Every year, the City of Surrey hosts one of the largest Canada Day celebrations in BC. Presented by Coast Capital Savings, this past month’s Surrey Canada Day featured rides, fireworks and performances by Bif Naked and Our Lady Peace.
Thousands were in attendance, including Julia Langley and her family. For her 9-year-old son with autism, the crowds and noise of the festival environment can be overwhelming.
“My son was not coping at all. I thought there had to be a sensory zone somewhere,” Julia shared with us after the event. “Sure enough, I see the CAN tent. And inside is a table of noise-cancelling headphones amongst all sorts of fidgets and sensory gear.”
“My son was desperate to go because he knows that CAN is somewhere he can go and feel better. We are so grateful they were there so that we could all enjoy the Our Lady Peace concert!”
After announcing CAN Sensory Friendly Spaces last year, City of Surrey has taken the lead in hosting this resource. It is thanks to them that families like Julia’s can enjoy major community events like Surrey Canada Day.
Julia’s son with autism was struggling to cope with the noise of the festival environment until they found CAN’s tent with noise-cancelling headphones on loan.
“We are thrilled to provide a sensory friendly space at this year’s Canada Day. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to encourage inclusiveness and increase accessibility for all of our residents,” said City of Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum in a pre-event press release. “We thank the Canucks Autism Network for their partnership in creating this welcome addition to Surrey’s Canada Day.”
There are many reasons to celebrate on Canada Day. At CAN, we have special reason to celebrate our country’s diversity and inclusion.
Noise-cancelling headphones and quiet activities in the Sensory Friendly Space.
With groups like City of Surrey, we can continue to make community spaces more accessible for all individuals and families living with autism.
My name is Nate Keller, I’m 17 years old and I have autism.
People often ask me if I have autism. I don’t always like it, because I don’t know if they’re making fun of me or if they’re just being curious.
I’m also a curious person and tend to ask people a lot of questions, so I do understand. I guess I don’t mind as long as it helps others to learn about me and anyone who lives with autism.
What I want to tell them is that autism can be hard. For example, it is harder for me to do well in school. It’s hard for me to play some sports. It’s hard for me to make friends.
What I want people to know is that I can still do the same stuff as everyone, but I might do it differently.
In school, I sometimes do different projects or have different exams than the rest of the class, but I still learn the same material. I also have extra time to finish projects. There is also an Education Assistant that helps me in class. I notice that some of my classmates ask my EA for help as well. Perhaps everyone needs help in some way.
I love being social, but I feel like some of my friends don’t always understand me. Sometimes they’re impatient if I do things that are unexpected. When I’m feeling stressed or excited, I jump around and make noises. There are times when I laugh to myself when there doesn’t seem to be anything funny.
I want people to understand that when I have these unexpected behaviours, I do them to help me stay calm.
One of the ways that I find I can connect with people is through sports. At school, I am in cross country, track and swimming. I even won a couple of medals in swimming provincials.
IRISH SWIMMING: Congratulations to all of our swimmers on an amazing weekend at Provincials! Special shout out to our finalists pictured here, especially Nate (far left) for bringing home a bronze and silver medal! pic.twitter.com/WbjQF1BM4v
I chose not to play basketball and soccer at school, because team sports can be very dynamic and hard to follow.
But outside of school, I play hockey with Canucks Autism Network (CAN). With extra help from staff and volunteers, CAN has given me an opportunity to play a team sport.
I’ve even made new friends at CAN. One of them is Liam. Through the hockey program, I realized that he was a lot like me. He got nervous very easily just like me. He had trouble talking sometimes just like me.
Last year, Nate participated in our “What’s Your ‘I CAN’?” video project
and shared what he likes most about being a CAN hockey player.
I think we both like hockey because we both get to burn off a lot of energy playing. Outside of CAN, we’ve even done the North Shore Triathlon together!
People who think and learn differently can succeed and offer a lot to the community. Everyone is different in their own way. People with autism aren’t less, they’re just different. They’re not weird, they’re just different.
Even though I’ve found friends at CAN that are similar to me in a lot of ways, I’ve also realized that not everyone is going to be like you. And you’re not going to be like everyone else.
Being different can be interesting. It can even be special.
Held on April 18, the tour is offered to decrease anxiety often associated with air travel. Individuals and families with autism were invited to familiarize themselves with the pre-flight process, including check-in, security, finding their gate and boarding a plane.
In addition to the tour, each individual with autism was given a YVR Resource Kit, which features an activity storybook, step-by-step checklist, airport map, tips for travel and a tote bag to carry each item.
By increasing expectations and providing a simulated airport experience, the goal of the annual event is to build confidence for future travel.
It was Kerry’s first time at a Canucks Autism Network event. That same night, she shared this feedback with us:
***
Yesterday night, I was front-loading my oldest for the tour. He announced: “I don’t want to do it. But I’m ready to do it. I will use my courage.”
To prep himself on the way there, he requested that we play “Brave” by Sara Bareilles on repeat.
With his visual schedule in hand, he put that song into action at the airport—conquering check-in and security. He fearlessly filed onto the Air Transat Airbus A330, filled with families just like ours.
Travelers with autism can obtain the YVR Resource Kit, including the Activity Storybook (pictured above), at any YVR info desk.
The beautiful thing about this whole experience was that it provided a safe place for nervous fliers and their supporters to just be, without apology.
Meltdowns, earmuffs, iPads, fidgets, and endless questions about every step—it was all okay. There were no dirty looks or hurry-ups, because everybody there just “got it.”
To be honest though—when I signed up for this event, I was thinking mostly of myself. I wanted to have a picture of what traveling with a child who is fearful of crowds, machines, noise, and new things would look like.
And I left with not only that, but also with this sense of feeling deeply loved by countless kind strangers. To the service agents, security and customs officers, airport volunteers, flight attendants, and to the many, many genuinely smiley helpers sporting Canucks Autism Network t-shirts—why do you care about my family so much?
The tour also included an opportunity to sample the YVR Customs Declaration kiosks.
This week, spectrum-related struggles had me feeling extra lost & lonely, and ready to resign from this parenting gig. Tonight felt like the gigantic hug I needed. Thank you Canucks Autism Network and YVR for allowing me and my family to feel seen & safe.
***
We launched this program with YVR in 2014, because we had individuals and families with autism like Kerry’s in mind. Air travel can be a significant challenge for those on the spectrum who have anxiety or sensory sensitivities. But with the correct supports in place, they can accomplish so much.
We have always recognized that the entire family that shares the struggles and successes of an individual with autism. That’s why the tour allowed for the entire immediate family to join in on the experience.
Kerry’s husband & daughter were also able to experience the entire CAN & YVR Autism Accessibility Tour.
Rob MacMillan is a BCEHS paramedic specialist who serves on the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) First Responder Advisory Committee.
First responders are more than seven times more likely to interact with an individual on the autism spectrum.
However, most aren’t trained on how to recognize autism or utilize effective support strategies in crisis situations.
Due to anxiety, sensory sensitivities, triggers, or communication barriers, emergencies involving an Autistic individual can often escalate quickly without this background of understanding.
As a BCEHS Paramedic Specialist and father of a daughter on the spectrum, Rob MacMillan is highly motivated to bridge this gap. Together with six other members of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) First Responder Advisory Committee, Rob played an instrumental role in developing and launching our First Responder eLearning Module this past January.
The First Responder eLearning Module is a FREE 1-hour course available to fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, search and rescue and other emergency care providers across BC. Visit elearn.canucksautism.ca to access now!
Rob recently shared an example from the field that illustrates how a little understanding can go a long way in emergency situations.
Last month, Rob was at a dispatch centre when a call came in involving a boy on the spectrum who had climbed three stories up a tree. Rob arrived on scene to find the boy’s mother anxiously watching as her son continued climbing to dangerous heights.
“Fire rescue had already arrived,” Rob recounted. “And any time one of them tried to approach the boy, he just kept climbing higher and higher. He wasn’t afraid – he was just having fun. But we were all extremely distressed. Meanwhile, the tree was starting to sway as he continued climbing.”
Despite Rob’s personal experience with autism, he knew that each child on the spectrum is an individual with their own unique personality. He asked the boy’s mother about her son’s likes, dislikes, triggers and ability to communicate. The mom informed him that her son was non-verbal. They began to strategize together.
Learning that the young boy was highly interested in his mom’s iPhone, they initially tried to show him something on a smart phone to encourage him to climb down.
As a BCEHS Paramedic Specialist, Rob provides on-scene support for high-risk situations in the Lower Mainland.
When that didn’t work, Rob regrouped with the firefighters. Although the boy was non-verbal, Rob explained to them that he could likely understand the words they were saying and that they simply needed to adjust the way they communicated with him.
“They just needed to talk to him nice and slowly, allowing time for their instructions to sink in,” Rob recounted. “His mom had also indicated that he likes [sensory] pressure, so if they needed to hold him to help him down the tree, he’d probably like that if it felt to him like a hug.”
Armed with a bit more knowledge of the boy’s needs and communication style, the firefighters began another ascent up the tree. But slower. And with newfound confidence felt more confident that the boy was understanding what they were saying, and that they could interpret his behaviour a bit better as well.
When one of the firefighters eventually reached the boy, he used simple language and offered the boy a big hug. The boy accepted his invitation with open arms and together they made their way back down to the ground.
After nearly two hours on-scene, Rob watched as the boy was successfully rescued and reunited with his mother.
“She had tears in her eyes. Most of all, she was just so relieved that somebody there understood autism and what was happening up in that tree.”
CAN’s eLearning Module for First Responders is FREE and available 24/7 online. Since launching in January 2019, over 800 first responders across BC have accessed the training. Take the 1-hour course at elearn.canucksautism.ca.
Thank you for the incredible ongoing support! As new followers continue to share the video, we want to address some frequently asked questions.
Q: Why is Canucks Autism Network not donating money?
The purpose of the campaign is not for Canucks Autism Network (CAN) to donate $1 per video share. As a registered charity, CAN is the recipient of donations resulting from the #CANDidYouKnow campaign.
In order to maintain the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society (SCCFS)‘s funding commitments to many other deserving charities, together, we decided to cap their incredibly generous support at $1 for the first 5,000 shares. Since then, four additional organizations have stepped out to match (listed below), bringing the total funds raised to $25,000!
This is a phenomenal contribution to Canucks Autism Network programs, training and awareness initiatives that will have a long-lasting impact across BC. We cannot be more thankful to all who have shared and to all five supporting organizations who have stepped up to donate.
Q: Why are people still re-sharing this to their account?
The goal of this video campaign continues to be for autism acceptance. Because of you, the video has exceeded expectations. The Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society (SCCFS) is also a non-profit organization that makes charitable donations to other organizations in the community, SCCFS have been able to commit $5,000 to Canucks Autism Network and we are very grateful for their support. As a result, additional organizations have stepped up to match their initial donations and have now brought the total funds raised to $25,000.
Q: If I re-share to this my account, will be $1 be donated?
$1 has been donated for the first 25,000 shares across social media channels. Because we have capped the donations, any shares beyond 25,000 will no longer receive a $1 donation. In order for more dollars to count per share, we would require additional donor support. If you would like to help, please contact: connect@canucksautism.ca
Although your share of our video may not result in a $1 donation, the invaluable and acceptance of autism that this video is generating is incredibly invaluable.
Q: I don’t know how to share this video. Can I donate to Canucks Autism Network and/or Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society instead?
$25,000. Canucks for Kids Fund have officially come onboard to contribute to the #CANDidYouKnow campaign. Thank you!
2019-04-04 – 4:16 pm
Incredible. Our friends at BMO have also donated $5,000, bringing the total of this autism acceptance campaign to $20,000!
2019-04-04 – 3:17 pm
We are thrilled to announce that Aquilini Development has stepped up to contribute an additional $5,000 to our “Did You Know” campaign! Together with SFFCS and YVR, the total funds raised through supporters sharing our autism acceptance video is now $15,000!
2019-04-04 – 9:21 am
To all those who have shared and retweeted our “Did You Know?” video on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, THANK YOU for your tremendous support of the cause!
We are overwhelmed by the support and reach of the campaign and are beyond thrilled with the awareness that has resulted from it.
To maintain the ongoing funding commitments of one of our key partners, we have decided to cap the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society (SFFCS) donation at $5,000.
We are thrilled to announce that Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has stepped up to match the $5,000 and support the campaign. Thank you to YVR for being an incredible supporter and partner!
We welcome any other businesses or partners who want to step up and match the funds to support the continued reach of this campaign. Until then, we are immensely grateful to all those who continue to share (despite the funding cap) for the sake of awareness.
We created this video with the hope of raising autism acceptance, as well as vital funding for our programs andtraininginitiatives across BC. We could never have anticipated the outpouring of support that we have received since posting across our social media channels on April 2nd.
On behalf of the over 4,700 individuals on the spectrum that have benefited from our programs, THANK YOU for your support! We hope that this video will help create a future where every individual with autism is understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces.
Please email connect@canucksautism.ca if you have any questions or would like to donate to support the cause.
Featuring live music, rides, vendors and the lighting of a 60-foot tree, the festival is a highly anticipated holiday event that brings joy to hundreds of families in the community.
Held for the eighth year, this iteration of the festival was extra special for families living with autism. For the first time, individuals with autism and other sensory sensitivities had access to a Sensory Friendly Space.
City of Surrey’s Accessibility Specialist, Karin Pasqua, witnessed first-hand the benefits of the resource. Encountering numerous families living with autism, she was overwhelmed with the positive feedback that she received about the Sensory Friendly Space.
“We heard from numerous families would could stay and enjoy the event far longer than they would have otherwise,” Karin explained. “I met one family who was able to visibly relax as they sat on the couches and watched their son giggle away playing with the sensory toys we had available.”
“One mother was so grateful she was in tears.”
In addition to the Sensory Friendly Space, individuals with autism can borrow noise-cancelling headphones to manage the high volumes of the event. Karin personally recounted four instances of children using the headphones. Two kids in particular had used them so they could wait in line to see Santa.
Including the CAN Birthday Festival, where the initiative was launched, Sensory Friendly Spaces have now been offered at two major public events at Surrey Civic Plaza. The City of Surrey’s hope is to continually expand the events and venues that the resources are offered.
— Canucks Autism Network (@canucksautism) July 7, 2018
“We had staff from other City of Surrey facilities, including the Surrey Arts Centre, come by to see how the room was set up and how it works,” recalled Karin.
About Sensory Friendly Spaces Sensory Friendly Spaces are one way that Canucks Autism Network (CAN) aims to improve accessibility for individuals with autism living in Surrey. Other components of this partnership include staff and volunteer training, resource development, and co-hosting autism friendly events.
For more information about the City of Surrey’s Sensory Friendly Spaces, please contact Karin Pasqua at karin.pasqua@surrey.ca.
For more information on how Canucks Autism Network can support your organization to improve accessibility for individuals with autism, please visit canucksautism.ca/training or email training@canucksautism.ca.
Earlier this month, Science World hosted “Community Access Day” for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families across the Lower Mainland.
Offering free admission, Science World hosted hundreds of Canucks Autism Network (CAN) participants and families throughout the day.
Children, youth and young adults on the spectrum, along with their families, explored Science World’s full range of attractions — igniting their imagination through exhibits like The Science Behind Pixar and the award-winning Ken Spencer Science Park.
Jili and her son were among the CAN members who attended last week’s event. “This was my first opportunity to visit Science World with my son,” Jili explained. “It’s such a great place for him, because there are so many things for him to see. He loved being able to see for himself what a tornado looks like. And the staff are so helpful. We already bought a membership!”
Among Science World’s core values is a commitment to both collaboration and inclusion. At CAN, we are dedicated to improving accessibility for individuals and families living with autism in all community spaces. That’s why for the past three years, we have partnered with Science World to bridge the gap for individuals with autism to experience the wonders of science and nature.
In addition to their Community Access Days, we have partnered with Science World to develop accessibility resources, host autism-friendly events and provide staff training. It is no secret that Science World has been a leader in igniting wonder within the Vancouver community. With numerous initiatives over the course of several years, it is clear that they are also on the leading edge for increasing accessibility and inclusion.
Science World Activity Storybook During Autism Awareness Month in April 2016, CAN and Science World collaborated to create an Activity Storybook for individuals with autism that may wish to visit the venue. Designed to increase predictability, the Activity Storybook outlines what individuals with autism can expect from a visit to Science World. Check out “I CAN Visit Science World” for your next trip!
Science World staff training With a desire to better support individuals with autism that walk through their doors, Science World reached out to CAN to receive autism training. In January 2016, our training team visited Science World to deliver a customized autism training workshop on site. The dozens of Science World staff and volunteers in attendance received an introduction to autism and a wide range of support strategies and tips for better interacting with individuals with autism. Learn more about CAN autism training workshops.
Monthly Social Programs at Science World
With the assurance that Science World provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals with autism to visits, CAN has hosted countless Monthly Social Program events over the past several years. In groups of 10, our youth and young adult participants have enjoyed the countless exhibits with the support of our staff and volunteers.
Meanwhile, our CommunityWorks! Canada ® program, which provides volunteer opportunities to youth and young adults with autism, has also visited Science World on a number of occasions to assist their staff with various tasks. These visits have provided them with valuable volunteer experience with a well-known organization in the community.
Having partnered together to create resources, provide training and host events, Science World and CAN co-presented on “Creating Opportunities for Accessibility” at the 2017 Lower Mainland Museum Educators (LMEE) Conference.
Organizations like Science World are committed to accessibility and inclusion, and are key partners in CAN’s vision that individuals with autism are understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces. If you are a similarly-minded organization or community group that would like to learn more about increasing accessibility for your guests, we would love to hear from you!
CAN supports accessibility in a wide variety of public spaces by providing consultations and creating customized solutions. These can include, but are not limited to 1) staff training, 2) developing accessibility resources (such as the Activity Storybook), and 3) partnering to co-host autism friendly events.
For years, the City of Surrey has been a key partner for us to impact the lives of individuals and families with autism. In addition to hosting countless CAN programs, the city has been host to some very special highlights in our 10-year history.
In April 2016, the CAN Provincial Adapted Hockey Tournament was hosted at Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, and was recognized by the City of Surrey as the year’s “Best Provincial Event”. This unique tournament brought athletes with autism and other developmental disabilities from across the province together to compete and showcase their skills.
CAN was also proud to partner with City of Surrey in 2017 to host an Open House at Surrey Fire Hall #17, inviting families with children on the spectrum to come and interact with firefighters to decrease fear and increase awareness.
This was a pivotal first for many families in making emergency services more friendly and accessible, and for increasing autism awareness among first responders.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, the City of Surrey has joined us in hosting the CAN Birthday Festival, a free and public celebration at Surrey Civic Plaza.
At this event, the City of Surrey has unveiled a number of community accessibility initiatives, created and supported by CAN. These resources have been introduced at the CAN Birthday Festival with the goal of extending them to improve autism awareness and accessibility in a wide range of City of Surrey buildings, programs and events in the future.
Many of these features will benefit not only individuals with autism, but a wide range of community members who may need support to access community spaces.
These initiatives are outlined below:
1. City of Surrey Staff Training All City of Surrey staff attending the CAN Birthday Festival have receive our autism training. This training has included information about autism and introduce strategies to support successful interaction in community spaces. This information will allow these City of Surrey staff to better provide services to individuals and families with autism not only at the CAN Birthday Festival, but in a range of community settings and activities for years to come.
2. Video Storybook for City of Surrey Events In 2017, CAN partnered with the City of Surrey to create a publicly-available step-by-step video model for accessing a fitness centre. This year, CAN is proud to partner with City of Surrey to produce a video that will support access to community events.
This video will provide a step-by-step visual of what to expect and provide strategies for individuals with autism to successfully navigate public community events. This resource will be filmed at the CAN Birthday Festival and is expected to launch later this year.
3. Event Accessibility Toolkit Similar to the Accessibility Toolkits developed in collaboration with YVR, Kelowna International Airport and Rogers Arena, the City of Surrey will also offer tools for individuals and families with autism to better access their public events. These tools will include event maps with icons for key areas and activities (ie. sensory-friendly space, washrooms, food, entertainment, shopping, etc), event signage that matches the icons on the map, and an event schedule/checklist.
The CAN Birthday Festival schedule checklist and map that will be handed out to event guests. Tools such as these are one of the many accessibility elements that City of Surrey will aim to implement for future public events.
4. Sensory Friendly Spaces These designated spaces at public events will provide a haven for individuals with autism and other sensory sensitivities to relax. These quiet spaces will feature seating and activities for individuals of any age or diagnosis who may be feeling overwhelmed to have a designated space to decompress.
Sensory Friendly Spaces can be identified city-wide by the logo that was unveiled at the CAN Birthday Festival.
5. Autism Accessibility Guidelines In order to consistently deliver these initiatives, CAN and the City of Surrey have developed a set of guidelines to ensure that all events, programs and buildings are providing an accessible experience to individuals and families with autism.
With over 16,000 children and youth with autism in BC, we are so thankful for organizations like the City of Surrey, who have recognized a clear need for increased accessibility and support.
As we continued working towards our vision, we look forward to collaborating with more like-minded organizations to improve autism accessibility in all community spaces.
If you would like more information about partnering with Canucks Autism Network to improve autism accessibility in your business, organization or community space, please contact our Manager of Strategic Partnerships ryan.yao@canucksautism.ca.
If you would like more information about City of Surrey’s accessibility initiatives, please contact Tara Roberts at troberts@surrey.ca or 604-598-5763.
From our beginnings as a small, grassroots autism charity, we are so proud to have the province-wide impact on individuals and families that we do today.
It was just over 10 years ago that Paolo and Clara Aquilini sat around a dining table with Katy Harandi. Together, they envisioned an organization that would make a positive and lasting impact on the autism community in BC.
With the support of the Canucks for Kids Fund, Canucks Autism Network became a non-profit society on January 7, 2008. That year, we began with one soccer program and one family skate at GM Place (now Rogers Arena).
A decade later, CAN delivers nearly 500 programs to 4,000 members province-wide. Since day one, we could not do what we do without the countless supporters who share our mission.
There is much to be thankful for and much to celebrate. Here are just some of the milestones that have highlighted CAN’s 10-year journey with our participants, families and supporters:
1. July 29, 2008 | Our first-ever program Offered to just a handful of families, we launched I CAN Play Soccer as a two-day program at GM Place. After 10 years, guess which CAN coach is still around to guide our participants?
Coach Neeeesh!
Over the past decade, we have expanded to a wide range of sports and rec programs, allowing children and youth with autism to explore physical activity on land, water and ice. Beyond sports, our social programs and overnight camps have allowed participants to try new activities, develop lasting friendships and make lifelong memories.
2. September 2008 | Launch of We CAN Be Friends In addition to sports and rec programs, one of the pillars of our mission has been to raise autism awareness. That’s why in our first year, we launched We CAN Be Friends, a free curriculum-based autism awareness program for elementary classrooms.
By raising awareness among BC’s youngest students, we can help educators build a brighter future of acceptance, empathy and inclusion for individuals with autism. After launching to a handful of schools in the Lower Mainland, the program has now grown to 275 schools across BC.
3. April 2011 | Programs expand outside the Lower Mainland In Spring 2011, CAN launched multi-week sports and rec programs in both Victoria and Kamloops. Today, CAN offers programs in three Vancouver Island communities (Victoria, Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo) and two BC Interior communities (Kamloops and Kelowna). In total, CAN programs are actively delivered in 79 communities across BC.
4. April 1, 2012 | Inaugural CAN Family Festival at Jack Poole Plaza In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, we hosted the first-ever CAN Family Festival at Jack Poole Plaza. Held in Downtown Vancouver, the annual event featured an awareness walk, exhibitors, games, and live performances. For six years, the CAN Family Festival was an annual centerpiece in our efforts to bring families together, increase awareness and raise vital funding for our programs.
April 2012: The cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza was lit to celebrate CAN Family Festival for the first time.
5. March 17, 2013 | Inaugural CAN Sports Day at Sportstown in Richmond For ten years, CAN family events have provided invaluable opportunities for both parents and kids to connect with others in the autism community. Events like the Rogers Arena Family Skate and Van Dusen Gardens Festival of Lights have marked the CAN calendar as annual highlights for our families.
In March 2013, we hosted the first-ever CAN Sports Day. With the support of the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Vancouver Canadians, participants were treated to a truly memorable experience playing alongside their local sports heroes. Held in Sportstown Richmond the first year, it was moved to BC Place in 2014 where it has been held ever since.
6. June 3, 2013 | First training workshop for external sports & rec staff Our vision is for all individuals with autism to feel understood, accepted, and supported in all community spaces. In 2013, we began delivering autism training to sports and rec providers, ensuring that our ability to engage individuals with autism extends outside our walls too.
Since then, we have expanded these efforts to include training across public sectors, including first responders, educators, community recreation providers, and many others. Across BC, our workshops have been delivered in the far reaches of the province, including Northern BC, as well as First Nations communities.
In the summer of 2016, CAN workshops reached a pivotal milestone, becoming eligible for Coaching Association of Canada NCCP Maintenance Certification Points (PD Points) and BCRPA Continuing Education Credits (CECs).
7. Spring 2014 | CAN reaches 1,000 memberships We are humbled that so many families have made us a part of their lives. Today, we impact over 4,000 individuals and families on an annual basis. With a high ratio of support in all of our programs, we can be proud that each and every one our participants has a volunteer, support worker or coach that has personally supported them and celebrated their accomplishments.
8. November 17, 2014 | Launch of I CAN Fly with YVR At CAN, collaboration is among our core values. We recognize that we cannot achieve our vision alone. After hearing about the struggles that individuals and families with autism face with air travel, we partnered with the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to launch I CAN Fly.
Beginning with the annual Accessibility Tour, families with autism are invited to go through the entire pre-flight process. Once families are ready to travel, they can access a step-by-step video and pick up a complimentary YVR Resource Toolkit that features checklists, maps and activity storybooks to best prepare children with autism for what to expect.
9. September 21, 2015 | Inaugural Reveal Gala at Rogers Arena We could not do what we do without our valued donors, sponsors and supporters. In order to shed light on both the challenges and successes of our participants, while raising vital funding for our programs, we held the inaugural Reveal Gala.
Transforming Rogers Arena into an intimate venue for just over 500 guests, the first gala raised over $800,000 for CAN programs. Over the past three galas, guests have been treated by incredible performances from Sarah McLachlan, the Tenors and Lola Lennox.
In addition to over 50 event staff receiving CAN autism training, sensory kits (featuring noise-cancelling headphones for loan, a sensory toy, ID bracelet, visual storybook, arena map and game-night timeline), a quiet room and fan text service have been made available to individuals and families living with autism for all Canucks games, events and concerts.
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Have you been a part of any of the above 10 milestones within the past 10 years? Join us in celebrating a decade of “I CAN”. The CAN Birthday Festival on Saturday, July 7 at Surrey Civic Plaza is FREE and open to the public.
“As a student-athlete, I recognize that I am extremely fortunate for all the enjoyable experiences I have had playing sports in my life. I want to do what I can to help children on the spectrum gain some of these lifelong memories too.”
When Kyle McComb joined the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) as a volunteer this past June, he shared these incredibly inspiring words with us.
It is no surprise that after a summer supporting our Multisport and I CAN Bike day camps, he is our selection for CAN’s Exceptional Volunteer Award!
At the end of each season, we choose one volunteer who has truly gone above and beyond in their support for both staff and participants within our programs. A varsity baseball player for UBC, Kyle combined a clear passion for sports and giving back to his community to completely blow our staff away this summer.
Daily briefs with program staff consistently highlighted Kyle’s enthusiasm and natural ability to engage the kids:
“Kyle used clear language and always modeled for the participants what he needed them to do – showing the skills, in addition to telling.”
“He jumped right in! His energy is fabulous.”
“Kyle jumped in as a coach and did amazingly well leading the entire softball station! In addition to demonstrating the skills with clear and simple instructions, he made sure to use our visual toolkit with the group as well!”
This Fall, Kyle returns to his busy schedule at UBC as a student-athlete. But as soon as his availability allows, he looks forward to continuing to make a difference in his new staff role as a CAN support worker.
For our participants to have athletes like Kyle to look up to is such an incredible benefit to our programs. Kyle’s genuine enthusiasm for making a difference in his community is representative of so many of the volunteers that CAN is lucky to have.
Each year, we benefit from over 600 volunteers that compassionately and generously donate their time. Whether it’s handing out CAN bracelets at a community info table or demonstrating the perfect swing of a bat in our Multisport program, we could not do what we do without volunteers like Kyle.
A huge thanks to Kyle and every CAN volunteer that makes our programs possible.
For more information on volunteering with the Canucks Autism Network, please visit our Become a Volunteer webpage!
