pros, registration, ticket sales, rink coordination and security. Your commitment and support was an integral part of the success of this year’s event and we are so happy to have had the opportunity to share the excitement with you. We couldn’t have done it without you! We would like to give special thanks to Mike Keane, the NHL alumni, the Chipman family, True North Foundation, Jackson Events, the businesses that sponsored teams and the event, the tournament players and to the many wonderful people that NHL alumni that participated in the tournament: made donations to support this year’s Mike Keane (of course), Dale Hawerchuk, Steve Shutt, Lanny McDonald, Marcel Dionne, Brad Park, event. The Tournament was an exciting Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith, , , Dave Ellett, Charlie Simmer, Brian Bellows, fun filled day and we hope you all had Dean Kennedy, , Dave Manson, Laurie Boschman, Brian Skrudland and special celebrity guest Rod Black. fun. See you next year! INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Manitoba Disability News pg 2 Sharing Circle Program pg 3 iBelong Website pg 3 New to the Resource Library pg 4 Holiday Giving pg 4 Baby Boomer Café pg 4 Top fundraising team Richardson Pioneers and the NHL alumni

Manitoba Disability News Accessibility Advisory Committee Members Announced – December 2nd

In recognition of the United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities (December 3rd), Minister Jennifer Howard announced the membership of the 12-person Accessibility Advisory Council.

The Council is made of members of the disability community and other stakeholders and will make recommendations on:  Introducing legislation or regulations that would establish a process to identify, prevent and remove barriers faced by people with disabilities  Determining policies, practices and requirements that can be implemented by government to improve accessibility  Developing long -term accessibility objectives

The 12 members of the Accessibility Advisory Council are: Jim Derksen – Chair, Yvonne Peters – Vice Chair, Eileen Clarke, Dianne Driedger, Jim Baker, Scott Jocelyn, Lanny McInnes, Doug Momotiuk, Chris Summerville, Diane Scribe Niiganii, Judy Redmond and Karen Pirnie.

The Advisory Council will consult with people with disabilities and organizations that may be affected by its recommendations. This includes employers and businesses as well as representatives from Manitoba’s municipalities. One of the Council’s first tasks will be to further develop the legislation that will set out accessibility standards. They are scheduled to meet on a semi monthly basis to the end of April 2012, and will make initial recommendations to the Minister by early summer.

For more information please visit www.manitoba.ca/dio/acc/index.html The website will post information on future public consultations and invites the public to submit questions, comments or concerns regarding the Council. If you do not have access to a computer, you can contact the Disabilities Issues Office directly at (204) 945-7613. Province Announces Human Rights Complaint Against Manitoba Developmental Centre Settled

The Province of Manitoba, Community Living Manitoba (CL-MB) and the Office of the Public Trustee have agreed to a mediated settlement that resolves a human rights complaint involving the Manitoba Developmental Centre (MDC), Minister Gord Mackintosh announced on November 25, 2011.

“We believe this agreement supports the right of residents at MDC to choose to live in the environment that best suits them, reaffirming some of the core goals of our services to adults with intellectual disabilities,” said Mackintosh. “We look forward to working closely with CL-MB to explore the option of community living for those residents who are interested, while continuing to offer the best quality of care to those residents who remain at MDC as it moves from a traditional institution setting to a new focus on outreach and continued specialized residential services.”

In June of this year, the province announced an advisory committee would work on a new, long-term plan for MDC with a focus on determining how it can be redeveloped to provide specialized services including options for crisis stabilization, respite, day and residential supports, and community services. This would include the development of homes in the Portage la Prairie area so individuals could move out of the centre and choose to access MDC for professional services like day programming and recreation.

The province and the public trustee have always maintained the personal choice of the resident and/or their substitute decision-maker is paramount in considering any change to care or living arrangements, Mackintosh said, adding the government remains committed to ensuring the best possible residential settings for persons with intellectual disabilities including those at MDC.

The government will continue to invest in necessary health and safety upgrades at MDC but any new development at MDC will be focused on specialized residential care and community-based services, the minister said. The full news release can be found on the Province of Manitoba’s website at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2011/11/2011-11-25-115600-12683.html 2

Sharing Circle of Support Program A “Sharing Circle of Support” or “Sharing Circle” is Continuity Care’s term or model of a support network for a person with an intellectual disability. A Sharing Circle is a group of people who genuinely care about the person at the center of the circle and want to be a part of their lives, now and in the future.

The is to build and strengthen friendships and relationships to support people who are vulnerable and help them live an active, enriched life in the community. The key is that collectively, a Sharing Circle increases the amount of social and recreational opportunities and can enrich the person’s life in a variety of ways.

A Sharing Circle can help to support the individual by:

 Developing friendships  Helping to connect with services and  Exploring social opportunities supports that are needed  Assisting in supported decision making  Assisting and responding to life changes  Problem solving  Promoting health and wellness  Advocacy  Ultimately sharing the caring and the  Promoting safety responsibilities

Individuals may, or may not have family members who are part of their lives. In either case, a sharing circle can help to build and strengthen relationships and enhance the support that is provided by agencies/paid service providers. A Sharing Circle can also help provide peace of mind for parents, knowing that there are others who will be part of their child’s life, now and in the future.

Members of a Sharing Circle are usually volunteers in a person’s life and are not paid to support the individual. They can be family members, friends, former staff, neighbours, co-workers, members of church or spiritual community, members of cultural groups or organizations or people from the community who share common interests. In some cases, paid service providers become friends and become part of a person’s Sharing Circle. A Sharing Circle of Support is not meant to replace the formal supports or paid supports already in place, but rather work with them to provide the individual with the best supports possible.

Continuity Care offers two options to assist individuals and their families or supporting agencies in creating a sharing circle. The first option is a resource tool kit will be available for those who would like to get started on their own. Continuity Care will offer direction and support and share practical tips and resources. Continuity Care can also come out and present a workshop on Building a Sharing Circle of Support to your group or organization. This workshop provides practical information on how to get started and how to maintain a sharing circle of support over time.

As a second option, Continuity Care is providing a service to families and agencies who wish to work with a facilitator to develop and/or maintain the sharing circle of support. Continuity Care has currently hired 5 Facilitators on a contract basis to work with individuals and their families/agencies. The services of a Facilitator are available on a fee for service basis. Support will not be contingent upon the ability to pay.

If you would like more information about Continuity Care’s Sharing Circle of Support Program, please contact our office at 779-1679.

If you are a young adult with an intellectual disability who wants friends, this website is for you! www.ibelong.ca

L’Arche Canada launches a new website about friendships for young people with intellectual disabilities.

Here you will find videos, stories, ideas and resources about how to make friends. You will also find information for others who want to help you form lasting friendships. Beth Porter of L’Arche Canada met with Suzanne Swanton in May 2010 as part of her research for this project. Excerpts from this interview are included as an example of “Good Practices in Action” under the Additional Resources section. 3 Holiday Giving New to the Continuity These are tough economic times, business have been Care Resource Library affected, foundations have been affected, family incomes have been affected - most of us have felt the impact in Did you know that with your Continuity Care one way or another. membership, you can access our Resource Library? Call the office at 779-1679 if you are interested in At Continuity Care, we are continuing to invest in the borrowing this book or any other item from our library. future - supporting families to plan for an enriched quality of life for their family member with an intellectual Planning for Real Life After School disability now and for many years to come.

by Gary Bunch, Kevin Finnegan, Jack Pearpoint, Our organization is not government funded. This was Peter Park & Barb Fowke important to our founding Board members, as they

This book is about transition from school to work. It wanted to remain autonomous to provide advocacy to has research that confirms what we all know: that for families when needed. individuals with disabilities, the close collaboration Our main source of funding is our Endowment Fund held between families, teachers, and students facing at The Winnipeg Foundation. Each year, we receive ‘transition to work’ is rare. When done well, it works, quarterly payments from the interest earned on our fund. but it seldom happens. What is different is that this is a proposal for As of August 31, 2011, the market value of our fund was collaboration without $1,815,903.54. Our fund payments currently do not cover blaming - a good tool all of our operating costs, therefore we continue to for all parties. There fundraise and seek out grant opportunities and donations. are two volumes, a Plain Language As we come to the end of 2011, we want to thank those edition and a regular who have contributed to our success and ask that you edition. The Plain consider making a donation this holiday season.

Language edition was co-edited by People First There are 2 options to financially support Continuity Ontario and for those with second language issues and/ Care: or learning difficulties. 1. Support Continuity Care directly. We can accept cash, cheques, VISA and MasterCard. Contact our HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW office at 779-1679 for more information. YEAR TO ALL BABY BOOMER CAFÉ MEMBERS, FAMILIES & GUESTS! 2. Support our Endowment Fund held at the Winnipeg Foundation by credit card at www.wpgfdn.org or We are having a very special New Year’s Baby cheques can be made out to Continuity Care’s Boomer Café and are very excited to announce our Endowment Fund and mailed directly to: new, warm location at Kildonan Community Church. What a great opportunity to start off 2012, by sharing The Winnipeg Foundation companionship, food, games, music, singing, and 1350 - One Lombard Place laughter with one another in a supportive and respectful Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3 community! Come one, come all!! Everyone is invited to attend this New Year’s Café. Please RSVP to Albert Continuity Care Inc. & Sharon @ 334-1839 or Jane & Brian @ 667-4596. Email: 2 – 120 Maryland St.

Sunday January 15th, 2012 Winnipeg, MB [email protected] 4:00 - 7:30pm R3G 1L1 www.continuitycare.ca Kildonan Community Church Ph: (204) 779-1679 If you would like to be 2373 Main Street Fax: (204) 786-6766 removed from our mailing list, (North of Chief Peguis Trail) please contact our office. Don’t miss our exciting Baby Boomer Grand Opening!

Continuity Care Inc. provides information for the benefit of the readers and does not endorse any particular organization, company, firm or service. Advice and strategies in this newsletter are general guidelines and families should consult professional legal and financial advisors when developing plans. 4