April's Community Conversations!
- Spencer van Vloten
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Hello community leader!
Each month in Community Conversations, we look at issues, events, resources, and opportunities in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
If you're interested in receiving updates like this by email, sign up for my newsletter below! Also feel free to contact me if you're aware of any opportunities you'd like included.
All the best,
Community Engagement & Resources
Parks are for the people, not politicians
I’m running for Vancouver Park Board to make sure parks and public spaces are shaped by the people who use them — NOT merely politicians. Community voices should guide how our spaces are used and cared for.
Join me as a supporter or to learn more — it’s quick, easy, and free. Let’s make parks more accessible, increase engagement, and bring them back into the hands of the people who use them.
Share your best reads - get published
Vancouver Public Library wants to hear from you! Tell them about the latest book that has you buzzing. Describe why you enjoyed it in 50 words or fewer and make sure to include the book title, author, and your first name.
VPL will share some of your top reads in their upcoming Community Reads booklist. Email your review to news@vpl.ca for the chance to have it featured!
Need Help with Disability Benefits?
Applying for disability benefits can be complicated and frustrating. Inclusion Canada’s Barrier-Free Benefits navigators offer free, one-on-one support to help you apply for a wide range of benefits.
Their navigators can guide you through every step, from exploring your options, to gathering documents and completing applications, to appealing decisions.
Funds, Programs, & Awards Now Open
$2,500 for mobility equipment
HME Home Health provides up to $1,500 to community members for mobility and accessibility equipment, such as walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, ramps, specialty beds, and more.
The BC Rehab foundation also awards up to $2,500 in funding to individuals with disabilities, covering adaptive devices and recreation therapy to help make communities more accessible.
Young writers - here's your chance!
The Vancouver Writers Fest youth writing contest is now open! Grades 5-12 are invited to share their personal essays and short stories for a chance to win cash prizes and publication.
Meanwhile, the Jessamy Stursberg prize accepts submissions from young poets all across Canada, with three cash prizes awarded in each age category.
Indigenous small grants now open!
Indigenous persons living in Metro Vancouver - $500 is available for your community project through the Delta Community Foundation.
Indigenous neighbourhood small grants help you share your ideas, gifts and talents with your neighbours, and to bring your project idea to life. Funding is available for a wide range of projects, so don't be shy about sharing your idea.
CNIB scholarships now open
Every year, CNIB's scholarships are awarded to people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision in recognition of their educational aspirations and achievements.
Scholarships are awarded based on a wide range of factors, including need, location, community involvement, leadership skills, achievements, and goals.
New opportunities for Indigenous job seekers
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre's Employment, Life Skills, and Training Centre provides free support for Indigenous job seekers at every step of their journey.
From resume building to job training to interview prep, networking, and more, they can help Indigenous persons find the career they're after.
In Focus: $25,000 for your big idea
The FSC Social Impact Challenge is inviting Canadians to submit bold, early-stage ideas that tackle urgent issues like housing instability, education, mental health, and discrimination.
Open to people from all backgrounds, the fully virtual challenge does not require a polished pitch or business plan—just a clear understanding of the problem, relevant insight or lived experience, and an original idea.
Top submissions will be reviewed by a national judging panel, with the winning idea receiving $25,000. FSC will then pilot the concept, measure its real-world impact, and use the results to help inform policy and drive broader systems-level change.
Navigating The System: Board Bonanza
From protecting Pacific salmon to advancing animal welfare and supporting autistic individuals and families, several organizations are seeking new board members.
Whether you’re an experienced board member or exploring your first role, there are a range of opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
Trivia Contest: Vancouver's Pinnacle
Did you know: At 410 meters above sea level, built upon a former quarry, Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in Vancouver.
Question: Can you share a personal “first” in your life or community — a time you, your family, or someone you know broke a barrier or achieved something new?
Send your answers to spencer@bcdisability.com, to be entered in a draw for a Purdys Chocolatier prize pack!
Last month’s winner is Joanne Y., whose most memorable “first” was skiing for the very first time — something she thought wasn’t possible because of her disability. With the help of adapted skiing equipment, she was able to get out on the slopes and experience it for herself — a moment she says she’ll never forget.
More Community Updates!
PS: Did you know that writing things down by hand improves memory more than typing them?
Give Input
Contests, Competitions, & Awards
Events
Jobs
To find more community resources, click here! Also feel free to email me at spencer@bcdisability.com
-Spencer van Vloten
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