DreamSpeaker | Summer 2026 | | Your seasonal news & updates | Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services' quarterly newsletter, continue on to see agency events, highlights and offerings. | | | |
SCCFS Elder in Residence
Verna Ellsworth is a proud member of the Tsartlip First Nation, a devoted mother of six, and a loving grandmother. She has served on Tsartlip Council since 2010, demonstrating a strong commitment to her community and its well-being. Verna has a deep passion for the field of child and family services and brings care and dedication to all she does.
She learned to knit and crochet from her great aunt and grandmother, carrying forward these teachings with pride. Knitting remains a meaningful practice for her, one that brings solace, creativity, and peace, and allows her to feel a deep connection to the wool she works with. Verna also shares her knowledge as an Elder at Stelly’s Secondary School, where she teaches students how to knit, passing on both skill and tradition to the next generation.
Outside of her community work, Verna enjoys life with her family and her five beloved pets—three chihuahuas, a pitbull, and a cat.
We are thrilled to have Verna share space with us at our Admirals Walk location each Tuesday from 9:00am-Noon. We raise our hands in gratitude to the South Island Wellness Society for their partnership with their Elder program.
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SCCFS Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council meets weekly at Surrounded by Cedar’s Admirals and Fort Street locations throughout the year. The Council assists with agency events such as Winter Feast, Welcoming Ceremonies, the Our Women Are Sacred Walk, Nest to Wings, open houses, and a variety of training and workshop sessions. Youth Advisory Council members have also facilitated workshops for youth conferences, including Gathering Our Voices, as well as for Ministry social workers, school district administration and staff, and several Indigenous communities and organizations.
Through a partnership with the University of Victoria, the Youth Council had the opportunity to share their stories and experiences within the foster care system and present the “INVINCIBLE” experience with delegates at the Our Children Our Way Conference and the SCCFS AGM in 2025 (view the INVINCIBLE eBook here). Most Youth Advisory Council members also attend post-secondary and sit on a variety of youth committees, providing mentorship and direction through workshops and panel discussions.
| | Cultural Programming & Offerings | | |
Drum Nights
Surrounded by Cedar’s Drum Night’s will return in the fall on a monthly basis at our Admirals Street office. Led by our Cultural Continuity Worker Mary‑Ann Daniels alongside Brother Rick Peter, this is a closed event offered to children, youth, young adults, and families directly connected to the agency. Those attending have the opportunity to partake in drumming and singing together, led by Brother Rick Peter, and share a meal. Dates will be sent out each month. For more information, please reach out to Mary-Ann Daniels at mdaniels@sccfs.com.
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Building Our Bundles
Building Our Bundles is a monthly gathering hosted by our Cultural Programs team, in which all community members are welcome to join. Each session features a different cultural activity. Recent evenings have included dip-net fishing, salmon jarring, Lahal, bone game night, and craft nights. Dinner and snacks are provided for everyone who attends.
If you’d like to take part in an upcoming session, please reach out to Brandi, our Cultural Programs Coordinator, at blancaster@sccfs.com for details and to RSVP.
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Earthwalkers Day Camp
Cultural Programs offers the Earthwalkers Day Camp twice annually—once in the spring and again during the summer months. This program brings together children between the ages of 7–11 to participate in immersive land-based learning experiences.
The camp emphasizes environmental stewardship through daily practices, water-based activities, and meaningful engagement with the natural world. A core component of Earthwalkers is the sharing of cultural knowledge across generations, with Elders and community knowledge keepers guiding and teaching youth.
Through these experiences, participants build relationships with the land, learn responsibility for the environment, and deepen their understanding of cultural traditions and teachings.
Historical activities held in this camp include crabbing with marine teams from local Nations, canoeing with Victoria Canoe and Kayak club, hiking through trails with local Knowledge Keepers in places revered by the people of the W̱SÁNEĆ nations, and plant walks with Knowledge Keepers from the lək̓ʷəŋən Nation.
This summer’s program is open to children between the ages of 7-11 who are being serviced by Surrounded by Cedar. Programming will run from July 6th– July 10th, 2026.
| | SCCFS Upcoming Events and Highlights | |
Tribal Journeys
Surrounded by Cedar’s Cultural Team is exploring ways for our young ones to participate in this year’s Tribal Journeys and the Paddle to Nisqually 2026. The Cultural Team has connected with Vancouver Island communities, and canoe families have offered space for our young paddlers to join day trips. We are excited to support groups of paddlers on this Tribal Journeys adventure, giving young people the opportunity to embrace the inherited right and connect directly with some of their own communities. Surrounded by Cedar has supported youth in attending Tribal Journeys in the past, and we look forward to taking a group again this year as interest from our youth has increased substantially.
Visit the website below if you wish to learn more about Tribal Journeys 2026!
Home | allnationspaddleup
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Back To School Picnic
Launched in 2002 and inspired by a young mother’s story where she faced many systemic barriers in collecting school supplies for her children, Surrounded by Cedar’s Back to School Picnic (BTSP) is a grassroots initiative that aims to reconcile Indigenous students’ relationships and experiences with government systems (including those systems charged with the responsibility of ensuring the safety, well-being and educational outcomes for Indigenous children, youth and young adults) and, to provide a positive and inclusive environment for Indigenous children, youth and their families as they prepare to go back to school! This includes school supply and backpack distribution across Vancouver Island as well as an annual community event hosted on lək̓ʷəŋən territory, known today as Victoria, BC, bringing together educators and service providers to create a memorable experience that promotes cultural pride, academic success, and holistic well-being.
Our first event in 2002 saw the distribution of 45 backpacks filled with school supplies and 100 attendees. The event has grown each year with last year’s event distributing 2843 kits and seeing 488 families in attendance at our Victoria event. SCCFS and our community partners believe this program has made positive changes in the lives of the 28,480 students we have served over the lifetime of this program.
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2026 Back to School Picnic Event Information:
Date: Saturday August 22, 2026
Location: Government House, 1401 Rockland Avenue
Shuttle Service available from Central Middle School to Government House
Time: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Registration for to receive supplies at our Victoria Event is now closed but we are still excited to welcome community members for activities and fun on the day of the picnic.
To join our Victoria waitlist, please visit: WAITLIST for Back to School Picnic 2026
Regional Island (Duncan, Nanaimo, and Campbell River) distribution remains open. To register for the regional event, please visit the link below. Please note, this registration is for school supply distribution, there is no picnic event.
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, “Truth and Reconciliation Week is a transformative five-day journey for students (grades 1-12), educators, and the broader community to engage with the poignant history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples”.
The life lasting impact of Residential schools has been felt by many, especially in the last two decades. 216 months ago, on Wednesday June 11, 2008, the Honorary Stephen Harper stated “Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country”. Harper offered an apology from the Federal Government to the residential school survivors for the involvement and assistance from Canadian Government and its auxiliary institutions in implementing the Residential School Systems in the 1870’s. Most Canadians are unaware the last Residential school closed in 1996 (Gordon Indian Residential School), twelve years prior to this apology. On May 27, 2021, a ground penetrating radar survey found 215 potential unmarked graves on the grounds of the former residential school. The more evidence found of residential school survivors the more healing Indigenous communities must take on, remembering and honoring our past relatives and their spiritual journey. Canadians can access archives through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to learn more about the barbaric impacts of residential schools. .
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Foster Parent Appreciation Month
October 2026 marks Foster Parent Appreciation Month in British Columbia, a time to recognize and celebrate the dedication, compassion, and commitment of foster parents and caregivers who provide safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and youth in care.
To honour and recognize Surrounded by Cedar’s foster parents and caregivers, the agency will be hosting our annual Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon to thank all our care providers for the hard work and dedication they provide. This gathering is an opportunity to acknowledge the many ways caregivers support our children and youth by nurturing their well-being, creating safe spaces, and centering the needs of our urban Indigenous community. More information about the event will be available to our In-Care and Out-of-Care providers closer to the date.
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Click the below to see past events, highlights and cultural programming at SCCFS! | | | | | |
July
July 6-10: Earthwalkers Day Camp
July 31-Aug 6: Paddle to Nisqually Tribal Journeys
August
Aug 22: SCCFS Back to School Picnic
Aug 31: International Overdose Awareness Day
September
Sep: Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon TBD
Sep 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October
Oct: Foster Parent Appreciation Month
Oct 10: World Mental Health Day
| | Good Things Are Happening | |
Caregiver Training Sessions
The Recruitment and Retention Committee recently launched its first caregiver training series, bringing caregivers together to learn, share experiences, and build stronger connections with one another and the agency. The final workshop was held on June 9th, with hopes to offer another round in the fall.
Sessions included Nurturing Neurodiversity, hosted by Canucks Autism Network; an SCCFS virtual workshop featuring They Are Sacred; and Our Shared History, hosted by the Indigenous Perspective Society. Together, these workshops supported meaningful discussions on neurodiversity and Indigenous Peoples’ shared history across Canada.
The committee thanks all caregivers who attended and contributed, as well as Canucks Autism Network and the Indigenous Perspective Society for hosting these meaningful workshops. We look forward to continuing to offer training that supports growth, connection, and culturally grounded care.
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NEE-NUH-WHUT | Advice for Young People
NEE-NUH-WHUT is a life skills-based programming initiative headed by Surrounded by Cedar’s Youth Transitions team. NEE-NUH-WHUT is Coast Salish (Hul'q'umi'num) for “Advice for the Young People,” reflecting the heart of the program: to gather and create space for guidance, connection, and shared learning.
These gatherings take place once a month and bring together youth and young adults with community members to share a meal, build relationships, and explore topics that support independent life skills. May 26th was the first NEE-NUH-WHUT session, staff and our youth and young adults shared a meal and made drum sticks with knowledge keeper Terri, discussions were held one what participants would like to see from the program, as at its heart, the agency wants this to be a collaborative effort lead by what our young people would like to learn or share their own knowledge on. Upcoming topics will include post-secondary options for Indigenous students, sexual health, budgeting and financial literacy, outdoor skills, self-care, and food preservation.
The programming is open to any youth or young adult ages 16-26 who are connected with the agency. If you or someone you know is interested, monthly posters will be shared outlining the topic and activity for each gathering, you can reach out to your social worker for more information or to be registered for an upcoming session.
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Become a Member!
Are you passionate about supporting the Urban Indigenous Community? Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services Society is looking to grow our membership!
One Year membership for $1.00! As a member, you will:
- Receive updates and quarterly agency newsletters
- Be invited to community consultations
- Attend and vote at our Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- Run for a seat on our Board (must a member of the Society by Friday August 21, 2026 to be eligible)
Your voice strengthens the governance of our organization and helps to fulfill our agency’s Vision and Mission!
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Creating a Path: A Lifebook Project
SCCFS offers Lifebooks designed for Indigenous children and youth in or from care, or who have been adopted, helping them record, explore, and celebrate their identity, culture, family, and life journey. Available for caregivers and agencies to support meaningful memory keeping. Click below to learn more!
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Centralized Screening
1-800-663-9122
Help Line for Children
(250) 310-1234
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Kiwanis Emergency Youth Center
(250) 386-8282
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Out of the Rain Shelter
(250) 415-3856
Representative for Children & Youth
(250) 356-6710
Suicide Crisis Helpline
9-8-8
Victoria Native Friendship Centre
(250) 384-3211
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First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service
Culturally-safe safe specialist support for your health and well being.
Support is available Monday to Friday.
Learn more at FNHS.ca/VirtualHealth
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Child and Family Services
211-1497 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC, V9A 2P8
Phone: 250-383-2990
Email: info@sccfs.com
Non-Protection Family Services
4th Floor - 915 Fort St, Victoria, BC, V8V 3K3
Phone: 778-747-3094
Email: info@sccfs.com
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