Welcome to Autism: First Steps with Nancy
2025-07-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
Join the ASN’s Executive Director, Nancy Walton, to talk about the first steps in your child’s Autism journey. Quick start and tips for your newly diagnosed preschooler or grade school-age child.
Where do you start?
How can the Autism Support Network help you?
The weeks and months after receiving a diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. It is hard to know what to do first and conflicting information can make it difficult and confusing to get started with effective intervention you feel good about.
Nancy will share resources with you that have been vetted by the Autism Support Network that will help you make a meaningful action plan. Learn why we follow the research and work with certified service providers who are licensed and bound by a solid code of ethics.
Please note that this presentation is geared towards younger children with new diagnoses. If you have an older child or are facing challenges with school, transition planning or ongoing behavioural supports, please contact us directly for 1:1 assistance. info@autismsupportbc.ca.
CLICK TO REGISTER

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) by MHRP
2025-07-15 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-07-22 13:30 - 16:00 | MHRPI SI Boardroom, 941 Kings Rd, Victoria, BC, V8T1W7, Canada
Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island will be facilitating another Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). There is no fee to participate.
WRAP is an evidence-based personal relapse prevention plan that supports participants with developing their own personal wellness plan. In this workshop participants will learn about wellness tools and create action plans to put them into practice in their everyday life. Participants learn how to maintain their wellness by recognizing stressors and early warning signs and by developing coping strategies including having a crisis plan. This workshop is offered several times a year and is co-facilitated by two trained WRAP facilitators.
The next WRAP will be held in-person for six Tuesdays from 1:30pm-4pm at MHRP SI Boardroom on the following dates:
June 10th
June 17th
June 24th
July 8th
July 15th
July 22nd
Please share this with anyone who might be interested. To register, please visit: https://mhrp.ca/programs-and-services/program-request-form

Diverse Destinations
2025-07-18 14:30 - 16:30, 2025-07-19 14:30 - 16:30 | Royal Canadian Legion, 761 Station Avenue, Victoria, BC, V9B 4V2, Canada
Diverse Destinations is a free summer presentation series for people with physical disabilities, families, and friends. Hosted by Technology For Living and supported by the Victoria Foundation, it features accessible travel tips, real-life stories from disabled adventurers, and highlights like the new Hullo ferry service.

Substance Use Recovery: A Personal Account from the Front Lines
2025-07-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Brian Dean Williams brings years of frontline experience supporting individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Like many in this field, his early career took a personal toll—leading him to face his own struggles with substance use as a way of coping with stress and moral injury.

In this session, Brian offers a heartfelt and honest account of that journey: the challenges he faced, how his work intersected with his personal struggles, and the path he took toward healing. His story is one of resilience, insight, and hope—for himself and for other frontline workers navigating similar experiences.

In the second half of the session, Brian will share practical strategies that have supported not only his own recovery but also the well-being of dozens of frontline workers he’s guided through therapy, clinical supervision, workshops, and retreats. He’ll introduce a compassionate framework to understand the full spectrum of substance use and offer tools to respond skillfully—whether supporting ourselves or others.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Recognize the unique risks that frontline service workers face in developing problematic substance use
Identify early warning signs that may indicate personal struggles with substance use
Develop a deeper understanding of the spectrum of substance use and learn how to respond skillfully and compassionately—both to themselves and others
Become familiar with practical resources and evidence-informed models for addressing problematic substance use

About the presenter

Brian Dean Williams is a registered clinical counsellor and approved clinical supervisor. Brian has worked on the frontlines for 28 years with folks struggling with mental health, substance use, housing, and marginalization. He has worked in the downtown eastside in Vancouver, and in small First Nations (Indigenous) communities. Brian’s main modalities are narrative therapy and Buddhist psychology, although he also draws from other collaborative forms of counselling and community work. He has taught at Correctional Services of Canada, Raincity Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health, the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation, and many more. Brian lives on the traditional unceded territories of the shíshálh Nation with his wife and three kids, where he loves mountain biking, playing hockey / basketball, and singing with his community. www.briandeanwilliams.com
Register Here

Become a Certified Mental Health First Aider: Virtual Training on July 24th & 25th
2025-07-24 08:30 - 2025-07-25 12:00 | Virtual Event
Join us for an engaging and impactful virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course, designed to equip you with essential skills to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or decline in well-being. This interactive training will take place virtually, from 8:30AM to 12:00PM, on July 24th & 25th, providing you with hands-on techniques to recognize, support, and guide individuals toward recovery.
Throughout the course, participants will learn how to:

Recognize early signs of mental health declines or crises
Encourage open discussions about mental health and well-being
Guide individuals to appropriate professional or community supports
Offer support in mental health or substance use crises
Use MHFA actions to maintain your own mental health

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certificate from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).
Before attending the virtual training, participants must complete a self-directed online module (Module 1), which introduces key concepts and strategies to be explored in the live training (Modules 2 and 3). The online module takes approximately 2 hours to complete, and proof of completion is required prior to the start of the virtual modules. Completion of Module 1 is mandatory to participate in the virtual course. Failure to complete the online module by the specified deadline will make the participant ineligible for a refund or transfer of registration.
Important Note: A minimum of 8 participants is required by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for the training to proceed. If fewer than 8 participants are confirmed 48 hours prior to the session, the course will be rescheduled in accordance with MHCC’s group size policy.
Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations must be submitted via email (training@csshsa.ca) at least 5 business days before the scheduled course to receive a refund or reschedule.

Late cancellations or no-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.
Register Here

Mental Health First Aid
2025-07-24 08:30 - 2025-07-25 12:00 | Virtual Event

Real Talk Pride Season 2SLGBTQIA+ Zoom Hangout
2025-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
LGBTQ folks with cognitive disabilities (or folks with cognitive disabilities who are questioning or curious about their gender and / or orientation) meet over Zoom, watch some Real Talk videos, and participate in a conversation facilitated by a certified sexual health educator.
Everybody has questions about dating, love, relationships, and sex. Things like:

How do I meet a boyfriend / girlfriend / partner?
How do I let my family know that I want to date?
How can I make sex safer?
What is consent?

It’s totally normal. But sometimes it can be hard to know where to get good information. At this event, we’ll watch some Real Talk videos, and have a conversation hosted by a Certified Sexual Health Educator. We’ll talk about where to get good information, who can support us with this stuff, and how to figure out confusing situations. People are welcome to talk about things, or to just listen if they don’t want to talk.
If you want a family member, friend, or staff member to come with you to the event, that’s great. They don’t need to register, they can just show up with you.
Register Here

Play Time!
2025-08-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Memorial Park, 1200 Esquimalt Rd, Esquimalt, BC, V9A 3N8, Canada
When:

August 11, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join us at the park for some fun outdoor activities. We will have lawn games, light sports equipment, etc. Come spend some time with us in the fresh air and sun!
This is a FREE park activity

Related links

Follow our Facebook Event for updates

Contact phone
250-412-8518

Contact email
events@esquimalt.ca

Contact name
Tara Silva

Walking Wednesdays
2025-08-13 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Esquimalt Neighbourhood House, 511 Constance Ave, Victoria, BC, V9A 6N5, Canada
Who:
Adults who like to walk, meet new people and chat.
What:
Whether you are new to the area or just looking to meet new people, this is a safe, friendly space to connect & enjoy a relaxing walk to Saxe Point and back, followed by coffee & snacks back at Foster’s Centre.
When:
Wednesdays 11am
Walk 11am-12pm Coffee 12-1pm
Come once or each week.
(Weather Dependent)
Where:
Meet at Esquimalt Neighbourhood House
511 Constance Ave
Drop In for this FREE program:
Questions? Call 250-385-2635 Ext 201

Personal Planning Stories + Q&A with Nidus and Family Support Institute
2025-08-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and FSI are hosting a joint webinar on personal planning and Representation Agreements. This webinar will help you understand how to arrange for future support needs or potential incapacity while you’re still living.
The webinar offers a screening of two videos featuring personal, real-life stories from people across BC, highlighting the usefulness of personal planning and Representation Agreements. After the screening, there will be time for a short Q&A period.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Register Here

Mental Health First Aid Course
2025-09-04 08:30 - 2025-09-05 12:00 | Virtual Event
Join us for an engaging and impactful virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course, designed to equip you with essential skills to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or decline in well-being. This interactive training will take place virtually, from 8:30AM to 12:00PM, on September 4th & 5th, providing you with hands-on techniques to recognize, support, and guide individuals toward recovery.
Throughout the course, participants will learn how to:

Recognize early signs of mental health declines or crises
Encourage open discussions about mental health and well-being
Guide individuals to appropriate professional or community supports
Offer support in mental health or substance use crises
Use MHFA actions to maintain your own mental health

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certificate from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).
Before attending the virtual training, participants must complete a self-directed online module (Module 1), which introduces key concepts and strategies to be explored in the live training (Modules 2 and 3). The online module takes approximately 2 hours to complete, and proof of completion is required prior to the start of the virtual modules. Completion of Module 1 is mandatory to participate in the virtual course. Failure to complete the online module by the specified deadline will make the participant ineligible for a refund or transfer of registration.
Important Note: A minimum of 8 participants is required by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for the training to proceed. If fewer than 8 participants are confirmed 48 hours prior to the session, the course will be rescheduled in accordance with MHCC’s group size policy.
Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations must be submitted via email (training@csshsa.ca) at least 5 business days before the scheduled course to receive a refund or reschedule.

Late cancellations or no-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.

SEA: For Adults - Free online workshop for World Suicide Prevention Day
2025-09-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
A 90 minute online suicide prevention workshop developed by NEED2 to provide foundational information about suicide that is accessible and relevant to adults; no matter their role in the community.
September 10, 2025 6:30-8pm (via Zoom)
This workshop is being held in recognition of World Suicide Prevention day, and is free of cost.
Once you’ve registered you will receive the zoom link the day before the workshop.
Register Here

Peer Support Group for Adults (19+) Beareaved by Suicide Loss
2025-09-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
Online Peer Support Group for Suicide Loss Survivors
Losing a loved one to suicide is an incredibly difficult and isolating experience. We often feel unable to share our experiences and loss in the same way others who grieve can. NEED2’s Online Peer Support Group provides a safe, and compassionate space where adults who have experienced loss by suicide can connect with others who have shared experiences.
Our groups run online the second Thursday of every month; 6:30-8:30 PST and is facilitated by two trained professionals.
REGISTER HERE

Mental Wellness - Y Mind Teen (13-18) & Youth (18-30)
2025-09-16 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Mental health challenges shouldn’t get in the way of doing what you love. Our programs help overcome barriers and get you on the right track to where you’d like to be.
Our free mental wellness programs, Y Mind and Mind Medicine, help participants learn how to manage stress and mild-to-moderate anxiety (individuals experiencing severe anxiety and stress that significantly impacts their ability to perform daily activities likely require more support than what Y Mind is intended to provide). Our programs are evidence-based and teach Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.
To participate, you may self-refer, you do not need a diagnosis of anxiety, and you do not need to be a Y member.
Y MIND TEEN – AGES 13-18
Y Mind Teen is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. This program supports teens ages 13 to 18 who are experiencing symptoms of stress and worry to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to cope with stress. Y Mind Teen is led by trained mental health professionals and educators and gives teens the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
Registration Information:
The Y Mind Groups are being offered in person at the Westhills Y (Langford) and Downtown locations. If you are not able to attend these for any reason, both virtual and in person groups are available to those in other parts of BC and Vancouver Island. Please contact us at mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca so we can support you in accessing a group (either in person or virtual) in your area.
The dates and times for our next information sessions and a registration link are below:
Downtown (location to be determined) on Tuesday September 16 and 23, 2025.
The group will run on Tuesdays October 7- November 25, 6-7:30 pm.

Westhills, 202-1314 Lakepoint Way on Wednesday September 24 and October 1st, 2025.
The group will run on Wednesdays October 15- November 26, 6-7:30 pm.

The registration process for Y Mind Teen includes attendance at an Information Session (either online or in person, depending on the site) and a brief intake meeting with one of our facilitators to determine if the group is a best fit for the teen.
REGISTER ONLINE
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.

Y MIND YOUTH – AGES 18 – 30
The Y Mind Youth programs are delivered in person, in Victoria, at the Downtown Y on Broughton St. Online groups are available with enough interest or through our partner sites on Vancouver Island as well as other Y’s across BC.
If stress is impacting your life and preventing you from doing what you want or need to do, this group is for you. Y Mind Youth is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. Y Mind Youth supports people ages 18-30 who are experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety/stress to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to increase coping. This group is led by trained mental health professionals and gives young adults the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.

Registraton Information:
The Y Mind Groups are being offered in person at the Downtown Y in Victoria in Spring 2025 (depending on interest). Please contact us at mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca so we can support you in accessing a group (either in person or virtual) in your area.
All participants must register and attend one of our virtual information sessions and a one-on-one intake to register for the program. The dates and times for our next Victoria information sessions and a registration link are below:
Downtown (location to be determined) on Tuesday September 16 and 23, 2025.
The group will run on Tuesdays October 7- November 25, 6-7:30 pm.

Westhills, 202-1314 Lakepoint Way on Wednesday September 24 and October 1st, 2025.
The group will run on Wednesdays October 15- November 26, 6-7:30 pm.

REGISTER ONLINE
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.

Healthy Boundaries
2025-09-16 18:30 - 2025-10-28 20:30 | Men’s Therapy Center, 301-3491 Saanich Rd., Victoria, BC, V8X 1W8, Canada
Learn to foster mutual respect and strengthen your family dynamic by setting effective boundaries in a single-parent household.

Drop-in Floor Hockey for Individuals with Diverse Abilities
2025-09-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-24 13:00 - 14:30 | SJ Willis High School, 923 Topaz Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8T 2M2, Canada

A Strong Start: Guiding your Kids through Back to School Challenges
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
This workshop will explore how substance use can affect a young person’s ability to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression, and offers practical, harm reduction–focused strategies to support them.

Emotion Regulation
2025-09-18 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-09-23 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
When kids frequently have big emotions, parenting can be overwhelming and tiring. Discover some strategies and skills that can make it easier for your kids and you, and the critical role that parents and caregivers play to create positive change for young people. Learn about emotion regulation and dysregulation from Nicole Allen, Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Join us and other families for this video presentation and discussion that’s facilitated by a FamilySmart Family Peer Support Worker.
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.

Celebrate Sidney Tree Day By Planting Trees With Friends
2025-09-20 09:45 - 13:00 | Brethour Park, Sidney, V8L 4X1, Canada
Details

We will be planting trees & removing invasive plants in Philip Brethour Park to increase the health of the ecosystem and celebrate Sidney Tree Day!
The Town of Sidney will also be providing free trees (including garry oak, pacific crabapple, red alder, & big leaf maple) for community members to take home!
We will be working rain or shine.
Want to sign up without using Meetup? email kaitlin@greenteamscanada.ca
WHY SIGN UP
You’ll:

Meet new people
Learn about local environmental issues
Improve your mental health in nature connecting with others
Get some exercise
Increase biodiversity
Get volunteer hours (if you need them)
Eat delicious snacks
Have fun!! 🙂 (even when it rains!)

REGISTRATION
First time coming out? Fill this out: [http://bit.ly/2WdZeAT](https://greenteams.formstack.com/forms/greater_victoria_green_team_volunteer_registration_form)
18 or under? Get your parent/guardian to fill this out: [http://bit.ly/parentguardianform](https://greenteams.formstack.com/forms/greater_victoria_green_team_volunteer_registration_form_guardian)
You only ever have to fill this form out ONCE
RSVPing
Before you sign up, please make sure you are fully committed to participating. We ensure there is enough staff, buy refreshments and bring gloves/tools based on the number of people signed up.
By RSVPing and not showing up, or changing your RSVP at the last minute, you may be taking a spot away from someone who wants to participate. Lets honour each other’s time and be considerate of one another.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may come up. If you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP right away.
SET UP & TAKE DOWN
Want to come early and help set up and/or stay a little longer and help with take down? Email [Kaitlin@GreenTeamsCanada.ca]([REDACTED]
MEETING SPOT
Meet us at the entrance of Brethour Park located off of Ocean Ave W near the address 2075 Ocean Ave W.
PARKING
Parking is available in the gravel parking lot in front of Brethour Park off of Ocean Ave W
CYCLING
Plan your bicycle route with CRD Bike Map
BUS
There is a bus stop nearby at Ocean Ave W and Epco Dr
Plan your bus route with BC Transit Victoria
CARPOOLING
Log in & use “comments” at the bottom of this page to say you need a ride or can offer a ride. You may also send us a message to include in an email to attendees.
Staff will not coordinate rides, they will only pass on the info that you are offering/looking for a ride.
Please ensure you communicate meeting points and times clearly and prioritize your safety. Community members who carpool do so at their own risk.
Staff cannot offer rides
WASHROOMS
The Town of Sidney will be providing a portable toilet on site for this activity
WHAT TO BRING

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Long sleeves and long pants to protect from thorny plants, & insects
Refillable water bottle with water (we have water for refills)
Sturdy closed toe shoes/boots
Rain jacket in case it rains
Hat
Your own gardening gloves, tools and/or safety glasses if you prefer – otherwise we’ll provide these.

WHAT WE PROVIDE YOU

Gloves, tools and safety glasses
Education and demonstration on what we will be doing (no experience necessary!)
Refreshments (e.g. baked goods, veggies, fruits, granola bars)
Photos of you in action
Volunteer letters (on request)

FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
At 9:45am sign in, followed by instruction and engaging in this activity. Halfway through we’ll take a break, go back to engaging in the activity and then we end at 1pm.
PARTNER
This activity is being made possible thanks to financial support and direction from our Community Investment Partner, The Town of Sidney
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All Greater Victoria Green Team activities take place on the traditional and unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, the Lekwungen speaking Songhees & Esquimalt peoples, and the nations who form the Te’mexw Treaty Association. We respectfully acknowledge the longstanding relationships these groups have with the land that stretch from time immemorial to the present day. We are extremely grateful to be able to run environmental stewardship activities on these lands.
Questions? Email [kaitlin@greenteamscanada.ca](severine@greenteamscanada.ca)

Community ASIST Workshop individual registration
2025-09-22 09:00 - 2025-09-23 17:00 | Need2 Office, 2390 Arbutus Road, Victoria, BC, V8N 1V7, Canada
ASIST is a two-day workshop that provides suicide first aid training to participants. This training provides participants with the competencies needed to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.
You do not need to work in the health or mental health field to take ASIST. We need people in all roles in the community to be ASIST trained to create a suicide-safer community!
The cost of the workshop is $325. Student rate is available upon request.

The workshop will take place at the NEED2 office.
Lunch, coffee/tea and snacks will be provided

To register visit our website here
Questions; email communityeducation@need2.ca

Learn about sexual health and wellness
2025-09-22 18:00 - 2025-09-24 20:00 | BC
Have questions about sex or sexual health that you don’t want to ask at school? Young people ages 17-24 are invited to attend an inclusive sex ed workshop, hosted by Foundry Virtual BC and Options for Sexual Health. These workshops will offer participants an opportunity to learn and ask questions in a safe, judgment-free environment. Registration is through the Foundry BC mobile app.
For youth of all genders and sexual orientations:
Monday, September 22, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
For 2SLGBTQIA+ youth:
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Mindful Parenting
2025-09-25 09:30 - 2025-11-07 23:30 | Men’s Therapy Center, 301-3491 Saanich Rd., Victoria, BC, V8X 1W8, Canada
Learn to embrace the beautiful chaos of single parenthood with presence and self-compassion, nurturing both your child’s well-being and your own.
