Ross Chilton, CLBC CEO
Welcome to the Summer 2020 Edition of Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES magazine. As I mark my first year in the role of CEO, the world looks a lot different than it did when I joined CLBC last summer. It has been a challenging time as British Columbians and people all around the world have been coping with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, in the face of these challenges, we have seen so many creative and inspiring examples of people finding ways to connect and stay positive, even while we have had to stay apart. The CLBC Editorial Board wanted to share some of these examples by making the theme for this edition “Stories of Hope and Connection.”
From radio shows and podcasts to participating in community treasure hunts to mapping emergency resources, I have been impressed by the many ways people have come together to support and encourage each other. In the words of Sherwin Strong, Community Mapper and Self Advocate Liaison whose story you can find here, “we all have skills and abilities that we can contribute even during times of confusion and despair. Being part of this work kept me from feeling lost and helped restore the internal drive of doing what I love: helping others.”
The stories in this edition show the positive impact we can all have on each other and our communities, even when facing fear and uncertainty. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have.
CLBC has also been working to help connect people with important information and support. Over the past months, along with partners in government, we’ve hosted a number of well-attended teleconferences for individuals and families as well as service providers to answer questions and address concerns. New pages on our website have been updated regularly with key information and resources as we navigate this pandemic. We’ve also published a new weekly Update for Individuals and Families.
You can read more about this work in the News section here. There, you can learn about CLBC’s new Vice President of Regional Operations and a newly created director position to lead the Indigenous CLBC team. You’ll also find information about this year’s Widening Our World (WOW) Awards program which is collecting nominations to recognize the courage, leadership and creativity on display during COVID-19.
Thank you again for reading this edition. I hope that it provides some joy and inspiration as we work through these challenging times together.
Sincerely,
Ross Chilton
CEO, Community Living BC