Learn together

Health literacy workshops

Our workshops help newcomers understand healthcare services, communicate with healthcare professionals, and make informed health decisions.

Upcoming workshops

Workshop dates and registration information will be posted here soon.

Workshop 1

Coverage, Costs, and Medication Access

Learn how health coverage and medication access work in British Columbia, including MSP, IFHP, Fair PharmaCare, pharmacy services, prescription refills, and options for reducing medication costs.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

MSP basics
IFHP for eligible refugees and protected persons
Fair PharmaCare
Prescription medication coverage
Pharmacy access
Medication refills
Generic versus brand-name medications
How to speak with pharmacists
Medication safety
Financial support programs

Interactive activity

Participants will practise reading a medication label and completing a medication list.

Take-home resource

Medication access guide, medication list template, and pharmacy question checklist.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 2

Cardiac Care and Heart Health

Learn the basics of heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attack and stroke warning signs, and when to seek urgent medical care.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Heart disease prevention
Stroke prevention
Heart attack warning signs
Stroke warning signs
When to call 9-1-1
ECGs
Bloodwork
Preparing for cardiac appointments
Lifestyle risk reduction

Interactive activity

Blood pressure demonstration and heart attack or stroke warning-sign scenario practice.

Take-home resource

Heart health tracker and emergency warning signs guide.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 3

Diabetes Prevention and Management

Learn about diabetes, prediabetes, blood sugar, nutrition, physical activity, medications, and preventing long-term complications.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Diabetes and prediabetes
Blood sugar
A1c testing
Nutrition basics
Physical activity
Diabetes medications
Symptoms of high blood sugar
Symptoms of low blood sugar
Diabetes-related appointments
Heart, kidney, nerve, and eye complications
Monitoring and prevention

Interactive activity

Participants will review sample bloodwork and practise using a diabetes appointment checklist.

Take-home resource

Diabetes care tracker and diabetes appointment preparation guide.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 4

Mental Health, Stress, and Trauma Support

Learn about stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, adjustment after migration, and accessing mental health supports.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Stress after migration
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma
Grief
Sleep
Adjustment after migration
Mental health stigma
Counselling access
Crisis supports
Family doctor support
Community programs
Culturally appropriate resources

Interactive activity

Anonymous question box and case-based discussion on when and how to seek help.

Take-home resource

Mental health support map and crisis resource guide.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 5

Women's Health and Preventive Care

Learn about preventive women's healthcare, pregnancy, sexual health, menopause, and accessing services confidentially.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Cervical cancer screening
Breast screening
Contraception
Pregnancy care
Postpartum health
Menopause
Sexual health
Family support services
Confidential care
Preventive health appointments
Questions to ask healthcare providers

Interactive activity

Preventive care timeline exercise.

Take-home resource

Women's health checklist and appointment question guide.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 6

Children's Health, Vaccines, and Developmental Milestones

Help parents and caregivers understand child health, immunizations, growth, development, and when to seek medical advice.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Well-child visits
Routine immunizations
School vaccines
Catch-up vaccines
Fever basics
Dental care
Vision care
Growth
Behaviour
Speech and language
Learning concerns
Developmental milestones
When to seek medical advice

Interactive activity

Parent and caregiver case scenarios on fever, vaccines, and developmental concerns.

Take-home resource

Child health, vaccine, and developmental milestone tracker.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 7

Eye Health and Vision Care

Learn about routine eye care, common eye conditions, emergency warning signs, and accessing vision services.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Routine eye exams
Glasses and vision correction
Diabetic eye disease
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Red eye warning signs
Sudden vision loss
Eye injury
Optometrists
Ophthalmologists
Emergency eye care
Community vision resources

Interactive activity

Basic vision screening demonstration and red-eye/sudden vision loss triage scenarios.

Take-home resource

Eye health guide and vision care access pathway.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 8

Digital Health Tools and Navigating Digital Healthcare

Learn how to confidently use digital health tools, patient portals, online booking, and reliable health information.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Online appointment booking
Patient portals
Lab results
Digital health records
Pharmacy apps
Reliable online health information
Privacy
Consent
Interpreter requests
Avoiding misinformation
Using the digital toolkit

Interactive activity

Live digital toolkit walkthrough using phones or tablets.

Take-home resource

Digital health tools guide and reliable health information checklist.

Registration coming soon

Workshop 9

Navigating Care: Where to Go for Help

Learn how to choose the right healthcare service for routine, urgent, and emergency concerns in British Columbia.

DateTo be announced

LocationTo be announced

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Key topics

Family doctors
Nurse practitioners
Walk-in clinics
Urgent and primary care centres
Emergency departments
HealthLink BC 8-1-1
9-1-1
Pharmacies
Community services
Routine versus urgent versus emergency concerns
How to describe symptoms
How to prepare for care

Interactive activity

Participants use an interactive flowchart to decide where to go for common health scenarios.

Take-home resource

"Where Do I Go for Care?" flowchart and healthcare navigation guide.

Registration coming soon