New Registration System FAQs

Create your new account at canucksautism.ca/register. Simply click the “Signup” link at the top of the page where it asks if you don’t have a login.

Participants and families are encouraged to create their new CAN account in order to continue accessing our full range of programs and family exxperiences!

Creating a new account will be required to register for almost ALL opportunities, including family events and youth and adult programs that were previously offered via online forms. Existing CAN accounts will not be transferred from the old system.

We’ve created some helpful tools to guide you through the process of creating an account and registering for future programs:

• Watch the instructional videos:
  • canucksautism.ca/account-creation
  • canucksautism.ca/program-registration
• Read the step-by-step instructions: canucksautism.ca/new-reg-instructions

We have been using our existing registration system for nine years and it has allowed us to enroll thousands of participants into programs.

However, at this stage of growth, we are in need of an updated system that allows us to automatically register participants without having to manually assess thousands of lines of data.

Before the new system, registration took place in three different platforms:

1. CAN’s old registration website for weekly rec programs for children, youth & adults
2. Various online forms for rec, mental health & employment programs for youth & adults
3. Eventbrite for Family Experiences

The new system will allow you to sign up for ALL available opportunities in one central location, with immediate status updates!

Existing CAN accounts cannot be transferred from the old system.

Creating an account in the new system will also allow all participants and families to update their information.

A new account will be required to register for ALL programs and opportunities from Spring 2024 onwards. This includes Family Experiences that were previously offered via Eventbrite and youth and adult programs that were previously offered via online forms. 

Our previous method of pending enrolment for most programs was manual, onerous, and lacked transparency.

Manually assessing thousands of registration requests each season results in major confirmation backlogs that make it hard for families to plan ahead.

This past year, we successfully implemented a first-come, first-served process across all Family Experiences.

In the new system, participants will be immediately updated of their registration status after submitting a program request. Participants will be confirmed into a maximum of 2 programs per season.*

*Please note that this policy only restricts seasonal weekly programs and does not apply to Family Experiences or Youth and Adult monthly programs. Please reach out to info@canucksautism.ca if you have any questions.

Our new registration system will use a first-come-first-served enrolment process across the majority of our children’s programming and youth and adult programs that don’t have eligibility requirements.

Note that some youth and adult programs, like the CAN Skills Training Employment Program, will continue to be offered on an application basis.

First-come, first-served registration will allow participants and families to receive immediate confirmation of their registration so they can better plan for the season ahead.

This new process will also help prepare families who transition into programs at their local community centres, where first-come, first-served registration is standard practice.

In order to accommodate as many unique participants on the autism spectrum as possible, each participant will only be enrolled in a maximum of 2 programs per season.  

There is no limit to the programs you can be on the waitlist for, but you may only be confirmed for 2 programs at a time. We will be strictly enforcing this policy.

Please note that this policy only restricts seasonal weekly programs and does not apply to Family Experiences or Youth and Adult monthly programs. Please reach out to info@canucksautism.ca if you have any questions.

The new first-come, first-served registration process was introduced with the new registration system in February 2024.

If you require help with the process, please contact our registration team at info@canucksautism.ca so we can assist you.

Please note that your spot will be held once you start the registration process but will be lost after 5 minutes of inactivity. Once you’ve added a participant to the program, the spot will be held while you complete any required questionnaires and payment forms.

We first introduced program fees in 2016 to help offset our most costly programs. In the time since, program-related costs have steadily risen.

• The total rate of inflation within the last 7 years in Canada was 26%.
• In order to maintain competitive staff wages, we introduced an overdue pay increase of an average of 18% for all hourly frontline staff last year.

By updating program fees for certain programs, we can ensure the continued delivery of high-quality programming for thousands of children, youth & adults across BC.

The new program fees will be reflected in the Program Guides and communicated on an ongoing basis through the monthly newsletter.

These fees remain highly subsidized and have been set based on prices of comparable community rec programs, with CAN incurring the additional costs of extra support staff.

We are committed to ensuring our programs remain affordable and comparable in cost to local community programs, but with a much higher level of support.

For example, the average cost to teach a CAN participant to swim in our nationally-recognized, 8-week program is $700. That includes facility, equipment, staff & administration costs. By comparison, the updated program fee is just $60.

Each funding request for AFU requires a multi-step manual process requiring significant administration on the part of CAN staff and often takes several weeks or months to process.

In the interest of reducing administrative costs, CAN will continue to offer AFU payment option only for programs with fees greater than $100.

Families who face financial barriers to access will need to apply to CAN’s Fee Assistance Program PRIOR to registration opening.

• Pay online with a credit card
• Apply for the Fee Assistance program
• Apply for a Bursary

Anyone facing financial barriers to access can inquire about the CAN Fee Assistance Program. Simply email info@canucksautism.ca.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of CAN programming, we anticipate that we will re-assess program fees on a more regular basis moving forward.

If you recently renewed or paid for an annual membership, that $25 provided access to Winter seasonal programs and Family Experiences.

If you paid for an annual membership fee and were not confirmed into any seasonal programs or Family Experiences, please email our team at info@canucksautism.ca.

To ensure that all individuals get value out of their membership, we will be dropping our annual $25 membership fee and instead introducing fees across all programs. Fees will be comparable to community-based programs that offer a much lower ratio of staffing support.

A CAN profile/account will still be required to access programs, but it will no longer be associated with an annual fee.

Your family can access unlimited Family Experiences by purchasing a Family Experience Pass for a family rate of $25/year.

Families who want to continue to access year-round Family Experiences will need to purchase a $25 annual Family Experience Pass. Those who are only interested in registering for programs will simply pay for the programs they are enrolled in.

The pass will give families access to all Family Experiences (including outside your region for those willing to travel) for 365 days from the date purchased and it valid for all immediate family members listed on your account.

A Family Experience Pass will be required to attend any Family Experience, including CAN Sports Day.