Our Lights Are Shining Bright for Community Living Month!
May is Community Living Month and our building is shining Blue and green, our colours, as part of the ‘shine a light’ campaign! ! Community Living Month is a province-wide annual awareness campaign which recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the Community Living movement. This year’s theme is “Still in This Together”, in honor of the perseverance and resilience shown by those in our movement as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic. As you notice our lights, we hope you are celebrating with us!
Part of our usual celebrations for Community Living month, the raising of the flag ceremony at the Town Hall, could not happen this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions that are in place. The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has raised our flag, and we managed to take a video of that happening since our office is across the street!
Keep an eye on our Facebook page this month as we will be having some great opportunities to win prizes!
Happy Community Living Month!
Connecting From a Distance August 21, 2020
COVID-19 Update: May 29th, 2020
COVID-19 Update: May 15th, 2020
COVID-19 Update: May 1st, 2020
A Message From Isolation: Covid-19 Update
COVID-19 Update: April 24th, 2020
Connecting at a Distance: COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update, Easter/Passover Greetings
It has been 3 weeks since we have been in self isolation mode in our residential homes. With the exception of walks in our community and the odd Tim’s drive through we have been maintaining a distance from others in our community. Everyone is healthy and there have been no concerns of exposure to Covid-19 virus by either our staff or people supported at this time. I think we have been fortunate to practice our social distancing long before there was community spread. We are all settling into a rhythm while we patiently wait for this to pass.
Our staff is doing a tremendous job supporting people in this difficult time. There have even been days when staff has described their shift as magical. The routines and rhythms of the homes are a bit different than normal, but somehow in these very challenging times, it allows for a different kind of interaction. Individuals understand what their new normal is, and have in fact been doing remarkably well. We are very proud of both people supported for adjusting so well to the restrictions on their lives and of our staff who are coming to work each day to support them.
On behalf of all the staff at BPACL, I would like to extend warm wishes for your Easter/Passover weekend. I know it will be difficult to not have the opportunity to gather with family and friends as we have done in past years, and I know it will be difficult to not celebrate with your family member who lives in one of our supported homes. Please make use of technology if that is helpful, facetime and zoom gatherings, though not the same as being in the same room, sure helps provide the feeling of togetherness.
Please know that our staff will work very hard to celebrate the weekend in these unusual times. I understand that the Easter Bunny has been declared an essential worker, which is so great for all the little ones out there.
Best Wishes to you and your family.
Michele Bell, Executive Director BPACL
MEMORANDUM
To: All staff, Visitors, People Supported and Community Members
From: Michele Bell, Executive Director
Date: March 18, 2020
Subject: Covid-19_ Visitor information
In the best interest of our community and in accordance to public health recommendations we are limiting the walk –in service to our office at 314 George Street.
If you need to contact any of the people working at 314 George Street or 550 Berford Street please note that the doors will be closed. We are looking into moving most of our administrative supports online and over the phone.
If you will have to meet in person with someone, please book an appointment and you will be asked to pass a pre- screening test.
Thank you for your support in social distancing. Let’s flatten the curve!
MEMORANDUM
To: All Families of People Supported
From: Michele Bell, Executive Director
Date: March 16 2020
Subject: Covid-19_Community Participation
In the past few days there have been unprecedented changes related to Covid-19 pandemic. BPACL has been monitoring the situation and we are in the process of updating our existing Pandemic Plan to minimize risk to people supported, and ensuring we have adequate staffing available for essential services.
BPACL will continue to monitor the recommendations of Public Health Ontario and we will work with staff to make adjustments as necessary to minimize the risk of exposure. The health and well being of people supported and our staff are our top priority and we are taking steps to minimize the risk.
Effective Tuesday March 17, 2020, BPACL will be suspending our Community Participation program and services.
We understand that this is very disruptive to the lives of the individuals in our community who come to community participation for social engagement and physical activities. However in this time, it is necessary to limit exposure for our community.
Employees who currently work in Community Participation will be redeployed to residential services for the foreseeable future.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will continue to communicate with you as any updated information becomes available.