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Please note: The simplest way to help with COVID19 responses from home is by letting anyone not on social media who you think may benefit know about our services and the services other on-island organizations are doing. Many folks are not connected online and will miss out on important updates.
Please note: If you would like to volunteer for any of the below tasks, it would be greatly appreciated. To do so, please use the contact information at the bottom of this article.
During these troubled times we wanted to reach out and let you know what the Bowen Island Accessibility Group and the Camp Bowen Society are doing to aid the community response to the Corona Virus outbreak (COVID19). Camp Bowen has called Bowen home since 1963 and you have always been there for us. Bowen Islanders have a habit of looking out for one another and that is one of the things that makes Bowen the amazing community it is. We hope the below information will help our fellow islanders cope with COVID19.
Who is the Bowen Island Accessibility Group?
The Bowen Island Accessibility Group (BIAG) is a community outreach program lead by the Camp Bowen Society and designed to bring Bowen Islanders together to find creative solutions to the accessibility challenges on Bowen Island. We want to look at issues from the small to the really tough. BIAG also acts as a peer support network for Bowen Islanders with disabilities. It is this second aspect that we are expanding upon during our response to the Corona Virus outbreak.
Who is the Camp Bowen Society?
The Camp Bowen Society is a not-for-profit organization probably best known for having taken over the operation of the blindness and Deafblindness summer camp programs from CNIB in mid 2010. The organization is involved in offering summer camps, independent living skills training, and outreach services.
What IS BIAG and the Camp Bowen Society Doing to Support Bowen Islanders During the Corona Virus Outbreak?
For those of us Bowen Islanders with disabilities or with compromised immune systems, the Corona Virus outbreak continues to present unique challenges as the days progress. The Bowen Island Accessibility Group and the Camp Bowen Society have rolled out several new initiatives for people with disabilities and those who are self-isolating to help the community response to the outbreak. They are listed below:
Text to Phone Relay
We are offering a text to phone call service (where a volunteer will call on a resident’s behalf and interpret for the resident via text message. This service is intended for Deaf residents of Bowen Island. Volunteers will be available to place calls from 9 AM to 9 PM Pacific. To access this service, please text +1 (778) 512-4721.
Phone Access to the Bowen Island Undercurrent
We have made available the Bowen Island Undercurrent over the phone. those who cannot access the print or online edition of the paper due to isolation owing to the Corona Virus or who have a perceptual print disability can call +1 (604) 947-0021 and press 7 at the main menu to have the paper read to you.
Home Delivery and Medical Transport
We are currently able to match people with volunteers and other community resources that can help access supplies, community supports, and medical appointment transportation. To access this program, please see the contact information below. Please be aware that due to social distancing guidelines, we are only able to provide medical transportation services if the appointment cannot be postponed.
Contacting Us
Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need. You can reach the Bowen Island Accessibility Group and Camp Bowen Society through the Camp Bowen Community Outreach line at: +1 (604) 947-0021, extension 123, by email at: <biag@campbowen.ca>, or by joining the Bowen Island Accessibility Group’s Facebook group.
Together, we can help minimize the affects of this virus. We will continue to support our community, our home for more than 57 years, in any way we can. For updates and to keep up with new initiatives as we roll them out, please visit campbowen.ca or call +1 (604) 947-0021.
Stay safe,
The Camp Bowen Team
