Ross Chilton, CLBC CEO
Welcome to the Spring 2023 Edition of Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES Magazine. It seems hard to believe, but it has been more than three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, we now have opportunities to connect with each other in person as well as protection from vaccinations and boosters.
While we have all made efforts to protect the physical health of ourselves and others, this time has also highlighted the very important role of mental wellness in our lives.
Taking care of our mental health and wellbeing lets us better enjoy our lives and the people we share them with. We can be more creative and learn new things. We’re also better prepared for when we do face challenges.
Recognizing this, the CLBC Editorial Board has chosen “Mental Wellness” as the theme for this edition. Self advocates from across B.C. share their stories and insights about the many ways they support their own mental wellness. This includes exercise, creative pursuits, meditation and storytelling to name a few.
Our cover story for this edition features Luke Smith of Smithers. For Luke, a sense of wellbeing comes from finding ways to give back to his community. “Giving back makes me feel good. I get excited about it and it helps contribute to a positive mindset,” he says. I hope you enjoy reading Luke’s story, and all of the stories shared in this edition.
You can also find recent news from CLBC, including an update on work to create CLBC’s accessibility plan. Getting input from people and families we serve has been an important part of this process and we thank everyone who has contributed.
Video can be an effective tool for sharing information in a way that is accessible and engaging. In this edition, you can learn about videos that CLBC has created to share information about our Strategic Plan and vision, as well as a unique, culturally safe Indigenous housing project.
Thank you for reading this edition. I hope you can take away something from the stories that will have a positive impact in your life.
Sincerely,
Ross Chilton
CEO, Community Living BC