CanAssist at the University of Victoria

09/26/2025

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also referred to as Orange Shirt Day, takes place annually on September 30, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Orange Shirt Day began at the 2013 commemoration ceremony in Williams Lake, BC, as Phyllis Webstad recounted how on the first day of residential school at six years of age, her brand-new orange shirt was taken from her.

We can wear an orange shirt on September 29 & 30 to honour the victims and survivors of residential schools.

Monday, September 29, members of CanAssist will be attending the gathering at University of Victoria in the Quad in front of the McPherson Library next to the Survivors' Flag from 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

On Tuesday, September 30th, Songhees Nation is presenting the 4th Annual South Island Powwow, at the Royal Athletic Park, at 1014 Caledonia Ave, Victoria, BC. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Check the links in our bio for more information.



photo credit University of Victoria UVic orange t-shirt designs. Artwork designed by Kwakwaka'wakw/Coast Salish artist Carey Newman Hayalthkin'geme.

Image description:
An orange background with a heart on the left side made of small, colourful handprints, and on the right side, a colourful feather made up of smaller feathers.

09/25/2025

This week CanAssist hosted a tour with the team from the Office of Global Engagement at the University of Victoria. They are dedicated to implementing UVic’s Global Engagement Strategy 2023-2028 which aims to redefine UVic as a global institution through research, connection, and collaboration, while supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
CanAssist was able to share information about our services, expertise, and solutions. We look forward to future collaborations with the Office of Global Engagement in their efforts, and strive to increase accessibility on the global stage!



Image 1 description:
A group of people from CanAssist and the UVic Office of Global Development stand smiling and facing the camera with a banner behind them reading "CanAssist; University of Victoria."
Image 2 description:
A group of people stand and collaboratively discuss in the CanAssist industrial workshop with workbenches, tools, and machinery visible in the background.

09/24/2025

The Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards 2025, presented by the Open Door Group, took place last Friday in Vancouver. This inspiring event celebrated individuals and organizations championing accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

CanAssist is honored to have been nominated as a DIVERSE & INCLUSIVE CHAMPION in the Non-Profit category. We’re deeply grateful to have participated in such a powerful gathering and to have connected with so many incredible advocates for people with disabilities.

Also, congratulations to former CanAssist employee, Niels Melis-De Lamper, for receiving the Untapped Award in the Individual Category!



Image 1 description:
A photo of a group of attendees seated at the Untapped Awards looking at screens that read “CanAssist at University of Victoria”
Image 2 description:
A photo of CanAssist Executive Director, Carolina Gonzalez Cortes, holding a Certificate of Nomination for the Untapped Awards, standing beside a vertical banner that reads “Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards.”
Image 3 description:
A photo of CanAssist's certificate of Nomination for the 2025 Untapped Awards for Diverse and Inclusive Champion for Non-Profit Organizations.

09/22/2025

A warm welcome to our Fall Term Engineering Students!

We’re thrilled to have this talented group joining the CanAssist team:
• Samuel – 4th-year Mechanical Engineering
• Griffin – 4th-year Mechanical Engineering
• Brandon – 4th-year Computer Engineering
• Michael – 4th-year Biomedical Engineering

We can’t wait to see the creativity, skills, and innovation they’ll bring to their projects this term!

Thank you to UVic Co-op & Career for helping connect students with meaningful opportunities.

Image description: Left to right: Brandon, Michael, Samuel, and Griffin standing in front of the CanAssist office, with our logo visible on the back glass window.

09/22/2025

Reminder! Don't miss out this amazing opportunity to connect with inclusive employers and find accessible jobs!

Stop by the CanAssist booth to say hi!

09/18/2025

Meet George! He’s a third-year mechanical engineering student at UVic and has been an amazing part of the CanAssist tech development team.

During his co-op term, George designed and built several devices that help people facing barriers. He’s loved seeing his classroom knowledge come to life in real-world projects, and we’ve loved having him on the team.

Thank you, George, for all your hard work this term and for making a real difference in the lives of the people who use the devices you helped create.

Video description: George, a UVic engineering student, shares his co-op at CanAssist, highlighting the projects he built, their impact, and what he learned working on assistive technology.

09/17/2025

CanAssist was honoured to welcome Dana Lajeunesse, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility and MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, for a tour today.

As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month in BC, we recognize the vital contributions of individuals with disabilities in the workforce and the power of inclusive hiring to drive innovation and strengthen communities.

We’re grateful to Mr. Lajeunesse and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction representatives for presenting us with the official proclamation and for their continued support in building more accessible, diverse, and inclusive workplaces.

Image 1 description: A group photo of CanAssist Team with Dana Lajeunesse, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility and representatives from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

Imagine 2 description: A framed copy of the BC Disability Employment Month Proclamation.

09/16/2025

We are incredibly excited that 1200 of you have registered for the Leaders of Inclusive Child Care Launch Event! This is by far our biggest online event yet. We look forward to learning and connecting with you tomorrow night✨



Image description: An open laptop has the Leaders of Inclusive Child Care online training banner open, which features two illustrated howling wolves. Text reads: 1200 registrations! With the date and time of the event (Sept 17th, 6:00pm-7:30pm). The BC Government, CanAssist, and The Hub logos are present.

09/16/2025

Looking for Work?

You're invited to Victoria's 2025 Accessible Employment Expo!

Visit the CanAssist booth to explore our inclusive employment resources and discover opportunities from other inclusive employers across the community.

09/15/2025

Meet Journey!

Journey is a vibrant 4-year-old who benefits from the calming sensory input of rocking. Until now, his mom provided that motion by hand, often for hours each day.

With support from the Prince George Child Development Centre, our team at CanAssist designed a custom motorized rocking platform. The result was pure joy. His smile said it all. For his mom, it meant something just as important, the chance to finally rest.

As Pat, an Occupational Therapist, shared: “Seeing his face light up was incredible. Mom is finally able to catch up on rest.”

This project reflects CanAssist’s commitment to creating innovative solutions that improve daily life for children and families.

Image description: Journey, is sitting in his pink and black pod chair on top of his new custom motorized rocking platform. He is smiling and looking at the camera. The platform provides calming sensory input and allows him to enjoy soothing motion independently.

09/12/2025

With support from Murray and Lynda Farmer, the MiraColt Horse-Riding Motion Simulator and CanAssist’s Motivex software are opening up horseback riding opportunities for people with disabilities like never before.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/9q9O50WUJ9Z

A gift from Murray and Lynda Farmer supported the development of new technology by CanAssist at UVic, helping clients of Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association.

09/11/2025

Only one more week until we launch the new Leaders of Inclusive Child Care Online Training and Leadership Handbook! It's not too late to register for our free online event taking place on September 17th at 6:00pm (PDT). Join us to learn about inclusive leadership strategies, access the new resources, and earn professional development hours! Register here: https://ow.ly/h2CX50WVikz

Image description: A laptop sits open with the Leaders of Inclusive Child Care banner, containing the CanAssist and Ministry of Education and Child Care logos. A notification bell sits above, reading: One week to go!