BeConnected acknowledges and respects the traditional and unceded territories of the Lkwungen (Songhees), Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), WSÁNEĆ (Saanich), Hul’qumi’numon (Cowichan), and K’ómoks (Comox) Nations on which we provide our services and supports.

Helen celebrated her 75th birthday this month!

We are excited to announce the upcoming opening of Hill House, BeConnected’s newest program supporting youth with support needs.

We are excited to continue growing our services and creating supportive, welcoming homes where youth can receive individualized support to develop, connect, and thrive.

In October, SABF explored voting and elections in BC. We played a game to test our knowledge of which responsibilities belong to municipal and provincial governments, and, of course, held our annual mock election to practice the voting process. It was a close race, but Batman came out on top!

In September, our Leadership Team came together to begin developing BeConnected’s 2027–2031 Strategic Plan. It was a great opportunity to reflect on what we have accomplished, celebrate how far we have come, and look ahead to where we see BeConnected going in the future. The day brought plenty of thoughtful discussion, new ideas, collaboration, and, of course, a little friendly competition along the way.

We recently gathered for our annual Employee and Service Provider Appreciation Gala, an evening dedicated to celebrating our amazing team. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, great company, and a few rounds of music bingo!

A highlight of the evening was recognizing our Years of Service Award recipients, including some incredible milestones this year with employees celebrating 20, 25, and 35 years of service! Thank you to all of our recipients for your dedication, hard work, and commitment over the years. Your contributions make a lasting difference every day.

The South Island Community Council hosted an Inclusion Resource Fair at the University of Victoria for individuals and families to learn about inclusive and accessible resources in our community.

Celebrating Community Living Days

BeConnected was proud to co-host the annual Community Living Days event at Good Life Church in the Cowichan Valley, with an amazing 160 people RSVPing to join the celebration!

The day was filled with fun, connection, and community, including singing and dancing with Monday Morning Music, games, face painting, temporary tattoos, and a pizza lunch. Tables also featured activities to help everyone get to know one another, along with a special “What Community Means to Me” station where individuals could share their thoughts and ideas about what makes community meaningful.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a wonderful celebration of community and connection!

This October was full of spooktacular fun!

Everyone got into the spirit of the season with festive activities, including our Halloween party filled with costumes, music, and treats.

Many also enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin patch—picking the perfect pumpkins to carve or decorate.

BeConnected had a fantastic time participating in Victoria’s first Treat Accessibly Halloween Village at Mayfair Shopping Centre! More than 1,000 people were estimated to have attended the outdoor celebration, enjoying music, hot chocolate, costumes, and lots of Halloween treats.

The event welcomed children and families of all abilities and offered an accessible trick-or-treating experience where costumes were optional and children did not need to say “trick or treat” to receive a treat. We were proud to join this fun community event and help celebrate a Halloween where everyone could be included!

Hockey Without Limits is back in full swing!

Drop in for a game of floor hockey every Wednesday! Participants of all levels and abilities are welcome. Free to play and all equipment is provided.

Calling all Hockey Players! Due to it’s success in Victoria, a new Cowichan Valley chapter proudly sponsored by BeConnected has begun on Monday afternoons at the Cowichan Community Center.

A Place Where I Belong follows six LGBTQ+ individuals with intellectual disabilities as they navigate identity, love, and systemic barriers through an innovative program called Connecting Queer Communities.

Stream the film for free or by donation during their special 5-day event! Limited tickets available.

Join us for our annual Friends and Family Holiday Lunch on Saturday, December 12th from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, festive music, and a visit with Santa! Lunch will be served at noon.

RSVP by November 26th to let us know you’re coming—we can’t wait to celebrate the season with you!

Please note, to ensure everyone we support has the opportunity to attend each individual is invited to bring up to 2 guests. If individuals would like to bring additional guests we will add their names to our waitlist. If space is available, additional tickets may be purchased for $25 each.

Annual Winter Ice Festival

Save the Date for our Winter Festival Ice Skate on Wednesday, December 23rd. Time and location to be announced. All persons supported, personnel, and their families are invited to join in the fun.

If you prefer not to skate, come enjoy refreshments and social time rink side—we’d love to see you there!

Cowichan Valley Nog and Cheer

Join us for some Holiday Nog and Cheer at our Cowichan Valley Office on Wednesday, December 2nd from 2:00–4:30 p.m. Stop by to celebrate the season and enjoy some festive refreshments with colleagues and friends!

The 2026-2027 season marks the 20th anniversary of Self Advocates for a Brighter Future! To celebrate, SABF will be hosting a dance in early 2027. Stay tuned for more information!

Monthly Events Calendar

Check out our monthly calendar which highlights free or low cost community events, BeConnected events, and more!

It’s time for our annual Satisfaction Survey, and we invite all families to share their feedback. Your input helps us celebrate what’s working well and identify ways we can continue to improve our programs and supports.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Note: Employees & Contractors will receive their own link to participate in the annual survey.

Help us welcome the newest members of the BeConnected team — 57 employees and contractors who’ve joined us over the past few months. We're excited to have you on board!

Adeniyi A.

Amanda D.

Aryan K.

Brett P.

Bruce Z.

Bunmi A.

Chelsea B.

Chloe E.

Correen C.

Eldho G.

Emilia A.

Francesca D.

Goodard C.

Griffin N.

Jaclyn P.

Jane M.

Janela M.

Janet R.

Jaspreet S.

Jessica M.

John V.

Jordan V.

Jude U.

Karan D.

Kari W.

Kaushik V.

Ken Y.

Kingsley O.

Laura M.

Leona S.

Madanwo S.

Maddison P.

Madeleine F.

Madison V.

Mars D.

Mickala C.

Mikayla L.

Nancy D.

Noah R.

Olayemi B.

Pheaven H.

Ramanpreet K.

Ravneet K.

Regina C.

Ritika J.

Rohan S.

Saida A.

Sammi S.

Santiago V.

Satinderjit K.

Shubham S.

Soji B.

Tweesha T.

Tyra H.

Waleed A.

Wella D.