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Check out SCI Alberta Videos

SCI Alberta has over 100 videos on our website, covering a wide variety of topics including housing, parenting, research, wheelchair transfers....and much more.  

Click here for videos.

  

SCI Alberta Offices  

Edmonton Head Office

Phone: (780) 424-6312

Calgary

Phone: (403) 228-3001

[email protected]

 

Fort McMurray

Phone: (780) 743-0307

[email protected]

 

Grande Prairie

Phone: (780) 532-3305

Lethbridge

Phone: (403) 327-7577

[email protected]

 

Medicine Hat

Phone: (403) 504-4001

Red Deer

Phone: (403) 341-5060

[email protected]

 

St. Paul

Phone: (780) 645-5116

Fax: (780) 645-5141

 

 

Toll Free Information Line
1-888-654-5444

 www.sci-ab.ca





Dear Wheel-E Newsletter Recipients:
 
Welcome to the MAY 2015 issue of Wheel-E, the monthly newsletter of Spinal Cord Injury Alberta,  formerly Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta). Wheel-E includes information about news and events related to spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.

SCI Alberta also publishes a magazine, Spinal Columns, which includes features and regular columns about important issues that individuals with disabilities face today. Click here to read our most recent issue. If your contact information has changed or if you would like to receive Spinal Columns, please contact us at 780-424-6312, 1-888-654-5444 or [email protected].

Canada Helps donation logo 

To make an online donation, click here


Provincial News  

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Federal Budget
Recent budget announcements include two items that may be of particular interest to you. These relate to RDSP's and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit. Click here to find out more.
 

Election - May 5, 2015

Voting image Be informed! Make your voice heard! Vote!
The Alberta Disabilities Forum (ADF) represents 45 disability organizations and thousands of people with disabilities in Alberta. Information has been provided on various topics including voter services available, a party contact list, how to visit a candidate and have your issues and concerns heard, as well as fact sheets related to issues of concern for people with disabilities. To download the full election kit, visit the ADF website. For general information about the election, go to www.elections.ab.ca
.

CTV Good Neighbour Fund

The CTV Good Neighbour Fund is a registered non-profit charitable organization that considers limited assistance to those individuals/families requiring support in exceptional cases not covered by other funding. 

What's Local in Your Community

 

Calgary 

Calgary 2015 Peer Events

Peer event information is posted as it becomes available on the SCI Alberta website  as well as on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, contact Marilyn Erho at 403-228-7434. 

 

Self Defense Class (Calgary) - Are You Interested?  

Self Defense Feedback Poster Being caught in a situation where we have to defend ourselves can be one of the scariest things that could happen, particularly if you have a disability! If the unthinkable does happen, you should be able to respond and be able to make choices to protect yourself. If you live in Calgary and are interested in watching and/or participating in a self-defense demonstration, contact [email protected] or 403-228-7419.

 

Calgary Marathon

We are proud to announce that we will be taking part in this year's Calgary Marathon once again so put on your running or wheeling gear and join our team at the finish line! Sign up you and your friends at http://ow.ly/KNMYb 

Scotiabank Calgary Marathon Official Promo Video 2015
Scotiabank Calgary Marathon Official Promo Video 2015

   

  Restaurant Critics Needed!


Typically, two restaurants are chosen each month in order to assess the experience.  We hope you can join us for this great opportunity to socialize, share ideas, and enjoy some great food.  

 

May 14th - Peer Dinner Event in south Calgary. Location and other details will follow.   

 

May 26th - Peer Dinner event in north Calgary. Location and other details to follow.  

  

Wheelchair Square Dancing Anyone - Give it a Twirl! 

Twirling Spokes Square Dancing Image 

Twirling Spokes Square Dancing is every Tuesday, May 12 - June 30th, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. $5/person or $30/full 8 sessions. Partners provided through a square dance club. RSVP by Thursday, May 7, 2015 to 403-228-7434 or [email protected].     

 

Spinal Cord Injury Fitness and Wellness Centre    

If you haven't checked out our SCI Fitness and Wellness Centre in Calgary, we welcome you to stop in and meet our Certified Exercise Physiologists and Athletic Therapists and check out our state of the art equipment! Click here to find out more.  

 
Fitness and Wellness Centre Image  

 

Chair-Leaders 
Chair-Leaders 2015 Calgary - Join us on May 25th

Spinal Cord Injury Alberta, in partnership with Calgary Health Trust, is pleased to present the fifth annual Chair-Leaders Enabling Access event in Calgary.
Visit  http://www.calgaryhealthtrust.ca/chairl
eaders to sign up and Swap Chairs For a Day!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

Edmonton    

Edmonton 2015 Peer Events

Peer event information is posted as it becomes available on the
Spinal Cord Injury website as well as on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, contact Guy Coulombe at 780-424-6312 or [email protected].

Kutting Korners Peer Event
Thank you to everyone who joined us on April 30th. Lots of good conversation about ways to save money on medical supplies, equipment, etc. Stay tuned as we will be emailing out a list of the tips mentioned!

Peer Program Poker Tournament

Coming up on Saturday, May 2nd, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m., Abby Road Housing Co-op, 10950 - 82 Avenue, Edmonton. RSVP to Kiley Geddie, 780-257-0107 or [email protected]. $10 per person. Food, prizes and lots of fun! Click here for poster.

 

Summer Student Job Opportunity 
The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Northern Alberta is looking for a summer student Fundraising Event Coordinator. Successful applicant must be a post-secondary student returning to school this fall. Start date is May 19 - thirty hours/week for 14 weeks. Click here for job description. Submit resume and cover letter to [email protected] by May 6, 2015.

Portrait of a Detective as a Real Person 
Homicide Detective Bryce Clarke Good friend of SCI Alberta and a member of Edmonton's finest in blue, Homicide Detective Bryce Clarke, is featured in the April 2015 issue of New Mobility Magazine. Bustin' bad guys from the seat of a wheelchair!
http://www.newmobility.com/2015/04/quad-detectives/ 

Red Deer    

Red Deer Office - New Location    

The Red Deer office of SCI Alberta is now located at 105, 4807 - 50 Avenue (sharing space with the Multiple Sclerosis Society), Red Deer, AB T4N 4A5. Contact information remains the same at 403-341-5060 or [email protected].

 

Open House 
Approximately 40 people turned out for our Open House BBQ on April 29th in Red Deer. It was wonderful to share the evening with everyone and to celebrate our new location and partnership with Multiple Sclerosis Society of Red Deer. As well, a big thank you to Save-on Foods East Hills Centre who helped to sponsor this special evening!

Accessible Exercise Stations
Will be available for use after May 15th in our new offices. 

 

Marlin Styner Memorial Golf tournament

This exciting, annual event is coming up on August 14th at the River Bend Golf and Recreation area  (featuring our million dollar hole in one prize). For great sponsorship opportunities, call 403-341-5060 or contact [email protected].

 

Health and Wellness Peer Conference 

The SCI Alberta Red Deer office is looking forward to hosting a Health and Wellness Peer Conference at the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel.  Free for SCI Alberta members and $25 for all others. Confirmation of conference date and additional information to follow! 

 

Discovering the Power in Me 
Discovering the Power in Me Image Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated in our two day Discovering the Power in Me workshop held on April 27th and 28th at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer!
Special thanks to our sponsors, Rotary Club of Red Deer Centennial and the Sheraton Hotel Red Deer.
 


Medicine Hat 

 

New Location for Medicine Hat Office 
The Medicine Hat office of SCI Alberta is now located at 101 - 1201 Kingsway Avenue SE (shared space with Multiple Sclerosis Society), Medicine Hat, AB T1A 2Y2. Phone number, fax and email all remain the same: 403-504-4001 (phone), 403-504-5172 (fax), [email protected].

Open House
Join us on June 11th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm to check out our new space, share some refreshments and have a chat with other members as well as our new Regional Program Coordinator, Andrea Schulz. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements at that time! Hope to see you there.

Stretching in the Sun!
Stretching in the Sun event for Medicine Hat Summer is around the corner and we are the "sunshine province" so let's celebrate and head out to the park to do some Stretching In The Sunshine. Join us on May 20th and June 10th, starting at 1:00 pm at Kin Coulee Park. Stick around for lemonade afterwards too! As well as enjoying sunshine and lemonade, the stretching portion of the afternoon will be led by Krista Olsson-Campbell and assisted by Maria Undseth of the Family YMCA of Medicine Hat Living Fit Program. We will meet at the band shelter and find a sunny spot close by. Family, friends and kids are welcome...the more the merrier! RSVP by May 18th for the May 20th event and June 8th for the June 10th event to 403-504-4001 or [email protected].

  

Chair-Leaders 
Chair-Leaders is an opportunity for community leaders to experience some of the accessibility challenges of using a wheelchair in the community of Medicine Hat for a day. This event takes place on May 25 - 29, 2015. Spots are going quickly! Contact [email protected] or 403-504-4001 if you would like to participate in this eye opening event.  

 

 

Fort McMurray

Casino Night - Thank You!

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who took time out of their schedules and supported us by volunteering at our Fort McMurray Casino on April 29 and 30th.  

 

Grande Prairie

SCI Alberta Grande Prairie Peer Information Sessions/Other Activities:

For more information on any upcoming peer events please contact Mieke at 780-532-3305 or [email protected].        

 

Grande Prairie Bowling Group - Summer Hours!
Wheelchair Bowling Image Join us each Tuesday for Wheelchair Bowling, starting May 15, 2015, 4:00 to 7:00  p.m. to bowl or to cheer us on! Taking place at Grande Prairie's Bowling Stones Ten Pin Entertainment Center, 11005 - 106 Avenue. $4.00 per game. Cribbage, pool and other games are often available as well. Volunteers welcome.

Challenger Baseball - May and June 2015

Registration is now open. For kids aged 5-14 with cognitive and/or physical disabilities to enjoy the full benefits of participation in baseball in a fun, safe environment. For more information, contact Corrie Funk at [email protected].

  

Cash and Camping
Cash and Camping Lottery Image Stop by the Cash and Camping tent at the Northern Casino Parking lot in Grande Prairie after 11:00am daily! Proceeds of the lottery will be used by SCI Alberta Grande Prairie to help long-term clients with medical trips and equipment costs, and to develop peer programs in Grande Prairie and Peace River. SCI Alberta volunteers will be selling tickets from April 30 - May 8. Final Lottery Draw will be July 3, 2015. 

For More News and Community Events in Grande Prairie 

For information about other community news and events, click here

 

Research and Innovation   

  


Do People with Disabilities have Trouble Finding a Family Doctor

In summer 2013, Canadian Disability Policy Alliance researchers worked with the Health Care Connect program in Ontario to address the question posed above. Read more... 

  


Interesting Websites/Videos  

 

Assisted Suicide
Canadian medical schools readying doctors to talk to patients about assisted suicide.

  

Park Explorer Opens Outdoors to People with Disabilities 
Park Explorer An Alberta invention is helping people with disabilities explore the outdoors. Click here to find out more...  

 

Better Wheelchair Accessibility for St. John's, NF 

Wheelchair accessible Metrobus routes to begin in June in St. John's, NF. Way to go NF!

 

Active Living and Wellbeing

  

Steadward Bears Para-Swimming Spring Program      

Registration is now open for the spring session of the Steadward Bears Para-swimming Program. The program runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings from May 5 - June 30. You can chose swim times from 7-8 pm or 8-9 pm and a choice of one day a week or both days per week. For more information or to register, email Michelle at [email protected].

 

Camp Freedom Early Bird Registration 

Camp Freedom is for teens between the 12-18 years of age living with spina bifida and takes place from August 13-16, 2015. Early bird deadline is May 1 at $200. After May, the fees will be $350. Click here for online registration and payment or contact the SBHANA office if you have any questions.

 
Program Registrations - Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta 
Now taking registrations for all programs. To register, complete the Program Registration Form and forward to the attention of Kim Henye at [email protected] or fax to 780-471-0855.

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Ways to Give

 

Click here to find out more about how you can support us.

      

Use Your Power for Good

50% of profits on your electricity usage each month can help individuals with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities! Click here to find out more.   

 

Agents of Change - An Innovative New Way to Support Us!

Our partnership with Agents of Change empowers you to support us in a substantial way if you are considering buying or selling a home.  Click here to find out more. 

 

Become a Spinal Cord Injury Alberta Member - Make Your Voice Count 

Spinal Cord Injury Alberta [(formerly the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta))] has been providing services and support to Albertans who have experienced a spinal cord injury or physical disability since 1961.


For a list of the many benefits available through your $25 membership, click here

Call 780-424-6312, ext 2241 or toll free 1-888-654-5444 to renew your SCI Alberta membership.

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Ongoing Resources
   

 

Click here to find out more about our ongoing resources.   

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 Classifieds / Equipment for Sale 

 

Classifieds

Welcome to the classified section of the Spinal Cord Injury Alberta. Many new ads have been added this month. Click here to see more ads. 

 

If you have anything you would like to buy or sell, please click here to e-mail a description of the item, your asking price and your contact information and we will post your item as quickly as possible.

United Way InKind Centre

Distributes goods and resources to qualified charitable organizations.  The InKind Centre is a community initiative of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.

 

Silver Cross Canada

Find recycled or new health care equipment in your area by contacting Silver Cross Canada.  

 

Vertical Platform Lifts 
Available at Silver Cross at

 

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Submissions/Subscribers/Contact Us

 

Please let others know about Wheel-E! They can subscribe by emailing or giving us a call.                           [email protected] (780) 424-6312 or toll-free: 1-888-654-5444

 

Please give us your thoughts and feedback on our Newsletter. If you have announcements you would like posted, please submit to: [email protected]

 

The next issue of SCI Alberta Wheel-E will be published the first week of June 2015. Deadline for submissions is on or before the 26th of each month. Whenever possible, please send in your announcements before the deadline!

 

For more information about Spinal Cord Injury Alberta, visit our website at http://www.sci-ab.ca     

Spinal Cord Injury Alberta neither endorses nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised in Wheel-E or on our website.     

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Spinal Cord Injury Alberta
#305, 11010 - 101 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 4B9
Toll free #: 1-888-654-5444
 

Spinal Cord Injury Alberta is a Registered Charitable Association.   

 Charitable Registration # 11883-5016-RR0001.  

To make an online donation, visit: