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September 28, 2022

Hi there!

We’re your new Program Coordinators! We work in the office and oversee all Lower Mainland children’s programs. As a team we value being approachable, collaborative, adaptable and working together as a unified team.

Here’s what we do:

  • Develop curriculums & schedules based on member needs & interests
  • Book facilities & maintain partnerships with program partners
  • Guide our Training Team in providing resources to our participants & staff
  • Guide Onsite Supervisors in their on-the-ground support of program staff

While Onsite Supervisors are your go-to for any day-to-day questions in programs, the Program Coordinator team is your support system in the office.

We want to foster a place where staff can learn, grow & develop professionally. You will see Program Coordinators regularly supporting and representing CAN within our programs and at major events!

Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming place for everyone while upholding CAN’s vision and our values.

Julia Sawers

Julia (she/her) is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Combined Honours degree in Psychology and Law, Justice and Society.

After spending four years in Halifax, Julia recently swapped out the east coast for the west coast. Julia has worked previously at the Autism Research Centre in Nova Scotia and at Autism Nova Scotia, in addition to working at the Early Phase Psychosis Unit while writing her thesis.

Julia played competitive basketball for over 10 years until retiring after moving across the country to attend University. She is looking forward to playing a part in ensuring every individual has an opportunity to access and enjoy the countless benefits of sports and recreation that she was able to experience during her basketball years.

She is thrilled to start this next chapter with CAN and to grow alongside this team!

Fun Fact: Julia loves to travel and had the opportunity to live for six months in Bath, England on an exchange prior to COVID. Julia also has a twin … brother!

Katie Ashley

Katie (she/her) is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. (Honours) degree in Therapeutic Recreation. After six years in Halifax, she moved back to her hometown on the west coast to attend the University of British Columbia where she completed her master’s degree in Special Education, specializing in Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

Katie has spent the last seven years working with autistic individuals, as well as individuals with other disabilities, in community and home settings. During this time, she worked with her clients to build self-care skills, daily living skills, and utilized recreation and sport to enhance their lives.

With a background in therapeutic recreation and being an avid lover of sports and all things leisure, Katie cannot wait to help foster this love in others by playing a part in providing inclusive, accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful experiences at CAN!

Fun fact: During her free time, you can find Katie either on a surfboard behind a boat, on skis at a local mountain, or at the pottery studio making all kinds of ceramics!

Laurel Curtis

Laurel (she/her) grew up on Vancouver Island and spent much of her childhood exploring the beautiful outdoors that BC has to offer.

Laurel has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has worked at BC Children’s as a nurse in various wards and clinics since graduating from the University of British Columbia. Prior to switching degrees to nursing, she completed three years in Kinesiology focusing on adapting programs and improving accessible recreation. During her summers, she worked for overnight camps including leading multi-day trips.

She has worked as a coach and support worker for CAN for many years in a variety of programs, including most recently as the Summer Day Camp Coordinator. Laurel can’t wait to support CAN’s programs on a larger scale.

Fun Fact: Laurel LOVES pickles and her favourite food is pickle-flavoured hummus. (You’re welcome for your new favourite snack!)

Donné Davidson

Donné (she/ her) comes into this position with 11 years experience working as a Special Education Teacher Assistant, eight years of Recreational Access, and two years with CAN as a Support Worker and Onsite Supervisor.

Being active has always been a part of her life as a competitive swimmer and basketball player during her high school career. From those experiences she has passed her love of sports to high schoolers by coaching multiple sports such as basketball, swimming, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and rugby.

Through her work, Donné has developed a passion for creating welcoming environments for all with, a special place in her heart for those on the autism spectrum.

Fun Fact: Donné was born in South Africa and really enjoys being outside. You can often find her camping, in the water, or on the water kayaking.

The new Program Coordinator team is excited to provide inclusive, accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful experiences.

We are here for our members, staff and volunteers. We value being approachable, collaborative, adaptable, and working together as a unified team.

The team cannot wait to meet you in person!

Further reading:

Meet Kayla: “Growing up with undiagnosed autism was hard at times.”

Programs for Children, Youth and Adults on the Spectrum

Our Office Team

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In response to COVID-19, we introduced online programming so we could continue to provide support and opportunities for connection to our members. As the online space is a new medium for CAN program delivery, we sent our membership a brief poll to gain insight into preferences for virtual programming.

We received over 350 responses, representing approximately 379 members with autism from communities across British Columbia. Of those that responded:

  • 76 represented participants between 3-6 years
  • 160 represented participants between 7-12 years
  • 93 represented participants between 13-17 years
  • 50 represented participants 18 years or older

Program Timing

Respondents were asked about their preferred program frequency, duration of session, and days/times of the week.

  • Program Frequency: The majority of members are looking for virtual programs that run over consecutive weeks – between 4-6 weeks. This was consistent across all age groups.
  • Program Duration: The majority of members ages 3-12 are looking for class times that are either 30 or 45 minutes. Members  ages 13+ are looking for longer classes, either 45 or 60 minutes.
  • Program Timing: Responses were more varied across the different age groups. For ages 3-6, the preference is for mornings, specifically weekend mornings, and weekday evenings. For ages 7-12, responses were fairly consistent across days and times. For ages 13+, the preference is mostly for afternoons and evenings.

Program Activity

We asked respondents to identify which of the following program types they would be interested in: science activities, computer technology, social group, physical activity, arts/crafts, and other.

For participants 3-6 yrs: Interest was predominantly around physical activity, followed by arts/crafts.

For participants 7-12 yrs: Interest was quite spread out among the group, with physical activity, social groups, computer technology, and science activities all having similar levels of interest.

For participants 13+yrs: This group also had a wide range of interest, with the most popular activities being social groups, computer technology, and physical activity.

Additional Results

We received lots of positive feedback about our virtual programming and are thrilled to be able to reach remote communities with this new stream of programming . We also received feedback from participants who do not find that online programming works well for them for varied reasons.

How These Results Will Be Used

Thank you for your input! Our program team has reviewed the results and has already started incorporating feedback into the planning for the upcoming fall season.

We are very excited to add new online programs this fall, including a partnered baseball program (with an adapted equipment kit for each family that participates!), hockey clinics, and a new virtual meet-up club for preteens (ages 9-12)as well as for siblings!

View Fall 2020 Program Guide.

We value your feedback and will continue to ask for your suggestions on new program ideas throughout the year. If you haven’t yet had a chance, please take a few minutes to complete our in-person program poll which will help guide our gradual return to in-person programming around the province.

Provide Feedback on Returning to In-Person Programs.

Thank you again for your help in making CAN programs as successful as possible during this challenging time!

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April 16, 2020

Elaine is the mother of a young daughter with autism, Erin. She very recently joined the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) community in Fall 2018 when she registered her family as members.

“Erin is very apprehensive in new environments,” said Elaine. “In the past, she has had a difficult time adjusting to mainstream lessons.”

But with the hope that Erin would benefit from CAN’s adapted programs and experienced staff, she signed her daughter up for our six-week skate program at Port Coquitlam Rec Centre.

The difference?

“She was so confident,” Elaine recalled.

“We were thrilled with the level of kindness and compassion showed by your staff and volunteers. By the end of the program, she could skate a few feet on her own!”

At CAN, we believe every child with autism has the right to play sports. And while every CAN participant learns at their own pace, our trained staff and dedicated volunteers are prepared to give close individualized support.

We see our programs as a springboard for success in environments beyond our walls — so that kids like Erin can explore their newfound skills anywhere in their community.

“I now feel confident sending her skating with her peers at school,” said Elaine. “I know she will feel comfortable and look forward to the experience.

“Thank you for the opportunities you provide for my daughter.”

Additional Reading

Learn more about what #WeBelieve
This Autism Acceptance Month, we are focusing one something that will never change — our values.

Terri Neish: “Unconditional Inclusion”
A CAN mother of 10 years recalls her son’s first experience in our programs.

Soccer for all abilities at Cliff Avenue United FC
A professional soccer coach discovers CAN training to increase inclusion in his youth clubs.

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Mar 27, 2020

My name is Keara Farnan and I wanted to share my experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

I first heard about the coronavirus at the end of 2019, but never thought it would become a serious health crisis. I have become very bored with little to do at home. I’m still managing to stay in contact with my friends and my parents who live in Oliver.

But I feel very disengaged and isolated from society.

I go for walks after breakfast to get groceries and I notice people having to wait in line in to enter. When I walk through the grocery store, I notice most of the stock is missing. And there are signs indicating there is a limit to how many cans of soup customers are allowed to purchase.

Read Keara’s first guest blog with CAN, My life with autism.

I look around me and I see multiple people wearing face masks and gloves and trying to distance themselves from each other. I feel a sense of urgency; I’m not sure if I will be able to get the food I need to survive the next few weeks of this pandemic. The suspense makes me even more nervous.

As I approach the checkout, I notice large pieces of pink tape on the ground and one of the staff tells me to keep my distance. But, I’m not sure what they mean exactly because they didn’t tell me how many metres I need to keep from another customer. I feel panicked as I question if going to the grocery store was even a good idea to begin with.

I do not cope well with sudden changes and I become very grumpy if I’m on my own for long periods of time. My parents have always encouraged me to be more social and interact with my peers. Although, now is certainly not the time to be socially gathering with other people.

I’m stuck between wanting to be social and wanting to remain in self-isolation.

My work is closed, so I won’t be leaving home, except maybe to go to the grocery store or grab a coffee at a café nearby. I feel trapped inside the walls of my apartment as I stare out the window across and look at the other apartment building. It’s like the walls are closing in on me and I don’t like that feeling at all.

I wonder if my neighbours are experiencing the same kind of stress I am, and if other people would understand if I were to explain how I feel about the COVID-19 pandemic. No one really explained to me how serious the coronavirus is. I had to do my own research. And watching the news on TV or reading online articles about COVID-19 is rather disturbing.

I don’t want to think about the coronavirus pandemic anymore. I don’t want to have to stay inside my apartment for what feels like a century.

Living independently on the North Shore, I have had to adapt to manage certain tasks alone, like grocery shopping, budgeting, and doing laundry. I usually go to the gym and work out when I am bored. But unfortunately I do not have that option at the moment.

I’ve been going for walks around the track at Fen Burdett Stadium, which is very close to Carson Graham Secondary.

Physical activity is important to me because it helps me de-stress and also stay in shape.

When I am at home, I like to watch TV, write, bake, and hang out with my cat Maggie. Pets are a great companion for individuals on the spectrum because they provide support and are always there for you when you need a friend.

As a young woman on the autism spectrum, I’m struggling to understand the importance of self-isolation and the effects that the coronavirus may have on those with a disability.

I highly encourage autistic individuals to research COVID-19 online or with their parents to find out more information.

From CAN: ACT-Autism Community Training has a great list of resources for youth & adults with autism to increase their understanding of COVID-19. View here.

Another thing that has really helped me stay calm is watching Netflix and cooking. While it can be hard, you should limit your in-person interactions.

If a friend asks to meet with you in person, you can suggest connecting over the phone or meeting through an online platform instead.

As the rate of coronavirus cases in BC increases, I am becoming even more concerned about the potential of a full lockdown, and the impact it may have on my involvement in Canucks Autism Network (CAN) programs.

Keara in our rock climbing program last year. Read her program testimonial Climbing new heights!

I first joined CAN in 2011 and it has always been a safe place for me to go to where I feel like I belong and fit in. I am very fortunate to be involved with CAN and look forward to future events and programs once the coronavirus passes.

They provide, not only myself, but thousands of other individuals with autism the opportunity to participate in safe, fun, and enjoyable programs — free of judgement or criticism.

I have been staying up-to-date on news from CAN by regularly checking my inbox and their social media platforms, (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), or by reading the monthly CAN newsletter.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the spread of COVID-19 decreases and CAN programs and events are able to resume without further disruption or health precautions.

-Keara Farnan

How CAN is here to help.

We are closely aware of the need for our youth and adult participants, like Keara, to stay connected while respecting the obligations of social distancing.

Our program team is busily working on new ways for our youth and adult participants to stay in touch with CAN and each other!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce new initiatives, like virtual meetings, video activities to follow along with at home, a youth and adult newsletter and more. We are excited to stay connected!

Questions? Email CAN’s Navigator of Youth and Adult Services Sarah Armstrong at sarah.armstrong@canucksautism.ca.

Additional resources

Stay up-to-date on CAN program and event announcements at canucksautism.ca/health, our member newsletter and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIN).

For COVID-19 updates and recommendations from provincial health authorities, please visit: bccdc.ca.

We would also like to remind everyone to take care of their mental health. If you are in a crisis, please reach out to Crisis Services Canada – 1-833-456-4566. For additional resources, please visit: foundrybc.ca

Finally, ACT-Autism Community Training has a great list of resources for youth & adults with autism to increase their understanding of COVID-19. View here.

Additional reading

Keara Farnan: My life with autism”
Keara Farnan: Climbing new heights with CAN
Nate Keller: What I want you to know about autism

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Sep 4, 2019

Accessibility is a core value at Canucks Autism Network (CAN).

We honour this value by striving to deliver our programs and events in environments that are barrier-free, safe and inclusive. We are also committed to alleviating any financial barriers to program participation.

As such, our annual membership fee remains at a low cost of $25 per individual with autism. Membership gives participants the ability to submit registration requests for CAN programs.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and community partners, many of our programs are offered at no cost.

These include Family Events, Active, Multisport, Monthly & Weekly Youth & Adult programs.

Programs that do come with a fee are highly subsidized. For example, our six-week Skate program is $30.

CAN programs are unique in the level of support that is provided. Participants can be paired with trained staff and volunteers on a 1:1 ratio or higher, as needed. This high level of support ensures that lessons can be adapted to each participant’s needs.

Find more information on program fees by visiting CAN program webpages.

In addition to accessing programs at little to no cost, individuals with autism (ages 6-18) can use their Autism Funding to pay membership and program fees.

Learn more in our Program Policies & Payment Options webpage.

Individuals or families in need of additional financial assistance with CAN membership or program fees can request a fee reduction or waiver through the CAN Fee Assistance Program.

To request a fee reduction or waiver, email info@canucksautism.ca or call 604-685-4049.

An office staff from our membership team will be happy to assist you!

Jan 11, 2019

This past December, Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Manager of Programs, Elisabeth Walker-Young, received the incredible honour of being named to the Order of Canada. As per a statement from the Governor General, Elisabeth has been appointed “for her excellence in the sport of swimming and for her advocacy of inclusive sport in Canada.”

We are overjoyed that Elisabeth’s tireless work to promote accessibility has been so highly recognized  on a national level. We welcomed Elisabeth to our office team in September 2017. She joined CAN as a highly-experienced advocate and changemaker for inclusion in sports — both as an athlete and a professional.

As a competitive swimmer, Elisabeth is a four-time Paralympian that has won three gold medals for Team Canada. At the 2015 ParaPanAmerican Games, she was chosen for the role of chef de mission (official leader and spokesperson) for Team Canada – an honour that foreshadowed her career in affecting positive change.

Elisabeth Walker-Young speaks at a press conference with the Canadidan Paralympic team
Photo from games.paralympic.ca.

After retiring from competition, Elisabeth took on managerial roles with ParaSport Ontario, Curl BC, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and viaSport BC, before joining CAN.

In celebration of her appointment, Elisabeth was interviewed this week by Accessible Media Inc (AMI) in Toronto. In addition to speaking about her lived experience as an athlete with a disability, Elisabeth reflected on the province-wide impact on individuals and families living with autism that she now helps oversee with CAN.

“I absolutely love [working at CAN], because it’s an organization that truly believes in sharing their knowledge. We provide that intro to sports, but a huge part of what we do is training,” Elisabeth explained.

Listen to the full 14-minute interview with AMI.

“From a capacity issue, we can’t offer [every possible sports and rec program], so we train the sports sector, recreation sector, first responders. We train anyone in the community to be inclusive and to understand what autism is so that there are more positive experiences in the community.”

On being named to the Order of Canada, Elisabeth had this to say: “It’s a huge honour, but my work isn’t done. I know there’s still so much more to do and so much more to give.”

With passionate leaders like Elisabeth at the helm of our province-wide efforts, we are so excited for what the future of CAN programs, training and awareness initiatives holds.

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Jan 5, 2019

We are so proud that our staff, volunteers and overall program experience receive consistently positive feedback in our quarterly parent and participant surveys.


However, we recognize the importance of parents and participants being able to communicate program concerns in a timely manner when they do arise. A few examples of feedback that we’ve received in end-of-season surveys are:

  • “The volunteers in the program seemed disengaged.”
  • “The person in the black shirt (Support Team) never engaged with me. I would have liked to tell them some strategies for working with my child.”
  • “My child has had a different support worker each session, which is less than ideal.”

These are important issues to be brought to our attention. We would like to address these in a timely manner, preferably while the program is still in session rather than the end of the season.

Support Team members supervise CAN programs on-site and can be identified by their black CAN t-shirts.

In order to efficiently address concerns, we have developed a simple process for you to connect with supervisory staff regarding program-related issues.

  1. Speak directly with the Support Team member.
    These supervisory staff members (identifiable by their black CAN t-shirts at programs) are prepared to receive program concerns from CAN members and the general public. They have been trained to address the concerns, implement solutions, and identify when to involve office staff.
  2. If the Support Team member isn’t available, please email feedback@canucksautism.ca.
    Often times, CAN programs are very busy and a Support Team member may not be available to speak to you privately. Or you may be uncomfortable addressing an issue with the Support Team member. If this is the case, please email feedback@canucksautism.ca with your concern. This email will be directed to an office staff within our Program Department and will be answered within 3-5 business days.

If we can address feedback in a timely manner, we are confident that our trained staff and volunteers will be able to satisfy parent and participant concerns. Additionally, your feedback can be added to our staff’s ongoing training and our volunteer orientations.

At CAN, your input is valued and important. It is a privilege to work with both parents and participants to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest-possible program experience.

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“WE HEARD YOU” ARCHIVE:
Staff and volunteer roles | Who gets into programs? | Why aren’t swim programs longer? | Why are programs offered at less than ideal times of the week?

Nov 5, 2018

As we prepare for the 2019 Winter season (Jan-Mar), we have some program changes to announce:

I CAN Play Sports is now called “Multisport”
The I CAN Play Sports program (also known as “Sports” or “Gym” program) for ages 7-12 is now known as Multisport. This will be reflected in the Winter Program Guide and in the registration system.

Cowichan Valley: Skate & Swim will not be offered
Due to ongoing staffing challenges, we will not be running the skate or swim program in the Duncan area for the winter session. Active (3-6yrs) and Multisport (7-12yrs) will be running in the community.

Kelowna: Gymnastics

We are excited to provide the Gymnastics program in partnership with the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre. Please stay tuned for the announcement of the date and time of the program.

Edmonds Swim will be replaced by sessions at Jewish Community Centre and Eileen Daily

Since the Edmonds swim facility is undergoing maintenance during our winter term, we have added extra 3-6yrs, 7-12yrs, and 13+yrs sessions at Jewish Community Centre in Vancouver, and 3-6yrs sessions at Eileen Daily in Burnaby.

North Vancouver: Weekly Youth and Young Adult Program will be replaced with Indoor Rock Climbing

Thanks to generous funding support from Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), CAN will be introducing a weekly rock climbing program in January 2019 for youth and young adult members. In partnership with Power To Be and Climb Base5 North Vancouver, participants will have the opportunity to learn to climb in a safe and supportive environment, meet new people and build their fitness. This program is intended for youth and young adults with an interest in climbing who would like to continue the activity on their own or with friends and family after participating in the CAN program.

Vancouver: Explore Volunteering for youth and adults will replace CommunityWorks Canada®

The Explore Volunteering program provides opportunities for youth and  adults with autism to sample volunteer tasks in a variety of community settings. The program encourages community engagement alongside peers while developing volunteer experience, work skills, and communication and social skills. This program will be taking the place of the CommunityWorks Canada® program which ends in December 2018.  P

Online registration for Winter 2019 Weekly Program Registration opens Monday, November 19, at noon, and closes Friday, November 23, at noon.

Become a member to access programs.

Sep 28, 2018

We Heard You is a new blog series that addresses some of the common questions and themes that arise from our seasonal parent and participant feedback surveys.

Today we are answering a frequently asked question about the timing of our programs.

Why are programs offered at less than ideal/times of the week?

We are proud and fortunate to partner with various community and municipal organizations across the province to deliver our programming. Some of the agreements provide us with reduced rates or even free space, however, the subsidized costs can also mean that we are limited by the days and times offered to us.

We recognize that some program days and times are less than ideal and will continue to work with our partners to secure the best times available. That said, recreation centres are under a lot of pressure from multiple other user groups looking for pool, ice and gym time and as a result they have limited availability, particularly when it comes to arena and pool time.

By delivering our programs in facilities that offer reduced rates or complimentary space, we are able to save costs and accommodate even more individuals with autism, which is our ultimate goal with registration.

The graph below depicts the level of member satisfaction with various elements of CAN programming including length, timing, location, and cost of the program.

Graph results from Spring Survey
Graph results from Spring Survey

See articles more like this:
What is each staff and volunteer’s roles in programs?
Why aren’t swim programs longer?
Who gets into programs?