I'm happy to share that our COVID-19 vaccine rollout is ahead of schedule, and key dates and information can be found above! Feel free to pass this on to anyone in your community and help a senior book an appointment.

In addition to vaccinations for seniors, people at higher risk from COVID-19 due to existing medical conditions, such as various forms of cancer, transplant recipients and severe respiratory conditions, will now be able to register for their COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, March 29, 2021. You can find more information and the list of conditions here.

The accelerated timelines for B.C.'s COVID-19 immunization plan mean approximately 200,000 people in B.C. aged 16 years and older who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) are eligible to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks. Some of the CEV population will have already been immunized as part of B.C.'s age-based vaccine program (currently 75 years and older).

If you are identified as CEV, you will receive a letter in the mail in the coming days with information on how to book an appointment, beginning March 29, 2021. Anyone who receives this invitation letter must bring it with them to their vaccination appointment.

Lastly, today we announced that seniors in long-term care will soon be able to have frequent, regular opportunities for social visits from loved ones, with safety measures in place. Read more about this here.

Learn more about BC's vaccine rollout: gov.bc.ca/BCSeniorsFirst and www.gov.bc.ca/covidvaccine

Sunday, March 21^st was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Like many, I was heartbroken to hear about the recent Atlanta shootings that killed 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian women. There’s more work to be done at every level and our government is committed to ensuring that we weed out systemic racism.

On Monday, New Democrat MLAs moved a motion to reaffirm our commitment to combat racism in all its forms. In light of this commitment, we announced a new anti-racism information campaign that encourages British Columbians to examine their own biases and start conversations. The campaign features illustrations by B.C. artists who are Indigenous, Black, and people of colour. To learn more visit antiracist.gov.bc.ca.

Fines Increased to Enforce COVID-19 Public Safety

In order to protect public health, fines for promoting and attending gatherings that contravene the provincial health officer's (PHO) order just got more expensive. Effective immediately, an amendment to the Violation Ticket Administration and Fine Regulation raises the fine for promoting and for attending a non-compliant gathering or event from $230 to $575. The current fine for those who organize or host a prohibited event remains the same at $2,300.

A $230 fine will continue to apply to a range of COVID-19 violation measures, including failing to wear a mask and failing to abide by patron conditions. The increased fine aimed at non-compliant events reflects that this behaviour is generally more risky than other offences in the $230 category, but less egregious than the offences in the $2,300 category.

The specifics around orders of the provincial health officer, including the number of people allowed at gatherings, will continue to be set at the direction of the PHO. Let's continue to wear masks, stay physically distanced and stay home whenever possible.

BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations

I know how important it is to give seniors and those living with disabilities the ability to stay at home if they so choose. That's why I'm thrilled that together with the Province of BC and CMHC, BC Housing recently introduced the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations program (BC RAHA). The program gives financial assistance to eligible low- and moderate-income seniors and people with permanent disabilities or diminished abilities to help with the cost of making adaptations to their homes for independent living. As of March 18, 2021, this program takes the place of the Home Adaptations for Independence Program, or HAFI. 

BC RAHA introduces several improvements:  

• A streamlined applications and approvals process – for most standard accessibility adaptations, it won’t be necessary to obtain a quote before applying.
• Set rebates for common adaptations – maximum rebates for the most common types of adaptations will ensure everyone receives equal funding for the same types of adaptations.
• Requiring an assessment by an occupational therapist or other qualified professional – an assessment will be required for some adaptations to make sure that adaptations accurately address the applicants’ needs.
• A provincewide income limit – a new income limit will be based on the low- and moderate-income limits established annually by BC Housing. This will ensure everyone has equal access to the program, regardless of where they live in the province.

The program provides up to $17,500 in rebates towards adaptations that directly address an individual’s permanent disability or loss of ability. This could include adaptations such as exterior and interior ramps and door widening to accommodate a wheelchair, and bathroom modifications such as grab bars, shower seats and handheld showerheads.  

For more information, including eligibility criteria and application forms, visit: www.bchousing.org/BC-RAHA. 

Youth Mentor (Ongoing)

The junior youth program trains teens and young adults (15-18) to mentor younger peers aged 11-14. The program helps 11-14 olds develop their language abilities, helps them excel in school, and encourages them to make positive changes in their communities. Youth mentors will create joyful environments and will guide the mentees using the curriculum designed by the program. This will be done through stories with meaningful themes, activities, arts, drama, and community service projects. This is a great opportunity for teens aged 15-18 who want to be involved in their communities. Each week, mentors will meet with their mentees for 2 hours. In these meetings, the mentors and mentees will go through lessons and activities, and build friendships. 

How to Apply: Please fill out this form https://forms.gle/5SaSsAG4NaW8HCt6A

Additional details:

• Organization: Edmonds Youth  
• Organization’s Contact Information: edmonds@junioryouth.ca 
• Work Location: Edmonds Neighbourhood Burnaby, BC
• Type of Work: Virtual (through Zoom)
• Time Commitment: 4 hours per week
• Time of Day: daytime, evening, weekdays
• Number of Volunteers Required: 10 
• Position Start/End Date: April 1st 2021
• Age: 15-18