Celebrating safe and inclusive communities
Rasika hands out copies of The Globe and Mail and shares information about being safe online.
On the morning of October 1, 2011, CLBC staff, self-advocates, Community Council and family members, held events in five communities across BC to celebrate Community Living Month and promote CLBC’s new website, Icanbesafeonline.com. This is Canada’s first website dedicated to educating adults with developmental disabilities and their families on how to use the Internet safely.
Participants handed out Globe and Mail newspapers with information about Icanbesafeonline.com in front of busy London Drugs locations in Kamloops, Kelowna, Richmond, Vancouver and Victoria.
The events were organized through partnerships with The Globe and Mail and London Drugs to help educate, empower, and equip people with developmental disabilities with the basic safety information so they can be safer when they are online.
“Community Living Month is a time to recognize the involvement of people with developmental disabilities in our communities. I encourage all British Columbians to join CLBC to celebrate Community Living Month at events in their community and to visit Icanbesafeonline.com,” says the Honourable Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Social Development.
In addition to these events, a number of municipalities across BC proclaimed October as Community Living Month. The proclamations, which were signed by Mayors in Duncan, Campbell River, Kelowna, Kamloops, Victoria, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Fort St. John, Vancouver, Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Dawson Creek, Richmond, New Westminster, Burnaby, Quesnel, Surrey, Port Moody, Port Alice and Port McNeill, declare:
“Community Living Month celebrates the achievements of people with developmental disabilities, including independent living, workplace accomplishments and community and social participation. Community Living Month also recognizes the hard work of individuals, families and community members to create inclusive communities and opportunities for all British Columbians with developmental disabilities. The “I Can Be Safe Online” initiative is one example of how CLBC promotes inclusion and safeguards for all community members.”
You can read more about the new website on pages 12 and 13 of this edition of The Citizen. To learn about ways to stay safe while still having fun online, please visit the website at www.icanbesafeonline.com.
