In the interest of community, we’re keeping tabs on all the cool stuff happening across BC. Check back often for updates!
Graduation Events
- Boys and Girls Club Vancouver Island – Pride Prom – Music, dancing, food, costumes, prizes, events, and MORE! – June 9
- Nanaimo/Ladysmith School District – Rainbow Masquerade Graduation Event – John Barsby/Learning Alt QSA have organized Nanaimo’s first ever glow-in-the-dark rainbow masquerade! Come out and celebrate the final years of your high school journey in one unforgettable night! – June 22
- GP Vanier Secondary School – Important Grad Dates
- Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School – Grad Information
- Esquimalt High School – Grad Information
- Lambrick Park Secondary School – Grad Information
- South Vancouver Island – The Magic Wand Project – Ensure that all students, including those facing adversity, can attend their graduation in style! Get help with your dream grad outfit, or help someone else suit up in their dream grad outfit!
Upcoming Events
- Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society – Honouring Fathers, Grandfathers and Sons Pow Wow – Join us on Father’s Day weekend to honour and uplift the men in our lives, and to support healing through culture, community, and coming together – June 16-18
- Recreation Nanaimo – Spare Blox Youth Drop-In – The ultimate place to have some fun with other youth in your community. It’s free, and you can get
some exercise while meeting people and making friends. Four age groups to choose from. Runs until June 23. - Boys and Girls Club Nanaimo – Youth Lounge – Come hang out! Play foosball, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, eat snacks, and have a good time! Runs until June 15.
- Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD) – Free American Sign Language (ASL) Classes – Learn conversational American Sign Language for free for a limited time. These classes are taught by OSD’s ASL specialist and include over 10 hours of video content. Enroll today! Feb. 13, 2023 – July 31, 2023
- Nanaimo Parks, Recreation, and Culture – Spring and Summer 2023 Activity Guide – Check out all the amazing things to do in Nanaimo from now until August! Activities are sorted by type and by age. Call for more information – 250-756-5200
- Nanaimo Harbourfront Library – Makerspace for Teens – Teens aged 13-19 can express their creativity in the Harbourfront Library’s makerspace. Learn new skills while utilizing 3D printers, digital design tools, a recording studio, and so much more! – Wednesdays from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm every week
- Parenting Support Services Society of BC – Parenting Support Circles – Find a safe, supportive place to connect and share concerns, ideas, and information with others who are in a parenting role – Meetings are ongoing weekly
- Nanaimo Foodshare – Homegrown Youth Employment Program – 12-week training and employment program for youth aged 15-30; get paid $15.65 per hour! – apply by link, email, or phone – homegrown@nanaimofoodshare.ca – 250-668-6763
- Arts Council of Ladysmith and District – 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Drop-in – This weekly art drop-in provides a supportive space for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to connect with others and express themselves in their creative process – Every Thursday at 3:15 pm
- Crimson Coast Dance – Body Talk Youth Program – The Body Talk Youth Program is open to teens who are passionate about performing arts, leadership, and First Nations culture. Weekly gatherings directed by Ecko Aleck (sacredmatriarchcreative.com) weave land-based teachings and natural ways of knowing into the practice of hosting an event. Together the Body Talk Cru produces a Spring Break Workshop that takes place in March. Email: dance@crimsoncoast.org
Community Resources
- Nanaimo WorkBC Website – Get help finding a job or finding employees, and participate in the many workshops and other services that WorkBC Nanaimo has to offer.
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre – Tons of great information and resources for parents, caregivers, and youth who want to know more about mental health and find a support system.
- Kelty Mental Health – Where You Are Podcast – Through real stories, expertise, and practical tips, this podcast helps families promote their mental health and wellness, navigating important topics to meet you where you are in your journey.
- Healthy Minds BC – Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators (EASE) – EASE is an online course for educators and parents. A collection of evidence-informed, curriculum-aligned classroom resources help educators and parents teach K–12 students effective everyday anxiety management skills. EASE includes strategies for students to help them cope with everyday anxiety while contributing to the mental health literacy of educators and parents.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship BC Facebook Group – This Facebook group provides a larger opportunity for connection, sharing of resources, and information. Grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers in BC can join!
- Youth Employment Outreach Coordinator from Work BC for job opportunities – Michelle Backé – 250-714-0085 – michelleb@maximuscanada.ca
- Power Up Sexual Health – Nanaimo-based sexual health workshops for educating children and families
- Nanaimo FoodShare Programs – Support people with low-income, disability, rehabilitation access to nutritious food and knowledge. Workshops, employment, and volunteering opportunities for youth – 250-753-9393 – info@nanaimofoodshare.ca
- Family Support Institute of BC – Supporting families with disabilities – 250-237-2403 – sijaz@fsibc.com
- Nanaimo Parks and Recreation – Keep up with all the cool stuff happening in Nanaimo!
- Ladysmith Parks and Recreation – Keep up with all the cool stuff happening in Ladysmith!
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – In-School Mentoring Program – The in-school mentoring program pairs a qualified mentor with a mentee. They meet on school grounds for one hour, once a week, throughout the duration of the school year. Mentoring has the power to increase self-confidence, provide stronger social and coping skills, stronger pro-social behavior, a more positive school adjustment, and higher quality relationships with adults.
- Bladerunners Program – Youth can gain 3 weeks of construction training and 1 week of work experience – Free tools and equipment – Call 250-754-1989 to learn more
- NARSF Transition Program – Provides withdrawal management and supportive recovery for youth ages 13-19 who would like to take a break from substances. The programs take place in supportive, family environments we call care homes. Participants will have their own room, be provided with transportation, and will share meals, chores, and maybe even new hobbies.
- NARSF Teen Mental Health Program – Free seven-week program for teens struggling with anxiety and stress. Facilitated by mental health professionals. Helps promote mindfulness and reduce anxiety. No diagnosis required to participate. Call Lindsey at 250-754-2773 (ext. 102) to get started.
- Rebel Entrepreneur – Calling all youth looking to start their own businesses! Rebel Entrepreneur is a free government-funded self-employment program which includes 10 weeks of entrepreneurial skills training and business plan development followed by ongoing coaching and support.
- Haven Society PEACE Program – The PEACE Program (Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling, and Empowerment) is a provincial intervention/prevention program that addresses the needs of children and youth aged 3 to 18 who have experienced violence and/or abuse at home. Call 250-756-2452 and ask for the PEACE team to learn more.
- In late August, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced $60 million in new one-time funding for B.C. school districts to help families struggling with rising costs due to global inflation. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS) received $1.458 million which has been allocated to schools and must be used by the end of the 2023 school year. The funding can be used to improve students’ access to nutritional food and/or meals before, during, and after the school day. It may also be used to directly offset costs to parents, caregivers and students for items such as school supplies or other school-related costs such as school fees, field trips and clothing required for school sports or activities. At last week’s Business Committee meeting, reports on the district’s allocation process and amounts were discussed and shared with the public. We understand that many of you are experiencing tremendous hardships due to rising costs on everyday items such as groceries and everyday expenses. Families are encouraged to reach out to their school principal if you are in need of assistance. Your request will be treated with the utmost dignity and your privacy will be respected. Example of how Dover Bay Secondary School is handling this.
Courtesy of Everyday-Reading.com, here’s a handy reading log to keep track of all the books you’ve read! You can print out the picture and write the title of each book on the spines of the books in the picture. Feel free to add colour as you wish!