Easter Seals BC/Yukon

06/12/2026

🎉 Exciting news! 🎉

We are grateful to share that the British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities has received a $10,000 Smart & Caring Community Grant from Community Foundation North Okanagan in support of Camp Winfield.

With 83 applications, we are honoured to be among this year's recipients. This funding will help create life-changing camp experiences for children, youth, and adults with disabilities through friendship, adventure, and greater independence.

Michele, our Manager, Major Gifts - Okanagan, shared:
"I was honored to represent ESBCY & BCLS at the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan grant reception."

Thank you to Community Foundation North Okanagan for helping make camp possible for more campers and families across the province. 💙

06/09/2026

As we get ready to welcome campers back to Easter Seals camps this month, we're celebrating the incredible staff who make camp such a memorable experience.

One staff member shared:
"My favourite camp memory although very broad is any and every opening campfire. I had such an amazing time getting to dress up in character and seeing all the campers get engaged with the theme. It was so fun getting the chance to let loose while also including and uplifting campers. I know themes are a core part of camp and getting the chance to be apart of that aspect of camp is so special."

Thank you to all of the counsellors, nurses, camp staff, and volunteers who help make Easter Seals camps a place where campers can try new things, build independence, and create lifelong memories. We can't wait to see the magic you create this summer. ❤️

06/05/2026

We are incredibly inspired and moved by all 226 art submissions we received for our National AccessAbility Week Design Contest. 💙

From classrooms across BC and Yukon, students used their creativity, compassion, and unique perspectives to spark meaningful conversations about accessibility, inclusion, and belonging. Seeing these important discussions continue in schools and communities has made this contest truly impactful.

Thank you to every student who shared their artwork and voice with us. We are excited to celebrate the incredible talent and thoughtfulness behind each submission.

Here are our finalists and runner ups! 🎨✨

06/04/2026

🦸‍♂️ Are you ready to become a superhero for your community?

This September, Easter Seals Drop Zone is taking over Victoria, Burnaby, Vancouver, and Kelowna as brave participants rappel down towering buildings in support of children, youth, and adults with disabilities.

Why sponsor Drop Zone?

🤝 Build stronger teams through a unique and unforgettable employee experience.
📣 Increase brand visibility with event-day recognition, digital promotion, media exposure, and engagement with thousands of supporters across BC and Yukon
❤️ Demonstrate community impact by helping create life-changing opportunities through Easter Seals camps, programs, and services.

Join the excitement, inspire your team, and show your community what your organization stands for.

Contact [email protected] for opportunities 💥 Learn more at https://na3.hubs.ly/y0vhgN0

06/03/2026

❤️ Today is Red Shirt Day® ❤️

Red Shirt Day is a national movement that celebrates accessibility and inclusion while encouraging all Canadians to take action. Established by Easter Seals Canada in 2019, Red Shirt Day takes place each year during National AccessAbility Week and serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in creating communities where people with disabilities can fully participate.

Wearing red is just the beginning. Take a moment today to learn about accessibility, challenge assumptions, advocate for inclusive spaces, and look for ways to remove physical, attitudinal, and systemic barriers in your school, workplace, and community.

We have Red Shirt Day shirts available for purchase through our online store. Every shirt helps spark conversations about accessibility and inclusion while supporting programs that empower children, youth, and adults with disabilities.

https://na3.hubs.ly/y0vmL10

06/02/2026

National AccessAbility Week shirts are here! 👕✨ https://na3.hubs.ly/y0tVKP0

This year’s official National AccessAbility Week T-Shirts are now available through our online store. Every purchase helps support programs like Easter Seals camps and creates opportunities for children and youth with disabilities across BC and Yukon.

To help ensure more funds go directly toward these life-changing programs, shirts will have a minimum two-week lead time before delivery. Thank you for supporting inclusion, accessibility, and unforgettable camp experiences. 💙

Shout out to Fully Promoted for working with us on this initiative!

06/01/2026

🎉 Kicking off National AccessAbility Week 2026 by celebrating the incredible creativity, compassion, and inclusive thinking shown by students across BC and Yukon!

This year’s National AccessAbility Week Design Contest received an amazing 226 entries from 45 schools, with participation growing by 40% compared to last year. Even more exciting, 2x more cities got involved in the conversation around inclusion and disability awareness. 💛

A huge congratulations to our 2026 winners:

🏆 Group A (Grades 5–8): Alyssa from Burnaby
“Drawing children holding hands in a circle, playing ‘ring around the rosie’, represents unity and community in play. Each character being different in shades or colours represents racial diversity, because regardless of any ‘differences’ they have, all children deserve to play in an environment where they’re included equally.”

🏆 Group B (Grades 9–12): Noah from Squamish
“It doesn't matter what your race is, if you have a disability, what you believe in, what gender or what your orientation is, you will be accepted in a community. This is what my artwork represents. The two hands making a heart together and the rainbow represent community, the kids in the middle represent play and accessibility, the lightbulb and the cloud represent reimagining and new ideas, the book is meant to represent learning and finally the seal with bunny ears is the Easter Seal mascot.”

Thank you to every student, educator, school, and family who participated and helped make this year’s contest so impactful.

Special thank you to Panago Pizza for providing this year’s finalists with a pizza party! 🍕

05/30/2026

After a $10 million federal grant application was denied, Camp Shawnigan’s redevelopment faces a major hurdle. Lacking clarity and clear next steps are a cause for concern.

Zahida Jaffer says her eight-year-old daughter Shayna, who has autism, has attended the camp’s week-long overnight program for the past two years at Camp Shawnigan. Shayna was initially anxious about the experience but the camp quickly became a positive environment for her. This is the immeasurable impact of Camp Shawnigan.

Read the full article:

Because of you, we have some amazing stories to tell about our children, youth, adults and their families and how they’ve championed.

05/28/2026

Ella’s first time at Easter Seals Camp was also her first time away from home. Her parents worried about how she would settle in, communicate, and navigate camp life independently. What they discovered was a place where Ella could truly be herself, surrounded by a community that embraced her exactly as she is. 💙

Today, camp is the highlight of Ella’s year. It has helped build her confidence, strengthen her independence, and opened doors her family once thought were out of reach. Read Ella’s full story and see the impact camp can have on a child and their family: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0tPRG0

05/22/2026

Thank you to the Times Colonist for sharing the story of Camp Shawnigan and the importance of rebuilding this life-changing space for children and families across British Columbia and the Yukon.

Camp Shawnigan is more than just a camp, it is a place of belonging for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Rebuilding the camp means creating a safe and inclusive space where campers of all abilities can experience the magic of camp without barriers.

We remain deeply grateful to the donors, volunteers, advocates, Lions Clubs and other supporters helping make this vision possible. While setbacks can be challenging, the commitment to rebuilding Camp Shawnigan remains stronger than ever.
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Now we need your help to keep the conversation going. If Camp Shawnigan has helped you or someone in your life we encourage you to write a letter to the editor at [email protected]. Every story helps demonstrate why this camp matters so deeply to families across our communities. 🏕️

Together, we can rebuild the camp where barriers fall, spirits rise, and every camper feels the unmistakable magic of belonging.