Herbal Harvest – KARA Family Resource Centre

Little ones will help gather herbs, enjoy sensory play, and create fun take-home crafts like nature collages.

To register: KARA – Programs

Adventures in Play – KARA Family Resource Centre

Each session nurtures curiosity, connection, and key skills like communication, fine motor development, and problem-solving through hands-on exploration of colour, texture, and materials.

To register: KARA – Programs

Schools Out Adventures Ages 6-12 – KARA Family Resource Centre

Ignite curiosity, creativity, and confidence in kids age 6 to teens with our dynamic Out-of-School Adventure Program! Blending the best of STEM, nature, sports, and the arts, this program offers hands-on learning and active fun in a safe, inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

To register: KARA – Programs

Basic Digital Skills – Centre for Family Literacy

Workshops are 2 hours long, and some topics include:

• Google Workspace

• Create a Digital Cookbook

• Make Your Own Family Tree

• Online Safety

• Resumes and Cover Letters

To register: CFL – BDS

Basic Digital Literacy -Alberta Immigrant Women & Children Centre

Learn the basics like turning on a computer, searching on the internet, creating an email account, and using document creating tools like Microsoft Word and Excel. This class is best for newcomers who have low-level computer skills and want to learn the basics.

Who this program is for:

• Newcomer women who have never used a computer or digital device but want to become more familiar with how to use computers in their daily lives

To register: AIWCC – BDL

CITC811 Critical Thinking – NAIT

Critical thinking calls for the use of reasoning skills. Being an active learner rather than a passive consumer of information is key. Instead of accepting ideas and presumptions at face value, critical thinkers vigorously challenge them. They are constantly willing to discover that the concepts, justifications, and conclusions do not fully capture the situation. Instead of relying on gut instinct or intuition, critical thinkers will discover, analyze, and methodically solve problems.

Today, many people experience information overload. We are bombarded with messages urging us to believe certain ideas, purchase certain products, support specific causes, and live our lives in this or that particular way. How do you know what to believe? How do you separate the truth from the myths? The answer lies in critical thinking skills. The ability to clearly reason through problems and present arguments logically and compellingly has become a key skill for survival in today’s world. With the tools you gain in this course, you will be able to differentiate critical thinking from non-critical thinking, recognize and evaluate assumptions, identify types of faulty reasoning, and apply practical techniques to achieve clarity in thinking and problem-solving.

Offered in self-paced on-demand or remote live formats.

To register: NAIT – CITC811

Healthy Boundaries and Effective Communication – The Family Centre

Do you find it difficult to speak up for yourself and share your opinion or feelings, especially when they aren’t the same as someone else’s? A lack of assertiveness or confidence can result in challenges between you and your family, partner, or coworkers. Effective communication and conflict management skills are critical for your overall health and happiness. You have a right to be heard, make your own choices, and even say “no.”

You will build skills to enhance your communication by understanding:

• Different communication styles

• What assertive communication is, why assertive communication is important, and how to communicate assertively

• How to effectively resolve conflicts

• “I” statement

• Boundaries and how to say no

By the end of the course, you will feel more comfortable:

• Communicating, resolving conflict, setting boundaries, and asserting yourself

• Sharing your most important concerns

• Solving day-to-day problems and challenges

How much does it cost?

Group workshop: $75 per person

Private session: $325 per person

We are dedicated to supporting families of all income levels. We offer a subsidy for attending the group workshop for this class, thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton Family and Community Support Services.

If needed, you can apply for a subsidy by selecting one of the subsidy options in the registration form.

To register: TFC - HBEC

Unmasking Micro-Inequities - Center for Race and Culture (CFRAC)

Learn about micro-inequities, how they impact others, and how to hold people accountable for them.

The Centre for Race and Culture has developed a series of educational workshops and free open-access resources for service providers and the general public in Edmonton, Alberta under the name Unmasking Micro-inequities. This project supports participants to learn ways to hold themselves and others accountable when faced with everyday moments of discrimination—specifically micro-inequities—in their own lives and workplaces. We define micro-inequities as subtle, indirect, and often unintentional practices or behaviours that communicate bias or prejudice against members of marginalized groups, making them feel belittled, excluded, disrespected, or disadvantaged. These discriminatory acts occur across power dynamics, impacting members of marginalized groups such as women, 2SLGBTQ+ folks, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and persons living in poverty. By learning about the interplay between macro- and micro-level inequities, participants will learn why micro-inequities are not small or insignificant, but harmful. Together, we will explore the various forms of micro-inequities and the power dynamics that inform them, along with strategies for recognizing and meaningfully responding to incidents of micro-inequities. Educational content will include definitions, up-to-date theory, and a broad range of examples and stories, all contextualized to the realities we face in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Using an engaged approach, opportunities for self-reflection, sharing experiences, discussion and action-planning will be woven throughout the workshops and resources. 

We will learn: 

• What micro-inequities and microaggressions are;  

• How to recognize and unmask them;   

• Why and how they are harmful; and, 

• Strategies for intervening in them (as bystanders, allies and targets) 

For more information: CFRAC Training

KAIROS Blanket Exercise – Reach Edmonton

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is a workshop that explores the nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Blankets arranged on the floor represent land and participants are invited to step into the roles of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. The workshop helps people to understand how the colonization of this land impacts those who were here long before settlers arrived. It engages people’s minds and hearts in understanding why the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples is often broken and how we can take an action together.

The Blanket Exercise is available for community organizations in Edmonton and surrounding areas upon requests. The cost is subsidized by REACH for non-profit organizations that work with vulnerable populations. It is recommended that groups have a minimum of 12 participants.

If you are interested in having Blanket Exercise for your team, please contact Rie Nakai at rie.nakai@reachedmonton.ca.

To register: KAIROS Blanket Exercise – REACH

Intercultural Learning and Social Justice Workshops – Multicultural Health Brokers Co-Operative

These workshops intend to increase knowledge and build skills of participants in understanding social and cultural identities and how they influence experience of privilege, oppression and marginalization. 

These workshops explore broader issues of inequities and the complexities of building intercultural alliances to achieve social justice and change

Workshops can include:

• Integrating a racial equity lens in policy and practice 

• Organizing culturally diverse communities for change

Interested? Individuals and organizations interested in accessing our Journeys program can contact MCHB for public offerings and customized workshops for organizations. For more information contact Arlyn at mchb@mchb.org or call 780-423-1973.

Website page: MCHB - Journeys to Intercultural Wisdom and Equity

Skills Building Workshops – Multicultural Health Brokers Co-Operative

The skills building workshops will enable participants to apply intercultural strategies and tools in various areas of practice. 

We recommend that individuals complete the Foundations of Intercultural Practice Workshop to maximize the learning experience.

The suite of skill building workshops include:

• Intercultural communication – communication styles, verbal and non-verbal communication and intercultural communication bridging strategies 

• Intercultural planning and engagement – designing and evaluating programs and services across cultures, engaging people and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds

• Cultural mediation and brokering – the concept and practice of acknowledging and bridging differences in a variety of context 

• Trauma-informed workshop – focusing on the unique causes and impacts of trauma on immigrant and refugee populations..

• Practice-specific workshops – parenting in two cultures, family violence prevention across cultures, chronic disease prevention in culturally diverse communities 

The length of any of these workshops can vary from 2 – 6 hours depending on the interests and preferences of participants and requesting organizations.

Interested? Individuals and organizations interested in accessing our Journeys program can contact MCHB for public offerings and customized workshops for organizations. For more information contact Arlyn at mchb@mchb.org or call 780-423-1973.

Website page: MCHB - Journeys to Intercultural Wisdom and Equity

Foundations for Intercultural Practice Workshop– Multicultural Health Brokers Co-Operative

This foundational workshop will increase your knowledge about interacting, relating and communicating with culturally diverse people. 

Participants will be able to:

• Incorporate diverse cultural contexts in their work and practice

• Be more confident to address cultural issues in a personal and professional context 

Topics may include:

• Overview of Diversity and Immigration

• Cultural Self-Awareness

• Cultural Knowledge

• Introduction to Intercultural Learning and Development

Interested? Individuals and organizations interested in accessing our Journeys program can contact MCHB for public offerings and customized workshops for organizations. For more information contact Arlyn at mchb@mchb.org or call 780-423-1973.

Website page: MCHB - Journeys to Intercultural Wisdom and Equity

Rights of Young People & In-School Human Rights Practice – John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Advocacy

Using diverse and age-appropriate educational resources and fun interactive activities, we guide the exploration of various issues and elements of human rights relevant to schools and the communities where they are located.

JHC was founded with a core principle of creating space for young people to engage in and know their rights and responsibilities in community.

 JHC can support young people, teachers and school administration in implementing human rights and peace education while creating human rights communities. JHC’s education team uses human rights-based approaches and tools to help your school and students advance a culture of inclusion and equity. We create processes and sessions to build Rights Respecting Schools where everyone is respected, included, valued and belongs.

These courses include:

• Human Rights and Peace Education for Educators

• Human Rights and Peace Education for Young People

• Digital Literacy and Online Safety

For more information: JHC – RYPISHRP

To register: JHC – Workshop Google Form

Building Equity, Diversity and Inclusion through an Anti-Oppressive, Human Rights Framework – John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Advocacy

These workshops aim to explore the complex nature of oppression and support the creation of anti-oppressive strategies in different contexts.

Organizations can either select several sessions to inform and guide the building of an anti-oppressive strategic plan, or one or a few sessions that help them increase awareness and understanding, incorporate changes in their practices, and introduce a human rights culture for individual and organizational growth.

These courses include:

• Fundamentals of Anti-Oppression

• Anti-Racism—Learning to Confront the Uncomfortable

• The Not So “Micro” Aggressions

• Building a Rights-Based Organization

• True Colours Personal Development

• Understanding the ‘-isms’ and Learning How to Respond

• Confronting Ableism: Developing a Culture of Inclusion

For more information: JHC – BEDIAOHRF

To register: JHC – Workshop Google Form

Peace Building and Transformative Dialogues – John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Advocacy

Guided by human rights principles and anti-oppressive practices, JHC supports organizations and grassroots communities in designing and facilitating safe and brave spaces for difficult conversations conducive to integrating human rights into their policies, practices, and guidelines, solving tensions, and engaging in strategic planning.

Human Rights facilitation processes are conducive to action, foster collaboration, and center on the voices of all members of the group, especially those of equity-deserving groups.

These courses include:

• Human Rights Facilitator: Level One

• Advanced Human Rights Facilitation

For more information: JHC – PBTD

To register: JHC – Workshop Google Form

Human Rights as a Tool for Advocacy: Stride Training – John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Advocacy

JHC has developed a series of trainings to provide opportunities for community-based advocates or organizations to strengthen their awareness and understanding of human rights and discrimination, network with other advocates and organizations, and build skills to advance the rights of historically marginalized community members using the human rights mechanisms that exist for accountability.

These courses include:

• Human Rights 101: Understanding the Architecture and Role of Human Rights

• Anti-Oppression in Human Rights Advocacy

• Human Rights 102: Filing Human Rights Complaints - the Ins and Outs

• Beyond Quick Fixes: Embracing a Human Rights Approach to Poverty

• Human Rights 103: Taking Action on Human Rights

For more information: JHC - Stride Training

To register: JHC – Workshop Google Form

From Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness Workshop - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

This workshop equips participants with the understanding and skills to recognize, address, and transform lateral violence within communities and workplaces.

Focusing on “lateral kindness,” the program explores the root causes of lateral violence, offers strategies for promoting empathy, and fosters a culture of support and respect. Learners will gain access to a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS) with additional resources, interactive exercises, and tools to promote sustainable change in their personal and professional lives. This is a virtual program is provided in one session (3.5 hours).

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• Understanding Lateral Violence and its Impact: Recognize the root causes of lateral violence, its effects on communities, and the importance of addressing it.

• Developing Skills for Lateral Kindness: Learn practical techniques to foster empathy, compassion, and supportive communication to counter lateral violence.

• Creating Safe and Respectful Environments: Implement strategies that promote cultural safety, respect, and a foundation of kindness in interpersonal and professional relationships.

• Team Building Games: fun team building games that give learners another opportunity to understand how our own perspective, communication and mindset can impact the environment around us

  Objectives:

• Define lateral violence and its manifestations in communities and workplaces.

• Identify the emotional, social, and cultural impacts of lateral violence on individuals and communities.

• Practice communication techniques that encourage kindness, openness, and mutual understanding.

• Develop conflict resolution skills tailored to addressing lateral violence with sensitivity and respect.

• Learn to identify and manage triggers in oneself and others to prevent escalation of lateral violence.

• Develop action plans for implementing lateral kindness in personal and professional settings.

Audience:

• Community leaders, educators, and mentors interested in fostering healthier interpersonal dynamics.

• Health, social services, and community support workers seeking practical strategies to address lateral violence in the workplace.

• Indigenous community members and organizations working to create safe, compassionate environments.

• Individuals interested in learning how to transform conflict into growth opportunities and promote lateral kindness.

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Lateral Kindness

First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training - Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

A training for first responders to learn how to respond to disclosures around sexual assault and abuse. 

With support from the Government of Alberta and Women and Gender Equality Canada, the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) developed First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™. This training is intended to build the capacity of professionals, paraprofessionals and community members to respond effectively to disclosures of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Survivors who receive safe and supportive responses to disclosures of sexual violence are more likely to reach out for help from medical and counselling services and/ or report to police. First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™ is inclusive of the full continuum of sexual violence and across the lifespan. This is an Alberta based workshop which uses Alberta resources and guidelines. This is a beginner yet comprehensive ‘Identify, Respond and Refer’ training. This training is beneficial to professionals and paraprofessionals who are working with individuals who may be impacted by sexual violence and to other community members who are interested in increasing their skills and confidence to address sexual abuse and sexual assault. This training is open to, but not limited to, individuals who work in Health, Social Services, Education & Justice, Nurses, Physicians, Social Workers, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Teachers, School Counselors, Police Officers, Victim Services Workers, as well as Faith Leaders

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Define sexual violence and describe its various forms

• Understand the short and long term impacts of sexual violence across the lifespan

• Articulate why sexual violence is never the fault of the person who has been harmed

• Explain the attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate sexual violence and other root causes

• Provide a positive and supportive first response to a disclosure of sexual violence

• Identify resources and referrals to support those who have experienced sexual violence

This training will teach participants about sexual violence and the first responding skills for disclosures of sexual assault and abuse. This is NOT a course on counselling interventions. If you have experience in counselling and would like to take a more advanced level, 12 week course designed for counselling interventions, please see our Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence course.

To register: AASAS - FRSAAT

Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence - Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

This 12 week online integrative course is designed for counselors, therapists, and other mental health practitioners who are new to working with survivors of sexual violence, or who may be already working with survivors and would like to more deeply inform their counselling practice. 

Participation is open to those in the helping fields (mental health professionals, social workers, etc.) whose scope of practice falls within the code of ethics and standards of practice of the professional body to which they belong. Applicants must have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s level education in a social or health services discipline and/or are registered/licensed with a professional association that maintains a code of ethics and standards of practice that provide parameters for the registrant’s scope of practice. Special considerations may be accommodated on a case by case basis. For questions contact ContEd@aasas.ca.

While this course does not provide in-depth training in a specific modality it will introduce and critically consider various modalities, theories, principles and ethics associated with working with survivors of sexual violence. This course offers an integrative, mindfulness-based approach to on-going assessment and interventions with adult survivors (all genders) of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. It draws on the most current theory including feminist, attachment, regulation, and interpersonal neurobiology; and evidence-based practices, including mindfulness, cognitive, emotion-centered, somatic, and other emergent approaches for trauma, addiction and mental health.

The baseline premise is that the embodied present-moment personhood of the therapist is the primary evidence-based intervention in working with survivors. The course is also situated within an understanding of culturally relevant practice and how multiple identities, social locations and historical contexts inform interventions with survivors; and how counsellor reflection, self-knowledge and self-care form the basis for ethical counsellor praxis.

Upon completion students will be able to:

• Discuss evidence-based self-care practices, including building a community of support, to increase resilience and minimize practitioner burnout

• Articulate theoretical frameworks for understanding sexual violence and trauma, how they reflect values, worldviews, and interventions

• Describe the complexities of responding to the effects and impacts of sexual violence, that there is ‘no average client’ and to affirm practitioners’ capacities to co-create and sustain a therapeutic relationship

• Recall the principles, tools, and skills to reduce distress and provide stability and to conduct initial and on-going assessment strategies

• Name the basic principles, tools, and skills of a variety of evidence-based approaches (including mindfulness, cognitive, emotional, somatic and anti-oppressive) to respond to the effects of sexual violence and trauma

• Draw from a number of approaches to work collaboratively with adult survivors of sexual violence addressing the relationship issues that may be specifically meaningful to them

• Mindfully bring the therapeutic relationship to closure.

To register: AASAS – CASSV

Sharpening the Saw: Focusing on Men’s Health and Wellness Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

This course is dedicated to addressing the often-overlooked issues surrounding men’s overall wellness.

This session aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the unique wellness challenges faced by men, the barriers to seeking help, and effective strategies for support and intervention and how to implement effective strategies in your community. This is a virtual program provided in one session (2.5 hours).

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• The current state of men’s holistic wellness, including statistics and common issues. How mental illness may manifest in men compared to other genders.

• Examining how societal expectations and cultural norms impact men’s overall health and their willingness to seek help.

• Identifying prevalent mental health conditions among men, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

• Understanding the obstacles that prevent men from seeking wellness support, such as stigma and gender stereotypes.

• Learning how to engage in open and supportive conversations about holistic wellness with men.

• Evidence-based practices for supporting men’s mental health, including therapeutic approaches, peer support, and starting your own community programs addressing men’s wellness.

• Normalizing Conversations: making it a regular part of conversations to reduce stigma.

Audience:

General public, Health and social service providers, mental health professionals, educators, community leaders, and anyone interested in understanding and supporting men’s mental health

Course Instructors are highly experienced facilitators with knowledge of Indigenous mental wellness, cultural relevance, and trauma-informed care.

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Sharpening the Saw