disabilities

Carla Qualtrough, federal minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, announces $16 million in funding for programs across the country that aim to support Canadians with disabilities looking to enter the workforce. The press conference was held in Nanaimo on Thursday, June 1. (Bailey Seymour/News Bulletin)

Feds funding programs to support people with disabilities joining the workforce

Federal minister of employment announces $16 million to go to six organizations across Canada

 

Jessie Simpson blowing kisses to the camera. (Sue Simpson/Facebook)

Call for cards as Kamloops attack victim turns 26

Sue Simpson requests cards every Christmas and every July for Jessie’s birthday

 

Maple Ridge author Randy Wagner will be signing copies of his new book, 4 1/2 Steps, at Bean Around Books and Tea on April 15. (Randy Wagner/Special to The News)

Quadriplegic Maple Ridge author hosts signing event for first book

Randy Wagner will be signing books at Bean Around Books and Tea on April 15

 

Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki pauses during a para golf lesson in Calgary, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Spending the last five years using a wheelchair has given former Humboldt Broncos hockey player Ryan Straschnitzki a new path forward. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Making things a little more accessible’: Paralyzed Bronco looks to improve buildings

In a wheelchair since tragic crash, Ryan Straschnitzki studying how to address accessibility issues

Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki pauses during a para golf lesson in Calgary, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Spending the last five years using a wheelchair has given former Humboldt Broncos hockey player Ryan Straschnitzki a new path forward. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Auditor General Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. The Auditor General says two thirds of people with disabilities encountered barriers on federally regulated planes and trains in 2019 and 2020, and is highlighting a lack of consultation and enforcement by agencies involved. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Two-thirds of Canadians with disabilities found barriers on planes, trains: audit

Auditor general: Via Rail, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority still show serious gaps

Auditor General Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. The Auditor General says two thirds of people with disabilities encountered barriers on federally regulated planes and trains in 2019 and 2020, and is highlighting a lack of consultation and enforcement by agencies involved. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Dan Catarig (6th from left) and the rest of the Mission Blazers won first place in the green division of floor hockey at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Kasmath Photography - Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

Special Olympics athlete wins his first medal for Maple Ridge

Dan Catarig recently moved from Mission and won a gold medal at the BC Winter Games

Dan Catarig (6th from left) and the rest of the Mission Blazers won first place in the green division of floor hockey at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Kasmath Photography - Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
A BC Transit handyDART bus. (Contributed photo)

‘It’s not fair’: Long road ahead for B.C. transit improvements

Province unlikely to fund more accessible transit this year: BC Transit

A BC Transit handyDART bus. (Contributed photo)
Matthew Bueschkens (#9) and Katherine St. Amand (#8) won medals in various alpine skiing events at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

PHOTOS: Maple Ridge athletes earn 5 medals at 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games

Katherine St. Amand led the group with 3 medals in alpine skiing events

Matthew Bueschkens (#9) and Katherine St. Amand (#8) won medals in various alpine skiing events at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
Katherine St. Amand (middle) raced at the 2022 Special Olympics BC Alpine Skiing Regional Qualifier and earned a spot at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

Maple Ridge athletes head to 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games

3 athletes will be representing the city at the Kamloop event this weekend

Katherine St. Amand (middle) raced at the 2022 Special Olympics BC Alpine Skiing Regional Qualifier and earned a spot at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
The signal says walk, but piles of icy snow say otherwise at the corner of Blanshard and Broughton in Victoria after a December 2022 snowfall. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘No access’: B.C. residents with disabilities keep cautious eye on snowy forecasts

Snow and ice severely limit those with mobility, sight or hearing disabilities

The signal says walk, but piles of icy snow say otherwise at the corner of Blanshard and Broughton in Victoria after a December 2022 snowfall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sam the autism service dog is the first service dog to attend a School District 27 school. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photos - Williams Lake Tribune)

Autism service dog a game changer for family and 1st for B.C. school district

Dog attends class at Chilcotin Road Elementary to support a young student

Sam the autism service dog is the first service dog to attend a School District 27 school. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photos - Williams Lake Tribune)
Brayden Methot in the drivers position of his specially-adapted van, which he can drive from his power chair using hand controls, despite a C4 spinal cord injury. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo)

Williams Lake man driving first-of-its-kind adaptive van in Canada

Brayden Methot excited to enter back into the work force as he paves history

Brayden Methot in the drivers position of his specially-adapted van, which he can drive from his power chair using hand controls, despite a C4 spinal cord injury. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo)
Salmon Arm resident Tim Kubash said a lack of staffing contributed to him being prevented from boarding his WestJet flight home from Victoria on Dec. 3, 2022. (Tim Kubash/Facebook)

Salmon Arm man kept from boarding WestJet flight due to battery in wheelchair

Incident took place on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Salmon Arm resident Tim Kubash said a lack of staffing contributed to him being prevented from boarding his WestJet flight home from Victoria on Dec. 3, 2022. (Tim Kubash/Facebook)
Sherie Greenwood with her painting from last year’s show called Waiting for Winter. (Vicuna Art Studio/Special to The News)

Maple Ridge art studio throws annual Winter Art Show

Vicuna Art Studio will host the event on Nov. 25 and 26

Sherie Greenwood with her painting from last year’s show called Waiting for Winter. (Vicuna Art Studio/Special to The News)
Jason Boberg, a member of the disability caucus and a founder of the disability climate action network SustainedAbility, speaks at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Boberg told The Associated Press in an interview days before he departed for COP27 that he’s seen pro-disability rights language in draft text of negotiations at previous conferences, including language about funding disability rights organizations to do climate action work. But that language has been cut from final agreements at the negotiations. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

VIDEO: People with disabilities raise voices at international climate talks

COP27 runs until Nov. 18

Jason Boberg, a member of the disability caucus and a founder of the disability climate action network SustainedAbility, speaks at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Boberg told The Associated Press in an interview days before he departed for COP27 that he’s seen pro-disability rights language in draft text of negotiations at previous conferences, including language about funding disability rights organizations to do climate action work. But that language has been cut from final agreements at the negotiations. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
The free emergency training exercise will be held at South Bonson Community Centre on Saturday, Nov. 5. (City of Pitt Meadows/Special to The News)

Pitt Meadows puts emergency preparedness to the test

50 volunteers needed for emergency training exercise on Nov. 5

The free emergency training exercise will be held at South Bonson Community Centre on Saturday, Nov. 5. (City of Pitt Meadows/Special to The News)
Ridge Meadows Soccer Club is hoping that this two-day soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes becomes an annual event. (Ridge Meadows Soccer Club/The News)

Soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes coming to Maple Ridge

Ridge Meadows SC is hosting the free event from Oct. 29-30

Ridge Meadows Soccer Club is hoping that this two-day soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes becomes an annual event. (Ridge Meadows Soccer Club/The News)
HandyDART must grow to meet increasing demand, union local president says. (Black Press Media files)

LETTER: TransLink mayors and board shortchanging HandyDART, union says

Local president has concerns about electrification, increased demand, and privatization

  • Jun 13, 2022
HandyDART must grow to meet increasing demand, union local president says. (Black Press Media files)
Michelle Asgarali, shown in a handout photo, is the producer of the new show “Breaking Character,” which follows a cast of disabled actors trying to make it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/-HO-AMI

‘Breaking Character’ is breaking boundaries in the world of disability representation

Docu-series tells the stories of 6 performers with disabilities

Michelle Asgarali, shown in a handout photo, is the producer of the new show “Breaking Character,” which follows a cast of disabled actors trying to make it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/-HO-AMI
Emerson and Amelia Nelson are seen in a handout photo. Their mother hopes the siblings and other children with ADHD get support through B.C.’s new service “hubs” for neurodiverse children. But Jaymie Nelson is concerned about possible wait lists and staffing issues in the new system, set to be launched next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Rochelle Hepworth

B.C. to launch ‘circle of care’ for neurodiverse kids but parents have many questions

40 family connections centres, or hubs, are slated to be opened across the province

Emerson and Amelia Nelson are seen in a handout photo. Their mother hopes the siblings and other children with ADHD get support through B.C.’s new service “hubs” for neurodiverse children. But Jaymie Nelson is concerned about possible wait lists and staffing issues in the new system, set to be launched next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Rochelle Hepworth