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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 AUGUST 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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Couldn't be more excited to let all of you know that our Summer 2015 issue of Spinal Columns is out! Subscribers of Spinal Columns will be receiving a copy in the mail in the next week or so! If you would like to receive Spinal Columns, contact us at 780-424-6312, 1-888-654-5444 or [email protected]. Click here to sign up to receive your issues of Spinal Columns directly to your email!


Vicky Venancio Allowed to Stay in Canada for Another Two Years

Vicky Venancio with Federal Minister of State for Multiculturalism, the Honourable Tim Uppal.
Photo by Arnim Joop/Mill Woods Mosaic

 

Vicky Venancio, former temporary foreign worker left quadriplegic after being hit by a vehicle three years ago will receive medical coverage from the province, according to Alberta's health minister. Read more... 

 

Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program Research 

The Alberta Disabilities Forum (ADF) Home Care Working Group is conducting research on Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program and how the program helps Albertans with disabilities access home care services.  The ADF has produced a short questionnaire which is targeted towards Albertans with disabilities who manage their own care and who currently use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to hire caregivers, or who have done so in the past. The ADF assures your participation is completely anonymous and there are no costs or risks to you; results will be summarized and used by ADF for public awareness and education. Please click here for the survey.

 

Best Practice Forum in Staff Health and Safety in Community Disability Services

Join other leaders from across the province interested in maintaining or improving Health and Safety in the Workplace. The forum will take place on August 17, 2015 at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary.

  • The OHS Social and Community Care initiative
  • Sharing Best Practises from CET reporting
  • Leading Indicators and their potential to improve Health and Safety in your workplace
  • Psychosocial factors relating to the way work is carried out, and the context in which work occurs
Register at:
http://www.acds.ca/training_events.html

Lights, Camera, Access! 
Lights, Camera, Access is a provider of a network of services to advance the presence and participation of persons with disabilities in the entertainment and digital media industries. 


 

Rick Hansen Foundation 2015 Quality of Life Program   

Online application forms will be available Tuesday, August 4, 2015.  Deadline for submission of grant applications is Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Click here for more information on how to apply, deadlines, funding amounts and eligibility criteria.


 

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on Quality of Life Grants. 

 

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.  

 

Restaurant Critics Needed!

Typically, two restaurants are chosen each month in order to assess the experience.  Keep checking back as we plan for more summer restaurant events.

  

We hope you can join us for these great opportunities to socialize, share ideas, and enjoy some great food.   

 

 

Lunch&Bowl  

Join us on August 17, 2015 for Lunch&Bowl, 11:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Century Casino Bowling Lanes, 1010 - 42 Avenue SE, Calgary. $15 per person. RSVP to [email protected] or 403-228-7434. 

 

2015 "Living Your Best Life" Peer Conference - Calgary
Join us for the "Living Your Best Life" Peer Conference  on September 24, 2015 at the Carriage House Inn, 9030 MacLeod Trail S., Calgary from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Guest speakers Dr. Ian Rigby and Rob Parsons will provide their insights into living with a spinal cord injury. The day will include information about technology and innovation, research, aging with a disability, trade show, dinner, free massages, aboriginal culture and art features and much more. RSVP by September 8th to [email protected] or 403-228-7434. Thank you to sponsors Motion Specialties and Pipella Law.
Invitation to Liver Best Life Peer Conference-September 24, 2015

 

SCI Alberta Parking Lot in Calgary Gets Facelift

 

Shout out to EverLine Coatings & Services who painted the lines in our Calgary office parking lot FREE of charge! 

             

Edmonton    

Edmonton 2015 Peer Events

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

Peer BBQ 

Join us for our Edmonton Peer BBQ coming up on Thursday, August 6th, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., Borden Park, 7507 Borden Park Road (112 Avenue between 75 and 78 Street, Site #6). Free for members and one guest. Children under 12 free. Additional guests - $10/person (pay at the site). Friends and family welcome. RSVP by July 31 to [email protected] or 780-424-6312.  


"Slide the City" - A Huge Success for SCI Alberta  

SCI Alberta would like to thank our many volunteers who worked tirelessly over the weekend of July 18th to help make this event such a success! We have a bunch of photos on Facebook for you to check out so make sure you take a peek.

 

Sigh The City Edmonton
"Slide the City" Edmonton

Join us on the Greens!

Ron Hodgson Chevrolet Buick GMC Golf Classic - August 27, 2015 

The annual Ron Hodgson Chevrolet Buick GMC Golf Classic is coming up on August 27. 2015 at the Glendale Golf and Country Club in Edmonton. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.sci-ab.ca or contact Angie Barron at 780-424-6312 or [email protected].

 

Attention DATS Customers and Stakeholders

Edmonton's Disabled Adult Transportation Service (DATS) invites you to provide feedback on their "Mission, Vision, and Values" project. These sessions will be fun, interactive, and provide you with an opportunity to share your feedback about the future of DATS. Refreshments will be provided.

Session #1
Tuesday August 11, DATS Percy Wickman Garage (8610 56 Street), 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

 

Session #2
Wednesday August 12, DATS Percy Wickman Garage (8610 56 Street), 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM 

 

RSVP about the date you can attend as seating is limited.

Arjan Sharma - Community Relations Team Lead, Edmonton Transit - DATS, 780-496-4560, [email protected] 

 

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].

 

Marlin Styner Memorial Golf tournament - Just Around the Corner! 

 

Just around the corner! 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 - September 4, 2015 

The SCI Alberta Red Deer office is looking forward to hosting a Health and Wellness Peer Conference 

at the Red Deer Sheraton Hotel.  Free for SCI Alberta members and $25 for all others.    

 

 

Medicine Hat 

 

New Location for Medicine Hat Office 

 

Official signage has arrived for our shared office space (101 - 1201 Kingsway Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 2Y2) with the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Medicine Hat. Check it out!

 

Lethbridge

Lethbridge BBQ Meet and Greet

Big thank you to everyone who came out to our BBQ Meet and Greet

 

   

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 Phones Updated

The Grande Prairie regional phones have been updated!  The old main number remains the same at 780-532-3305 but caller options have changed. To reach reception, press zero, and to reach Mieke press 1.

 

Grande Prairie Open House

Thanks to everyone for the pleasant afternoon on July 10, 2015! 

L-R: Mel Gunson, Karen Bainbridge, Mayor Bill Given, Councillor Daryl Beeston, Chris Warkentin PC MP, Reeve Leanne Beaupre, Mieke de Groot, Todd Loewen Wildrose MP and Councillor Bob Marshall. Photo by Kieran Markle/Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune/Postmedia Network

 

Alberta Primetime "Accessibility Awareness Month in Grande Prairie" 

SCI Alberta staff member Mieke de Groot was featured on Alberta Primetime to talk about Accessibility Awareness Month in Grande Prairie. Check out the video and hope you can take part!

 

Hotel Assessments and Full Service Fueling stations

We are looking for volunteers in wheelchairs who can help with assessing accessibility in hotels and gas stations.  Please contact [email protected] or 780-831-1091 with your availability!  This initiative is timely as the city has been hearing about accessibility all month. We would like to have a list compiled before mid-September so we have a better idea of what is needed as the city grows.  

 

SCI Grande Prairie Bowling Group - Summer Hours!
Wheelchair Bowling Image Join us each Tuesday for Wheelchair Bowling from 5:30 to 7:30  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.

   
Barrier Free Access 
Minhas and Jeremy, representatives of the Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities recently visited the Grande Prairie region to encourage barrier free access to providers of vision and dental care, and pharmacies.  They spoke to three providers in Slave Lake and two in Grande Prairie.  Contact Minhas Ali [[email protected]  or 780-488-9088] or the Grande Prairie office directly with any suggestions or concerns. 

  

Interagency Bowling Social

Thursday, August 6 Bowling Social to be held in Peace River, 4:00 - 6:30 pm at the Rock & Bowl Inc., 9720 - 98 Street. For more information call 780-831-1091. Click here for more details. 

  

Sydney's Last Day

August 14, 2015 Sydney's last day  Sydney's work in the office this summer helped make the open house, tradeshow, ticket sales with Rotary, Social Bowling events and more possible. Please stop by the office and say thank you!!!

  

For More News and Community Events in Grande Prairie 

For information about other community news and events, click here.     

Research and Innovation   

  


 

Hands free wheelchair
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/ogo-two-wheeled-wheelchair-segway-mod/

 

For paralyzed men, sexual function just as important as walking http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/31/health/paralysis-sexual-function/index.html
   

Interesting Websites/Videos  

 

Canada's Most Accessible Park? 

Naikoon Provincial Park

After years of collaboration and planning, one of the world's greatest natural and cultural wonders is now infinitely more accessible. Click here to read more

Active Living and Wellbeing

  

 SCI Alberta and Paralympic Sports Association Set Sail with Sailing Event

 

On Sunday August 2nd, SCI Alberta partnered with PSA to allow members to try out adapted sailing,  all while playing an assortment of games and enjoying a lake side BBQ at Sylvan Lake! We also provided lifts to help transfer people into the boats. Thank you to everyone who came out and shared the day with us!

 

Comfort Camping 

 Image of Comfort Campit Site in Dinosaur Provincial Park  

 

Experience an unforgettable camping experience with comfort camping. You can book a comfort campsite at three Alberta provincial parks - Dinosaur Provincial Park, Miquelon Lake Provincial Park and Writing-onStone Provincial Park. To the best of our knowledge,each of these sites are wheelchair accessible sites and have a maximum capacity of four people.


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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 September 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: