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THE VANCOUVER COURIER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013
EVENT OR COMMUNITY NEWS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? 604-738-1411 | sthomas@vancourier.com
DJfromEllenDeGeneresspinsatwomen’sshow ing the Firefighters Charitable Foundation and other selected charities. In addition to the action on stage, visitors to the Women’s Show can check out trends in health and wellness, fashion, food, organics, careers and interior design. The show runs March 1 through 3 at the PNE Forum. For more information and a complete schedule, visit westcoastwomen.net.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR with Sandra Thomas
HASTINGS SUNRISE What do you get when you combine firefighters, a soap-opera star and the DJ from the Ellen DeGeneres Show? The Spring West Coast Women’s Show at the PNE Forum, of course. DJ Tony Okungbowa will spin tunes for the Main Stage Fashion Show Saturday March 2 but there are events taking place all weekend, including an opportunity to get close to The Young and the Restless heartthrob Joshua Morrow, who plays bad boy Nicholas Newman on the show. Morrow will take to the Main Stage Sunday March 3 to answer questions from the audience and dish the dirt on the latest Y&R gossip. No women’s show would be complete without the 2013 Hall of Flame firefighters, who will heat up the catwalk in the Fire-
CITY HALL
DJ Tony Okungbowa will be at the West Coast Women’s Show, March 2. fighters Fashion Show, March 1 at 7:15 p.m. Friday is also Girls’ Night Out! Martini Night with proceeds from calendar sales support-
Make Your Home Safe for Independent Living Are you a low-income senior or a person with a disability who wants to live safely and independently in the comfort of your home? Do you have difficulty performing day-to-day activities? Does your home need to be adapted to meet your changing needs? If so, you may be eligible for financial assistance under the Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program. Find out today if you are eligible and if you meet all of the requirements as a low-income homeowner or as a landlord applying on behalf of an eligible tenant.
To apply or learn more, visit www.bchousing.org/HAFI You can also contact BC Housing: Phone: 604-646-7055 Toll-free: 1-800-407-7757 (ext. 7055)
City hall is opening its doors this Saturday, Feb. 23, for Open Data Day, an event bringing together app developers, designers, city staff, “policy wonks” and interested citizens to examine, analyze and explore applications for open data in Vancouver. Vancouver was one of the first cities in North America with an open data policy and recently expanded upon it with the new Online Rental Standards Database. Other releases in Vancouver’s Open Data catalogue include 311 contact centre data, weekend playing field status, animal control data, street tree locations and more. Saturday’s Open Data event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. City staff will be available to review examples of data the city has al-
UBC
First Nations carver Jaalen Edenshaw will be at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC working on the Gwaii Haanas Legacy Pole, March 5 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to stop by the museum to learn the story of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, which is being carved into an ancient red cedar to help celebrate the relationship between the Haida Nation and the federal government. On Aug. 15, the nearly 13-metre work of art will be the first pole raised in the remote protected area in more than 130 years and will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Gwaii Haanas Agreement. Tickets are $9. For more information visit pc.gc.ca/ gwaiihaana. sthomas@vancourier.com twitter.com/sthomas10
HAFI adapts homes for B.C. seniors and people with disabilities Brenda has always been an active woman. However, recent health issues including osteoarthritis in her left knee and losing kidney function have slowed her down. Her mobility is limited and she is now on dialysis three days a week. To adjust to her changed circumstances, Brenda sought help with her daily living activities. Part of that help came from the Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program offered through BC Housing. Launched in January 2012, the HAFI program provides financial assistance to help eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities adapt their homes so they can continue to live independently. Brenda applied for a new walk-in bathtub because she couldn’t safely get out of the tub on her own. Walk-in tubs include additional safety measures such as anti-slip floors, grab bars, and a very low step in. Home adaptations may also include handrails in halls or stairs, ramps for
H O U S I N G M AT T E R S
ready made available, share stories of how it’s being used and respond to questions and suggestions about how to use information and data in innovative applications. Registration is free and open at vodd2013. eventbrite.ca. For more information on Open Data, visit vancouver.ca/data.
easier access, easy-to-reach work and storage areas in the kitchen, lever handles on doors or faucets, walk-in showers, and bathtub grab bars and seats. Brenda is a strong advocate for the program and has even shared HAFI brochures with nurses in the renal unit where she undergoes dialysis. If you or someone you know is having difficulty performing day-to-day activities safely and independently – the HAFI program may be able to help. In 2012, HAFI provided financial assistance to more than 550 seniors and people with disabilities, making it possible for them to continue living in the safety and comfort of their home.