Osanis Inclusion Services Inc.

You Gotta Have Friends
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
“ You Gotta Have Friends” aims to highlight the vital role that relationships play in enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. We will explore the emotional, social, and psychological benefits of having strong, supportive friendships, emphasizing how these connections can foster a sense of belonging and community. We will exchange ideas, stories and strategies together (you might even make a friend or two-) Shelley Nessman is the Director of Family Support and Leadership at PLAN and is co- founder of In the Company of Others

The Neurodiversity Family Centre
2025-03-18 17:00 - 18:00 | The Neurodiversity Family Centre, #318 - 1175 Cook St., Victoria, BC., Canada
What to Expect:
Fidget-Making Stations – Hands-on activities for children, teens, and adults
Post-It Note Wall – Share why neurodiversity is a superpower!
Door Prizes – Fun giveaways for attendees
NDFC Stickers & Refreshments – Enjoy snacks and drinks while you connect
Meet & Greet with Our Practitioners – Learn about their approaches and specialties

Kids and families are welcome! We’d love for you to drop by, explore our space, and connect with our team. Please share this invitation with anyone who may want to join—we’d love to see as many people as possible celebrating neurodiversity with us!

Vicarious Trauma in the Workplace
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Is Your Workplace Prepared for Vicarious Trauma? Learn How to Build a Trauma-Informed Culture
Vicarious trauma can quietly impact your team, but you can take action. Join our webinar on March 19th as we explore how understanding vicarious trauma can help you create a healthier, more resilient workplace. Learn to recognize the signs, implement strategies like the Stress Pain Container, and develop a trauma-informed culture that supports your team’s well-being.
Register now to secure your spot and protect both individuals and your organization!

Beneath The Surface: Illuminating Visible & Invisible Disabilities
2025-03-21 - 2025-03-23 | Victoria City Hall, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC, V8W 1P6, Canada
A 10th annual Cracks in the Concrete conference as we explore the theme “Beneath the Surface: Illuminating Visible & Invisible Disabilities.” This milestone gathering will focus on amplifying the voices and experiences of individuals living with visible and invisible disabilities, particularly people of colour who are often left out of disability discourse. Together, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those living with disabilities that are not immediately visible, while building bridges of empathy, compassion, and respect.
Over this transformative weekend, we’ll challenge societal perceptions that are shaped by first appearances and examine how our personal biases and programming impact interactions. Through a rich lineup of workshops, discussions, and artistic performances, we will explore disability and identity, emphasizing how we are more alike than we are different.
Featured sessions will delve into topics such as the invisibility of autism, dyslexia, vision loss, poor hearing, and speech challenges, while also addressing the unique barriers faced by people of colour living with visible disabilities.
This year’s conference is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action to see beyond the surface and embrace difference.
CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE CONFERENCE
DATES:
March 21 – 23, 2025
LOCATION:
Victoria City Hall
COST:
Free general admission, or by donation
$10 – 15 for Able: An Immersive Art Experience
$5 for Chinatown History Walking Tour
REGISTER:
Register for the conference here.
DONATE:
All panels are free. Please consider making a donation.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
March 21:
Able: An Immersive Art Experience (5:30 – 7:30pm)
March 22:
The Realities of Living With Invisible Disabilities (1:00 – 2:00pm)
Beyond First Impressions: Amplifying the Voices of People with Disabilities (2:30 – 3:30pm)
Equity in Action: Connecting Disability & Human Rights (4:00 – 5:00pm)
March 23:
Chinatown History Walking Tour (1:00 – 1:45pm)

Control Exposure Risks from Unregulated Substances
2025-03-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Join us on March 25th from 10am to 11am for an informative webinar on managing exposure risks from unregulated substances in the workplace. Hear from expert speakers with decades of health and safety experience as they share key strategies and best practices for addressing the risks of unregulated substance exposure, with a focus on the social services sector.
Register to secure your spot!

Drop-in Floor Hockey for Individuals with Diverse Abilities (18yrs+)
2025-03-26 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-02 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-16 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-30 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-14 13:00 - 14:30 and 2 more dates | SJ Willis High School, 923 Topaz Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8T 2M2, Canada
This is a FREE event. Participants of all levels and abilities welcome!
All the equipment is provided and all that is needed is athletic wear and water bottle.
This is an opportunity to meet others, be active and have fun. It is held every Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:30 at SJ Willis Educational Center in Victoria. If an individual has a support worker, they are welcome to come as well.
Please note: The volunteer staff does no personal care.
At SJ Willis, the gym is huge and if you want to just come and hang out in the gym during this time without playing floor hockey, this is also an option.
When: Every Wednesday from 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Where: SJ Willis High School (Gym)
2970 Glasgow St,
Victoria, BC
V8T 5B9

Caring for Communities Health and Safety Conference
2025-04-09 - 2025-04-10 | The Federation of Community Social Services BC (FCSSBC), Canada
Join us at the Caring for Communities Health and Safety Conference on April 9th and 10th in Prince George. Hosted by the Federation of Community Social Services of BC and CSSHSA, this two-day event will cover vital topics such as mental health, decolonization, and trauma-informed workplaces, specifically for the community social services sector. Choose from engaging pre-conference workshops and breakout sessions. Don’t miss the chance to learn, connect, and enhance your skills.
Register now!

Caring For Communities Health and Safety Conference
2025-04-09 09:00 - 2025-04-10 17:00
The Federation of Community Social Services of BC, in partnership with the Community Social Services Health and Safety Association, invites you to join us for the Caring for Communities Health and Safety Conference.
This two-day event will bring together professionals, advocates, and community leaders to explore key topics in workplace health and safety — mental health, decolonization and more — all through the lens of the community social services sector.
Day 1: Preconference
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
Choose from a variety of full-day training workshops:

Mental Health First Aid
Introduction to Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee

Day 2: Caring for Communities Conference
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks

Plenary sessions including:

Keynote: Warren Hooley
Trauma Informed Workplaces
A cultural connection with the PGNFC Youth and Community Services Team

Your choice of breakout session:

Women in Safety
Boundaries and Respectful Assertiveness
Culture of Care & De-escalating Crisis at Work

For full session details, please click here: https://fcssbc.ca/health-safety-conference-agenda/

Connect and Learn - Parenting When Anxiety Shows Up As Anger
2025-04-16 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-04-22 18:30 - 20:00
ONLINE EVENT: Parenting When Anxiety Shows Up As Anger
Anxiety in our kids can show up as anger, and that can make parenting extra challenging. Discover some strategies that can help us before, during, and after these hard moments.
Learn from Karen Peters, Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Join us to watch a video presentation together and stay for a facilitated conversation by our Family Peer Support Workers.
6:30pm-8:00pm Pacific Time (most of British Columbia)
7:30pm-9:00pm Mountain Time (Alberta)
These events are funded for parents and caregivers living in the Province of British Columbia and for CASA families in Alberta. If you are from another province or territory, or live outside of Canada, we welcome you to visit our video library at www.familysmart.ca/videos and use our resources. Thank you.
Register Here

Finding and Creating Connection with Kids
2025-05-06 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
A Conversation With Parents
Jagdeep Hayre, Kim Robinson, and Tammy Music
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
6:30pm – 7:30pm (PST)
FINDING & CREATING CONNECTION WITH KIDS
Connecting with kids can feel challenging, especially when they are struggling with their mental health. Whether we are a parent or a caring adult in a young person’s life, what we say and do matters. Simple, caring conversations and shared moments—no matter how small—can have a meaningful impact.
Join us online for a candid conversation with parents who have navigated these challenges firsthand. They’ll share their experiences, struggles, and the ways they’ve found to stay connected—even when it feels impossible. These parents are also Family Peer Support workers, offering guidance to other families facing similar journeys.

Register For Free

Substance Use and the Power of Support
2025-05-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
A Conversation With
Guy Felicella

Thursday, May 8, 2025
6:30pm – 7:30pm (PST)
SUBSTANCE USE AND THE POWER OF SUPPORT
Fear is often the loudest emotion when our kids are involved in substance use—but what if we led with care instead? Join us online for an important conversation with Guy Felicella, a renowned advocate and speaker, as he shares how connection and relationship can make a difference in substance use and addiction. Learn how we can show care not just for our kids, but for the broader community impacted by substance use disorder.
Guy Felicella is an international public speaker and advocate for drug policy reform. Overcoming a two-decade substance use disorder, he has turned his life around after years of homelessness, gang involvement, and surviving overdoses in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Now, Guy passionately promotes harm reduction, trauma therapy, and faster access to treatment, using his story of resilience and recovery to inspire others and push for compassionate drug policies and addiction support.

Register For Free

Step into Nature: A Community Walking Group for Wellness
2025-05-20 14:00 - 2025-06-10 15:00 | James Bay
Tuesdays, May 20 – June 10
2:00–3:00 PM
Meeting in James Bay (exact location shared upon registration)
Join us for a free four-week walking group supported by ParticipAction! Each week, we’ll take a gentle, peer-guided stroll through the scenic neighbourhoods of James Bay, exploring Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road waterfront. This is a great way to move your body, meet new people, and enjoy the fresh air in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
All abilities welcome
No cost to participate
Register at: hello@socialgatheringplace.ca

Let’s walk, connect, and feel good—together.

Parents Day 2025
2025-05-24 12:00 - 15:00 | Beckwith Park, 857 Beckwith Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8X 3S3, Canada
Join Us for Our Annual Parent Day Celebration!
Calling all single parents and their children in Victoria!

Come celebrate with us at 1UP for a special day just for you.

When: May 24th, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Beckwith Park: 857 Beckwith Avenue, Victoria BC

This fun-filled event is open to all single parents and their kids—let’s connect, enjoy some great activities, and celebrate the amazing strength of single-parent families.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Slam Dunk! Wheelchair Basketball
2025-05-26 18:00 - 20:30 | Spencer Middle School, 1026 Goldstream Ave, BC, V9B 2Y5, Canada
A wheelchair basketball event in partnership with: Victoria Wheelchair Sports, Access West Shore Society, Westshore Basketball & Spencer Middle School.

For more info, contact:
accesswestshore@gmail.com
All are welcome!
Halftime show by Spencer Music & Cheer

Balance & Breathe - A Mindful Movement Workshop
2025-06-05 16:30 - 17:30 | Island Community Mental Health, 125 Skinner Street, Victoria, B.C., V9A 6X4, Canada
We’re excited to introduce our next wellness offering — Balance & Breathe: A Mindful Movement Workshop, starting Thursday, June 5th, from 4:30–5:30 PM at Island Community Mental Health (125 Skinner Street).
This free, four-week series is designed to help you slow down, move gently, and tune into the wisdom of your body. Guided by our wonderful facilitator Lindsay, each session will include a combination of light stretching, guided flow, and free-form movement. No experience needed — just come as you are.
Open to all bodies and all abilities
A safe and supportive space
Register by emailing: hello@socialgatheringplace.ca
Spots are limited, so be sure to save yours soon. Let’s breathe, balance, and move together.

Walk and Fun Fair for Down Syndrome Awareness
2025-06-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Beckwith Park, 857 Beckwith Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8X 3S3, Canada
Walk for Down Syndrome Awareness

June 8 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

On Sunday, June 8th, we’re hosting our annual Walk for Down Syndrome Awareness and Family Fun Fair at Beckwith Park in Saanich. This is a fantastic community event you won’t want to miss!
The fun runs from 10am to 2pm:

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Get ready for the walk with fun activities, games and bouncy castles for all ages! There will also be snacks and pizza.
11:30 AM: Lace up your shoes and join us for a walk to raise awareness for Down syndrome.

Plus, we have some special surprises in store! There might just be an appearance from your favorite superheroes or princesses! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so stay tuned for information on how you can help spread the word and raise critical funds to support programming for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome community.
Donate, create teams or join as an individual.

Fed Family Chat
2025-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
This virtual event is an opportunity to hang out with other youth in and from care and have fun. Together we can shape how we want to spend our time together.
This Fed Family Chat will be taking place on
Tues, June 10 from 7-8PM.

Sign Up for Fed Family Chat

We are so excited to share space and connect with you!

Mental Health and Preparing for the Transition to Post Secondary
2025-06-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
After high school, post-secondary education for our youth can be exciting but also stressful if they have struggled with their mental health. You’re not alone. Discover some ways we can prepare our youth for school and support their mental health and independence while they are at school.
Learn from Dawn Schell from the University of Victoria, Melissa Feddersen from the University of British Columbia (Okanagan) and Victoria Keddis, a parent with lived experience.
Join us to watch a video presentation together and stay for a facilitated conversation by our Family Peer Support Workers.
6:30pm-8:00pm Pacific Time (most of British Columbia)
7:30pm-9:00pm Mountain Time (Alberta)
These events are funded for parents and caregivers living in the Province of British Columbia and for CASA families in Alberta. If you are from another province or territory, or live outside of Canada, we welcome you to visit our video library at www.familysmart.ca/videos and use our resources. Thank you.

Register

Family Sunday: Family Pride Day
2025-06-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
Our Pride Family Sunday is bursting with colour and joy!
Create huge, vibrant flowers to add to our rainbow arch, experience the excitement of portrait drawing in our exhibition spaces, and discover how to make art in response to poetry.
Family Sundays are included with admission.
Admission is always free for the following groups:

Visitors age 25 and under
AGGV Members and See Art Pass holders
Indigenous peoples
Support workers

Family Sunday happens every third (and sometimes fourth) Sunday of the month from October – June, and is an afternoon of exploring hands-on art-making and ideas for all ages. This recurring program often features special guests like storytellers, artists, performers or musicians.
LEARN MORE

Paraplay Days on the Dock
2025-06-15 14:00 - 2025-06-22 16:00 | Gorge Narrows Rowing Club, 2940 Jutland Rd #105, Victoria, BC, V8T 5J9, Canada
Engage in a variety of sports coached by various athletes and coaches! Get a chance to meet international level para athletes and coaches! Program will be hosted on Sunday’s, time of day will vary based on scheduled sports. Program is hosted at PISE & various locations throughout the Greater Victoria Area. Registration for each program closes the Friday prior to program. Program is possible through funding from OneAbility Questions? Email play@pise.ca

Questions?
For inquiries about Kids and Youth programs, email us at: play@pise.ca
For inquiries about Adult Programs email us at: programs@pise.ca

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Gorge Narrow Rowing Club
Cost: FREE
Reg: #7705
Note: Para Rowing with Gorge Narrows Rowing Club

Register Now
