Meet our Stigma-Free Society – Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance Scholarship Winner!

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Many students on campus are carrying around more than just heavy textbooks. Not only burdened by the pressures of fitting in, and keeping up high grades, some students are facing hidden adversity made worse by the effects of stigma. With the support of Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance, we were able to give two deserving students who have […]

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Join the Stigma-Free Society Team! Recruiting a Vancouver Stigma-Free Zone Presenter!

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The Stigma-Free Society is currently looking to hire an additional Stigma-Free Zone School Presenter to join our team! The Stigma-Free Society provides education and awareness about the effects of stigma, as well as peer support for those facing personal challenges in hopes of fostering acceptance of ourselves and others. One of our primary programs is the Stigma-Free Zone […]

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#thatwellnessthing – Join us at our Second Annual Open House!

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Join Speaker, Andrea Paquette, President and Founder, Stigma-Free Society for the #thatwellnessthing Join the Langley Education Centre to learn more about mental health and wellness at their Second Annual Open House & community resource fair! Wednesday February 27, 2019 4:30-7 PM at Langley Education Centre 21405A 56 Avenue, Langley BC Presentations & Information Tables Mental Health […]

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Let’s Talk at Glenlyon Norfolk School with EJ Weston

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On January 30, Middle and Senior School Assemblies included presentations by EJ Weston, a School and Community speaker from the Stigma-Free Society on the topic of stigma with a special focus on mental health. With a focus on resilience and hope, EJ shared their own personal experience with mental illness, overcoming trauma, and the importance of self […]

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MANAGING YOUR PERSISTENT FEARS, ANXIETIES, AND STRESS

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Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a difficult time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot […]

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Stigma-Free Society Scholarship Opportunity!

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The Stigma-Free Society is thrilled to be partnering with the Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance to offer two deserving youth a scholarship of $2000 to be allocated to their educational pursuits. Two B.C. students experiencing the effects of social stigmatization, either because of mental illness, LGBTQ+, homelessness, race, or addictions issues, will be selected to receive this scholarship […]

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You are Invited to the Stigma-Free Society 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

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STIGMA-FREE SOCIETY – NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) On behalf of Mr. Dave Richardson, Chairman and Ms. Andrea Paquette, President, of the Stigma-Free Society, you are invited to attend our charity’s 2018 Annual General Meeting. DATE:  Monday-October 29-2018 LOCATION:  President’s East Room at the Vancouver Club address: 915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver  V6C1C6 […]

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Diversity, Inclusion, and Integration: The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria

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To a passer-by, the Inter-Cultural Association’s Immigrant Welcome Centre on Balmoral Avenue in Victoria, BC, may not seem like much: a colourful doorway underneath the United Church appears to invite visitors into a small, unassuming space. Stepping inside, however, you enter a labyrinth — two and a half floors of offices, classrooms, resource rooms, and […]

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Proud, Positive Progress: Stigma-Free at the Victoria Pride Festival

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  The Victoria Pride Society started as a casual picnic in Beacon Hill Park over 20 years ago, and it’s now the host of one of Canada’s largest Pride Weeks, including the annual “Big Gay Dog Walk,” the infamous “Dragball” event, and the parade. This year’s parade boasted over 100 floats and participants, starting from […]

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Lost and Found(ry) — Helping Youth Find Wellbeing in Victoria, B.C.

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Overcoming stigma can seem like an insurmountable obstacle for youth in need of mental health support. Especially when the supports they turn to are overburdened — and they aren’t necessarily the services they need. The mental health network can be a treasure trove of resources, but it’s the interconnected nature of these multi-disciplinary supports that […]

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Celebrating Stigma-Free at Spectrum Community School

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From flash mobs to freezie sales, the Philanthropy club at Spectrum Community School has gone the extra mile to fight stigma this year. The Victoria high school was the first school to start working towards their Stigma-Free Zone designation in fall 2017, and their dynamic, passionate team of students and teachers has coordinated initiatives and […]

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Join the Kid’s Help Phone Amanda Todd Legacy Team on May 6th

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Join the Kid’s Help Phone Amanda Todd Legacy Team on May 6th Over the past 3 years, Amanda’s Legacy has been able to raise $10,000 for the Kids Help Phone Walk.  We are dedicated to continue raising funds for Kids Help Phone in a variety of ways.  This year, please join Team Amanda and walk with us on […]

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You are Invited to our Stigma-Free Zone Community Event March 20th, 2018

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Victoria to Become First-Ever Stigma-Free City in Canada: Community Event In partnership with the City of Victoria, the Stigma-Free Society is hosting a Stigma-Free Zone Community Event on March 20th, 2018. The purpose of this event is to ignite dialogue around mental health and stigma, and to announce that the City of Victoria is committing […]

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Teens2Twenties Support Group Inspires Resilience

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“Knowing that I’m not alone in my struggles makes a huge difference”, writes one of the youth from our Teens2Twenties Support Group—our drop-in program for youth dealing with mental heath challenges. The group runs every Thursday from 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Quadra Village Community Center in Victoria, B.C. With mental health at the forefront […]

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MLA Linda Reid – Stigma-Free Zone Movement – BC Legislature

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Linda Reid, MLA, Richmond South Centre, shares about the success of the Stigma-Free Zone Movement in British Columbia.

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Stigma-Free Society – Highlights of 2017

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The Stigma-Free Society’s Highlights of 2017 This past year has been an incredible journey for the Stigma Free Society. We have been able to reach over 4770 students on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, and over 3600 community members this fiscal year with our Stigma-Free Presentations conducted by Robyn Thomas and Andrea Paquette. We continue […]

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Let’s Talk About Stigma with Author Jack Travis

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An interview with mental health advocate and author, Jack Travis In late October, the Stigma-Free Society connected with 23-year-old Jack Travis, who wrote a self-help book titled Starting Point: Your Journey to A Better Life Starts Here… Inspired by Jack’s personal, first-hand experiences regarding mental illness and addiction, the book aims to provide knowledge and […]

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JOIN THE STIGMA-FREE ZONE MOVEMENT

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There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Stigma-Free Zones, but what are they really? And how can you become part of the movement? It’s difficult to ignore certain ongoing cultural narratives that are problematic at best and harmful at worst. They isolate and divide us as communities, and as individuals. Our goal is to create tolerant, […]

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Pacific Autism Family Network – Stigma-Free Zone with Ambassador Lucas Gates

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Pacific Autism Family Network is the first charity in Canada to be working toward their Stigma-Free Zone designation. They have a team of Stigma-Free Champions that includes Lucas Gates, Ambassador, Laura Lombardi, Vice President, Foundation and additional staff members with the support of Co-Founders Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia and Sergio Cocchia. The Stigma-Free Society is excited to be working […]

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Andrea Paquette AKA Bipolar Babe – Public Salon Talk in Vancouver

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Andrea Paquette, AKA Bipolar Babe, shares her personal story in a brief 8 minute talk to over 500+ people at the Vancouver Playhouse in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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