Learning & Networking Meeting
2022-04-12 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
Register with Annette at info@focusdisability.figure8software.com
Agenda

Learning & Networking Meeting
2022-06-14 09:00 - 11:30 UTC
Agenda
Presenters:

Bryce Schaufelberger, selfadvocatenet.com
Rocio Zielinski, Sto:lo Community Futures
Genievieve Apolinar, Canadian Mental Health Association
Robert Fraser, Fraser Valley Artisans Food Hub

The link will be sent once you RSVP.

Learning & Networking Meeting and Annual General Meeting
2022-09-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
Presenters:
Russell Pinnson, Executive Director at JustWork
Peter Bailey, Co-Owner of Free Rein Associates
Nate Toevs, Marketing Manager for the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program
Lisa Smith, Sr Manager Special Care Services at WorkSafeBC
Agenda

Tech in Jobs and Jobs in Tech - Conference
2022-11-24 08:30 - 15:30 UTC
At this year’s in-person conference you’ll learn about technology and tools to support job seekers with diverse abilities and employment in the tech field.
Date: November 24
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC
Register: bit.ly/3qUKU1E
Flyer
Agenda
Presenter Bios
Price to register by Nov. 10:
$125 FDN Members
$150 Future Members
Price to register Nov. 11 – 17:
$150 FDN Members
$175 Future Members

Learning & Networking Meeting
2023-01-17 09:00 - 11:30 UTC
Agenda
Please email info@focusdisability.ca to register and receive the Zoom invitation.

Learning & Networking Meeting
2023-04-18 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Learning & Networking Session
Agenda here.

Bill Thornton from BC & Alberta Guide Dogs will engage with us about their services with Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs.
Chris Gaudet from Nava Wealth of Raymond James Ltd. will talk with us about Registered Disability Savings Plans.
Brenda Giesbrecht, Service Canada, will provide information about Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits, the CPP Survivor’s Benefit, Drop-Out Provisions for calculations of benefits, the Disability Tax Credit, Childrens’ Benefits, and more.

Please email info@focusdisability.ca to register and receive the Zoom invitation.

Learning & Networking Meeting
2023-06-13 09:00 - 11:30 UTC
Agenda here.
Location: Zoom. Please RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca to receive the link.

Seanna Quressette from Douglas College will present “Cultural Safety and Trauma-Informed Practice”.
Heather Branscombe from Abilities Neurological Rehabilitation will present about their programs, which are in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Surrey, Coquitlam and Langley.
Annette Borrows from Community Living BC will bring us her reflections from the World Supported Employment Conference.
Brandi Butts, Community Futures BC, will talk about the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP).
Alex Hogan, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at CBC/Radio-Canada will engage in a conversation around equity and inclusion at CBC with a focus on accessibility.

Learning & Network meeting and Annual General Meeting
2023-09-12 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
Learning & Networking Meeting
Date & Time: Tuesday September 12, 2023
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP – link will be provided

9:00 – 9:20 Introductions, update on what’s happening in the community and with partnering agencies.
9:20 – 9:35 Jeanne Morton and Elizabeth Specht from the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC will inform us about their programs.
9:35 – 10:00 Ness Gale from the Low Entropy Foundation will bring information about Low Entropy and the Tri-Cities Employment Roundtable.
10:00 – 10:15 BREAK
10:15 – 11:00 Christine Buchanan from Open Door Group will talk about the Employment Accessibility Standards Technical Committee, the Disability Inclusive Employer Self- Assessment tool, and UnTapped Accessibility.
11:00 – 11:30 CNIB – will talk about their services, expansion to Vancouver Island and Come to Work program.

AGM to follow the meeting 11:30-12:00

Annual Conference - Maximize Your Marketing Message
2023-11-09 | Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC, V2Z 2K4
This year’s in-person conference we’ll focus on the job developer’s toolkit.

Date: November 9th, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC

Register here.
Price to register by October 19:
$130 FDN Members
$155 Future Members
Price to register October 19-November 2:
$155 FDN Members
$180 Future Members
See the agenda and presenters’ bios

Learning & Networking Session
2024-03-12 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver) | Learning & Networking Session
Tom Conway from Small Business BC
Lisa Persaud from March of Dimes
Sarah Potts from Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Learning & Networking Session
2024-05-14 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)
Dean Askin from Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) about Light It Up! For NDEAM!
Ashley Hammond from Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) about CASE’s unique approach to learning and development

Learning & Network Meeting and Annual General Meeting
2024-09-24 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Learning & Networking Session
Learning & Networking Meeting
Date & Time: Tuesday September 24, 2024
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
Paula Schwartz from the Indigenous Community for Leadership & Development (ICLD) about Culturally Safe Employment Services
Ana Maria Panczel from the Langley Community Services Society (LCSS) about Langley Local Immigration Partnership
RSVP – link will be provided
AGM to follow the meeting 11:30-12:00

Light It Up! For NDEAM!
2024-10-17
Experience the power of Light It Up! For NDEAM! Join the movement for the 5th Anniversary Event!
Light It Up! For NDEAM® spotlights the many ways people who have a disability contribute to businesses and their communities, helping companies be successful and competitive.
Get involved in your community in 2024 to Light It Up! For NDEAM purple and blue, for one unique night. The more the participation, the greater the impact! Last year almost 700 locations in almost 150 communities across Canada participated — that’s a lot of conversations about disability inclusion!

Annual Conference – A Potpourri of Job Development in Supported Employment
2024-11-13 08:30 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC, V2Z 2K4
This year’s in-person conference will focus on the job developer’s toolkit.
Topics and Presenters
“The BC Labor Market And How It Pertains To People With Diverse Abilities”, presented by Christian Saint Cyr of BC Labour Market Report
“Entrepreneurs on the Rise”, presented by Amber Sparks and Matt Vissers of ETHOS Career Management Group
“Work Integrated Social Enterprises”, presented by Stacey Corriveau of the BC Centre for Social Enterprise
“MentorAbility”, presented by Jillian Bradley of Inclusion BC
Date: November 13th, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC
Register here.
FDNS Conference November 2024 Agenda
FDNS Conference November 2024 Presenters Bios
Price to register by October 15:
$100 FDN Members
$125 Future Members
Price to register October 16-November 6:
$125 FDN Members
$150 Future Members

Learning & Networking Session
2025-01-21 09:00 - 23:00 (America/Vancouver) | Learning & Networking Session
Alex Thompson from Power 4 All Adventure Therapy Society about the vision of Power for All to provide universal access to adventure based activities to all clients from all walks of life in spite of physical, cognitive, social ability and financial resources
Aron Jenkins from Inclusion Winnipeg about the Remote Job Coach Project

Learning & Networking Session
2025-03-04 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)

Learning & Networking Session
2025-05-13 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Vancouver)
Agenda
9:00 – 9:10 Introductions, updates on what’s happening in the community and with partnering agencies.
9:10 – 9:55 Paula Schwartz (ICLD) about the services provided by The Indigenous Community for Leadership and Development (ICLD)
9:55 – 10:05 BREAK
10:05 – 10:45 Alex Thompson (Power 4 All Adventure Therapy Society) about providing universal access to adventure based occupational therapy activities to all clients from all walks of life in spite of physical, cognitive, social ability and financial resources
10:45 – 11:30 Ross MacMillan (Canucks Autism Network) about the national initiative Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) to engage, educate and support employers to hire people on the autism spectrum or with an intellectual disability

Learning & Networking Session and Annual General Meeting
2025-09-16 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver)
Learning & Networking Meeting
Date & Time: Tuesday September 16, 2025
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP – link will be provided
AGM to follow the meeting 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

FDNS Annual Conference
2025-11-18 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd, Langley, BC, V2Z 2K4

Learning & Networking Session
2026-01-20 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Learning & Networking Meeting
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca to receive the Zoom link

Board Meeting
2026-03-09 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-05-11 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-09-14 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-11-09 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver)
Virtual Board Meeting via Zoom

Learning & Networking Session
2026-03-10 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Learning & Networking Session
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca – link will be provided

Learning & Networking Session
2026-05-19 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Learning & Networking Session
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca – link will be provided

Learning & Networking Session and Annual General Meeting
2026-09-22 09:00 - 11:45 (America/Vancouver)
Learning & Networking Session
Followed by the FDNS Annual General Meeting
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
9:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca – link will be provided

Annual Conference
2026-11-17 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver)

FDNS Board Members Christmas Get-together
2026-12-07 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver)

Learning & Networking Session
2027-01-26 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver)
Virtual Learning & Networking Session
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 26, 2027
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Zoom
RSVP to info@focusdisability.ca to receive the Zoom link
