Osanis Inclusion Services Inc.

Early Years and School Age Navigation
2025-06-04 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
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 anticipating school years on the horizon, can be a uniquely challenging time. Join this Family Hangout 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.
Register Here

Beyond Behaviours: When Is It More? What It Looks Like at Ages 9 – 12
2025-06-03 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
Why can it feel so tricky to tell if our kids are on track, going through a phase, as opposed to struggling with something more, or beyond behaviours? Learn about the developmental stages of 9 to 12 year old children and what might be some signs of mental health challenges at this age.
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.
Register Here

Breaking Free: History of Deinstitutionalization for People with Disabilities in British Columbia
2025-05-29 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavilion, 1070 Tillicum Rd, Esquimalt, BC, V9A 2A1, Canada
Supports for people with intellectual disabilities have emerged from a long and complicated history of fear and oppression, charitable beliefs, pseudo-science, human rights, and economic priorities. Join us in a conversation about the history, values, and beliefs that guide our movement and are vital to sustaining ourselves – and the vision of community living for all citizens.
Location: Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavilion, 1070 Tillicum Rd, Esquimalt, BC V9A 2A1
Date and time: Thu, May 29, 2025 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
Organizer: South Island Education Committee, cmyra@beconnectedsupport.ca

Drop-in Floor Hockey for Individuals with Diverse Abilities (18yrs+)
2025-05-28 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-21 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-14 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-30 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-16 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Gender Marvelous
2025-05-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Slam Dunk! Wheelchair Basketball
2025-05-26 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Parents Day 2025
2025-05-24 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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!

Step into Nature: A Community Walking Group for Wellness
2025-05-20 14:00 - 2025-06-10 15:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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.

SEA: For Adults online workshop
2025-05-14 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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.
May 14, 2025 6:30 – 8pm
Once you’ve registered, you will receive the Zoom link the morning of the workshop.
Register Here.

Neurodivergent Early Years
2025-05-09 12:30 - 14:30 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
With Dr. Michelle Schmidt & Allison Balfour
What does neurodivergence look like in the early years—and how can we respond with curiosity, care, and confidence? In this empowering session, discover how to support Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent children in preschool and early primary settings with strategies that celebrate difference and build connection.
You’ll explore:

Early signs and communication styles of neurodivergent kids
Tools to support regulation, play, and safety
Inclusive practices that help children thrive in home, school, and community environments

Designed for early childhood educators, family support professionals, and caregivers, this session is your invitation to deepen your understanding of neurodiversity—right from the start.
Join us to support neurodivergent kids in becoming their best selves—on their terms.
$5 parking and cafeteria on-site

Understanding Autism, PDA & ODD: Strategies to Avoid Power Struggles
2025-05-09 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)
Struggling with defiance, shutdowns, or resistance to everyday demands? Join us for this practical and compassionate session designed to help caregivers, educators, and professionals understand the overlap between Autism, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).
Learn how to reduce power struggles and foster collaboration through low-demand, relationship-based strategies rooted in emotional safety and respect.
Walk away with:

Tools to identify and respond to avoidance behaviours
Proactive techniques to de-escalate and connect
Communication strategies that build trust

Perfect for anyone supporting neurodivergent children and youth who experience demand avoidance or strong opposition.
Register now and rethink “challenging behaviour” through a neurodiversity-affirming lens!
Streaming live.

Substance Use and the Power of Support
2025-05-08 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Supporting Kids with Substance Misuse
2025-05-07 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
A Conversation With
Together We Can

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
6:30pm – 7:30pm (PST)
SUPPORTING KIDS WITH SUBSTANCE MISUSE
As parents and caregivers, how we talk about substance use shapes how young people see it. This session explores insights from those with lived experience, offering ways to support without judgment.
Topics We’ll Cover:

Strength-Based Conversations – Focusing on resilience over challenges
Deficit-Based Thinking – Recognizing and reframing unhelpful narratives
Trauma-Informed Language – How words shape understanding and healing
Boundary Setting – Why it’s so hard and how to navigate it
Taking Care of You! – Prioritizing your well-being while supporting others

Alex Lekei is a Canadian Certified Addictions Counsellor with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. They currently serve as a Family Educator with Together We Can, a Peer Leader with Vancouver Coastal Health, and operates his own private practice, Guiding Solutions Counselling. Drawing from his own lived experience with substance use as a youth and young adult, combined with academic training and community involvement, they bring a unique and empathetic perspective.
Steven Hall is the Public Relations Manager at Together We Can Drug & Alcohol Recovery & Education Society (TWC). A graduate of TWC’s 12-step-based program, Steven draws on his own lived experience with addiction and mental health to support others. Now part of TWC’s Community Relations and Family Support Team, he is passionate about creating safe spaces and believes recovery is possible—and everyone is worthy of it.

Register For Free

Finding and Creating Connection with Kids
2025-05-06 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Community ASIST Workshop individual registration
2025-05-05 09:00 - 2025-05-06 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | 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

Virtual Service Provider Course on Brain Health
2025-05-02 11:30 - 2025-06-06 13:00 (America/Toronto)
You are invited to take part in a research study titled, Promoting brain health: A national capacity building project for aging adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, family caregivers and service providers.
A group of researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are studying a virtual education program for aging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), family caregivers, and service providers from across Canada. This online course is designed and delivered by family caregivers, alongside medical and mental health experts specializing in the care of adults with IDD.
Who Should Attend?
Health and social service providers working with adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities aged 40 years or older
Dates: Every Friday, May 2 to June 6, 2025 | 11:30am-1:00pm Eastern time
Program Highlights:

Attend six weekly 90-minute Project ECHO sessions at the scheduled time above
Participate with other service providers across Canada and receive resources
Complete 3 online questionnaires that take about 20-30 minutes each
Before the course, at the end of the course, and 14 weeks after the end of the course
Receive a gift card at the end of the study for participating

View our Flyer | Register Now: https://redcap.link/9uja13v6
Participation is completely voluntary and will not affect any present or future services provided by CAMH. Any information collected for this study will be confidential.
For more information or support, please contact the CAMH research staff by email at BrainHealthIDD@camh.ca or by phone 437-328-6761.

Canucks Autism Network (CAN) - Summer Day Camps
2025-05-02
Our summer program guide will be released Friday, May 2!
Registration will open Sunday, May 11 at 6pm.

Get active outside. Get crafty indoors. Let’s have some fun!
Our summer day camps provide a range of games and activities for children on the autism spectrum.
Program delivery (ie. length, format, and support) ranges by location, as we team up with Jays Care Foundation, local community organizations and municipalities.
Participants must have a registered account, an autism diagnosis, and be of the correct age when the program starts.

Connect and Learn - Parenting When Anxiety Shows Up As Anger
2025-04-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-04-16 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver)
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

CSSHSA - Health & Safety Community of Practice
2025-04-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
Join our Health & Safety Community of Practice Meeting! This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Health & Safety specialists, share challenges, and discuss best practices. Following the first CoP meeting in January, we’ll discuss survey results, meeting logistics, and CoP sub-groups. Together, we can build a strong and engaged community focused on improving health and safety. Register now and be part of the conversation!
This meeting is exclusive to health and safety professionals in the following WorkSafeBC Classification Units:
• 766007 – Counselling or Social Services (not elsewhere specified)
• 766010 – Life and Job Skills Training
• 766017 – Residential Social Service Facility
Register Here

Mental Wellness - Y Mind Teen (13-18) & Youth (18-30)
2025-04-15 17:45 - 2025-04-16 18:45 (America/Vancouver)
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 Y In Person Information Session:
Tuesday April 15th at 5:45 pm @ 851 Broughton Street
or
Tuesday April 22nd at 5:45 pm @ 851 Broughton Street

Downtown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Tuesdays April 29th – June 10th, 2025 at 6 pm -7:30 pm @ 851 Broughton Street
We are looking for interest in offering a Westhills Teen group. Please register below to attend an information session on April 9th @ 5:45 PM at our Association Services office, 202-1314 Lakepoint Way. With enough interest we can form a group at that location.
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 Y In Person Information Session:
Wednesday April 16th 2025 at 5:45pm @ 851 Broughton Street
or
Wednesday April 23rd 2025 at 5:45pm @ 851 Broughton Street
Downtown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Wednesdays May 21 – July 2, 2025 6pm – 8:30pm @ 851 Broughton Street

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

Wellness Exchange in Action: Steps to Boost Your Well-Being
2025-04-12 - 2025-04-30 | Virtual Event
Life can be stressful. These stressors can range from work issues, interpersonal conflicts, to the daily stressors such as sitting in traffic. Community social service workers face unique challenges by caring for others that can really impact their overall well-being. Having effective tools within your toolbox when life stressors pop up can be a protective factor for your overall well-being. In this article, we will be exploring what the Wellness Exchange Program is, and go through some practical, simple steps for moving towards wellness.

What is the Wellness Exchange Program?

The Wellness Exchange Program was adapted from the Alberta Health Services Wellness Exchange Toolkit by Provincial Health Services Authority. It was created to help individuals build a resilience toolkit and modelled after skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) group format. The Wellness Exchange Program can be used in both disaster response recovery and in non-disaster settings to help manage life’s stressors. Training is delivered through a five-week series of one-hour workshops covering these topics:

Problem Solving
Positive Activities
Managing Reactions
Helpful Thinking
Healthy Connections

1. Problem Solving

Have you experienced a problem in the past that you had difficulty solving? Maybe it took you a very long time to come to a resolution, and this could have caused distress and disruption for a long period of time. This module explores a structured way of problem solving which encourages participants to influence what they can by taking a step-by-step approach. This can increase our confidence and propel us to explore options for problem solving with more confidence

Action Plan: Write it down
Do you know that writing things down uses a different cognitive process than merely thinking or contemplating on a matter? One simple way to effectively problem solve is to write things down. This could be a pros and cons list or a brain dump of what you’ve been reflecting on. Writing can increase our critical thinking, memory and creativity in regard to problem solving.1

2. Positive Activities

Positive activities are the things we do that can really improve our overall wellbeing. When are you most likely to do things, you enjoy or that improves your mood? When it comes positive activities, for some people it might be weather dependent, meaning, they’re likely to do enjoyable activities during the warmer months. Having a plan with activities you can do year-round can help increase your mood and improve your mental health.

Action Plan: Rate How You Feel
Becoming an observer of ourselves can be a very effective way of growing our understanding of what brings us joy and how to self soothe in times of stress. Keep a record of how you feel before and after engaging in a positive activity. For example, if you listen to music after a long day, or exercise during your lunch break, go ahead and observe how you feel after. Rate your mood before and after the activity on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. You may come up with some interesting and insightful data on what works well for you.

3. Managing Reactions

Most people find managing their reactions while facing a stressor to be difficult. Learning to regulate reactions can help protect our wellbeing, our relationships and also help with responding in ways that are healthy and helpful. This module explores the purpose of emotions and guides participants to identify their own stressors and reactions, while reacting a plan on how to react in healthier ways.

Action Plan: Notice your thoughts
When you’re experiencing a reaction that you don’t think is helpful, take a moment to notice some of your thoughts. For example, you can say- “I notice I am having a thought that…” then specify what the thought is. This can bring awareness to what are thoughts are and also help us look at our thoughts more objectively.2

4. Helpful Thinking

Our thoughts can have a big impact on how we see the world, ourselves and even our future. This module explores different common unhelpful thinking styles and strategies for more helpful thinking. Learning these skills can help persons improve their overall mood and increase feelings of wellness and hope.

Action Plan: Keep a Thought Journal
It can be challenging to work on unhelpful thinking if we are unaware of what those unhelpful thoughts are in the first place. A first step could be to journal or keep a record of what some of these unhelpful thoughts are. Ask yourself, is there another way I can look at this that is more helpful yet true? Helpful thinking is not false positivity. It is a structured way of creating a narrative that is both true and helpful.

5. Healthy Connections

Social support and connecting with others can reduce feelings of isolation, increase belonging and is a vital contributing factor to our well-being. This module can help a participant identify the areas they need support in when it comes in their social life and create a plan for getting or giving support in a way that is effective and aligns with their values.

Action Plan: Express gratitude/appreciation to someone in your life
Take a moment to express gratitude to someone who supports you. Expressing gratitude to a safe person within your social circle can have a twofold benefit. It can help improve the mood of the person expressing gratitude since it focuses on the positive areas in that person’s life. Also, by expressing gratitude to someone you appreciate, it helps strengthen the relationship and bond. This expression of gratitude can be big or small for example, a verbal affirmation or something else that aligns better with your values and relationship.

Get Involved

Ready to enhance your well-being and connect with your peers? Join us in building a healthier and more resilient sector. Sign up for the Wellness Exchange Program.
