Osanis Inclusion Services Inc.

Community ASIST Workshop individual registration
2025-02-24 - 2025-02-25 | Need2 Office, 2390 Arbutus Road, Victoria, BC, V8N 1V7, Canada
A two-day workshop that teaches you the skills to be ready, willing, and able as a life-assisting caregiver for someone struggling with thoughts of suicide.
In person event. This workshop is open to anyone 17 years or older.

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

For Families: A Conversation About Eating Disorders
2025-02-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
Knowing how to help our kids who are experiencing an eating disorder can be a terrifying, isolating and overwhelming experience. Learn about disordered eating, what to be aware of, the importance of connection, and strategies that help support recovery.
Join us as Victoria Keddis hosts a conversation with Eating Disorders Therapist & Educator Carmen Kauffman, and Rylee McKinlay, a young person with lived experience, and Terri McKinlay, a parent with lived experience.
Come together and watch a video presentation and stay for a facilitated conversation by our Family Peer Support Workers.
Carmen Kauffman, Eating Disorders Therapist & Educator, will be joining us live on Zoom to help answer some of your questions.
6:30pm-8:00pm Pacific Time (most of British Columbia)
7:30pm-9:00pm Mountain Time (Alberta)
Register Here
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.

ADHD - The Real Deal
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
ADHD doesn’t just affect the person living with ADHD, it also affects those around them. As parents of kids living with ADHD, we can benefit from learning what ADHD is and how to support our kids. Dr. Duncan dispels some myths and explains how and why the ADHD brain works the way it does.
Join us to learn from Dr. Don Duncan, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
Come together and watch a video presentation and stay for a facilitated conversation by our Family Peer Support Workers.
12:00pm-1:30pm Pacific Time (most of British Columbia)
1:00pm-2:30pm Mountain Time (Alberta)
Register Here
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.

Emotion Regulation - Deepening Our Understanding - Special Live FamilySmart Event (online)
2025-02-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Have you ever found yourself looking at your child’s emotional outburst and thinking, “What the heck is happening?” or “This doesn’t make any sense,” or “What on earth are they so upset about – it’s not that big a deal?” If so, you are certainly not alone! Many parents describe feeling as though they’re walking on eggshells or avoiding taking their children out in fear of an emotional ‘meltdown’ which can be embarrassing, upsetting, and can lead to some pretty big emotions for the grown ups as well.
If this sounds like you, or like someone you care about, please join us for an evening filled with information about what can lead to big emotions and for some concrete strategies for responding skillfully to those situations. Nicole will join us live on Zoom to lead us through an evening of learning which will expand upon some key points including:

Understanding emotion dysregulation as a skills deficit, and identifying strategies to grow those skills.
How to anticipate when big emotions will occur, and exploring specific skills for responding to it.
Understanding how the principle of attunement can be a roadmap for finding solutions that will work for you and your family.
Hoping for the best, planning for the worst – so that everyone knows what to expect.
How to repair the relationship when it’s all gone wrong.

Please join us live online for an evening filled with information, reflection, and no doubt a good amount of laughter as well.
Speaker: Nicole Allen is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, mom, wife and dog lover who, over the past decade, has worked with young people and their caregivers to build relationships and emotion regulation strategies, especially in times of mental health crisis. Nicole has private practices in Abbotsford and Fort Langley.
This event will be hosted on Zoom.
The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm and end at 8 pm Pacific Time.
Please note: The event is free. Registration is required and limited.
Register here.

You Gotta Have Friends
2025-02-12 18:00 - 19:00 | 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

Gender Marvelous
2025-02-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Welcome to a space where families come together to share their experiences, ask questions, and support one another as we navigate the journey of raising our queer, gender-diverse and/or Two-Spirit children and youth. Join the conversation, find strength and encouragement, and connect with a network of families who understand. All queer and 2SLGBTQIA+ families are welcome. Let’s support each other and grow 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 Annual Friendship Formal
2025-02-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Fairfield Community Centre – Garry Oaks Room, 1341 Thurlow Rd, Victoria, BC, V8S 5K2, Canada
Mark your calendars and shine up your dancing shoes! The Annual Friendship Formal is back.
This all ages, all abilities event is an opportunity to connect and dance together.
​
Program Details
– Saturday, February 8th, 2025 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm​
– At Fairfield Community Centre in the Garry Oaks Room (1341 Thurlow Rd)
– This multigenerational program is open for individuals of all ages and abilities. We ask that participants who are under the age of 18 or those who require 1:1 support to please attend with a guardian or support worker.
– Free Event
– Registration Required
Register Here

Food For Thought
2025-02-06 16:00 - 2025-03-13 18:30 | Family Centre, 511 Constance Ave, Victoria, BC, V9A 6N5, Canada
Individual Youth and Family support and education (13 – 18 years) appointments. We promote family and community capacity to protect and support youth and their families through access to supportive counselling, intervention, mediation, parent education, system navigation, outreach and referral. We aim to build upon youth (13 – 18 years) and family strengths, improve family relationships and the understanding of teen development.

Creating a Culture of Care Webinar
2025-02-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
For Community Social Services

Join us for an insightful one-hour webinar focused on two valuable resources designed to enhance mental health outcomes and foster a psychologically safe workplace in the Community Social Services (CSS) sector. In this session, participants will gain an understanding of psychological health and safety, why it’s critical for organizational well-being, and how they can utilize the Community Social Services Health and Safety Association’s (CSSHSA) Wellness Exchange Program and the Pulse Check tool to support their teams. This webinar will equip you with practical tools to create a more resilient, supportive environment for employees across the sector.

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

Understand the CSSHSA Wellness Exchange Program and how it provides tools, resources, and support to enhance well-being and professional resilience for employees in the Community Social Services sector.
Identify the benefits of the Pulse Check tool for leaders, including how it can help assess organizational psychosocial health and safety, and identify gaps and areas for improvement.
Apply insights from the Wellness Exchange Program to foster mental health, well-being, and resilience within teams.
Evaluate current practices for supporting employee mental health and well-being and use the Pulse Check tool to make data-driven decisions for improvement.
Integrate the Wellness Exchange Program and Pulse Check tool as key components of your organizational toolkit to create a supportive and healthy workplace environment.

Our Presenter

Suncha Satney is a Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Consultant at CSSHSA. She is passionate about guiding organizations in creating environments where people feel their best and do their best work. With many years of experience in Community Social Services as a frontline worker and Clinical Counselor, she brings awareness, education, and strategies to support workplace mental health within the sector. She is a CMHA Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.

Register Here

Parenting Workshop
2025-02-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual Event
What are Parenting Workshops?

Parenting Workshops are free, interactive, and informative online workshops on a variety of parenting topics. These workshops provide parents and caregivers with practical strategies for supporting the development of their children.
This workshop supports families by exploring expectations and boundaries.

Brave In Your Body
2025-02-03 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-01-27 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-01-20 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-01-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Virtual Event
A safe and inclusive virtual space to explore your relationship with body image.

Understanding Disordered Eating: How to Support The Youth In Your Life
2025-02-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Learn from our panel of youth with lived experiences and our moderator, Carmen Kaufmann, an eating disorder specialist. This free event is open to parents, caregivers, youth, professionals, family, and friends.
Through this event you will:

Understand the factors that influence disordered eating
Learn how to identify warning signs for disordered eating
Hear how youth cope with social media, fat shaming, diet culture and more
Learn how to support and start the conversation about disordered eating and body image

Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10:30-12 pm Online
For more information, contact our Embody team directly at embody@familyservices.bc.ca, or go to embodybc.com
Embody is here to explore common questions and concerns about disordered eating, body image, mental health, self-compassion, and more. Embody equips BC parents and professionals with trusted resources to support young people before they develop an eating disorder.
Please ensure that you have a confidential space to attend.
When registering, please make sure to fill out the questionnaire and include any queries you may have for our youth panel.
Shortly after registration, you will receive a confirmation email. You will NOT receive a link to the event upon registration confirmation. Your link will be emailed to you via Eventbrite, 3 hours prior to event. Please note that you will also receive reminder emails in the lead up to the event.

Greater Victoria Hiring and Post-Secondary Education Expo 2025
2025-01-30 11:00 - 15:00 | Bay Street Armoury, 715 Bay Street, Victoria, B.C., Canada
COME AND MEET US IN PERSON!
FREE Tickets are available for the Greater Victoria Hiring & Post-Secondary Education Expo 2025!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? – Anyone looking for a new career or post-secondary education options.

Date: January 30, 2025Time: 11 AM – 3 PM
Location: Bay Street Armoury, Victoria, B.C.

Get a Free Ticket & see the List of Exhibitors:careerexpos.blackpress.ca/victoria1-202

SEXABA
2025-01-30 09:00 - 2025-03-23 23:50 | Virtual Event
Happy SexABA 2025! Join us for our 5th annual year, online starting Saturday Feb 01, 2025 through Sunday Feb 02, 2024 for a full two day Conference on sexual behavior, sexuality, and gender through a lens of neurodiversity affirmation, harm reduction, and human rights. Can’t make it live online? All recordings will be available until March 31, 2025.
Also consider also joining us online Thursday Jan 30, 2025 and Friday Jan 31, 2025 for four 3hr live, interactive Pre-Conference Workshops. Can’t make it live online? All recordings of workshops will also be available until March 31, 2025.
12 BACB CEUs will be available across the 2 day Conference, and an additional 12 BACB CEUs will be available across the 4 Pre-Conference Workshops, for a total of 24 possible BACB CEUs across all conference offerings.
All BACB CEUs will be available for both live online attendance, as well as asynchronous online attendance.
Really want to be here, but can’t do the ticket price? Reach out to info@sexaba.com to inquire about our scholarships.
If you have any questions about the conference, you can also reach us at info@sexaba.com!
We can’t wait to see you!

Drop-in Floor Hockey for Individuals with Diverse Abilities (18yrs+)
2025-01-29 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-22 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-15 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-08 13:00 - 14:30 | 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

Learn About Support Worker Central
2025-01-28 10:00 - 11:00 | BC
Date & Time

Jan 28, 2025 10:00 AM in Vancouver

Description
Support Worker Central is a province-wide job board where people with disabilities and their families can find support staff, and people looking for work can find a job supporting someone with a disability. There are over 1400 job seekers currently utilizing the job board. Learn more at www.supportworkercentral.ca. 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 grass roots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

Y Mind Downtown - Information Session
2025-01-24 15:00 - 2025-02-07 16:00 | Virtual Event
The Y Mind Groups offer a free 7-week in-person psychoeducational and support group for youth ages 13-30 who experience stress, worry or anxiety. Participants learn healthy coping skills, connect with other young people in the community, and get support all in a safe and friendly environment. Programming is supervised by trained mental health professionals. Free gym membership while in the program.
Registration in the program is separate. Please note that attendance in all program sessions is required.

Webinar: Strategies for Coping with Anxiety
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
This webinar is tailored for professionals in the Community Social Services (CSS) sector looking to deepen their understanding of anxiety and gain practical strategies for coping. Whether you’re a frontline worker or a manager, this session will provide valuable insights into the nature and function of anxiety, as well as evidence-based, easy-to-apply techniques for managing it. Join us to explore ways to support yourself and others in navigating anxiety, both within the workplace and beyond.

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

Understand what anxiety is and how it impacts us mentally and physically.
Recognize the distinction between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Apply the Cognitive Model to understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Implement practical, easy-to-use strategies for managing anxiety, including mindfulness and grounding techniques.
Identify common challenges in managing anxiety in both personal and professional contexts.

Our Presenter

Suncha Satney is a Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Consultant at CSSHSA. She is passionate about guiding organizations in creating environments where people feel their best and do their best work. With many years of experience in Community Social Services as a frontline worker and Clinical Counselor, she brings awareness, education, and strategies to support workplace mental health within the sector. She is a CMHA Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.

EMBRACE: Winter Programs
2025-01-09 10:00 - 10:45 | BC
Embrace runs a variety of arts based classes for children, teens, and adults of all abilities. Some of these classes are run independently by Embrace and some are run in collaboration with other fantastic local organizations based in the CRD.

Sessional Classes

In-Person Sessionals Classes

Embrace: Dance Sampler
In this sessional class, we’ll be exploring a wide variety of different dance styles including:
Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and more! It’s a great opportunity to try out new dance styles (or enjoy a mix of those you already know and love!)
This class is designed for individuals of all abilities. There will be seated and standing variations of all dance moves demonstrated if required.

Program Details
– Thursday mornings from 10:00 – 10:45am
– January 9, 16, 30, February 6 and 13, 2025
– This program is open for individuals of all abilities ages 14 and up.
– At Dance Victoria (2750 Quadra St)
– Registration for this program by donation, thanks to the generous support of the Pass – Timothy 6:18 Fund. No registration fee is required.

Register Here

Movement and Music with Tiffany & Erin
This intergenerational class is designed for individuals of all abilities to get moving together. It’s a space for friends and family to playfully connect through dance and music based activities.
Program Details
– Wednesday afternoons from 3:45pm to 4:30pm
– January 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2025
– This intergenerational program is open for individuals of all abilities ages 5 and up.
– Dancers under the age of 13 are asked to attend with a family member or support.
– At Vic West Community Centre (521 Craigflower Rd)
– Registration for this program by donation, thanks to the generous support of the Pass – Timothy 6:18 Fund. No registration fee is required.

Register Here

Online Sessional Classes

Music Jam with Erin

Music Jam with Erin is an intergenerational online program centered on music and community. Participants are invited to sing and dance along at home or simply enjoy listening to a wide variety of live and recorded music. The program also includes opportunities to make song requests and share weekly highlights. It is a fun, joy-filled space to connect through music.

No previous musical experience required. Open nationally to individuals of all ages.

Program Details
– Tuesday afternoons from 3:30pm to 4:30pm PST
– 10 weeks of program total running from January 7th to March 25th, 2025.
(Note: There is no Music Jam on Feb. 18th or 25th)
– Online via Zoom
– This class is open for individuals of all ages and abilities
– $40.00 for the sessional
Register Here

Circle of Security - Free Workshop for Parents
2025-01-09 08:00 - 17:00 | BC
This workshop will help parents and caregivers to:

– Understand a child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs
– Supporting the child’s ability to successfully manage emotions
– Enhance the development of a child’s self esteem

Next 8 Week Session Starts: Tuesday January 21st
Time: 1O-113Oam
Location: 345 Wale Rd Boardroom
For Registration Contact: Reachelle Wolfe – rwuolle@thrivevictoria.org

Parents Together Program
2025-01-07 18:30 - 20:30 | BC
Boys & Girls Club – (BGC) Parents Together Program (13-19yrs) Sometimes parenting challenges can feel overwhelming. This program is for parents of teens and provides ongoing support. A manual and materials are provided to participants. Parents may stay in the group as long as they feel they need support and help in their daily parenting.

Topics include:

Attachment and relationship-based practices
Communication and 6 critical messages
Developmental changes in pre-adolescence
Adolescent brain development
Boundaries, and turning over responsibility as appropriate
Self-care – taking back your life
Adolescent mental health
Substance use and teens

Date: Tuesdays, Ongoing – Daytime 12-1:30PM (Online) or Evening 6:30-8PM (In-Person)
Cost: Free
Register: https://bgcsvi.org/programs/parenting/

Connect Parenting Program
2025-01-07 12:00 - 2025-03-11 13:30 | BC
Connect Parenting Program: is an evidence-based 10-week attachment-based program that helps parents support youth. This program is for families and caregivers of children ages 8-15 with depression, anxiety, and/or intense emotional difficulties. Or children who are getting into trouble and having severe behavioral difficulties.

Dates & Times: Tuesdays Jan 7 through to and including March 11 from 12-130pm in person
Information:https://www.connectattachmentprograms.org/
To Register: Sylvia Mason: smason@thrivevictoria.org or Haley Kimmel: hkimmel@thrivevictoria.org
Cost: Free
