GVAD is sharing this information:
Free Zoom and ASL interpretation is provided.
Author Bio:
Nevaeh Emily North is 36 years old and a proud member of the Carrier Nation, born in Kelowna and raised in Prince George, British Columbia. Her journey hasn’t been easy — she spent almost 16 years incarcerated. Those years shaped her in deep and lasting ways. They were some of the hardest of her life, but they also gave her strength, perspective, and a powerful sense of purpose. Today, Nevaeh stands rooted in her culture and identity. She carries forward the teachings of her ancestors and the lessons learned through both pain and resilience. She passionate about healing, growth, and giving back to her community — especially to others who feel forgotten or silenced. Navaeh’s story is still unfolding, but she walks forward with honesty, pride, and hope.
GVAD is sharing this information: Christmas is around the corner!
Let’s celebrate together on the Polar Express!
Come join us for a fun Christmas Lunch Party for Youth and Children.
There will be:
Arts, crafts, and games
Christmas storytelling
A visit from Santa
Lunch for children
Wear your favorite pajamas and come have fun with friends!
Date: Saturday, November 29
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Place: 1696 Cary Road, Kelowna, BC
Cost:
$10 per child (OVAD member)
$12 per child (non-member)
Children under 3 are free
RSVP by November 21
Contact: Monika – 780-667-6147
E-transfer to: accounts@ovad.ca
Note: Parents, please bring your own lunch and drink.
Let’s make this a magical Christmas day for the kids!
GVAD is sharing this information: Are you feeling lonely and tired of the cold weather already?
Well, guess what?!
OVAD is hosting Deaf Night Out, and Gordon Rattray’s 75th birthday!
Come out and enjoy some good food, drinks and socialize!
If you come, you can enter a draw for a chance to win TWO BC Lions Home Game Tickets!
WHEN: Saturday November 8 2025 @ 5pm
WHERE: 97 Street Pub, 2402 Highway 97 North, Kelowna.
Any questions or concerns?
Contact Gordon or Linda.
All readings are FREE and open to the public. ASL interpretation is provided.
Author bio: Hajer Mirwali is a Palestinian and Iraqi writer living in Toronto. Her first book, Revolutions(Talonbooks, 2025), is a collection of poetry on shame, pleasure, and Arab Muslim girlhood. Two poems from the collection also appear in an anthology of Palestinian poetry called Heaven Looks Like Us (Haymarket Books, 2025). Hajer’s work has been published in The Ex-Puritan, Brick Magazine, Room Magazine, and Joyland. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph.
Attached is the poster for the online reading on Oct 23 at 5:30-6:30pm.
Learn to communicate in a powerful, inclusive way!
Join ISSofBC’s American Sign Language (ASL) LINC Classes and open doors to meaningful connections within the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. These classes combine language learning with cultural understanding, helping you build confidence in everyday communication.
Beginner-friendly and supportive environment
Practical skills for real-life situations
Free for eligible newcomers to Canada
Start your journey today! Explore ASL LINC Classes on Free American Sign Language (ASL) LINC classes at ISSofBC
• Be a permanent resident of Canada residing in Vancouver, BC.
• Be 17 years of age or older.
• Take a writing language assessment to start classes (our team can assist you in scheduling the assessment)
• Obtain your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level after the assessment.
Descriptor of the ASL promotional image:
The image shows a young woman standing indoors in front of a bright, softly blurred background with large windows. The person is wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved button-up shirt. Their hair is curly and pulled back. The individual is using American Sign Language (ASL): one hand is held horizontally, palm facing upward, while the other forms a thumbs-up gesture and rests on top of the open palm. This gesture represents the ASL sign for “help.” The lighting is natural and bright, giving the scene a clean and professional appearance.
Enhance your safety and resilience at our free Community Safety / FireSmart™ forum. ASL interpretations will be provided! This FREE event brings together experts to share information on:
Neighbourhood Security with Block Watch Programs
Fraud/Scam Awareness and Prevention
Protecting Your Home & Property with FireSmart™ Principles
Emergency Preparedness
Date: Oct 18th, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Address: North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84 Ave, Delta, BC
Information booths & Presentations from:
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers
FireSmartBC™
PreparedBC
Survive-it.ca
GlobalScamWatch.org
and more.
Company: C2S Technologies Inc
Location: Leading Gaming Company in Redmond, WA
Job Type: Part-time
Pay Rate: USD 22.00/Hr
Schedule: 09:00 AM 05:45 PM (Half day shifts available on special request)
Job Description:
We are seeking talented and passionate individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, or who use screen readers to navigate websites/games to join our team as Game Testers. As a Game Tester, you will be asked to play games of various genres, styles, and scope. You will contribute to a more accessible gaming industry by providing feedback of your experiences playing games and how game design decisions affect you with your disabilities. Work on a team with other PwDs and trained accessibility Test Leads to provide game developers with accurate, up-to-date accessibility information.
GVAD is sharing this information: Join us for this engaging conversation with Dr Loubani as he takes us through his recent assignment in Gaza with the GLIA foundation. This event have ASL interpretation booked for all cities.
Dr. Loubani is a Canadian ER physician and humanitarian returned from a medical-aid mission in Gaza and will speak about the crimes he witnessed, including the forced-starvation, attacks on Nasser Hospital and the mass casualties resulting from the so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’. Dr Loubani has been on multiple aid missions to Gaza.
Dr. Loubani co-founded Glia, a medical solidarity organization that supports lifesaving care in low-resource areas and develops open-source medical tools to advance global equality. Come learn about the Glia project and how each of us can make a difference.
Ismailis for Palestine is proud to be organizing this event in collaboration with Independent Jewish Voices and very grateful to the Shaughnessy Heights United Church for opening their doors to host our event. Special thank you to Physicians Against Genocide for their support as well.
Donations to GLIA can be made when purchasing your ticket or directly on their site by clicking the link below. Any amount helps!
For image alt-text: Alt Text: Flyer with green stage curtains announcing “ASL Drop – Save the Date” on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM, location TBA. Cash prizes offered. Fundraiser for GVAD’s 100th Anniversary Gala. Contact: GVAD100@gvad.ca.
For visual description in comments:
Visual Description – ASL Drop Save the Date Flyer
Overall Layout: The flyer is designed like a stage performance announcement, with green theatre curtains pulled back on both sides and purple ribbon-like waves draped across the top. The center has a large black circle with bold lettering.
Top Section:
Green text: “GREATER VANCOUVER ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF”.
Bright red text: “SAVE THE DATE”.
Main Title (inside the black circle):
Large yellow text: “ASL”.
Large white text below it: “DROP”.
Highlights:
Green text under the circle: “CASH PRIZES!!”.
Event details in purple and black:
“Saturday NOV 22, 2025” on the left.
“Start at 7:00 PM” on the right.
Red text at the bottom center: “LOCATION TBA”.
Contact Info:
Green text at the bottom: “Questions? E-mail to: GVAD100@gvad.ca”.
Logos:
Bottom left: GVAD mountain logo and GVAD 100 Years anniversary logo (red hand sign in circle).
Footer:
Bold yellow text: “Fundraiser for GVAD 100 Year Anniversary Gala Committee”.
Deaf/Sign Union Flag ON SALE! Only $6.50 (was $10)
Designed by Deafblind artist Arnaud Balard, this flag shows visibility & pride in the Deaf community
Due to the Canada Post strike, we’re unable to offer free shipping at this time. After you order, we’ll contact you (by email or phone) to arrange pick-up.
Visual description of the flyer:
Beige background with bold blue panels for text. Bright yellow tags highlight “ON SALE!” and “BUY NOW!” for contrast. A hand holds the blue-and-yellow Deaf/Sign Union flag on the left. Price and details sit on the right, with a large $6.50 in blue. Bottom section features a QR code and info in a strong blue block. Clean, eye-catching, with high-contrast colors.
The Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf (GVAD) is proud to announce the 100th Anniversary Gala Committee!
Meet the dedicated team working hard behind the scenes to make this milestone celebration unforgettable on May 16, 2026:
Melissa Mykle — Chairperson
Lisa Anderson — Promotions & Fundraising
Renu Sangha — Treasurer
Alayna Finley — Decor & Guest Engagement
Hester Hussey — GVAD Memorabilia & Registration
Lisa Cable — Accessibility
Terri Nolt — DeafBlind Access
Tammy Gray — GVAD Board Liaison
Thank you to our committee members for their commitment to the Deaf community and this historic celebration.
Save the date: May 16, 2026 at the Delta Marriott Hotel, Burnaby, BC. Stay tuned — ticket sales and part of our exciting guest lineup will be announced soon!
Event flyer with a green, purple, and white theme, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf. The event is scheduled for May 16, 2026.
The flyer lists the committee members and their roles:
Melissa Mykle – Chairperson
Lisa Anderson – Promotions & Fundraising
Renu Sangha – Treasurer
Alayna Finley – Decor & Guest Engagement
Hester Hussey – GVAD Memorabilia & Registration
Lisa Cable – Accessibility
Terri Nolt – DeafBlind Access
Tammy Gray – GVAD Board Liaison
For questions, the contact email is GVAD100@gvad.ca.
There’s a small photo of a hotel building lit up at night in purple and green hues, labeled “Hotel: Delta Marriott Hotel, 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby, BC.” There is also a green stamp graphic with “16 MAY 2026” beside the word “Anniversary.” The flyer features a large, decorative “100th Anniversary” with artistic swirls and purple accent lines, along with the association’s logo at the top left.
On Saturday, September 27th OVAD is hosting a workshop from 11am – 12:30pm at the Winfield United Church(3751 Woodsdale Rd) in Lake Country
Lunch will be provided!
Our Annual General Meeting will be held after the workshop from 1pm – 3pm at the same location.
Are you interested in supporting OVAD and the Deaf community, or do you want to be a part of the board? Here’s your chance!
Join Story Money Impact for a special screening of Who the Hell Is Nigel? — a short
documentary that takes you behind the scenes of BC’s COVID-19 briefings, where Deaf ASL
interpreter Nigel Howard unexpectedly captured public attention. His dynamic style highlights
broader issues of underrepresentation in the Deaf community.
With panelists Ladan Sahraei & Jasper Vaillant
Story Money Impact presents a screening of the documentary Who the Hell Is Nigel?, plus a panel discussion about disability justice and how it intersects with filmmaking.
ABOUT THE FILM:
During the BC COVID-19 news briefings, an unwitting hero is made of Nigel Howard, a Deaf ASL interpreter who became an overnight sensation due to his dynamic interpretation style. Through his rise to fame, the underrepresentation of the Deaf community becomes glaringly evident.
Who the Hell Is Nigel? is a Deaf-friendly film that spotlights the needs of the Deaf community and models how to fully include them. The film uses split screens to prioritize ASL over captioning, and interpreters’ facial expressions are visible to communicate emotional tone. These are just some of the small ways to prioritize the full inclusion and participation of Deaf people in every facet of society and its joys.
Panelist Bios:
Ladan Sahraei
Ladan Sahraei is a pioneering Iranian-Canadian Deaf female filmmaker. As the first Deaf filmmaker in Iran, she has crafted numerous short films and directed two feature documentaries in Canada. Ladan’s exceptional work has garnered awards and recognition. With a deep passion for filmmaking, she actively supports the visual and performing arts, painting, and disability representation in film. Ladan’s love for creating films and documentaries is boundless. She revels in globetrotting, exploring diverse cultures, and connecting with people from around the world.
Jasper Vaillant
Jasper Vaillant is a passionate filmmaker, writer, and director dedicated to authentic storytelling that amplifies underrepresented voices. As a proud member of the disabled community, Jasper is deeply committed to fostering meaningful disabled representation on screen—an aspect of storytelling that is profoundly personal to him. With a strong focus on character-driven narratives, Jasper brings fresh perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media, aiming to challenge stereotypes and push the boundaries of inclusive storytelling. He believes in the power of film to foster empathy, create social change, and celebrate the richness of human experience in all its forms.
Moderator Bio:
Amy Amantea (she/her)
Amy Amantea identifies as a white settler living on the traditional and stolen lands of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples. Living with multiple intersections of disability—including blindness, neurodiversity, chronic pain, and chronic illness—Amy has come to view her sight loss as a “gift” that shapes her artistic and professional practice. For almost two decades, Amy has worked at the intersection of arts, accessibility, and systemic change, championing Disability Justice and the principle of “nothing about us without us.”
At present, Amy is the Associate Director of VocalEye Descriptive Arts Society, Accessibility Coordinator at the Arts Club Theatre Company, and an artist currently touring her theatre show, Through My Lens, co-written and directed by James Long.
Her work has connected her with artists and organizations locally and internationally, advocating and advancing authentic representation in the arts and supporting the creation of ground-up approaches to creative access. In recognition of her leadership, advocacy, and innovation, Amy has received the CNIB Century of Change Award (2018), the News 1130 Unsung Hero Award (2018), and the Canadian Council of the Blind Book of Honour Award (2019).
Amy is delighted to have been invited to facilitate the panel discussion on Disability Justice following the screening of Who the Hell Is Nigel?.
GVAD is sharing this information:
Get ready for an exciting night of fun and community at our ASL Drop Evening of Entertainment Fundraiser!
