Disability Alliance BC is saddened to hear about the devastation wrought by the current wildfires happening across BC. We would like to draw attention to the organizations that are supporting wildfire relief, such as the Canadian Red Cross and the United Way’s BC Wildfire Recovery Fund.

DABC will match all staff donations up to a grand total of $1,000 towards the Canadian Red Cross’ BC Wildfires Appeal or another registered charity that is directly supporting people affected by the wildfires happening across our Province. We are mindful that people with disabilities are more adversely affected during emergency situations, and that bringing together a staff-wide donation effort aligns with our values as an organization.

We would also like to highlight the relief efforts for evacuees in Yellowknife, NWT. CanadaHelps has compiled a list of charities providing relief efforts: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/support-the-northwest-territories-wildfire-relief-efforts/.

Our organization has produced many publications over the years that share important information on disability inclusion during emergency response. Find them here: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/emergency-prep/.

Please share these publications in your communities; we want to ensure that the unique needs of people with disabilities are not forgotten during this time.

June 21^st marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, which recognizes and celebrates the rich and diverse history, heritage and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country.  

In BC and looking to celebrate? Check out this list of events: 
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/national-indigenous-peoples-day-bc-1.6881920 

We encourage settlers to visit https://native-land.ca/ to learn more about the traditional territories on which you live.  

DABC would also like to highlight our community and Access RDSP program partner Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC)/the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS). Indigenous people have higher rates of disability and poverty and the work they do to support Indigenous people with disabilities is so important. Visit their website to learn more: http://www.bcands.bc.ca/.  

DABC is saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ken Kramer, K.C., TEP. A longtime friend of DABC, Mr. Kramer founded and was principal of KMK Law, and he often served families with disabilities through his work in the area of estates and trusts law. Mr. Kramer was also a strong advocate for the disability and seniors communities outside of his work in this realm.   

Just a few of his vast contributions included acting as a founding Board Member of Technology for Living, a non-profit organization in British Columbia providing respiratory and technology supports to people with disabilities; leading community negotiations and collaborations with the Province of BC for more than two decades on the topic of home care supports (particularly the Choices for Support In Independent Living program or “CSIL”); and serving as Chair of the Boards of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Seniors First BC, BC’s Elder Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, and the Province of BC’s Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board.  

In recognition of his work, he received both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and his Queen’s Counsel designation in 2014. 

To learn more about Mr. Kramer’s important work and life, please see KMK Law’s website: https://kmklaw.net/team/

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.