A free barbecue and party will be taking place at the end of October to celebrate inclusion in the community.
The Life After School Transition Committee, (LAST), will be hosting the free barbeque and dance party, with help from Community Living BC, that is held annually to highlight Community Inclusion Month – a celebration of the abilities and achievements of people in our community with developmental disabilities.
“This is always a very popular event,” said Demetra Kotsalis, the district helping teacher with secondary learning services for School District 42.
“Everyone enjoys getting together and having fun, eating free food, meeting old friends, making new ones, getting creative with local artists, and dancing or moving to great music,” Kotsalis added.
The hot dog lunch will be cooked and provided by the Kiwanis Club of Golden Ears.
Participants will also be able to: take part in rock painting activities with Sandra and Gary Solon; help create an event Community Canvas with artists Val Wheater and Rob Egan from the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour group; participate in balloon twisting with Bubblegum and Dilly the Clown; and enjoy music from local musician James Thorhaug and his band.
LAST is a group of service providers in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows that work to support and empower young people with diverse abilities to transition into life after high school by highlighting and promoting resources within the community and celebrating community and economic inclusion.
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Group members include: Community Living BC; Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living; School District 42; BC Ministry of Children and Family Development; Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services; BC Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation; posAbilities Association of BC; WorkBC; Pivot Point Family Growth Centre Inc.; Special Olympics BC; Ridge Meadows Recycling Society; Family Education and Support Center; Pathfinder Youth Center Society; Foundry Ridge Meadows; and the City of Maple Ridge.
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LAST Committee’s Community Inclusion Month FREE BBQ & PARTY will be taking place from 11:30–1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, at the Greg Moore Youth Centre, 11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge.
Accessible entry is available from the underground parking lot.
For more information go to: lastcommittee.org, or facebook.com/LASTcommittee, or email Demetra at: demetra_kotsalis@sd42.ca.