Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network

Staying Connected Call (Weekly Zoom Call)
2023-10-18 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-04 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-27 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-20 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-13 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-06 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-08-30 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-08-23 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) and 6 more dates
You’re invited to gather with long-time and new friends, learn about current advocacy opportunities, connect with others during fun sharing activities, and exchange ideas.
Please join the conversation, either by video or phone, and visit with other families looking to connect with families like YOU!
Email hello@plan.ca for the link!

Stetson Law - Special Needs Planning Conference
2023-10-18 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
Together with our partners from Golden State Pooled Trust, Rebecca will be at the Stetson Law – Special Needs Planning Conference.
Click here for more information

Family Network
2023-10-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-09-19 18:30 - 20:00, 2023-07-25 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Online Via Zoom
The Family Network monthly meetings are a way to connect with other family members to learn, share and have some laughs along the way.
The monthly Zoom meetings are co-hosted by Shelley Nessman and Claire Inkster.
We looking forward to connecting with you to create a yearly calendar that will be tailored to your interests and wishes.
Meetings will be held on Zoom on the 3rd Tuesday of every month (with a break in August for summer holidays) 6:30 to 8:00pm

Please click here for more information or to sign-up for the Family Network

Come for Coffee
2023-10-14 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | McGill Library 4595 Albert St, Burnaby, BC V5C 2G6, 4595 Albert St, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5C 2G6, Canada
After almost 3 years of online gatherings, we are so relieved to be able regularly to be together in-person as a PLAN community. We missed each other!
As a network of networks we understand how important it is to be present with one another to share experiences, ideas, and support for each other and are so pleased to be able to return to the tradition of gathering together!
We’d like to invite you to “Come for Coffee!”
All are welcome at this monthly gathering and we hope you will join in for a casual time for conversations and connections.
Please click here to RSVP and let us know that you are coming!

What could the Canada Disability Benefit mean for poverty and food insecurity?
2023-10-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)
Join us for a panel discussion with leading advocates from the disability community about the forthcoming Canada Disability Benefit.
This is an opportunity to engage, share perspectives, and connect with folks who are passionate about ending poverty and food insecurity among people with disabilities in Canada, including people with lived experience, community advocates, and Members of Parliament (MPs). All are welcome!
Guests will have time to socialize and informally discuss the learnings from the panel over light refreshments.
Daily Bread Food Bank is committed to ensuring our events are accessible to all members of the community. The venue has fully accessible seating and washrooms, and an ASL Interpretation will be provided. If you require any accommodations or have questions about the event’s accessibility, please let us know when you register OR reaching out to research@dailybread.ca
Doors open at 6:15PM, panel starts at 6:30PM, and the event will end at 8:30PM.
Transit & parking information can be found below.

Panel Moderator:
Amanda MacKenzie – National Director of Public Affairs, March of Dimes Canada
Amanda MacKenzie joined March of Dimes Canada in August, 2020 with a varied background in advocacy, public affairs and government and stakeholder relations. At March of Dimes Canada, Amanda has led the development of a full-service Public Affairs and advocacy program, raising March of Dimes Canada’s profile as both and with federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments and stakeholders, with a focus on advocating with and for Canadians with disabilities on income security and independence at home and community. Amanda’s professional experience is coupled by a deep personal connection to March of Dimes Canada’s mission, as she was legal guardian for her little brother, Graham, who lived with intellectual and physical disabilities. Prior to joining March of Dimes Canada, Amanda built and led grassroots advocacy and multifaceted public affairs programs at the Ontario Dental Association and The Arthritis Society. Amanda began her career in Ontario provincial politics as a policy advisor to then-Minister of Natural Resources, followed by working on the development of supports for small- and medium-size enterprises, Ontario trades workers, and municipal recovery in the office of Premier Dalton McGuinty. Amanda is a Toronto native whose son, Grant, is an apprentice carpenter in Calgary. Amanda, her partner and two bonus young teens live in central Toronto, accompanied by their boisterous dogs, Sprocket and Pippa.

Featured Speakers:
Margaret Eaton – National CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association
Since January 2020, Margaret has served as National CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the most extensive and established community mental health network in the country. In her time there, Margaret has championed universal mental health care and the role of community mental health organizations in delivering care to Canadians. Prior to her time at CMHA, Margaret held leadership roles in social service organizations, publishing and the performing arts. She has volunteered as a mentor and as a board member for many not-for-profit organizations in immigration, literacy and the arts. In 2012, she was awarded a Diamond Jubilee medal for contributions to literacy and culture. In 2021, Margaret was named one of the Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists.
Rabia Khedr – National Director, Disability Without Poverty
Rabia Khedr is dedicated to equity and justice for persons with disabilities, women, and diverse communities. Rabia most recently served as a Director on the Accessibility Standards Canada board and a Commissioner on the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She sits on the Minister’s Disability Advisory Group. She is the National Director of Disability Without Poverty and CEO of DEEN Support Services. A founder of Race and Disability Canada, she is also a board member of the Muslim Council of Peel and the Federation of Muslim Women. A motivational speaker and documentary commentator, Rabia draws on her lived experience of being blind and advocating for siblings with intellectual disabilities. Rabia has received numerous awards for her humanitarian services, including a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Metal and the Daniel G. Hill Human Rights award. Rabia holds a Bachelor of Arts (University of Toronto) and a Master of Arts (York University).
Jonathan Lai – Executive Director, Autism Alliance of Canada
Jonathan Lai (PhD) is the Executive Director at Autism Alliance of Canada. He also holds an Adjunct Faculty position in Health Services Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Previously, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at York University, examining predictors of changes in service use for people with developmental disabilities. He led a series of TEDx talks and other integrated knowledge translation projects. This was followed by a CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship at McGill University and the Centre for Innovation in Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, where he led the development of a program evaluation of a specialized medical-dental primary care clinic for people with developmental disabilities, led federal government engagement of evidence-use in policy dialogues, and reports at the United Nations Convention on research evidence used in rights-based approaches for children with disabilities in Canada. His graduate training in Neuroscience at Guelph and McMaster focused on gene-environment influences on the developing brain, funded consecutively by Ontario Mental Health Foundation and a CIHR Vanier Scholarship.
Trevor Manson – Secretary Co-Chair, ODSP Action Coalition
Born in Nova Scotia, Trevor Manson started playing drums at age 12 and by age 15 had started playing with other local musicians. In 1990 at age 22, he relocated to Toronto, playing in numerous bands over the next couple of decades, blessing him with the opportunity to travel to many parts of Canada collecting memories that will last a lifetime. Simultaneously, starting in 1995, Trevor spent over two decades in market research, working his way up to senior project and resource management roles until developing a debilitating neuromuscular condition that unceremoniously ended both careers. Following release from hospital when Trevor started learning about the draconian and mind-boggling rules associated with our so-called social ‘safety net’ in 2015-16 — particularly regarding ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) — he transferred his attention and skills to advocating for himself and others, and now participates in various grassroots advocacy groups as a co-chair with ODSP Action Coalition. Music is still an integral part of Trevor’s life as he still enjoys noodling on his electronic drum-kit in his 400sq ft. bachelor apartment, and he has a small but impressive collection of Hot Wheels.

Cancelled for this Week - Staying Connected Call
2023-10-11 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
This week’s Staying Connected call is cancelled.
See you next week!

Annual General Meeting
2023-09-25 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver)
Save this date for the PLAN Annual General Meeting

A Night for Not-for-Profit Leaders
2023-09-19 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)

Come for Coffee
2023-09-16 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver)

Estate Planning Council of Canada Presentation
2023-09-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Approximately 22% of Canadians live with a disability. This means you will encounter people who have a disability and their families in your practice. Understanding the impact for a beneficiary who has a disability in receiving and holding certain assets is essential to creating sound estate plans.
Join Rebecca and Jill as we explore how disability benefits can integrate with financial, tax, and estate planning strategies to better support families and provide a secure future for their beneficiaries. Learn how and where traditional planning techniques fail for these families and negatively impact benefits and programs on which the beneficiary may already depend.
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Jill Teeple from P4P, and Rebecca Pauls will be sharing a presentation with the Estate Planning Council of Canada.
If you are a professional planner, or want to know more about this work, please connect with us at hello@plan.ca.

PLAN Annual Summer Picnic
2023-08-26 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver)
For the picnic lunch, we will be serving hamburgers and hot dogs. We kindly ask you to bring a salad, dessert, or any other food dish that you’d like to share with everyone. Don’t worry about beverages as we will have juice, water, coffee, and tea available for refreshments.
Remember to bring your own lawn chairs and picnic blankets to sit on and make yourself comfortable.
During the picnic, there will be plenty of time to relax and catch up with both old and new friends. There will also be music, games, door prizes, and even a 50/50 draw to add to the fun. If you have any questions, specific accessibility requirements, need directions, or assistance with finding a ride, please reach out to your Mentor or email us at hello@plan.ca.
This event is completely free, and you won’t need any tickets to attend. However, if you are able to contribute towards the cost of the picnic, we would sincerely appreciate it. You can make a donation online by clicking here. We will also be accepting donations at the picnic itself. Every contribution is highly valued and will help us make this event even more enjoyable for everyone.
Please RSVP using the button above by August 12, 2023. See you there!

POSTPONED! Come for Coffee (North Shore)
2023-07-22 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Vancouver) | Braithwaite Community Center, 145 W 1 st St, North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7M 1B1, Canada
UPDATE: This event has been postponed!
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After almost 3 years of online gatherings, we are so relieved to be able regularly to be together in-person as a PLAN community. We missed each other!
As a network of networks we understand how important it is to be present with one another to share experiences, ideas, and support for each other and are so pleased to be able to return to the tradition of gathering together!
We’d like to invite you to “Come for Coffee!”
All are welcome at this monthly gathering and we hope you will join in for a casual time for conversations and connections.
Please click here to RSVP and let us know that you are coming!

Queen Elizabeth Scholars Summer Institute
2023-07-13 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
Rebecca Pauls will be presenting on Asset Based Community Development at Queens University to the QEScholars visiting from the Congo and Ghana.

Planning and Facilitation Collaborative - Learning Community Session
2023-07-11 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
The Learning Community is a monthly opportunity for Planning & Facilitation Collaborative to come together in a live conversation held via Zoom. This first session will set the direction and tone for our time together as we move forward.
For more information please check out the Planning and Facilitation Collaborative.

Learning Community Conversation
2023-07-10 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Vancouver)
Rebecca and Shelley will be leading a Learning Community Conversation as a part of the Values of Planning and Facilitation as part of the Planning and Facilitation Collaborative.
Please see Planning and Facilitation Collaborative for more information and to sign up.
