Osanis Inclusion Services Inc.

Substance Use and the Power of Support
2025-11-06 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-18 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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

16th Annual National Policy Forum on Inclusion
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)
What’s holding us back? The future of inclusive education in Canada
3-part virtual event via Zoom webinar
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 7pm-8:30pm Eastern
This year’s policy forum will be a 3-part virtual series exploring the realities of inclusive education in Canada. The series will bring together self-advocates, family members, educators, and policy experts. Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that people with disabilities have a right to an inclusive education at all levels. We will explore what gets in the way of these rights in Canada and highlight examples of how we can overcome these barriers together.
Format: 3-part virtual event via Zoom webinar. The forum will include a series of panels and interactive Question & Answer periods. Panels include perspectives of lived experience from people with an intellectual disability and families, as well as research and policy expertise.
Register now!

Understanding ADHD for Adults
2025-11-13 17:30 - 2025-11-27 18:30 (America/Vancouver)
ADHD impacts all areas of life, and understanding is a pivotal starting point for moving forward.
This program is designed for those who are newly diagnosed and are embarking on a personal journey of self-discovery.
PLEASE NOTE: This program is not a webinar and requires your active participation to fully benefit from it. Sessions will not be recorded to protect your privacy.
Join us to unravel the complexities of Adult ADHD in an interactive, supportive, and collaborative environment.
After this program you should be able to:

Understand the wide range of Adult ADHD symptoms.
Become aware of how ADHD can impact various aspects of life.
Take proactive steps to explore non-medication approaches to managing ADHD.
Identify how ADHD medications work and how they can improve daily functioning.
Access resources that can bring positive changes to lives of people with ADHD

Facilitated by Dr. Gurdeep Parhar (MD) and Dr. Anita Parhar (PhD), this program draws from their extensive knowledge gained through years of dedicated work at the Adult ADHD Centre. Dr. Gurdeep Parhar and Dr. Anita Parhar bring a wealth of clinical and practical insights through the cumulative experience of over 15,000 patient experiences, which is the foundation of this program.
Begins Thursday, November 13, 2025 – 3 weeks
Dates: November 13, 20 & 27, 2025
Time: 5:30pm PST/ 6:30pm MST/ 8:30pm – 10pm EST/ 9:30pm AST
Where: Virtual on Zoom
Please note that this program is refundable up to 48hrs before the program starts. As of November 11th, the registration fee is non-refundable. Thank you for your understanding.
Facilitators: Dr. Gurdeep Parhar & Dr. Anita Parhar
Fee: $30 + HST

Please note that this program will be offered in January, March, September and November every year. This program is a good intro to ADHD prior to taking our Adult ADHD Group Coaching programs.
Please note that this program is refundable up to 48hrs before the program starts. Once the program begins, registration fee is non-refundable. Thank you for your understanding.

Now What? A beginning conversation to support families when our kids begin experimenting with substances
2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-26 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
Learning that our kids are using substances can be scary. Our fears about substance use can affect how we react. Learn with us while Victoria Keddis hosts a conversation with Douglas Hardie, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Program Coordinator of Island Health’s Child, Youth and Family Mental Health and Substance Use Programs. This is a beginning conversation to help parents self-reflect on how they show up to talk to their kids about their substance use.
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.
REGISTER HERE

Sandra Pronteau - Documentary Screening
2025-11-17 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver)
November is Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, a time to honour Indigenous people with disabilities and celebrate them as vital members of our communities. ConnecTra is hosting a documentary screening made by Inclusion BC featuring Sandra Pronteau, a Cree-Metis Indigenous woman who has spent many years advocating from various social issues, from equal education rights to support for Indigenous people with disabilities. At the end, Sandra will participate in a Q&A session.
Monday, November 17, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm
REGISTER HERE

Children in Care - A Group for Parents and Caregivers
2025-11-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
A support group for those with kids in care, considering care, or feeling pressured to place their kids in care.
Only families who have experienced this unique journey truly understand the challenges it brings. Whether due to removal, a special needs agreement, or a voluntary care agreement, placing a child with extra support needs into the Ministry’s care is an incredibly difficult and emotional decision. Families often face feelings of guilt, judgment, and isolation during this process. You’re not alone. Join us for an open and heartfelt conversation with other families who share your experience. This is a space for parents and caregivers to connect, share, and support one another without fear of judgment.
Let’s come together to find hope, resilience, and connection.
** PLEASE NOTE: This meeting is reserved for families with a member with a disability and self advocates only ** Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability.
FSI is unique in Canada and the only grassroots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

Let's Talk: How Babies Learn Language
2025-11-19 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)
This workshop provides: valuable insights into infant language learning. Parents and caregivers can learn practical, evidence-based techniques to foster your child’s language skills during these pivotal early years. Recommended for caregivers of children aged 0-2.
REGISTER HERE

Early Years and School Age Navigation
2025-11-19 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-03 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver)
Caring for little ones with extra support needs is marked by joy, fear, and overwhelm, usually all in the same day! Navigating the toddler and preschool years or if the school years are on the horizon, can be a uniquely challenging time. Join Cari Rawling, (ECE/parent), and Heather Beach (parent), for supportive sessions on Navigating the Early Years. We are here to listen, provide resources, and create a safe place to discuss the parenting experience of young children with diverse abilities.
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grassroots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY
REGISTER HERE

ADHD X Autism: “The Similarities and Differences” - Free webinar
2025-11-19 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join Adult Autism Centre & Adult ADHD Centre for a free, live webinar—ADHD X Autism: “The Similarities and Differences”—on Wednesday, November 19, 2025!
Gain insights from Dr. Anita Parhar and Dr. Gurdeep Parhar as they explore the connections, similarities, and distinctions between ADHD and autism.

Open the Door - A three part series designed to transform the mental health system
2025-11-19 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
Open the Door – A three part series designed to transform the mental health system.
Parents are fighting for their children’s lives within a mental health system steeped in stigma. They are scared, isolated, and exhausted, caught in a cycle of navigating a fragmented system that fails to meet their needs.
Their plea is clear: accessible, comprehensive care with long-term support.
In our first session, we heard powerful stories and introduced a framework for change. Now, we’re building on that foundation with a solutions-focused process that brings families, community leaders, and policymakers into honest dialogue.
This next phase is about turning ideas into action—working together to improve access to mental health services in BC. Ahead of the session, we’ll share guiding questions to help participants reflect on system barriers and potential policy or practice changes.
Together, let’s open the door to support families, inform policy, and build a future where every child can thrive.
REGISTER HERE

Aging Caregivers
2025-11-19 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
We cannot slow the aging process in ourselves or in the people we care for! As we get older, our ability to care for our family member becomes more and more difficult. Planning our own future, and the future of our loved ones can be a terrifying process. Will we be able to provide the necessary care? Will they be well cared for in the future, after we are gone? What can we do to make the future easier? Connecting with other families in similar situations is the best way to problem solve and figure out what will work best for our specific situations. Join our call with other “mature” parents and caregivers and we can problem solve together!

Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grassroots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada's 4th National Virtual Conference
2025-11-22
An empowering day of learning, collaboration, and advocacy for parents, educators, professionals, and caregivers supporting individuals with learning disabilities (LD).
This year’s theme — The Power of Partnership — reflects LDAC’s mission to promote the full participation of children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities in school, work, and life. Whether you’re a caregiver navigating your child’s diagnosis, a teacher looking for proven tools, or a professional working to support inclusion, this conference delivers practical knowledge, actionable strategies, and powerful connections.
Your participation directly supports LDAC’s national advocacy, research, and programming — supporting the 5.6% of Canadians living with learning disabilities — and the educators, professionals, and families who stand beside them.

Early Bird Registration – $50 + $5.75 HST (ends Nov. 4, 2025)
General Admission – $75 + $8.63 HST

Link to Register

Members Club: Early Childhood Development and Resilience
2025-11-25 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
When and What Time?
November 25th, 2025 || Virtual (Zoom)
English: 12:00 – 1:00pm ET
Price?
Free and exclusive to members
Get your member discount code HERE
Resource
Training Portal: Early Childhood Development and Resilience
Why Attend?
Members Club is a quarterly online gathering of members designed to provide family support workers with a dedicated space to connect, share, and grow together. This club is an opportunity for Families Canada members to engage in activities and events, focused on fostering open conversation and encouraging members to build their networks and enhance family support services.
Session Overview
Who: Moderated by early childhood development expert and former executive director of Abilio Centre, Isabelle Vinet.
What: We’ll be discussing: Early Childhood Development and Resilience (Watch here before Members Club)
Resilience is not genetic but built over time through connection and supportive environments fostered by caregivers and/or family support professionals. In this e-module and discussion session, learn what resilience is, what it means in the early years, why it matters, and how you can help.
Where: Register and receive the virtual Meeting Link
When: November 25th, 2025 || 12-1pm ET
Fee: FREE for Families Canada members. Get the member discount code from your member portal here or sign up for membership here
What you need to do

Get your member discount code Here
Watch the E-Module Here (We recommend watching before the event)
Register for the Event Here
No training portal account yet, create your account Here
Not yet a member, sign up for membership Here

Who Can Benefit from This Session?
If you have direct interactions with families and children as part of your work, then this session is for you! Your job title might be:

Family support practitioners
Perinatal support worker
Early years worker
Resource mother
Home visitor
Social worker
Nurse, pediatrician, family doctor, or health care worker

Discussion Moderator

Isabelle Vinet
Psychoeducator
Isabelle Vinet holds a master’s degree in Psychoeducation from the Université de Montréal. Over the past 20 years, she has focused her professional activities on translating scientific knowledge on early childhood development into action.
She served as the executive director of Abilio-Childhood Knowledge Dissemination Centre an organization whose mission is to promote proven practices aimed at fostering the well-being of children from an early age. Abilio prevention programs have all undergone a rigorous evaluation process that has been in place for over 30 years in Quebec.
Abilio also encompasses the dissemination activities of the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (www.enfant-encyclopedie.com), a unique virtual resource with international reach that compiles the world’s best knowledge on early childhood development.
Register Here

Disability Tax Credit for Mental Health Conditions
2025-11-25 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join our FREE webinar on Disability Tax Credit (DTC) for Mental Health Conditions, hosted by Dr. Gurdeep Parhar!
Discover how to apply for the DTC, learn about eligible mental health conditions, and get important updates on the Canada Disability Benefits Program.
Reserve your spot for November 25, 2025, at 4pm PST / 6pm CST / 7pm EST.

REGISTER HERE

Fed Skills Workshop
2025-11-25 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join us for a Fed Skills Workshop!
Interested in expanding or developing your skills?
Join a Fed Skills workshop to connect with other youth from care and learn about subjects like: Peer Support; Justice, Equity Diversity & Inclusion; Leadership, and much more!
Participants will receive a certificate of completion for each workshop which can be used for job or school applications or go towards SAJE life skills hrs.

NEXT Fed Skills Workshop
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Who can attend:
Youth in and from care in BC between the ages of 14-28
When:
Tues Nov 25, 6-7PM
Where:
Virtual – Teams
After completing this training you should:
Understand the concepts: justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
Understand systems of power and privilege
Gain greater understanding of personal bias
Know what intersectionality means
Know what strategies to support justice, equity, diversity and inclusion

Wills & Estate Planning
2025-11-25 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver)
Becoming well-informed about wills, trusts and estate planning is necessary to secure the financial future of your loved one with a disability. In this workshop, Geoffrey White will explain how to arrange your estate, prepare a will, and the various ins and outs of setting up a trust specifically for your relative or loved-one with a disability.
REGISTER HERE

Lunchtime Education Kernel: Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities: Presented by PAC Outreach Program (POP)
2025-11-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
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

Becoming a More Emotionally Mature Parent
2025-11-26 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver)
This workshop explores: ways to improve emotional maturity, supporting ourselves as parents and supporting our children in a way that allows them to grow and gives them the space to be their true selves.
REGISTER HERE

FASD Housing Solutions - Part 1: What We’ve Learned So Far
2025-11-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
In this webinar recording, viewers will learn about the ChOoSE research initiative where the goal is to co-create innovative housing solutions for those with FASD. The webinar recording will also include a presentation from a member of the CanFASD AFECT committee, sharing his experience with finding housing as an adult with FASD. This webinar is a recording and was originally shown April 26th, 2024. Viewers will have the chance to watch the recording while also receiving new updates on the ChOoSE housing website and be able to ask questions in real time. This webinar acts as a refresher before part two of the housing series happens in January of 2026.

The Ripple Effect: How Complex Grief from Suicide Loss Shapes Our Bodies, Minds, and Connections (A Webinar)
2025-11-29 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver)
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

Rare But Not Alone
2025-12-01 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver)
Join us in this welcoming space for families who care for someone with a rare disorder (diagnosed or not). Rare disorders and conditions affect a small number of people in the country or even the world. Living with a rare disorder or condition can feel invisible and isolating, and sometimes there are seemingly no answers. But it doesn’t have to be scary all of the time—especially if you have others beside you! Join our supportive group and find strength in numbers as we share stories, connect with others who understand, and build upon our supportive networks.
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grassroots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY FSI is committed to making our events as accessible as possible to everyone who wants to attend. If you have accessibility needs, please let us know when you register, or send us an email to discuss your specific needs. Sign language (ASL) interpretation can be available with 3 weeks notice. Please identify that you require ASL when you register.

Learn About Support Worker Central
2025-12-02 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Are you looking to hire support staff? Learn about Support Worker Central, a free, province-wide job board where families and their loved ones with disabilities can find and hire support staff. During this presentation, you will learn how to create an account as someone hiring staff through Support Worker Central, how the job board works, and the resources available to support you as an employer. There will be time to ask questions. This presentation is geared towards people who are hiring support staff; however, if you are interested in becoming a support worker, you are welcome to attend.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
REGISTER HERE

Fed Family Winter
2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
We are excited to be hosting our fourth annual Fed Family Winter Celebration! This year’s virtual event is happening on
Tuesday Dec 2, 2025, from 6:30-8PM.
Join us for an evening of fun, winter-themed activities, laughter, and connecting with your Fed Family.
To register for this event, click here.

Inspired Educators Cafe
2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join Cari Rawling and Rian Bennett, Northern Ambassadors at Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), in an online dialogue around the experience of being an early years professional in the north. They will reflect on current challenges, emerging areas of support, and hopes for early childhood education spaces in the north.
When: December 2nd, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Where: Zoom
Register Here

Disability Poverty in Canada: Learning from Today to Make Tomorrow Better
2025-12-03 10:00 - 10:50 (America/Toronto)
On December 3, 2025, DWP is excited to bring a wide variety of presentations from people with lived experience, service providers, academic and community researchers to our free, virtual symposium.
There are two streams available, each with a different set of speakers, presentations and panellists. You are welcome to sit in on speakers from both streams that interest you. Replay videos of both streams will be on the DWP YouTube channel after the event.
ASL, English & French closed captioning, as well as Simultaneous French translation, will be provided. LSQ will be available for Stream A only for the first two hours: Opening Remarks and the discussion on Barriers to Housing for People in Quebec.
