BCCPD continues to work closely with the Woodlands survivors in their struggle for justice and compensation. As of the end of 2011, the Province continues to exclude former Woodlands residents who were at the institution before August 1, 1974. These oldest survivors have not been given the opportunity to have their abuse recognized through the settlement agreement that has been signed by the Province. The compensation process for survivors who were at Woodlands after August 1, 1974, is extremely slow: as of October 2011, only 8 claims have been filed, out of the approximately 850 survivors who have come forward.

See more on our ongoing work on Woodlands.

On September 1st 2011, new Personal Planning legislation was proclaimed in BC. Congratulations to everyone at Nidus for all their hard work on making this happen. Nidus has pioneered the most inclusive tools for personal planning anywhere in the world.

The Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry invites you to a virtual party to help them make September “Personal Planning Month” in B.C.! For the month of September, you can visit www.niduspersonalplanning.tumblr.com to view photos, stories and videos that show the rich history of personal planning in B.C.

Bring your own story…

The Nidus celebration is about sharing real life stories and experiences, and spreading the word about making and using Representation Agreements. The Representation Agreement Act was the first law in B.C. specifically designed for personal planning.

• Did you make a Representation Agreement?
• How did it help you?
• Are you a representative or a monitor named in an Agreement?
• What did you find remarkable about the process?
• Do you have a message to share with others?

We would love to see photographs and/or videos of Agreements being signed and used. Did the Representation Agreement help make a difference in your life? Sometimes, simply making a Representation Agreement can have a real impact — by providing peace of mind!

Sharing your experience will encourage other individuals and families to make Representation Agreements. It can also support law reform efforts in other provinces and countries that look to B.C. as a model. Representation Agreements are unique in the world.

If you are interested in participating, please send your stories, photos and videos to info@nidus.ca.

Join us for a free 4-week program

Poverty is not only about money, it is also about not having access to the skills, resources, information, and choices necessary to get and maintain self-sufficiency.

If you are living on a low income or receiving disability benefits, you may have well-developed money management skills. You may know how to stretch a dollar and juggle bills. But if you want to know more, where do you get objective information not designed to sell you anything?

Often, financial language can be difficult to understand and link to your own life. Money is a sensitive and private subject for many people, so many of us don’t feel comfortable asking friends or family.

The Money Skills program at Family Services of Greater Vancouver works with community groups to offer a workshop series on money. The workshops are free of charge and provide a fun, interactive environment to share information and learn new money skills.

Budgeting: Track your earning and spending and be in control of your money.

Banking: Choose the options that are right for you, reduce fees and save money.

Credit: Build and maintain a good credit history and deal with debt.

Consumerism: Buy buy buy! Examine the role of advertising in our spending choices and how to be in charge of your own spending.

Cost:     Free
When:   Four sessions in June 2011: June 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd
Where:  BCCPD, #204 – 456 West Broadway, Vancouver
Time:    1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Call Val at 604-875-0188 or email feedback@bccpd.bc.ca for more information.