Communication & Swallow Workshop, Nanaimo

This full-day interactive and participatory workshop, led by Registered Speech Language Pathologist, Sherri Zelazny, will focus on the communication and swallowing challenges faced by people with Parkinson's. It is open to those already experiencing communication and swallowing challenges, as well as those who wish to be proactive in their treatment.

Our communication and swallow workshops utilize methods developed as part of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment^® (LSVT^®) which have been clinically proven to enhance communication for individuals with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.

If you have Parkinson's but are not currently experiencing communication or swallowing difficulties, participating in the workshop may help reduce stress, frustration and complications related to communication down the road.

If you already experience issues with communication and swallowing, this workshop will provide you with effective evidence-based tools to address common problems of disordered articulation, diminished facial expression and impaired swallowing.

If you are a healthcare professional looking to learn more about communication and swallowing challenges for people with Parkinson's and methods to support your clients, this workshop will provide you with a general understanding.

Participants will be required to watch a pre-workshop webinar and complete a questionnaire prior to the event. The pre-workshop materials will be provided to you in an email following your registration.

A catered lunch will be provided.

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Communication & Swallow Workshop, Abbotsford

This full-day interactive and participatory workshop, led by Registered Speech Language Pathologist, Sherri Zelazny, will focus on the communication and swallowing challenges faced by people with Parkinson's. It is open to those already experiencing communication and swallowing challenges, as well as those who wish to be proactive in their treatment.

Our communication and swallow workshops utilize methods developed as part of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment^® (LSVT^®) which have been clinically proven to enhance communication for individuals with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.

If you have Parkinson's but are not currently experiencing communication or swallowing difficulties, participating in the workshop may help reduce stress, frustration and complications related to communication down the road.

If you already experience issues with communication and swallowing, this workshop will provide you with effective evidence-based tools to address common problems of disordered articulation, diminished facial expression and impaired swallowing.

If you are a healthcare professional looking to learn more about communication and swallowing challenges for people with Parkinson's and methods to support your clients, this workshop will provide you with a general understanding.

Participants will be required to watch a pre-workshop webinar and complete a questionnaire prior to the event. The pre-workshop materials will be provided to you in an email following your registration.

A catered lunch will be provided.

Registration for this event will close on Wednesday, March 11.

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New Diagnosis Workshop

Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the past year? Join us for our New Diagnosis Workshop this February in Vancouver.

Movement Disorder Neurologists, Dr. Jonathan Squires and Dr. Tara Rastin, and Joanna Davis, the Nurse Practitioner from the Movement Disorders Clinic at the UBC Centre for Brain Health, will lend their knowledge to provide an overview of the disease, treatment options, and tips on staying active to help slow the progression of symptoms. You will also hear from Parkinson Society BC about the programs and services available to support you on your journey.

This workshop will provide you with the opportunity to ask our presenters questions you may have about Parkinson's management, treatment, and support.

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Regional Conference, Victoria

Parkinson's disease is a unique and complex condition. To assist in expanding your knowledge of the disease, on March 7, Parkinson Society BC will host an afternoon of learning in Victoria.

Our regional conferences are immersive and interactive opportunities for people affected by the disease to learn from leading experts while connecting with the Parkinson's community.

Speaker and topic information coming soon.

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Parkinson Society BC (PSBC) recognizes that Parkinson's affects not only the person with the diagnosis, but family and friends as well. This webinar series aims to support carepartners through information and tools to help cope with the stresses of caregiving.

We welcome all individuals in a caring role to this webinar series, and we encourage participants to bring their questions to each session as there will be time set aside for Q&A and discussion. 

Please note that separate registration will be required for each session.

Personal Support and Healthcare Resources for Carepartners

Isobel Mackenzie has over 20 years' experience working with seniors in home care, licensed care, community services and volunteer services. In this session, she joins PSBC to provide an overview of the services offered by the Office of the Seniors Advocate. She will also discuss personal support and healthcare resources available to seniors in BC, and information on how to access them. 

Registration for this event will close on Thursday, February 27.

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Mindfulness for Carepartners

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Join PSBC's own Tricia Wallace, clinical counsellor, to discuss the benefits of mindfulness for carepartners and caregivers. 

This webinar focuses on mindfulness as a coping tool for life, to navigate the many stressors brought on by the caring role, including isolation, lack of leisure time, and the progression of your loved one's disease. Tricia will introduce mindful practices and resources, as well as guide a short group meditation.

Registration for this event will close on Thursday, March 5.

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Ambiguous Loss and Anticipatory Grief

Ambiguous loss is a type of loss that is unclear or without closure, and anticipatory grief is the feeling that one may experience when expecting a loss or change. As Parkinson's progresses, many carepartners and caregivers find themselves experiencing these kinds of loss and grief, and feeling isolated as a result. Although difficult, discussing these topics is important for anyone in a caring role.

Trevor Josephson, Clinical Manager at Peace Arch Hospice Society, joins PSBC for the first time to discuss ambiguous loss, anticipatory grief, and methods for coping

Registration for this event will close on Thursday, March 19.

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Ask the Expert Webinar: Mindfulness and Parkinson's

What does it mean to be mindful? How does one practice mindfulness, and why is it beneficial?  

Join us on Wednesday, January 29, as Parkinson Society British Columbia’s own clinical counsellor, Judy Zhu, discusses mindfulness, and leads a meditation practice via webinar. Judy is a registered doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been practicing Zen meditation for over 10 years. In this webinar, she will share the researched benefits of mindfulness on our body and mind, from reducing anxieties, stress, and pain, to improving cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall quality of life. She will also talk about how mindfulness can be applied to daily life to help manage the many stressors that people with Parkinson's disease, their families, and carepartners face.  

We welcome all individuals with Parkinson’s to this webinar, as well as their spouses and/or carepartners/caregivers.

Important note: if you will be watching this presentation with a partner or group, only one registration is required.

Registration will close on Monday, January 27.

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Ask the Expert Webinar: Intimacy and Parkinson's

Approximately half of all men and women with Parkinson’s disease will experience problems with intimacy and sexual functioning. These symptoms can be difficult to talk about, but are important to address. The sexual functioning and wellbeing of people with Parkinson's and their partners can be affected by many factors, including motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, medication effects, and relationship issues. 

This webinar, led by Elaine Book, Social Worker at the Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, and Tricia Wallace, Clinical Counsellor at Parkinson Society BC, will discuss challenges with sexual intimacy and will explore options to address emotional distance influenced by physical limitations and role transitions brought on by Parkinson's disease. 

We strongly encourage couples to participate in this webinar together. The content is focused on relationships, sharing, and communication, so the exercises in the webinar are geared toward couples. 

Registration is required by all participants to access the event. However, registrants will have the opportunity to be anonymous during the webinar presentation.

Important note: if you will be watching this presentation with a partner or group, only one registration is required.

Registration closes on Tuesday, February 11.

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Express Yourself: A Writing Workshop to Help You Cope and Thrive 

This 10 part writing workshop is for people with Parkinson’s and carepartners. No writing experience is necessary! Together, participants will complete simple, fun, and meaningful writing exercises, as well as take part in guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. We will tap into your inherent creativity and inner wisdom as sources of healing, strength, and community building. Come share your story and help yourself and other folks who understand what you’re going through move through challenging times.

The workshop is led by Rebecca Gifford, partner in Parkinson’s with her husband Larry. She is an experienced writer and writing coach who knows first-hand the power of the tools you will learn. She is an author, blogger, marketing writer, and writing coach with more than 20 years’ experience helping people and organizations navigate the creative process and tell their stories. Rebecca also is a homeschooling mom to her 10-year-old son and a weekly contributor to her husband’s podcast, When Life Gives You Parkinson’s.

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