Accessing Supports
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (On-Location)
Location: Lower Lobby, Gulf Islands B & C
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.
Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSW)
The RHSW team supports emotional, mental, and spiritual development, along with healing and recovery for survivors, families and communities, and their work is guided by culturally-based values and principles.
Cultural Support Providers (CSP)
The counselling team supports emotional, mental, and spiritual development, along with healing and recovery, through culturally-based values and guiding principles for survivors, families and communities. The IRSSS provides an atmosphere that allows individuals to feel validated and heard, prioritizing physical and emotional safety.
Emotional Support (On-site)
Many of the topics discussed in our Annual Training Forum can be challenging. If you need to talk to someone during our ATF, trained EVA BC staff will be there to offer emotional support in person.Â
To connect with one of our available emotional support staff please talk to any EVA BC staff person at the registration table – you will be able to identify EVA BC staff by a blue ribbon on our nametags.
Emotional support will be offered in the Chartroom on the 3rd floor. Please do not enter the room if it is in use. After talking with a staff person, you will be connected to our available emotional support staff and they will walk with you to the space.
Therapy Dogs
Location: Port Alberni (4th Floor)
Along with their handlers, Therapy Dogs do just what pets have been doing for centuries: offering companionship to those in need of comfort or emotional and physical support. Dogs calm the distressed and distract those in discomfort – through petting, affection, and visitation, many people benefit both physically and emotionally.
The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program will be at the Port Alberni room during lunch both days.
Emotional Support (On-site)
Many of the topics discussed in our Annual Training Forum can be challenging. If you need to talk to someone during our ATF, trained EVA BC staff will be there to offer emotional support in person.Â
To connect with one of our available emotional support staff please talk to any EVA BC staff person at the registration table – you will be able to identify EVA BC staff by a blue ribbon on our nametags.
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Emotional support will be offered in the Chartroom on the 3rd floor. Please do not enter the room if it is in use. After talking with a staff person, you will be connected to our available emotional support staff and they will walk with you to the space.
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Indian Residential School Survivors Society (On-Location)
Location: Lower Lobby, Gulf Islands B & C
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.
Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSW)
The RHSW team supports emotional, mental, and spiritual development, along with healing and recovery for survivors, families and communities, and their work is guided by culturally-based values and principles.
Cultural Support Providers (CSP)
The counselling team supports emotional, mental, and spiritual development, along with healing and recovery, through culturally-based values and guiding principles for survivors, families and communities. The IRSSS provides an atmosphere that allows individuals to feel validated and heard, prioritizing physical and emotional safety.
Therapy Dogs
Location: Port Alberni (4th Floor)
Along with their handlers, Therapy Dogs do just what pets have been doing for centuries: offering companionship to those in need of comfort or emotional and physical support. Dogs calm the distressed, distract those in discomfort, and comfort the lonely. Program participants reap the therapeutic benefits through petting, affection, and regular visitation, many people benefit both physically and emotionally.
The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program will be at the Port Alberni room during 12 – 1 pm both days. Please note that there will be limited capacity to meet with them based on the number of volunteers and therapy dogs.
Support Options off-site:Â
You can find confidential support across BC and Yukon and help with safety planning and services in your community in over 150+ languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808, or by email to 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca
Indian residential school survivors, intergenerational survivors and their families can access emotional support through the IRSSS 24-hour crisis lines:
LAMATHUT – 24/7 SUPPORT: 1 (800) 721-0066
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society operates a 24-hour crisis line to support survivors and families across British Columbia and beyond. Survivors can also access support as part of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. The crisis line will remain open during the winter holidays.
NATIONAL CRISIS LINE: 1 (866) 925-4419
You can access our directory of MPSSG-funded frontline support services across BC at endingviolence.org/services-directory/.Â
EVA BC respectfully acknowledges our office is located on the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
