Since being founded in 1989, PLAN families have been recognized as community leaders in many ways.
We pioneered the world’s first Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), and worked with the Government of Canada to implement this option for families and people with disabilities to save for the future.
Other important milestones include:
- We collaborated to develop and implement the Representation Agreement in British Columbia, which is a grassroots alternative to legal guardianship.
- We successfully advocated for an increase to British Columbia’s asset limit for people with disabilities which allows families to invest and save for the future without impacting disability benefits.
- Our founders, Jack Collins, Vickie Cammack, Al Etmanski and Joan Lawrence, were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada. It recognizes a deed or activity performed in a highly professional manner or very high standard, that brings benefit or honour to Canada.
- We were honoured with the 2008 Arthur Kroeger Award for Citizenship and Community Affairs.
- Our co-founder Al Etmanski was awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia.
- We have re-framed the concept of “disability” as part of an equal citizenship we are all entitled to. The right to contribute to society is a key part of this concept.
- We maintain extensive network of business advisors as well as working relationships with lawyers, trust officers, financial and estate planners. PLAN has close partnerships with Vancity Community Foundation, the Law Foundation of British Columbia, the Vancouver Foundation and many others.