Bethesda upcoming events

Speed Connections (Tuesday, November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 18:45:00 GMT

Speed Connections

Meet, Mingle, Connect!

Meet New People: Make new connections in one afternoon

Join us for an exciting event designed for individuals 18+ with developmental disabilities to meet new people, make friends, and explore potential romantic connections in a safe and supportive environment. We will provide topics to help keep the conversations flowing and all matches will be facilitated with care.

This free event includes an educational workshop, a break and speed connections. The educational workshop will be presented by Carol Hicks, Registered Behaviour Analyst.

Itinerary for event:

1:45pm - 2:00pm - Registration

2:00pm - 2:30pm - Educational Workshop

2:30pm - 3:30pm - Speed Connections

3:30pm - 4:15pm - Social Time

Event Details:

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Time: 1:45pm-4:15pm

Where: Sala 61, 125 Vansickle Road, St.Catharines, ON (Easily accessible by public transit)

Note:

Food & Drinks will be available for purchase at Sala 61.

If you require support for this event, our Passport Department is here to help! Please contact Ashleigh Geroux at ageroux@bethesdaservices.com for more information.

Scan QR Code to Register!

For more information, contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com

Mental Health First Aid - Essentials Training (Thursday, November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Mental Health First Aid - Essentials Training

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Essentials equips you with practical skills to support someone facing a mental health or substance use challenge until professional help is available. The course builds confidence, reduces stigma, and enhances self-care, offering a strong foundation in MHFA principles without formal certification. MHFA Essentials is ideal for individuals, teams, and communities in any setting.

MHFA provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.

Objectives

The MHFA course helps participants:

Increase their awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor)
Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support
Decrease their mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling
Enhance their mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care:
- - Reflective, Purposeful, and Boundaries
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, November 19 to Thursday, November 20

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Where: 3280 Schmon Parkway, 2nd Floor Boardroom, Thorold, ON

Cost: $100

Note:

For more information, contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com

Mental Health First Aid - Essentials Training (Friday, November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Mental Health First Aid - Essentials Training

Objectives

The MHFA course helps participants:

Increase their awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor)
Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support
Decrease their mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling
Enhance their mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care:
- - Reflective, Purposeful, and Boundaries
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, November 19 to Thursday, November 20

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Where: 3280 Schmon Parkway, 2nd Floor Boardroom, Thorold, ON

Cost: $100

Note:

For more information, contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com

PASSPORT Supported Social Event: Cozy November Social (Saturday, November 28, 2026)

Sat, 28 Nov 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Passport Adult Services Supported Social Event:

Cozy November Social

Come join us for a cozy Slumber Party!

Put on your coziest outfit and get ready for an evening filled with laughter, friendship, and fun! Whether you love a comfy matching set, your favourite cozy clothes, or want to embrace the slumber party theme, come dressed for comfort for a fun evening out with friends!

This is the perfect opportunity to meet new friends, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy a relaxed evening with peers. We’ll be celebrating with fun games, tasty food, and activities to make the evening extra special. Get creative as we decorate our very own pillowcases to take home as a keepsake from our cozy night together!

This is a fee-for-service event, and participants will receive 4 hours of support from experienced Bethesda staff in a 3:1 support ratio. This event is perfect for individuals looking for opportunities to socialize with peers in a fun, welcoming environment with the support of our kind and caring staff, or for primary caregivers looking for an evening respite option.

Your cost includes:

4 hours of direct support
Pillow Case decorating activity
Games and activities

*additional $4.00 charge for Pizza, pop, and snacks

Details:

Date of event: Saturday, November 28, 2026

Price of event: $120 per person

Additional $4.00 charge for Pizza, pop and snacks

Time of event: 3:30pm - 7:30pm

Pre-Registration is required to attend this event.
Registration closes on Monday, November 16 at 4:00pm

Please connect with Ashleigh Geroux, Manager, Adult Supported Living, Fee-for-Service if you have any questions about this event.

905.684.6918 ext. 385

ageroux@bethesdaservices.com

*The cost for this event can be submitted for reimbursement through the Passport Funding Program.

Mental Health First Aid - Certification Training (Thursday, January 14, 2027)

Thu, 14 Jan 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Mental Health First Aid - Certification Training

Mental Health First Aid: Certification a new addition to the training portfolio, provides participants with a robust program leading to a nationally recognized Mental Health First Aid certification valid for three years. Through the course, participants increase mental health awareness, build confidence to provide support, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental well-being. The course is delivered in a two-day, scenario-based format.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for participants to recognize changes in mental health, respond supportively, and apply practical actions for declining mental health and crisis situations. It helps participants build confidence, reduce stigma, and enhance their own mental health.

Objectives

The MHFA course helps participants:

Increase their awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor)
Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support
Decrease their mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling
Enhance their mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care:
- - Reflective, Purposeful, and Boundaries
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, January 14 & Thursday, January 15, 2027

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Where: 3280 Schmon Parkway, 2nd Floor Boardroom, Thorold, ON

Cost: $150

Note:

For more information, contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com

Mental Health First Aid - Certification Training (Friday, January 15, 2027)

Fri, 15 Jan 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Mental Health First Aid - Certification Training

Objectives

The MHFA course helps participants:

Increase their awareness of mental health
- Distinguish between mental health, mental illness, and mental health conditions
- Recognize indicators of mental health across the continuum (optimal, declining, poor)
Improve their confidence to provide help
- Apply the ALGES framework in scenarios of declining mental health and crisis
- Demonstrate empathy and effective listening skills in supportive interactions
- Communicate non-judgmentally using verbal and non-verbal skills
- Provide reassurance and appropriate information in supportive conversations
- Explain recovery-oriented approaches to providing support
Decrease their mental health-related stigma
- Recognize stigmatizing language and practice respectful alternatives
- Reflect on personal attitudes and biases that contribute to stigma
- Understand risks and limitations associated with diagnostic labeling
Enhance their mental health
- Identify personal self-care strategies using the Three Pillars of Self-Care:
- - Reflective, Purposeful, and Boundaries
- Recognize when self-care is needed as a Mental Health First Aiders and how to integrate it into daily life
- Commit to intentional self-care actions to maintain personal well-being as a Mental Health First Aider

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, January 14 & Thursday, January 15, 2027

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Where: 3280 Schmon Parkway, 2nd Floor Boardroom, Thorold, ON

Cost: $150

Note:

For more information, contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com