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Parents plan café opportunities

September 16th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Parents plan café opportunities)

Idea for a café to give their children greater opportunities takes off in Cedar

The Cedar Opportunities Cooperative was created four years ago, as a result of discussions among five families, to give their children with developmental disabilities employment and social opportunities closer to home. [Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin]

Now the group plans to open a coffee shop on Cedar Road that will employ children, trained workers that can support disabled employees, and others. Sandra Marquis, the cooperative’s president, told the Nanaimo News Bulletin, “This is a really innovative and unique business…there isn’t really anything like us across Canada.” (more…)

Partnership takes ‘Aunti’ to YouTube

September 16th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Partnership takes ‘Aunti’ to YouTube)

Short films for kids share values of taking care of mind, body, and the earth

Devyn Brugge, a Nanaimo-based filmmaker, has teamed up with Bobbi (‘Aunti Bobbi’ the clown) Kurtz, a local performer, to create a series of YouTube films for kids. The general themes of the series relate to taking care of mind, body, and the earth.

The project will involve a total of four episodes and the pair hope to find sponsorship or grants to help them complete it. According to The Nanaimo Daily News, Devyn and Bobbi “have a feeling they’re onto a winning combination of talents and theme and it’s something they plan to pursue in one way or another.” (more…)

Survivor advocates for ‘mad studies’

September 9th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Survivor advocates for ‘mad studies’)

Phebe Wolframe’s research into connections among madness, gender, and academia

PhebeAnn Wolframe is a proud psychiatric survivor and an advocate for mad studies who is currently completing a PhD degree in English and Cultural Studies. Phebe also presented at the PsychOUT Conference in Toronto last May. Her presentation was titled The Madwoman in the Academy: Making Space for The Mad Movement in Feminist Scholarship and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Phebe points out that the second-wave feminist movement and the mad movements, though sharing many points of intersection, have not managed to work effectively in tandem. (more…)

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World suicide prevention day

September 9th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on World suicide prevention day)

Nanaimo events include the annual “Soles Remembering Souls” gathering for those bereaved by suicide

In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day 2010, The Central Vancouver Island Crisis Society is hosting its fifth annual community gathering for those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Soles Remembering Souls is a unique, free of charge, gathering open to anyone who has lost someone they loved or cared about to suicide as well as to community members who would like to lend their support. (more…)

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Bipolar Babe’s cause goes on

September 9th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Bipolar Babe’s cause goes on)

Second annual fundraiser for BD and her stigma-stomping work will sell out fast

The newly-formed Bipolar Disorder Society of B.C., a Victoria-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental illness, will host its second annual fundraising variety show on September 18th, 2010 at the Victoria Event Centre. The show is designed to raise money to promote mental health education throughout B.C.

Andrea Paquette, AKA “Bipolar Babe”, the project’s founder and Society president, says the project has “stimulated open, frank and stigma-free conversations about mental illness, promoting greater acceptance, empathy and understanding of mental health.” (more…)

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Helping men and men’s organizations

September 2nd, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Helping men and men’s organizations)

A look at the need for men’s groups and some upcoming programs for men on Vancouver Island

Cowichan Men’s Centre works to “provide resources and support groups for men to better improve their relationship with themselves, their families, and with their community.” The organization, started in 2004 and located in Duncan, operates in a funding-scarce environment, with governments either unwilling or unable to provide sufficient grants.

Internationally, there has been increased interest in providing specific supports for the needs of men. This year, for example, the Australian government issued a new National Male Health Policy [opens to PDF], a policy first for the country, which was aimed at males of all ages. (more…)

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