Your Bridges to Belonging News
Greetings from BtoBe!
Thanksgiving, Halloween, a rainbow of leaves - so much to look forward to! Can you believe that fall is just around the corner? With it comes so many great things. We invite you to join in on our next Facilitator Network meeting, attend the upcoming Inclusion Film Series screening, and more!
Please enjoy this update from Bridges to Belonging spanning news from our organization, upcoming events and workshops, and a touch of inspiration and joy.
What's New at Bridges to Belonging
 Be a BtoBe Pen Pal!
We want more people in the community to know about the work of Bridges to Belonging and to learn about the people we serve. So, we are inviting you to be a “Pen Pal Advocate” for Bridges to Belonging.
Politicians, donors, volunteers, supporters – anyone in our community who is interested in BtoBe – we want to introduce them to US and to YOU. To do this, we need your help. We are inviting self-advocates, parents and caregivers, and other supporters to consider becoming a BtoBe Pen Pal. Click here for more information.
BtoBe Nominated in #BestofWR!
 Thank you Waterloo Region! We are honoured to be nominated in the #BestofWR roundup and especially honoured by the company: The Working Centre and Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region. You can cast your vote for Brides to Belonging on page 3 of the survey, and be sure to vote for all of your favourite people, places, and things here: #BestofWR Survey.
Events and Workshops
Technology for a Community Life: Facilitator's Network of Waterloo Region
Technology has changed our everyday so quickly, it can be easy to miss new and helpful tools. Some of these tools can be helpful in supporting a full and active community life. Join us as we look at a few smartphone apps which could help to:
 Save on groceries- Set reminders for appointments and tasks
- Take quick notes that are available for any device
- Track and improve my fitness
And more! Come along with your suggestions and tips, or just take it all in.
About: The Facilitator’s Network of Waterloo Region (FNWR) is a sharing network for Independent Facilitators, those who do related work, family members, self-advocates, and anyone interested in building a more inclusive community. The FNWR is an initiative of Bridges to Belonging.
Tuesday, 27 September - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Room 2015 at The Family Centre.
Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Inclusion Film Series presents: Dad’s In Heaven with Nixon
The Waterloo Region Inclusion Film Series presents "Dad’s In Heaven with Nixon", with thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Menno S Martin Contractor Ltd. Visit dadsinheavenwithnixon.eventbrite.ca to get your tickets.
About the Film: Chris is autistic, living on his own for more than 30 years, and a talented artist of some renown. Yet behind his cheerful paintings lies a powerful story of a family struggling to keep hold of mental health, wealth, and love.
As the lives revolving around this unique individual are tenderly drawn together, this documentary reveals a family’s soul.
Tuesday, October 4 - 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Princess Twin Cinemas. Visit dadsinheavenwithnixon.eventbrite.ca for more information and to get your tickets.
Spaces Available for Mental Health First Aid Certification
This November we are sending members of our team for "Mental Health First Aid" training, and we have some seats available. If you are an individual or an organization looking to build your awareness and knowledge to act, this is for you.
Tuition is $200 and will include the certification course and materials along with snacks and refreshments throughout the day. Plus: participants will receive a mental health first aid kit as a giveaway with the course. Click here to for more details and to register.
Meet Our Team
Each month we will introduce you to a member of the Facile team. This month we introduce you to Rachel Tanner, Independent Facilitator:
 Rachel: "It is truly a privilege for me to be working as an Independent Facilitator with Bridges to Belonging.
I started my career in Developmental Services in 1986 and have worked in various roles at KW Habilitation, DSRC, Family and Children’s Services, and Planned Lifetime Networks. After staying home with my three boys for seven years, I returned to work as an Educational Assistant for the Waterloo Region District School Board, where I have been for the last three years. For over 20 years I have also been a certified Red Cross First Aid Instructor, and have enjoyed providing staff training at two local Developmental Service agencies. I am also a potter and have loved facilitating creative clay experiences for people of all ages and capabilities over the past 15 years.
Supporting individuals with varying abilities has been a very natural part of my life’s work and I am thrilled to be able to continue to make it centre stage in my daily life. I look forward to getting to know many new people and helping to facilitate goals, dreams and continue to build an inclusive community."
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Our Stories
This #WeBelongWR story is about a community of people coming together to support the dream of independent living for three sisters in Waterloo Region. Huge thanks to Danielle, Emily, Connie, and their parents for sharing their story!
'Finding allies for your hopes and dreams for living independently in the community is not always easy when existing service structures do not align with the dream. Connie, Emily and Danielle believed that they could live together in the community, as did their parents.  Having carefully considered a range of options, the girls and their parents decided on renting a three bedroom apartment in a new building in an ideal location within walking distance of their family home.
Their mother, Lynn, recalls how the energy and anticipation grew among the sisters. Lynn explains, “For two years, for the holidays and birthdays, we were thinking about things for when they would move and started storing them. We watched this building being built and saw this apartment and felt it was perfect; five minutes from our home. We walked in and I could just see them here.”'
Click here to read the full story!
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Bridges to Belonging
Embracing Possibility, Enriching Community
Bridges to Belonging’s work fulfills our mission to support you to build on your unique abilities, to create the life you want in the community.
Our Planning and Facilitation is not one-size-fits-all. Instead of a menu of services, we get to know each individual and family that we work with, to understand their unique gifts, strengths, dreams, and challenges. We then work with them to develop a plan for the life they want to live, and support them to take action on that plan.
Think that Independent Facilitation might be right for you or someone you care about? We welcome you to get in touch.
Able to help support facilitating an everyday life in the community? We welcome your donations. Please click here to donate.
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