Comox Valley Strengthening Community Workshops and Training Opportunities

These workshops and training opportunities are available free of charge to any organization, volunteer, or community member that is working on the front lines, supporting or interacting with individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges.

How to register:

Register online, over the phone, or in person at the Lewis or Florence Filberg Centres. 

If you represent an organization and would like to register a group, please contact kcollins@courtenay.ca

Upcoming workshops and training opportunities:

Mental Health First Aid Standard

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. Course participants will learn how to recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis and encourage that person to:

  • Talk about declines in their mental well-being
  • Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being
  • Reach out to these supports
  • Assist in a mental health or substance use crisis
  • Use MHFA actions to maintain one’s own mental well-being

++Please note: Module 1 is required to be completed prior to course start date

Facilitated by Canadian Mental Health Association

Location: Virtual - LINK will be emailed prior to program start date
Date: June 27-28, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 12:00pm

To register online:

Click to register

Not Just Naloxone

This training was designed by First Nations Health Authority, to be shared by FNHA Not Just Naloxone Ambassadors to their community and networks. This 2-day training will go over prohibition and rooted connection in racism, the connection of colonization and the over-representation of Indigenous peoples impacted by the toxic-drug poisonings crisis, the practices, destigmatizing substance use, principles of Indigenous harm reduction, naloxone training, OAT overview and much more. This training will also include information provided and developed by Unbroken Chain, which will provide some content on the complexities of the toxic drug poisoning crisis, stigma, and local perspectives of people with lived and living experiences of substance use and our Elder's perspectives.

Facilitated by: Unbroken Chain, Indigenous Harm Reduction Coordinator, NJN Ambassador, Patti Alvarado, Assistant Coordinator Mackenzie Smith , Community Elders, and Peers with lived and living experience from the Comox Valley.

Location: The Lewis Park - Salish Building
Date: July 4-5, 2024
Time: 09:00am - 5:00pm

Click to register

The Power of Coercive Control

An introduction into Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), for service providers, social service workers, organization volunteers and health care workers. This training will teach the definition of IPV and review the dynamics of IPV. It will give a basic introduction on how to support a survivor of IPV in a trauma-informed way and connect them to specialized resources in community.

Training is provided by Indigenous Women's Sharing Society, and will be facilitated by Patti Alvarado, IPV Specialist and Advocate.

Location: The LINC Youth Centre
Date: July 11-12, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 12:30pm

Click to register

Prevention First – Introduction to Crisis

This self paced virtual program provides skills and knowledge on:

  • Introduction to Crisis
  • Responding to someone in distress
  • Perceptions and unknown contributors to crisis
  • Responding to defensive behavior
  • After the crisis

Facilitated Virtually through Crisis Prevention Institute

Location: Virtual - LINK to training will be sent after registration. Please ensure your email address is provided.
Register anytime *This training is at your own pace [Training must be completed within 90 days.]

Click to register

Homeless Services Association of BC Annual Memberships:

Gain access to free/low cost training through Homelessness Services Association of BC for your agency or community group.

Become a member of the Homelessness Services Association of BC to unlock free training and webinars for your agency. Annual Associate Memberships will be provided free of charge through funding from the Strengthening Communities Grant to qualified organizations.

What is HSABC?

Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) was created through the merger of Shelter Net BC (SNBC) and the Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy Society (GVSS) in 2017. SNBC was established in 1999 as provincial, grassroots movement by shelter providers who identified a need for training, networking, and development of best practice. GVSS was formed in 1998 as a regional network of Metro Vancouver organizations responding together to meet the needs of people who are homeless or at risk focused on coordination of the Extreme Weather Response program and research

HSABC continues to build on the legacy of both organizations and is a solution-focused, member-driven organization supporting shelters, drop-in centres, homeless outreach teams, and other service provider addressing the needs of persons experiencing homelessness with the goal tending homelessness.

(HSABC) Associate Membership

Benefits include:

  • Register your staff for in person workshops and webinars at no additional cost
  • Access past recorded trainings
  • BC Housing and WorkSafe BC recognized certificates
  • Discounted Rates for HSABC's Annual Conference and other events
  • Participate in teleconferences and research initiatives

How to get your membership?

Email Kathy Collins at kcollins@courtenay.ca 

Sneak peek of HSABC Training Calendar*: https://hsa-bc.ca/

*Once your organization has become a member you are able to register for any of these course offerings

Additional Resources

Mental Health

 Addiction & Trauma

Community Walks

This arts-based community action project, organized through the Comox Valley Art Gallery in partnership with AVI Health and Community Services, Thompson Rivers University and a host of community organizations, seeks to uncover the human dimensions of the toxic drug poisoning crisis as it has unfolded locally in the Comox Valley. Within and through it, a group of artist-researchers, front-line workers and people with lived and living experience have banded together in a spirit of solidarity, attempting to come to terms with the impact of the crisis on individuals and community groups through a practice of story sharing. Through stories, we aim to cultivate awareness leading to change.

Questions? Contact Sharon Karsten (Project Facilitator) 250-650-3794.

Homelessness & Housing

Cultural

  • Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society/Unbroken Chain

  • University of Alberta - Indigenous Canada | Coursera
    Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

Have a training or workshop idea?

Please email Kathy Collins at kcollins@courtenay.ca

Funding provided by: