Insight into Parkinson's 2024 Online Conference

On World Parkinson's Day, thousands from around the world will be logging in to participate in PD Warrior's free Parkinson's conference. Both Day 1 and Day 2 feature a total of 29 presentations spread across 9 plenary sessions. Explore the complete program by clicking here.  

When: 4:00pm PT, April 11 & 12 (April 13 is for healthcare professionals only)

Each day access is for 24 hours, regardless of your location, you can easily attend. 

Register today! 

World Parkinson's Day

Join the Movement Disorder Clinic: Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre and the Parkinson's Foundation on Thursday, April 11, World Parkinson's Day.

Location: DM Centre for Brain Health, UBC 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC

Resource Booths
Visit resource booths hosted by the Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, BC Brain Wellness Program, and Parkinson Society BC. Support the bake sale to raise funds for groceries to help members of our PD community! 
When: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Where: DM Centre for Brain Health Lobby

Webinar
Enjoy an educational webinar with talks from Dr. Christopher Honey, Dr. Suzie Adam, and Dr. Sam Schaffner. 
When: 10:00am - 11:00am
Where: Presented via Zoom and onsite viewing party 

Music Workshop
Engage in an onsite interactive rhythmic patterns workshop with Cynthia Friesen
When: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Where: Room 3402, DM Centre for Brain Health

Salsa Lesson
Participate in an onsite salsa class led by Juana Ayala Castaneda!
When: 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: Room 3402, DM Centre for Brain Health

Register today!

myCareBase App

A care management platform to help families manage the home support and personal care services being performed for the senior in their family. The mission of myCareBase is to help seniors age in place for as long as possible, by enabling them to access the senior care services they need to remain living at home and supporting their caregivers in delivering the best care possible.

To learn more and join myCareBase, visit mycarebase.com.

Digital Skills Classes for Seniors

Join Gluu Society for their comprehensive training sessions for iPhone and iPad, now free for Canadian seniors.

To learn more and register, visit gluusociety.org.

Parkinson's Balance & Mobility Classes
Monday - Friday, various times

Hosted via Zoom by Surefeet. To view full calendar, class descriptions, and to register visit www.surefeet.ca.

Parkinson's Foundation Events
Various dates and times

Parkinson's Foundation hosts a number of virtual events, conferences, and educational series open for anyone in the Parkinson's community. To view all events and descriptions, and to register visit www.parkinson.org/get-involved/events

Michael J. Fox Foundation Webinars
Third Thursday of every month, 9:00am PT

Registration & Information

Diabetes Self-Management Programs
Various dates & times

This is a free virtual six-session workshop that helps people with type 2 diabetes better manage symptoms and activities of daily life. The workshop is open to caregivers and family members. Participants receive the “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” companion book and should attend all six sessions to get the maximum benefit. Computer, internet, and webcam are needed to participate. 

View details and register for the free workshops on their website. 

Please note that workshops are scheduled on an ongoing basis throughout the year, so if you do not see an in-person workshop scheduled in your community, please check back regularly for newly added workshops.

Chronic Conditions/Pain Self-Management Programs
Various dates & times

These Self-Management Programs are free virtual six-session workshops. The workshop helps people living with chronic conditions or pain to better manage symptoms and activities of daily life. The workshop is open to caregivers and family members. Participants receive the “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” companion book and should attend all six sessions to get the maximum benefit.

Self-Management BC also offers took-kit programs with more resources to help you live better with chronic pain or disease. 

View details and register for the free workshops at www.selfmanagementbc.ca/upcomingworkshops.

Speechease Adult Choir

Rock Steady Boxing

Pre-recorded sessions

Rock Steady Boxing is a non-profit that improves the quality of life for people with Parkinson's through non-contact boxing based fitness.

Previously recorded home exercise videos can be accessed on their Youtube channel.

LSVT Global
Various dates and times

LSVT Global offers interactive exercise classes and free online resources! New, free exercise classes are being extended during the month of May to support people with PD during these unusual times.

For more information and to view available classes, click here.

PWRMoves!
Monday - Friday, various times

PWRMoves! hosted by Parkinson Wellness Recovery, is an online exercise program designed for those living with Parkinson's and focuses on foundational skills to help manage the symptoms of the disease.

For more information and to view available classes, click here.

Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador Exercise Group
Thursdays, 9:30am PDT

Join Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador with weekly online exercise classes every Thursday!

Classes are hosted on their Facebook group – please request to be added to the group to join classes.

VON Exercise Class Videos
Pre-recorded sessions

Help maintain your exercise schedule with these videos from VON. This exercise series provides workouts for different skill levels.

Previously recorded sessions can be accessed on their Youtube channel.

Parkinson's Foundation Fitness Fridays
Pre-recorded sessions

Each week these free Fitness Friday videos focus on different aspects of exercise designed to support people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Work out to the new range of videos led by Parkinson’s fitness programs from across the country. Create your tailored Fitness Friday experience and take your workout to the next level combining past classes.

Previously recorded sessions can be accessed on Parkinson's Foundation's Fitness Friday Youtube Playlist.

Parkinson's Exercise Essentials Videos
Pre-recorded sessions

Developed by the Davis Phinney Foundation, the Parkinson’s Exercise Essentials video series provides a range of workouts designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s and is easily modified for any fitness level. Follow these activities at home, in a fitness centre, or out in the community.

Previously recorded sessions can be accessed here.

Impact Parkinson's Exercise Classes & Workshops
Various dates and times

IMPACT Parkinson’s was created to make an impact on the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s, and their families and friends, by offering programs that focus on mind, body, and soul.

For more information and to view event offerings, visit Impact Parkinsons website.

NeuroFit BC
Various dates and times

NeuroFit BC offers a number of live online exercise classes and group classes at different fitness levels. They also offer exercise resources, pre-recorded exercise videos, and 1:1 physiotherapy.

For more information and to view their services, visit NeuroFit BC's website.

Parkinson Wellness Projects
Various dates and times

Parkinson Wellness Projects (PWP) empowers, improves function, and increases quality of life for those affected by Parkinson’s disease on Vancouver Island through fun, safe, and effective multidisciplinary, evidence-based exercise programs.

For more information and to view event offerings, visit the Parkinson Wellness Projects website.

Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario
Various dates and times

Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario is offering a number of free, online exercise classes to help keep people with Parkinson's active during COVID-19.

For more information and to view available classes, visit Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario's website.

Parkinson Quebec Exercise Groups
Monday-Friday, various times

Physical activity is a key element in Parkinson’s disease management. It reduces the impact of disease symptoms, improves cognitive function and has a neuroprotective effect. You can join online French/bilingual Parkinson’s exercise groups in the comfort of your home.

For more information and to view their class schedule, visit the Parkinson Quebec website.

24 Days of Self Care Challenge 

To promote mindfulness, self-compassion and self-love, Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC) have created a 24 Days of Self-Care Challenge. This challenge consists of small and accessible actions to incorporate more self-care into your daily routine. Join the challenge starting on July 1st by following Family Caregivers of BC on Facebook, or Instagram. They will be posting self-care prompts and actions daily at 7am. You can also download their challenge calendar to keep track and follow along! 

For more information, please click here.

Self-Management Health Coach Program

This is a one-on-one telephone-based coaching program to support people living with chronic conditions to become better self-managers. Each individual is paired with a coach and receives a weekly, 30-minute phone call for a period of 3 months. Coaches are volunteers who may be living with chronic health conditions, and are passionate to help others to achieve wellness.

For more information, please click here.

Better Choices, Better Health Online Program

This interactive workshop with up to 25 people takes place entirely online. Participants log on at their convenience two or three times a week for a total of about two hours a week. Participants can remain anonymous and everything takes place on a dedicated, secure website. Participants will set their own goals and make a step-by-step action plan to help them feel better and achieve their goals. 

For more information, please click here.

Mindfulness and Gentle Chair Yoga
Pre-recorded sessions

Kate Landreth, Education & Learning Lead at Family Caregivers of BC offers a mindfulness practice and seated yoga movement practice. Follow along from the comfort of your home and take time and space for yourself during your caregiving journey.

To watch the session, click here.

Mindful Hand Drumming at Home
Pre-recorded sessions

Pain BC hosted a new live-stream series for people experiencing pain during COVID-19. Partnered with Rhythm Bliss, the sessions include 45-minute mindful and rhythmic hand drumming (no drum required).

Previously recorded sessions can be accessed on Pain BC's Youtube Channel.

Carepartner Program
Pre-recorded sessions

Parkinson's Foundation is excited to announce a new and exciting series of courses designed for carepartners. This self-paced program covers a wide variety of topics, including sleep, cognitive and mood changes in Parkinson's disease, ambiguous loss, staying healthy, and burnout. Each course offers flexible programming with videos, journal prompts, and opportunities to hear from carepartners about the most important topics.

For more information and to register, click here.

Dance for PD
Pre-recorded sessions and various dates and times

Dance for PD®, founded in 2001, offers specialized dance classes to people with Parkinson’s, their families, friends and care partners. Dance for PD classes invite people with Parkinson’s to experience the joys and benefits of dance while creatively addressing symptom-specific concerns related to balance, cognition, motor skill, depression and physical confidence.

Information on live Zoom classes and previously recorded videos can be found on their website.

Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador Dance Classes
Thursdays, 8:00am PT

Stay active from the comfort of your own home with these weekly online dance classes every Thursday! This program is offered by Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador and led by Charlotte Fowlow.

Classes are hosted on their Facebook group – please request to be added to the group to join classes.

Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador Music Therapy
Thursdays, 8:00am PT

During these Music Therapy classes, you will learn vocal exercises & warmups to strengthen your voice and keep your respiratory systems strong, sing familiar & new songs, keeping your mind & memory active, move & groove while learning how rhythm can help coordination & balance, and have a whole lot of FUN! This group music therapy program is offered by certified music therapist Renee White MTA in partnership with Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador.

Classes are hosted on their Facebook group – please request to be added to the group to join classes.

Songshine for Parkinson's
Pre-recorded sessions and various dates and times

Songshine includes vocal music and creative drama-based classes designed for those who have communication issues due to Parkinson’s, stroke, other neurological challenges, or ageing. Our goal is to help you communicate more easily and clearly. SongShine harnesses the power of brain, breath, and emotion to reclaim voices. It creates community, camaraderie, and confidence, and it's fun!

For more information and to view their services, visit Songshine At Home.

Let's Talk LOUD
Various dates and times monthly 

Hosted by IMPACT Parkinson's, Let’s Talk LOUD are virtual monthly group voice therapy sessions. Learn about communication and swallowing concerns common in Parkinson’s. Participate in voice training, including breath and posture work to help strengthen voice and communication. Learn about the importance of hearing in speech. These sessions are for those already experiencing communication and swallowing challenges as well as those who wish to be proactive in their treatment. One support person is recommended and included for free. These sessions are instructed by Emma Cawood, Speech Language Pathologist, LSVT LOUD Certified.  

Cost: There is a fee associated with the monthly sessions, comprised of 8 classes per week (2x/week). Virtual assessment is mandatory for new clients. 1:1 sessions available. Minimum of 5 required, maximum of 8. NOTE: Those having Extended Health Benefits may have coverage for speech therapy and are encouraged to find out.

For more details and to register, email info@impactparkinsons.com or call 604-525-2631.

Neil Squire

Neil Squire has been revolutionizing the lives of Canadians with disabilities since 1984 through accessible assistive technology. Their work enables people with disabilities to achieve their goals, reach their full potential, and continue living life to the fullest. Neil Squire also offers employment support to job seekers with disabilities. Their goal is to provide participants with client-centered service focused on positivity and empowerment, and to help participants gain new skills and advance their employment goals.

Resources:

• Organization Overview
• Working Together Program Overview

Parkinson's Foundation - Dystonia Resources

Parkinson's Foundation has a number of new, helpful resources to help individuals with Parkinson's disease learn more about dystonia.

Resources:

• Parkinson's Motor Symptoms Co-Management: Occupational Therapy and Neurology [view video]
• Meet the Researcher - Learning About Dystonia [listen to podcast]
• Dystonia Information [view website]