Stop by the BrainTrust office in Kelowna (100-215 Lawrence Avenue) between 9 am – 4 pm to browse our collection of resources.

Resources include:

• Brain Injury Impacts Handout
• Kids Activity Book
• Helmet Safety Tips
• Sleep Tips
• And much more!

Ride your bike to work/school for GoByBike Week and join us at Railside Brewing from 4-7 pm for information, treats, and activities.

Learn more here.

Help us turn invisible injuries into visible stories. The impacts of brain injury are often invisible to outsiders but have a very real impact on the life of a person living with brain injury and their loved ones. Stories are a powerful way to share knowledge and grow understanding. We are asking our community to share your brain injury stories with us for Brain Injury Awareness Month in June.

Share your story here.

Help us turn invisible injuries into visible stories. The impacts of brain injury are often invisible to outsiders but have a very real impact on the life of a person living with brain injury and their loved ones. Stories are a powerful way to share knowledge and grow understanding. We are asking our community to share your brain injury stories with us for Brain Injury Awareness Month in June.

Share your story here.

Throughout the day we will be sharing our favourite books about the brain on Instagram!

Click here to be directed to our Instagram account.

BrainTrust will join SD #23’s Traffic Safety Officer to teach kids about brain injury prevention and safety while riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard.

Join us from 3:30-4:30 pm at the Downtown Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library for fun crafts & activities designed to teach kids about their brain! We will lead your child through fun, interactive activities to reach them about how the brain works, what a brain injury is, and how to keep their brain safe. Activities will include building a pipe cleaner neuron, brain games, concussion goggles, and more! Designed for children ages 6-12.

Register here.

Join us from 10 am – 12 pm at the Downtown Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library for simple crafts and activities designed to introduce your child to their brain! We will lead your child through fun, interactive activities to teach them about how the brain works and why it’s important to keep our brains safe. Activities will include building a brain, colouring sheets, and more! Designed for children ages 3-6.

Want to know more about your injury? Have questions you would like answered? Individuals who have been affected by brain injury (including survivors and caregivers) can join us for Brain Injury Basics from 10:30 am – 12 pm at the BrainTrust Kelowna office (100-215 Lawrence Avenue). There will be several brain breaks throughout the session and a question period at the end.

In Brain Injury Basics, you will learn about:

• Causes of brain injury
• What each part of the brain does
• Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social impacts
• Rehabilitation and strategies

Registration is required. Please email [email protected] to register for Brain Injury Basics.

BrainTrust clients and their caregivers/friends can join us at our downtown Kelowna office for a social from 9-10 am before the Kelowna Pride March and Festival. We welcome 2SLGBTQIA+ and allies for an opportunity for learning, connection, and community.

The Pride March begins at 10 am and the Pride Festival begins at 11 am.

Learn more about the Kelowna Pride Festival here.

Existing BrainTrust clients can contact their Community Support Facilitator for more information.

Show us what safety means to you! Post a selfie wearing your helmet or practicing other safe behaviours and tag us in your post.

Find BrainTrust on:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

TikTok

BrainTrust clients can join us for a special version of Monday’s Healing Art group!

Brain injury survivors will be guided through the process of creating an art piece that represents important aspects of their life after brain injury. Participants will explore what meaning and purpose means to them through artistic means. No prior experience is required and all materials will be supplied.

Existing BrainTrust clients can contact their Community Support Facilitator for more information.

As part of the West Coast Brain Injury Conference, the invite-only Pre-Conference Dinner brings together community leaders and leaders in the brain injury field for conversations about how we can build a community response to brain injury and tackle issues such as homelessness, crime, housing, and poverty.

The Pushor Mitchell LLP West Coast Brain Injury Conference (WCBIC) 2023 will bring together inspiring change-makers and leading minds in the field of brain injury, public health, and politics for a full day of collaboration, dialogue, and learning.

In line with this year’s conference theme, “A Synthesis of Systems: Working Together to Fill the Gaps”, our focus is on the brain and behaviour in the context of current social issues, community connection, and systems change.

Conference talks:

• Responding to the Overdose Crisis in British Columbia: Opportunities and Challenges (Dr. Thomas Kerr, BC Centre on Substance Use)
• Misdiagnosis of Brain Injury (Dr. Robin Green, University of Toronto)
• From Surviving to Thriving: Building Better Habits for Brain Health (Corbin Coulter, TBI Survivor)
• Disability Justice and Ethical Responsibility (Laura Hockman, Independent Living Vernon & University of British Columbia Okanagan)
• Imaging, Technology, and Individualized Approaches to Care (Dr. Lara Boyd, University of British Columbia)
• Panel Talk – Part of the Solution: Addressing Harm Reduction and Anoxic Brain Injury as a Community (Ali Butler – Urban Systems, Mary Clare Kennedy – BC Centre on Substance Use & University of British Columbia Okanagan, Michael Kube – Kelowna RCMP, Mike Gawliuk – Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna, Shannon Pedlar – John Howard Society of Okanagan & Kootenay)
• How brain injury and other disabilities can affect spousal support and other Family Law related issues (Brent Coyne, Pushor Mitchell LLP)

Learn more and purchase tickets here.

BrainTrust will join SD #23’s Traffic Safety Officer to teach kids about brain injury prevention and safety while riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard.

Any member of the community can stop by the BrainTrust Kelowna office from 10 am – 12 pm to complete a brain injury screening use the research-backed HELPS tool.

Please note: Screening is not the same as a diagnosis. A positive screening result indicates that brain injury is likely, but only medical professionals are qualified to give a diagnosis. Resources for further supports will be provided.

We want to know what you and your friends/family/workplace are doing to keep your brain and body healthy! Post a picture of your brain break and tag BrainTrust, whether your brain break is yoga, art, a lunch break walk, or something else!

Find BrainTrust on:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

TikTok

Show us what safety means to you! Post a selfie wearing your helmet or practicing other safe behaviours and tag us in your post.

Find BrainTrust on:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

TikTok

BRAIN BREAK MONDAY

We want to know what you and your friends/family/workplace are doing to keep your brain and body healthy! Post a picture of your brain break and tag BrainTrust, whether your brain break is yoga, art, a lunch break walk, or something else!

Find BrainTrust on:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

TikTok

BURGERS FOR BRAINS

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this week to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

BOOK A TRAINING TUESDAY

Did you know BrainTrust offers interactive educational presentations for businesses and organizations in the community? Commit to learning more about brain injury by booking a training presentation for your team.

Presentations are customized to meet your team’s needs and cover topics such as:

• Types of brain injury
• How to recognize acute brain injury (e.g., concussion)
• Brain injury and mental health and substance use
• Long-term symptoms and impacts of brain injury (physical, cognitive, social, emotional/mental health) + examples
• Strategies for working with individuals with brain injury (e.g., strategies for memory difficulties, slow processing speed, executive dysfunction)
• And more!

To book a training presentation, please email [email protected] with the subject line “Training Presentation”.

BURGERS FOR BRAINS

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this week to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

CLIENT SOCIAL: TURTLE ISLAND FESTIVAL

All BrainTrust clients are welcome to join us at the BrainTrust Kelowna office at 10 am for connection, community, and culture. At 10:30, we will walk down the street to the Turtle Island Festival.

Existing BrainTrust clients can contact their Community Support Facilitator for more information.

Every year, the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society hosts the Turtle Island Festival in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. The festival includes childrens’ activities, music, arts and crafts, a business lunch, traditional storytelling, tipi, and a mini pow-wow. Learn more here.

BURGERS FOR BRAINS

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this week to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

BC CONSENSUS DAY ON BRAIN INJURY

BrainTrust will be hosting a satellite site for the second year of the BC Consensus Building Days. This year’s event will focus on the intersection of intimate partner violence and brain injury.

The purpose of the BC Consensus Building Days is to gather, in a good faith effort, the perspectives, ideas, and values of healthcare providers, community stakeholders, and individuals/families including Indigenous groups and marginalized minorities with lived experience of the intersections of brain injury, mental health, and addictions, to reach a Consensus on the priorities and solutions needed to best serve people experiencing the intersections of brain injury, mental health, and addictions in British Columbia.

Click here to download the report from last year’s meeting on overdose survival and brain injury.

BURGERS FOR BRAINS

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this week to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

BURGERS FOR BRAINS

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this week to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this weekend to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

Stop by Central Kitchen & Bar this weekend to buy the BrainTrust Burger. $5 from each burger will be donated directly to BrainTrust. Patrons will also be able to make a donation to BrainTrust through their server.

The BrainTrust burger: Central’s famous patty, aged white cheddar, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños, dill pickle, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, CKB sauce, lemon chilli aioli, all on a brioche bun and served with fries.

Awareness is just the first step. Check out our social media for tips on advocacy including strategies for self-advocacy and crafting an effective message.

Stop by the BrainTrust office in Kelowna (100-215 Lawrence Avenue) between 9 am – 4 pm to browse our collection of resources.

Resources include:

• Brain Injury Impacts Handout
• Kids Activity Book
• Helmet Safety Tips
• Sleep Tips
• And much more!

BrainTrust clients are invited to join us for a beach social. We will meet at the BrainTrust Kelowna office at 2:30 pm and walk over to the beach at 2:45 pm.

Refreshments will be provided. Please bring a bathing suit, towel, and sunscreen.

Existing BrainTrust clients can contact their Community Support Facilitator for more information.

Throughout June, we are collecting brain injury stories from people affected by brain injury. Keep an eye on BrainTrust’s website and social media channels to hear their stories.

More details to follow.

Haven’t shared your brain injury story yet? Share your story now.

Can you find Brain the Brain?

Brian the Brain will be walking around City Park and the downtown Kelowna boardwalk from 9 am – 12 pm. If Brian sees you wearing a helmet or you spot Brian, you will receive an ice cream cone coupon!