Freedom Adventure Bus

Narrow in width, but vast in history and storytelling!

Asian Heritage Month is in May, and FAB decided to highlight a little known spot in Victoria - the oldest known Chinatown in Canada. Fan Tan Alley is located within Victoria's Chinatown, and the Chinatown Museum calls its home within the alley. The Museum opened for the season on May 7th for visitation, making this a destination that goes beyond walls!

The Fan Tan Alley is a whopping 3-6 feet wide in most places, making it wheelchair and stroller accessible. However, we encourage anyone using devices or bringing equipment to consider quieter times in the day such as the evening and the morning, as it can get quite busy in the alley.

Photo1: RobertMJThompson

Photo3: Chinatown Museum Society

Photo4: Clinton Johnson Photography

A very thoughtful message from our customers from The Braille Tones. It was a pleasure!🩵

National AccessAbility Week is May 31st to June 6th!

Founded in 1988 as National Access Awareness Week and inspired by Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour, it is a time to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities and advance accessibility and inclusion in our communities, workplaces, schools, and public places.

The Rick Hansen Foundation () supports the lives of people with disabilities by raising awareness, changing attitudes and removing barriers in the built environment.

Did you know that an accessible business can be as simple as keeping the pathway from vehicle drop-off to the front entrance clear? 🤔

This year, we invite you to check out their helpful toolkit with more easy-to-implement solutions for building owners and property managers to improve their sites for people with accessibility needs. Check them out on their website for their toolkit: www.rickhansen.com!

Part 2 of our educational series, which aims to break down nature deficit disorder, social and nature-based prescriptions, and how these tools can improve our community spaces!

Nature-based prescriptions help patients build healthier habits by connecting them to time in nature. Specifically, nature prescriptions are written directives from health professionals for consistent visits to natural settings. It is a form of social prescribing, which we will dive into in our next post.

Nature prescriptions are helpful for improving the mental health and social connection of aging adults, and can be a useful tool for caregivers to enhance their connection to their loved one or patient.

As they age, many people feel as though they are unable to go outside as often as they wanted. Nature prescription programs like PaRx can support individuals in accessing nature, while affordable and safe transportation can play a role in helping people reach where they want to go.

Whether you have a prescription for nature or not, Freedom Adventure Bus can take you where you need to go! Contact us at 250-508-1808 to request a quote.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, FAB is highlighting the role of community in supporting a healthy life. 💙

Spending time outdoors and connecting with others can strengthen your sense of belonging. Try one small thing today: sketch what you see outside, take a new route on your walk or roll, and call someone you care about. 🍃

As caretakers, family members and friends, we can connect with our loved ones on a regular basis to coordinate activities, check-ins and events.

How will you support your mental health and that of those around you this month?

We are starting a new series on our social media channels, aiming to break down nature deficit disorder! While this is a newly coined term, there are many social and nature-based prescriptions, and we'll tackle how these tools can improve your health and our communities.

First, we take a dive into "Nature Deficit Disorder", as referred to first by Richard Louv in 2005.

Louv is the Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, an organization supporting the international movement to connect children, their families and their communities to the natural world. He is the author of ten books, including “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder,” “The Nature Principle,” and “Vitamin N.”

While primarily geared to children, Louv's message stands strong with people of all ages: that connection to nature and community can improve our social and physical health.

Follow along to learn more!

Craving a roadtrip to see some spring blooms?

The Butchart Gardens welcomes 300,000 blooms every spring.

📍Located in Brentwood Bay, Freedom Adventure Bus can be your year-round shuttle to serenity and beauty at The Butchart Gardens.

Thinking about strolling through this floral paradise? Message us!

*Note: Visitors with wider-than-average wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or strollers must be patient and use extra caution as certain areas may not be easily accessible.

📸

Be transported back in time to the years between 1871 and 1945, where prominent female artist Emily Carr painted the serene landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

Emily Carr House, a national historic site, is an accessible destination that explores themes of community, art and diversity. We love to share Emily's story, as she is a fellow Victoria local!

The first floor of the Emily Carr house is wheelchair accessible. Certified guide/service dogs are permitted in the displays.

Emily Carr House is open Thursday to Sundays, 10am-4pm. Located on Government Avenue, Emily Carr House is just one FAB bus away!

📩: [email protected]
📞: 250-508-1808

A big thank you to the Memory Connections Network for their incredible passion-based work in Victoria. They are a pivotal part of uplifting the lives of people living with dementia, and firmly believe that one living with dementia can live a good life.

We are happy and grateful to have been able to provide transportation services to individuals in the Memory Connections programs. We love to support this FAB community!

“Freedom Adventure Bus has made it possible for participants in Memory Connections programs to enjoy outings that would otherwise not be possible due to transportation barriers."
— Debra Sheets, Founder, Memory Connections 💙

We just love seeing that smile 🦋 happy International Day of Happiness!

Taken during one of our Senior Group outings to Victoria Butterfly Gardens 🚐😊

How are you celebrating International Day of Happiness today? We are reminiscing about all the fun trips we've been able to take with support from our donors and partners like Freedom Adventure Bus . Group outings bring so much happiness and joy to older adults who may not always have the chance to explore all the magical spots that Greater Victoria has to offer on their own.

John has called Luther Court his home for almost 5 years and has visited the Victoria Butterfly Gardens few times with fellow residents. He gave us permission to share this photo of him as it reminds him of the time a butterfly landed on him at home in Africa, as a child. Hope a happy memory finds you today and makes you smile!

Did you know: giving to others has been shown to increase your happiness - something called 'the warm glow effect'. Consider making a gift to Luther Court and basking in the warm glow of giving back. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/37107 🦋👐