Join us Friday night as we kick off the 2013 Canadian Down Syndrome Society Conference at our family-friendly event to Celebrate Diversity. The night will include a variety of presentations and activities celebrating Canada’s cultural diversity. Each corner of the room has another exciting experience to be had. 

There will be an exciting Rainbow Auction that contains prizes of all kinds. Don't miss out!

It all begins at 6:00 pm, so be sure to come and meet all of the families attending the conference. Snacks will be provided in the spirit of a Manitoba Social. 

MDSS invites you to our AGM on June 12th 2013 at 7pm. It will be held at the Association For Community Living-Manitoba office at 6-120 Maryland St. 

If you would like to know what your MDSS did for you this year, or you are interested in becoming a Board member, this is the perfect opportunity as we will be electing the Board Directors.  There will be a mix and mingle reception after the meeting.

Take advantage of the CDSS Conference Early Bird deal! Members of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society can register for the conference for $225 and non-members can register for the conference for $275. Early Bird ends April 15!

If you are a member of the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society, early registration has additional benefits. The Manitoba Down Syndrome Society will reimburse members for one paid Early Bird registration per family ($225.00 value) to a total of $10,000.00. Pay your registration on line at www.downsyndromeconference.ca, and then submit your receipt to 204-825 Sherbrook St, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3A 1M5 for reimbursement.

Volunteer
If you cannot spend the weekend with us, but have a few hours to volunteer, or you know someone who would love to volunteer, please contact Joan Kolbauer at joan.kolbauer@shaw.ca

Donate
As a part of the Friday night celebration we will be having a Rainbow Auction table. All prize donations gratefully accepted. Please contact Olivia at olivia_hawrysh@hotmail.com

Sponsor
If you have inquires about Sponsorship or would like to reserve your place as a sponsor for the 26th Canadian Down Syndrome Conference please contact Caroline at cpearce.ywg@gmail.com

Baby Love is a semi-annual event sponsored by the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society. This event is an informal gathering for families with young children with Down syndrome. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to meet with families of toddlers, children and young adults with Down syndrome who have been involved with the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society over the years. 

Baby Love takes place on April 13th, 2013 from 10 AM until 1 PM at the St. Saviour's Anglican Church Hall located at 690 Munroe Avenue. Coffee, Tea, Juice and snacks will be served. There will be entertainment for the children. 

Please register for this event by contacting MDSS at 204-992-2731. 

Are you over 6 years old and want to be part of the Conference? Canadian Down Syndrome Society is looking for people with Down syndrome to represent their province at the Winnipeg Canadian Down Syndrome Conference in May. Represent your province during our Saturday morning Opening Ceremony!

Rules:

Must be over 6 years old (or able to carry a standard flag and flag pole)

Must be in Winnipeg, MB for the conference - specifically on May 18, 2013

Must wear black trousers (or skirt) and a white shirt

Interested? Email Corrine Grieve, Information Coordinator, at corrineg@cdss.ca the following:

Your name

Your age

Your province

Your parent's name

Based on availability, some people may be asked to represent another province.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2013.

World Down Syndrome Day is the international day for raising awareness for people with Down syndrome. It occurs annually on March 21 and is officially ratified by the United Nations.

 21 March 2013 marks the 8th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day, a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder. But there is still so much more we can do.Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the World to choose your own themes, activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities. 

Canadian Down Syndrome Society invites all Canadians to “See the Ability”! Take a picture like the one above – a photo of you with your loved ones and friends holding up a sign that says “See the Ability” and send it to us. We’ll make a photo montage video, with the collection of photos, and post it on World Down Syndrome Day to show the world that Canadians “See the Ability!” 

For more information visit the website; 

http://cdss.ca/network/heroes/world-down-syndrome-day/#montage

For World Down Syndrome Day, the Canadian Down Syndrome Society would like to acknowledge some of the incredible people with Down syndrome in Canada. Five (5) people will be named the 2013 Canadian Down Syndrome Heroes. These Heroes will have their stories told in an upcoming issue of Voices. Their names will be announced on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2013.

Visit this website for more information; 

http://cdss.ca/network/heroes/be-a-hero/

The next MDSS Buddy Night is going to be an evening of dinner followed by 3 hours of karaoke.  All members of MDSS aged 16 - 28 years are invited to attend. The dinner will take place at Oakwood Café with karaoke to follow at the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre.

Dinner starts at 4:45 PM at the Oakwood Cafe located at 660 Osborne Street.  Karaoke follows dinner across the street at the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre from 6:30 - 9:30 pm.  The cost is $25 for each participant which covers the meal, tax, tip and karaoke party. Please contact Karen Pfeifer at karenpfeifer@yahoo.ca to register and include your meal choice.  There are only 20 spots available so register early to avoid disappointment.

 Meal choices are:

Chicken fingers, fries, drink

Clubhouse wrap fries, drink

Hot turkey sandwich, fries, drink

Perogies, kolbassa, drink

Fettucine alfredo, garlic toast, drink

The annual CDSS conference is being held in Winnipegin 2013. Volunteers are needed from May 17 – 20, 2013 for a variety of tasks and time slots. Contact Joan Kolbauer at joan.kolbauer@shaw.ca today!

Each year, Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) hosts the Canadian Down Syndrome Conference, in partnership with local organizations like The Manitoba Down Syndrome Society (MDSS). The conference draws accomplished speakers who share knowledge, experience, and skills with a diverse group of delegates. Those attending the conference include people with Down syndrome, parents and family members, professionals, and others who want to make a difference in the community.

This conference will draw over 400 people to downtownWinnipegduring May 2013. Attendees will have opportunity to acquire valuable information from uplifting testimonials and empowering speakers in addition to networking with other parents and professionals.

Ruth Joseph, an MDSS Board Member and VATTA Vice-Chair, wrote an article titled New Year New Goals which has been published on the VATT Blog. To read the article, visit http://cdss.ca/network/vatta/

The Voices at the Table Advocacy Committee (VATTA) is composed of a group of adults with Down syndrome who believe that through their diversity and advocacy efforts, equitable opportunities will be available for all Canadians. This exciting project has created a valuable Canadian resource that brings a unique personal perspective to guide the work of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. Objectives of VATTA also include regularly advising the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) about issues important to adults with Down syndrome.

The MDSS Board members wish everyone a very happy holiday. 

Ken Hodges

Val Surbey

Rick Sawyer

Debbie Hodges

Ruth Joseph

Colleen Evans

Caroline Pearce

Karen Nicholls

Alison Armistead

LorraineBaydack

Olivia & David Hawrysh

Ian Scott

Mina Orchard

A new session of Dance-Ability has been announced for February 2013.

Contact founder Jacqui Davidson for details at www.accessdanceforlife.com or (204)-250-3326

For youth living with disability, this one-hour class incorporates elements of ballet, modern and creative movement disciplines in an enthusiastic and supportive setting. This programming encourages agility, flexibility, improved motor function & coordination, fine and gross motor movement, and overall improved body awareness. Incorporating concepts from yoga and pilates, the program motivates individuals full movement ability and self expression, in a fun and supportive environment

Congratulations to the 2013 Dreams Take Flight Winners! 

Riding High to Disney World in April 2013 will be:  Ben Sokal & Hailey Lester. Stay tuned for the 2014 contest. Applicants must be 12 years old or younger and their family must be a member of MDSS. Another great benefit of being an MDSS Member. 

Not a member? Contact our office to become a member today. 

Did you know that Ruth is an MDSS Board Director and the Vice-Chair of VATTA? The Voices at the Table Advocacy Committee (VATTA) is composed of a group of adults with Down syndrome who believe that through their diversity and advocacy efforts, equitable opportunities will be available for all Canadians.

The Voices at the Table Advocacy Committee (VATTA) is composed of a group of adults with Down syndrome who believe that through their diversity and advocacy efforts, equitable opportunities will be available for all Canadians. This exciting project has created a valuable Canadian resource that brings a unique personal perspective to guide the work of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. Since it’s inception in 2005, the VATTA Committee has celebrated significant accomplishments.

During National Down Syndrome Awareness week a new member was announced for the VATTA team: Brando, a businessman, entrepreneur, and public speaker from Lethbridge, AB.

Visit the VATTA website to see the team’s Blog: http://cdss.ca/network/vatta/

To celebrate Day 1 of the National Down Syndrome Awareness Week, the Canadian Down Syndrome Society and the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society announced the 2013 Keynote Speaker: Lauren Potter, actress on Glee and self-advocate!

An inspiration to all, Lauren Potter has proven herself a young woman of strength and of character. When Professionals told her she ‘couldn’t’ or ‘wouldn’t’, she worked herself harder- sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Barriers and limitations put before her became a personal challenge to let people know she is worthy of high ideals and capable of great expectations.

For more information on Lauren and the conference visit www.downsyndromeconference.ca/

Celebrate National Down Syndrome Awareness Week by attending the MDSS 10th ANNUAL FAMILY DINNER & DANCE!! WHEN: December 1, 2012 5-10pm. TIME: Doors open at 5:15 pm, dinner served at 6:00 pm. PLACE: Waverly Heights Community Centre, 1885 Chancellor Drive WHAT: Enjoy a Family Style served Turkey dinner and then a dance to follow! COST: 13 years and older - $10.00 2-12 years - $5 Under 2 years – free **dance to the sounds of Crystal Sound and Lights DJ. Door Prizes!** RSVP NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 20th by calling Karen at 275-5927. MDSS is pleased to subsidize this event from generous donations and fundraising events like the Buddy Walk.

Canadian Down Syndrome Society's 2013 Calendar's are ready. Order yours today for $15. All proceeds from the sale of the calendar go to providing information, advocacy and education about Down syndrome to all Canadians.

To Order go to: www.cdss.ca or call  1-800-883-5608. Hurry before the sell out! 

NDSAW is a public awareness campaign created by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society focusing on the unique strengths and abilities of people with Down syndrome. By doing so, we work to ensure equitable opportunities for all Canadians with Down syndrome. 

National Down Syndrome Awareness Week is a time to: 

• Educate fellow Canadians about the strengths and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome
• Demonstrate the important contributions individuals with Down syndrome are
  making to their communities
• Recognize programs in the community and country which enhance our lives, and especially the lives of individuals with Down syndrome
• Strengthen our national effort to ensure equitable opportunities for all Canadians with Down syndrome
• Raise funds for local, regional and national Down syndrome groups

We hope you will join us as we 'See the ability' along with all Canadians with Down syndrome.

Our next Buddy night is going to be an evening of dinner followed by a Halloween dance. There are 20 spots available so register early to avoid disappointment. Dinner will be served at the Oakwood Café at 660 Osborne St. at 5:00pm.  Then we walk across the street to the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre to attend the Halloween Dance for 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Meal choices are listed below and include both taxes and tip: 

1) 8 perogies & kolbassa & drink - $16.00

2) Fish & chips & drink - $18.00

3) 4 chicken tenders & fries & drink - $15.00

4) Fettuccine alfredo & garlic toast & drink - $14.0

5) Bacon/cheese quiche & salad & drink - $14.00

MDSS Members should contact Karen or the MDSS Office today to register! See you there. Start planning your costume now! BOOOOOO!!!!!!!! 

MDSS 10th ANNUAL FAMILY DINNER & DANCE!! December 1, 2012 5-10pm at Waverly Heights Community Centre,1885 Chancellor Drive. Doors open at 5:15 pm, dinner served at 6:00 pm. Enjoy a Family Style servedTurkeydinner. After dinner, dance to the sounds ofCrystalSoundand Lights DJ!

COST: 13 years and older - $10.00 2-12 years - $5 Under 2 years – free. RSVP NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER. You must pre-order and can pay by credit card or cheque by calling Karen at 275-5927.

MDSS is pleased to subsidize this event from generous donations and fundraising events like the Buddy Walk. 

Baby Love -  October 13, 2012 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 

An Informal Gathering for families with young children with Down syndrome at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church Hall, 690 Munroe Avenue. 

Coffee, Tea, Juice and Snacks will be provided. Entertainment by Sonja from Wee Be Jammin!Contact MDSS if you are interested in attending this event. 

LIVEWIRES VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Livewires gatherings provide opportunities for our young people to get together for fun, social Saturday evenings - without parents!  The club generally meets twice per month from 7p.m. to 10p.m. in the big hall at Church of the Way in River Heights, where they ‘hang out’ as only young people can do.  Occasional outings, such as bowling or min-golf, have been great fun as well. 

Volunteer Information: Please email lbaydack@mts.net if you are interested.

• Volunteer must be at least 18 years of age (participants are now age 19 to 23 years old)
• Volunteer’s require criminal record and child abuse registry check
• Volunteers are paid $50.00 per evening.

HISTORY of Livewires; Lisa’s Saturday Night Livewires, a social club for young people with Down syndrome, was formed in the fall of 2006.  It was a dream of one of our beautiful young ladies - Lisa Mitchell.  Sadly, Lisa passed away at a tender young age and was not able to see the group formed.   The group lives on in her name.

The Dance-Ability program is a great way to motivate youth to be active, and works on developing agility, balance, coordination, focus, and improved motor function. With over 20 years teaching experience in the Winnipeg dance community, AD4L teacher Jacqui Davidson is excited to help children and adults explore their full ability through dance and music! Jacqui holds a B.A. in Kinesiology, is a graduate of the RWB Professional Divisions Teacher Training Program, and holds her Associate Diploma certification in the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet.

For more information: 

www.accessdanceforlife.com

info@accessdanceforlife.com

Call (204) 250-3326

The 5th Annual Buddy Walk will be held Sun Sept 23 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftsbury Blvd. Registration begins at 12 noon and the walk begins at 2pm. There are two routes: 3 KM and a 1 KM walk. Pre-register by emailing mdss.buddy.walk@gmail.com. Provide us your name, the buddy you are walking for, the number of participants and their ages. 

For more information visit the Events Page. See Photos of past Buddy Walks on the Past Events Page. Download a Pledge Sheet today! 

Open house  at The Children’s Acting Studio, 262 Balfour Ave, Sept 13 7:00pm- 8:00pm and  Sept 15 at 9:30 am- 10:30 am

This Open House is intended for parents who are open to exploring their child taking acting classes for TV / FILM / COMMERCIALS. This meeting allow parents to see where there child would be training and for the instructor to meet the students. Children will need to know how to read and be able to memorize lines.

Please RSVP to loisbrothers@shaw.ca if you will attend

Our next Buddy Night is being held on September 22^nd, 2012 from 6:00 – 9:00pm at the Academy Bowling Lanes.  The evening will include glow bowling followed by pizza, drinks and fun in the party room.  Cost to participate is $15.00 per person which will cover the bowling, shoes, and food.  Extra money can be brought by the individual if desired to have a drink while bowling.

Buddy Night is open to all MDSS members aged 16 – 27 years.  Events are supervised by volunteer parents and paid staff.  

Parent drop-off is on the main floor at 6:00pm with pickup in the party room at 9:00pm upstairs in the party room.

Please register by calling or emailing Karen Pfeifer @ 204-897-0739 or karenpfeifer@yahoo.ca.  Hurry as the 18 spots will fill quickly!

If you are a self-advocate and would like to join VATTA (or know someone who might), this is your chance! The deadline for applications is September 10, 2012. If you have any questions, call The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) at 1-800-883-5608.

The Voices at the Table Advocacy Committee (VATTA) is a group of adults with Down syndrome who advocate across Canada for equal rights and opportunities. 

VATTA is looking for 1 new member to join their advocacy team!

THE DISTANCE OF THE SHORT WALK HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 1 KM FROM 1/2 KM .

The 5th Annual Buddy Walk will be held Sun Sept 23 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftsbury Blvd. Registration begins at 12 noon and the walk begins at 2pm. There are two routes: 5 KM and a 1 KM walk.

Pre-register by emailing mdss.buddy.walk@gmail.com. Provide us your name, the buddy you are walking for, the number of participants and their ages. Pledge sheets can be found at www.mbdss.ca

Dominos will have pizza for purchase, music provided by Free Ride. There will also be clowns, mascots, face painting, balloon art, magic, & games for the participants to enjoy before the walk. We hope to see you there!

Stay Tuned for the Fall 2012 Buddy Night information. Please keep September 22nd, 2012 free for this fun event!

Our Spring Buddy Night took 18 people to supper at The Original Pancake House, then travelled by limos to a Hawaiian Dance at the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre.

For more information on Buddy Nights contact Karen Pfeifer at 897-0739

To help us plan for Buddy Walk 2012, we request that you register your team in advance.  Please forward the following details to mdss.buddy.walk@gmail.com 

•        Name of Buddy you are walking for 
•        Names of walkers to be included on your “team”
•        Age group of the walker  [ Adult, Youth (13-18) or Child (12 and under)]

A big THANK YOU to our sponsors so far.

Click here for our sponsorship form. Click here for the pedge form. 

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is now accepting submissions for the 2013 Calendar! Deadline is August 31, 2012. To submit an image for the calendar you must have a valid membership with the Canadian Down Syndrome Society and complete the photo release form. 

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society publishes a calendar annually with photo submissions from our members. The calendar is uniquely designed each year with vivid imagery and submitted photographs.  Go to http://www.cdss.ca/annual-calendar.html for more information. 

Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis — the only prenatal booklet to have been reviewed by representatives of the national medical and Down syndrome organizations — is now available as a free digital book for all. Their goal is simple: to make sure that all pregnant women and their medical providers have access to the most accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information about Down syndrome.

Get a copy today at lettercase.org  

Each November we hold our Annual Dinner & Dance with over 200 people in attendance. This year the Dinner & Dance will be held on Saturday, December 1st, 2012. A delicious family style meal is served, door prizes are won, and a DJ is hired to keep the dance floor hopping.This event is held in November to correspond with our celebration of National Down Syndrome Awareness Week! From the littlest tykes to young adults to grandparents, a great time is had by all.

Contact Karen Nichols - 275-5927

Making Waves Winnipeg is a not-for-profit student initiative which recently started a swim program in Winnipeg. Their mission is to provide affordable and accessible one-on-one swimming instruction to children with special needs.Waves is new to Winnipeg but was previously established in in Halifax, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Montreal, Niagara, Toronto, Okanagan and Ottawa. In the first Winnipeg session there were only 10 kids and now there are 34 kids! Of the 34 in the program today, 12 of the participants have Down syndrome. Help support this non-profit program by registering for their 2nd annual fund raising golf tournament at Breezy Bend Country Club on Monday, August 13th, 2012.

Due to the high volume of participants with Down syndrome, MDSS would like to help support this program by reimbursing MDSS Members $50 of the $125 tournament registration fee for up to ten golfers. Please contact MDSS to sign up for this opportunity!

Sunday, September 23, 2012 – Buddy Walk

Canadian Mennonite University, North Campus 

Buddy Walk – an annual walk held in September. The Walk is for the whole family and helps raise awareness of people with Down syndrom. At this year’s walk there will be a Silent Auction, activities and entertainment for everyone. Domino’s Pizza will be available to purchase.

Volunteers are needed. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Val at 694-3530.

As we prepare for another SEE ME BEAUTIFUL conference in October we are looking for new pictures. Please send pictures of our children having fun, hobbies or sports which they like to do, being themselves as opposed to posed photos. Digital images can be e-mailed to joan.kolbauer@shaw.ca.  Arrangements can be made for prints to be mailed via Canada Post. We are accepting photos up to September 30. Ensure that you have completed a photo consent form for MDSS. Click Here for Consent Form. 

Fun events which provide opportunities for families to meet other families to share stories and form friendships. Next event: Goldeye's Game June 24th at 1:30 PM in prime section "F". Contact Karen Nichols - 275-5927 to get tickets by May 24th. Cost: MDSS members 1/2 price - $7. MDSS members who have Down syndrome - free. All other family and friends - $14. Payment can be made by credit card over the phone or mail a cheque. If you need to renew your membership or become a new member - please call Mina at MDSS office 992-2731. Thank you for supporting MDSS with your active membership.

MDSS is pleased to announce the launch of our new website created by Tier3. We look forward to sharing the latest news and events on our improved homepage. We invite you to visit our events page showcasing upcoming and past events.

Thank-you for your continued support during this transition.