Osanis Inclusion Services Inc.

RE/MEMBERING: Zine’ing Loss & Grief
2025-11-05 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-12 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-19 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | Vancouver Hospice Society, 4615 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, Canada
The Vancouver Hospice Society is hosting a 6-week in-person support group for young adults aged 18-29 who are grieving the death of a person. The support group will explore zine-making as a creative outlet for processing grief and loss, based on guided reflection prompts within a space of shared connection. A zine (from “magazine”) is a mini self-created booklet made for a small circle of distribution.
Open to Vancouver residents Virtual Orientation: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:30–7:00 PM In-person Sessions: Wednesdays, 5:30–8:30 PMOct. 15, 22, 29 & Nov. 5, 12, 19
Registration is required. To register, please send an email to counselling@vancouverhospice.org

Substance Use and the Power of Support
2025-11-06 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Connection and relationship can make a difference in substance use and addiction. Guy Felicella, a renowned advocate and international speaker who has overcome a two-decade substance use disorder, passionately promotes harm reduction, trauma therapy, and faster access to treatment using his story of resilience and recovery. Learn how we can show care not just for our kids, but for the broader community impacted by substance use disorder.
Join us and other families for this video presentation and discussion that’s facilitated by a FamilySmart Family Peer Support Worker.
12:00pm-1:30 pm Pacific Time (most of British Columbia)
1:00pm-2:30 pm 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

Empowering Families through Knowledge and Connection
2025-11-07 - 2025-11-08 | Sportsplex, 1800 S Alder St., Campbell River, BC, V9W 7J1, Canada
Families from the Campbell River area will gather for two days of learning and connecting. You will learn ways to strengthen your advocacy and access resources to help build a good life for your loved one with a disability. You will join other families in sharing knowledge and developing community support. Sessions will cover topics such as self-determination, advocacy, and future planning – session details will be released in the summer

Cost: FREE – Financial support is available for travel, child care or other expenses (see details and application after the program description)
When: November 7 & 8, 2025
Where: Sportsplex – 1800 S Alder St, Campbell River, BC V9W 7J1
Who: Families and caregivers living in and near Campbell River who support loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Register Here

Armstrong/Online: Attend this professional opportunity on grief and loss
2025-11-10 09:30 - 16:00 | Sage Cottage, Armstrong BC, 9931 Cathedral Drive, Vernon, BC, V1B 3Y9, Canada
This is a one-day workshop for professionals who work with children, youth and families. The workshop offers practical tools, insights, and approaches on supporting young clients navigating experiences of grief and loss. Attend in-person in Armstrong, BC in November, or virtually in December.
Location:
Sage Cottage | Armstrong, BC
Monday, November 10, 2025, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Virtual workshop:
Monday, December 8, 2025, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm

Mother's Mental Health Toolkit
2025-11-12 10:00 - 2025-12-17 12:00 | Quadra Village Community Centre, 901 Kings Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada
Mother’s Mental Health Toolkit group will begin on Wednesday Nov.12th and run until Dec 17th from 10am-12pm. Lunch will be served 12-1pm. If you would like to attend this group, contact Sue at families@quadravillagecc.com ASAP as there is great interest in this group and only 12 spaces. Please note that you must be available to attend ALL 6 sessions.
MORE INFO HERE

Issues of Substance Conference
2025-11-17 - 2025-11-19 | Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 0E6, Canada
CCSA’s Issues of Substance is the flagship event of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), an organization that addresses issues related to substance use and addiction that affect the health and safety of Canadians.
The biennial event is Canada’s only national conference that brings together addiction workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, knowledge brokers, and people with direct or indirect, lived or living experience with substance use or a substance use disorders from across the country.
CCSA’s Issues of Substance is unique because this three-day event provides an unparalleled opportunity to share new research and best practices, network with peers, and receive practical training related to substance use and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.

How to Register
Register for our Issues of Substance 2025 conference through the CCSA registration portal, beginning Tuesday, April 8.
Registration Fees
All registrants (including students) are entitled to:

Attend all sessions, and
Three full breakfasts, three lunches and break refreshments.

Early-Bird Registration Fee
Pay only $1,150 if you register online by Friday, September 19 at 11:59 p.m. EDT!
Regular Registration Fee
Pay $1,295 between Saturday, September 20 and Thursday, November 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
You can also complete and pay for your registration in-person, at the regular rate, beginning Sunday, November 16 (if spaces are still available).
Student Registration Fee
Student registration fee: $595
To register at the student rate, provide proof of your full-time enrolment as an undergraduate, master’s or doctoral student at a Canadian higher education institution in a program related to substance use health, addiction or behavioural addictions. Please upload a photo of your student card displaying the current year at the time of registration.
Registration for Conference Presenters
Presenters must complete and pay for their registration by Wednesday, May 28, to secure their spot in the program.
Questions
If you have questions about registering for CCSA’s Issues of Substance, please contact CCSA Event Planner, Andrea Wagner at AWagner@ccsa.ca. Thank you!

Mental Health First Aid Essentials Training
2025-11-20 09:00 - 16:00 | Harbour Room, 722 Cormorant Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1P8, Canada
Join us for a transformative full-day workshop designed to equip you with the essential skills and confidence to support mental health in yourself and others. The MHFA Essentials course offers practical knowledge to help you recognize, respond, and intervene in mental health challenges, from everyday signs of stress to crisis situations.
This course, delivered over 7 hours with breaks, is perfect for individuals wanting to learn how to support those experiencing mental health struggles, while also enhancing their own mental well-being. Whether you’re a workplace leader, community volunteer, or just someone passionate about mental health advocacy, this course will deepen your understanding of mental health, reduce stigma, and build a strong foundation in supportive communication.
Throughout the course, participants will learn how to:

Recognize mental health changes: Understand the differences between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions. Learn to spot signs of declining mental health across its continuum.
Respond to mental health crises: Master the ALGES framework to apply empathy, reassurance, and appropriate responses in real-world scenarios, including crisis situations like suicidal thoughts.
Support others with respect: Practice effective communication techniques that challenge mental health stigma and emphasize recovery-oriented support.
Self-care strategies: Discover essential self-care practices to maintain your own mental health while helping others.

By the end of the course, you’ll be empowered to provide mental health support to those in need and take proactive steps to care for your own mental health.
Important Note: A minimum of 8 participants is required 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.

Community ASIST Workshop individual registration
2025-11-24 09:00 - 2025-11-25 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

Lunchtime Education Kernel: Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities: Presented by PAC Outreach Program (POP)
2025-11-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
We would like to invite you to participate in an upcoming educational session hosted by the PAC Outreach Program. This session will focus on mental health and developmental disabilities, specifically designed for professionals and individuals who provide support to adults with intellectual disabilities. Your involvement in this important discussion would be greatly valued.
Date: November 26, 2025
Time: 12 pm to 1 pm
Format: Virtual via MS Teams
To register, please use this link: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

The Ripple Effect: How Complex Grief from Suicide Loss Shapes Our Bodies, Minds, and Connections (A Webinar)
2025-11-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Event
This online webinar is designed for community members 19 yrs+ who have experienced the loss of suicide. This session will be different from NEED2’s regular peer support group meetings, as it will be more activity-based and focused on the psychoeducation around grief and loss.
November 29th, 4-6 pm online
Please note:
– This is a free webinar and will be held online over zoom
– Spots are limited so please register if you would like to attend
– Registration will close at 5pm on Nov 27th
– Registered participants will receive the zoom link for the webinar by email on Friday, November 28th
For questions, please reach out to supportgroup@need2.ca

Armstrong/Online: Attend this professional opportunity on grief and loss
2025-12-08 09:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event

Fed Family Chat
2025-12-09 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, Dec 9, 7-8PM
Sign Up for Fed Family Chat

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

Beyond the headlines: The toxic drug crisis
2025-12-10 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
In the fourth installment of the Beyond the Headlines conversation series, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, will sit down with Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division, and Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s former Chief Coroner, about one of the most pressing issues in B.C.: the ongoing toxic drug crisis.
Read more

Event details
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m. PST
Method: Via Zoom webinar(opens in a new window) or livestreaming on our website.
How to register
Registration is not required to watch the conversation. However, those who register and join via the Zoom webinar option will be able to submit questions during the event and may hear them answered live.

Register for the Zoom webinar(opens in a new window)
Or register by contacting engagement@bchumanrights.ca

If you don’t want to register, you can still watch the livestream at: bchumanrights.ca/beyond-the-headlines
A note on accessibility and translation
Closed captioning will be available at this event. If you have other accessibility requirements, please contact us at engagement@bchumanrights.ca.
If you have a translation request, please contact us at engagement@bchumanrights.ca at least two weeks prior to the event and we will do our best to accommodate.

SEA: For Adults online workshop
2025-12-18 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.
December 18, 2025 6:30-8pm
Once you’ve registered you will receive the zoom link the day before the workshop.
Register Here.

Indigenous Caregivers Circle
2025-12-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
We welcome you here to connect and share with other Indigenous caregivers in a culturally safe and respectful space. We acknowledge and celebrate different perspectives around disability, while recognizing the unique barriers that Indigenous families with disabilities face in a colonial society.
This group is for any Indigenous caregiver (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) who cares for a loved one with any disability, with or without a diagnosis, regardless of their age or gender, calling in from anywhere in BC. Remember: It takes a village to raise a child. Maybe you’ll find part of your village here.
This Family Hangout launches on December 21, the day of the Winter Solstice.
Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm
This Family Hangout will take place every month, on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
REGISTER HERE

Community ASIST Workshop individual registration
2026-01-19 09:00 - 2026-01-20 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 (9 am to 5 pm)

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

Mental Wellness - Y Mind Teen (13-18) & Youth (18-30)
2026-01-20 17:45 - 2026-03-10 19:45 | 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 in Spring 2026. 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 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
Y MIND YOUTH – AGES 18 – 30
The Y Mind Youth programs are delivered in person, in Victoria. 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.
The Y Mind Groups are offered in-person in Winter 2026 (Location TBD).
We are also offering a virtual Youth group for anyone living in the Vancouver Island area.
All participants must register and attend one of our 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 Y In Person Information Session:
Wednesday January 14, 2026, at 6 pm @ Location TBD
or
Wednesday January 21, 2026, at 6 pm @ Location TBD
Downtown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Wednesdays January 28 – March 11, 2026, 6pm – 8:30pm @ Location TBD

Virtual Information Session:
Tuesday January 20, 2026, at 6 pm on Zoom
or
Tuesday January 27, 2026, at 6 pm on Zoom
Virtual Program Sessions:
Tuesdays February 3 – March 17, 2026, 6pm – 8:30pm on Zoom
Y Mind Youth is being offered in the Westshore by Pacific Centre Family Services at 324 Goldstream Ave. If you are interested in that group, please contact Julia at jleggett@pcfsa.org
REGISTER ONLINE
