Events
Never Stop Learning
We offer free events on Wednesdays of each month, providing information, workshops, and educational opportunities on topics related to well-being and research. We also promote other events in the community. Click the images for more information and registration. If you missed one of our events, you can click on View Event to watch a recording.
Let the Arts do Your Talking: In-Person Art Workshop
Come join us for an art session that will let you use colour, shape and imagery to express what is meaningful to you. Discover how the creative process can foster healing and mental well-being. No artskills required.
Seats are limited! We encourage you to bring their own supplies, but we will have some supplies available for people to borrow. If you intend to borrow, you will need to fill out the supply borrow form on the website. Light snacks will be provided at the end.
"Capturing Grace" film screening
Join us on November 16 for a FREE screening of the award-winning documentary “Capturing Grace,” which follows individuals with Parkinson’s as they prepare to stage a first-ever dance performance. Through determination, adversity, and contending with doubt, the film highlights the transformative power of art and the strength of the human spirit.
Research Seminar Series: The cycle of sleep, stress, and cognitive health in everyday life
In this session, we will share our lab’s research on the role of psychological factors and health behaviours in cognitive health. We use naturalistic methods in our work – including wearable health monitors, saliva sampling, and mobile surveys — to track health, well-being, and experiences as they unfold in real-time. Our research has revealed reciprocal relationships between sleep and stress in daily life, in addition to links between stressors and fluctuations in everyday cognitive functioning.
Research Seminar Series - Life Stress, Caregiving Stress, and Health: The Importance of Self-care with Exercise
Across the globe, individuals are living longer, but not necessarily healthier. Top identified burdens of disease and early mortality include a wide variety of health conditions, with mental health disorders ranking near the top of the list. While genetics and biological factors no doubt impact mental health, so do stressful life experiences and health behaviours.
In-Person Workshop - Festive Music Harmonies With Cynthia
Come join us for an interactive music workshop with Cynthia Friesen! In this season of hope, come play with melodic, rhythmic joy! We will come together in breath, movement and vocal sounds, preparing our voices to rise up and awaken memories as we sing some treasured festive songs.
Intergenerational Song Sharing Experience
Join the BC Brain Wellness Program and our community partner, Music on Main, at this in-person workshop. This participatory intergenerational event draws upon our collective voices coming together in a single space. Through breath and song, we will playfully explore a variety of vocal expressions. When we create vocal music together, we learn to listen and express our voices with care for ourselves and one another.
BC Brain Wellness Program 5th Year Anniversary Celebration
We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the BC Brain Wellness Program’s 5th year anniversary -”Impact and Inspiration”! Join us for a day of reflection, celebration, and inspiration as we honour the past and embrace new possibilities to make even bigger impacts here at BC Brain Wellness.
Wellness Wednesday: Music on Main and BC Brain Wellness Program Collaboration
In a collaboration with Music on Main, join us for an enlightening event where we understand how music and neuroscience intersect to explore the profound impact of music on our well-being and social connections.
Your Brain on Tech: In-Person Mindfulness Workshop
The American Psychological Association found that 86 percent of Americans say they constantly or often check their emails, texts and social media accounts. The average smartphone user checks for updates 85 times a day. In a 16-hour waking day, that is every 11.2 minutes.
In this in-person workshop, come and learn how mindfulness can help YOU take control!
Wellness Wednesday: Ancient Wisdom from Tai Chi & Qi Gong Principles for the Health of Your 5 Bodies
You’re invited to join our participatory workshop to experience gentle healing movements and breaths from Tai Chi & Qi Gong Principles to locate and move stuck energy and gain tools from these practices that help you feel the difference. Experience a transformative journey towards better health and joy!
In-Person Yoga Class with Vanessa Barron
The Brain Wellness Program welcomes you to an in-person yoga class with Vanessa Barron. The class will start with a short meditation and centering and move through a variety of poses from lying to sitting and standing. Please bring your yoga mat with you. This will be a prop-light class; however, feel free to bring your blocks or a folded towel/blanket if you use them regularly in your practice and know that you would like to modify some poses.
World Brain Day 2024: Protecting Our Future
The BC Brain Wellness Program invites you to join our annual celebration of World Brain Day! The World Federation of Neurology has selected the theme "Brain Health and Prevention” for this year, which aligns with our vision and mission at the Brain Wellness Program. Join Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, Cynthia Friesen, and Tara Gaertner as they share about various topics surrounding brain health, lifestyle, music, research, and more, as we explore the ways in which we can protect our future.
Research Seminar Series: Food for Thought - Insights Into Neuropsychology and Nutrition
This event will feature two presentations, investigating the basics of neuropsychology and cognitive health screening, as well as introducing the BWP’s nutrition programs. We will explore what neuropsychology is and its role in brain health, delving into cognitive screening. Following this, we will discuss the BWP’s upcoming nutrition programs as well as share nutrition research findings.
Research Seminar Series: The Neuropsychology of Aging, Cognition, and Mental Health
In this Research Seminar Series event, Dr. Hayden will discuss neuropsychological profiles of cognition in normal aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) versus neurological decline. A review of the impact of mental health factors on cognition and neurological diagnostic considerations will be provided. Prevention and cognitive compensatory strategies will also be discussed.
Creative Collective Hybrid Event
Calling all artists, closet artists and future artists!
Join members of the BC Brain Wellness Creative Collective for a hybrid event with an opportunity to connect with one another, share creative experiences and participate in a creative demo with our own Artful Living instructor, Jean Ward.
Wellness Wednesday: Using Exercise as a Tool To Boost Mental Well-Being
Mental health is a concept much like “physical health” as it refers to a state individual of well-being. Mental health includes our emotions, thoughts and feelings, being able to manage life’s highs and lows, and feelings of connectedness. In this seminar you will learn about the many mental (and physical) health benefits of exercise. As well, you will leave equipped with some strategies to implement into your everyday lives to improve your mental and physical well being.
Research Seminar Series: Art and Science at the Belkin Art Gallery - New Models for Research and Pedagogy
This event will explore two fundamental modes of understanding the world, art and science, and the powerful and surprising ways they connect. The presentation will address exhibitions, research, programs and pedagogies at the Belkin focused on the intertwined practices of art and science.
World Parkinson's Day 2024
Join us on World Parkinson’s Day for a hybrid event including resource booths and a bake sale, educational webinars, and onsite music and salsa workshops!
Wellness Wednesday: Build a Balanced Plate to Promote Healthy Aging and Brain Health
Join us for Wellness Wednesday where you will learn how to get the essential nutrients you need by planning and making balanced meals and snacks with registered dietitians.
March Student-Led Nutrition Workshops
These student-led sessions will include engaging activities, practical tips, and easy recipes, so you can confidently take steps to improve your nutritional wellbeing. Each session will end with a short Q&A, moderated by a Registered Dietitian, Anna Brisco.
Research Seminar Series: Standing Up to Our Fear - Understanding the Links Between Emotion, Balance and Falls
In this presentation, we will discuss new evidence supporting emotion-balance interactions and the implications for the assessment, prevention and treatment of balance deficits and falls.
Wellness Wednesday: Mindful Canvases - A Virtual Art Exhibition and Celebration with Our Creative Collective
Join us for a Virtual Art Exhibition as we celebrate a year since the launch of our Creative Collective! Hosted by the Creative Collective planning team, we will share information about the Creative Collective, showcase the art of those who participated in the project and meet some of the artists, hearing their stories of how art impacts wellbeing.
Research Seminar Series: Opera’s Effect on Brain and Cognition
Join us with Dr. Lara Boyd as she will provide an overview of the impact of music on the brain! She will then summarize recent research assessing the impact of Opera on brain function and cognition.
Wellness Wednesday: Mindfulness Frame by Frame - Rediscovering Calm in a Chaotic World
Join us this month with Dr. Mark Williams, who will host a special two hour, hybrid Wellness Wednesday on Mindfulness.
There are moments in life that decide your fate. What if you could recognise these moments before they seized control of your life? What if you could use them to set sail for a better future? What if all moments, big and small, could be harnessed this way?
Research Seminar Series: The Psychology of Brain Injury and Wellness
Come join us for the Women’s Health Awareness Feature for the Research Seminar Series. Dr. Maya Libben will discuss research from the psychopathology lifespan and neuropsychology lab and share clinical expertise on cognitive assessment in psychopathology.
Wellness Wednesday: Community Programs Showcase
Do you want to take a part in more programs in our community? Join us on September 6th at noon to learn more about various community programs that are available in BC!
World Brain Day 2023
On Wednesday, July 19th, Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell and the BC Brain Wellness Program invite you to join our annual celebration of World Brain Day! The World Federation of Neurology has selected the theme "Brain Health and Disability: Leave No One Behind”, which aligns with our vision and mission at the Brain Wellness Program.
Research Seminar Series: Understanding Pain through a Multi-Dimensional Lens
What is pain? What affects our perception of pain? Join us on June 7th with our speakers Dr. Kenneth Craig, the Director of the BC Pain Research Network and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UBC, and Nicole Bailey, a graduate research assistant at the Kramer lab at ICORD. In this session, we will explore the psychological, social, and biological dimensions of pain, as well as current research studying the interactions of stress and pain.
Wellness Wednesday: Do we all age the same way? - Sex differences in muscle and brain functions
The upcoming Wellness Wednesday will highlight sex-differences on age-related functions. The session will cover both brain and motor functions by two speakers - Dr. Jennifer Jakobi will cover topics on muscle system and Dr. Natasha Rajah-Moir will present on memory-related brain functions.
Research Seminar Series: Creating New Brain Cells - A Look into Neurogenesis
Join us at our Research Seminar Series on April 5th to learn more about your brain, specifically how new cells are produced in your brain and how this might affect memory and mood. Neurogenesis, defined as the formation of new neurons in the brain, is a complex process of which our speaker, Dr. Jason Snyder, is an expert in. In this session, Jason will walk us through the basics of neurogenesis, how his lab investigates the role of neurogenesis in behaviours such as learning and decision-making, and how functions of neurogenesis in animals might translate to humans.
Wellness Wednesday: Exploring Therapeutic Cannabis Research
Join us for our first Wellness Wednesday with speaker Dr. Zachary Walsh as we explore therapeutic cannabis use. This session will discuss evidence-based therapeutic benefits, cannabis modalities, and cannabis' role in healthy aging and neurocognition.
Research Seminar Series: Om, Yum, Hum - a Research Update on Exercise, Mindfulness, Nutrition and Music
Want to stay up to date on exciting, new research emerging from Dr. Silke Cresswell’s lab? Join us on February 1st when 3 up-and-coming studies will be presented. First, Amanda Cammalleri will discuss a multimodal exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition intervention on healthy aging subjects. Following which, Mikey Jose will explore how audio interventions can be used to alleviate apathy in Parkinson's Disease. Finally, Shayan Keymanesh will consider how a Mediterranean-ketogenic diet may improve gut and brain health in people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Music Care Conference
The 14th Annual Canadian Music Care Conference, bringing together community members interested in music and care.
Educational & Inspirational, this conference identifies & integrates common themes & issues using music across the care spectrum & the social implications of music in care.
Living Well with a Chronic Condition: Your Role in Self Management & Brain Health
How do we take care of ourselves and live well when we have a chronic condition? Join us on Wednesday, October 5th to learn more about self management strategies, how to build skills and confidence to take charge of your needs and emotions, and how you can seek support from your healthcare team.
World Brain Day 2022
On Wednesday, July 20th, Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell and the BC Brain Wellness Program hosted our annual celebration of World Brain Day! The World Federation of Neurology has selected the theme "Brain Health for All", which aligns with our vision and mission at the Brain Wellness Program.