Author Archive

• March 16 Update: Creekside Announcement

  Date: 2011.01.04 | Category: Child & Youth Services, News | Response: 22

  The Developmental Disabilities Association is excited to be the operator of the new Creekside Child Development Centre!

  Waitlist applications available January 4, 2011.
  Click here to download the application form.

  For more information, go to our website.

  Updated Information: Projected opening of Creekside is some time in late Spring 2011.

  Updated Information 2: Please visit the comment section for answers to frequently asked questions as well as more information.

• Creekside Announcement

  Date: 2010.12.14 | Category: News | Response: 19

  The Developmental Disabilities Association is excited to be the operator of the new Creekside Child Development Centre!

  Waitlist applications available January 4, 2011. A link to the PDF applications will be made available at that time.

• 12 Things to Do Over Christmas in Vancouver

  Date: 2010.12.01 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 4

  Christmas is a busy time of year and often times the days go by so fast, we forget what Christmas and the holidays are all about. This year take the time, call your family and friends to plan to go out and enjoy the time together. There are so many things that you can do to enjoy the wonder of the holiday season. Bundle up to stay warm, fill your car with loved ones or take transit, bring your camera and create some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy and take a moment to take it all in.

  Below is a list of just some of the activities that are happening around Vancouver.

  1) Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
  Details: Friday, December 3 – Sunday, January 2,
  Every year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a celebration of light for the holidays, with live music, kids activities, and more.
  Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
  Cost: $15 for adults; $5 for kids

  2) Magic of the North at Vancouver Aquarium (Ongoing through Jan 3)
  Details: Saturdays & Sundays through December 25
  Vancouver Aquarium celebrates the season with a special exhibit on Canada’s Arctic Ocean, Scuba Santa, a Christmas Tree switched on by their electric eel, and much more!
  Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
  Cost: $21; $16 for seniors & students; $13 for kids 4 – 12; free for children 3 and under

  3) Grouse Mountain – The Peak of Christmas (Ongoing through Dec 24)
  Details: Grouse Mountain celebrates the holidays with a month of family fun: live entertainment, real reindeer, breakfasts with Santa, free ice skating, and more.
  Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver
  See site for details

  4) Bright Nights at Stanley Park (Ongoing through Jan 2)
  Details: Stanley Park’s Bright Nights is an annual Vancouver holiday tradition where over a million twinkly lights transform the forest into a winter wonderland.
  Miniature Train and Children’s Farmyard, Stanley Park, Vancouver
  Saturday, December 4 – Sunday, January 2
  Cost: $9; $6 for seniors & kids 2-18

  5) White Christmas, The Musical
  Details: The Arts Club Theatre Company’s holiday offering is a stage version of Irving Berlin’s famous film, perfect for kids and adults alike.
  Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville St., Vancouver
  Cost: $25 – $74

  6) Rogers Santa Claus Parade Sunday, December 5
  Details: The Rogers Santa Claus Parade features over 60 marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, attracting over 300,000 spectators. Volunteers will also be collecting non-perishable goods for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. In the past four years, over $22,000 and 26,500 pounds of food have been collected!
  Downtown Vancouver; see the route map for details
  Cost: Free

  7) The VSO’s Traditional Christmas
  Details: Thursday, December 9 – Saturday, December 18
  One of the city’s most beloved holiday musical traditions, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents this concert full of carols, Christmas music, and plenty of audience sing-alongs!
  Various locations; see site for details
  Cost: $32.75 – $36.50

  8) VanDusen Botanical Gardens’ Festival of Lights
  Details: The gorgeous VanDusen gardens turn festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk and much more.
  VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
  December 10 – January 2nd 4:30 – 9 p.m. (closed on Dec 25)
  Cost: $13; $9.50 for seniors & youth; $7.25 for kids 6 – 12; $29.75 for families

  9) Hyatt Regency Hotel: Gingerbread Lane (until December 27^th, 2010)
  Details: Each year a display of gingerbread houses is put out in the lobby area of the hotel. Sometimes specialty gingerbread items are created, one year the world’s tallest gingerbread man was on display here as well as an 11-foot by 16-foot gingerbread house in 2009. Families can make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation when they vote for their favourite gingerbread house.

  10) Burnaby Village Museum
  Details: Enjoy a heritage Christmas with lots of fun and excitement, activities and  a visit with a 1900’s Father Christmas. Take a ride on the antique carousel as well. November 26 – January 2 (closed Christmas day)  4:30 pm – 9 pm .
  Cost: Admissions: Adults $11.70; Senior/disabled/youth 13-18 $8.81; Child 6 – 12 $5.80, under 5 free.Carousel rides are $1.95 per person

  11) Festival of Trees at the Four Seasons Hotel
  Details: 791 West Georgia Street, November 24 – January 5.  A display of beautifully decorated tress.  Public is invited to vote for the best tree. A fund-raiser for the Children’s Hospital

  12) Breakfast with Santa at Canada Place
  Details: December 18^th and 19^th. Fun for everyone, with loads of entertainment. This includes a buffet style breakfast. Tickets can be purchased online.

  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

• Interview with CKNW

  Date: 2010.11.09 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  Our executive director, Alanna Hendren, was interviewed on CKNW a couple weeks ago, but only recently have we been able to grab an audio clip from her interview online. The program she’s interviewed on is called the The World Today Weekend with Sean Leslie. Alanna talks on the current situation surrounding the closure of group homes. To listen to her interview, you can click here to listen to Alanna Hendren’s interview on CKNW (updated .mp3 link).

• United Way Campaign

  Date: 2010.11.05 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

  The Developmental Disabilities Association is working to promote their campaign for the United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM). The United Way is an important organization that helps us (along with many other non-profit organization) sustain, improve, and create programs for people in our community. In particular, the programs that the UWLM help fund at the Developmental Disabilities Association are our:

  • Family Support and Advocacy
  • Holiday Options
  • and Starworks Packaging and Assembly

  We’re hoping to give back to the UWLM through our fundraising campaign, but we need sponsors to help donate prizes towards our campaign. If you or your company would like to donate a prize (gift certificates, movie vouchers, etc) we’d appreciate all the help. Please email communications@develop.bc.ca if you’re willing to support our campaign. Thanks!