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Recreation and Leisure

A man in a wheelchair playing the guitar
A young woman with Down syndrome practicing martial arts

Our full directory is also available as a downloadable PDF. If we need to add something to the directory, let us know by sending an email to Spencer van Vloten

Also: Download our funding guide, an easy to navigate and extensive collection of funding opportunities: 

 

Recreation

Abilitas Foundation

Abilitas opened the Cold Water Ranch Lodge in 2013 to provide people with disabilities a place to vacation for up to four days between March and December every year.  Guests stay for nearly for free, only having to pay a modest fee to cover the booking, cleaning and maintenance of the facility.

AccessTR

Sells a wide range adapted recreation and exercise equipment

Access 2 Entertainment Card

The Access 2 card grants free or significantly discounted attendance for a support worker at hundreds of recreational, entertainment, and cultural venues throughout Canada

Access Revolution

Access Revolution specializes in hiking and paddling adventures for people of all abilities

Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability

Online resources helping Canadians with disabilities to lead active, healthy lives

AdaptedSD

Provides a personalized physical activity program for individuals with disabilities.  They will assess, create, and implement a physical activity program in coordination with the family’s preferences.

Adaptive Recreation Cowichan 

Provides sports and therapeutic recreation programs for people with physical, cognitive, or emotional disability. Activities include adaptive sailing and trail riding. 

Agur Lake Camp Society 

Agur Lake Camp is a wilderness retreat for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. It is a calm oasis for rest and rejuvenation from the challenges of living with illness or a disability. The lake is 20 km west of Summerland.

ALL-4-DANCE Special Stars Program

A specialized dance class for children and teens with special needs. The class incorporates both ballet and jazz technique as well as fun and friendships.

All Bodies Dance

All Bodies Dance is an inclusive dance company which brings together artists with and without disabilities to explore the endless creative possibilities in difference

Aphasia Summer Camp

Each year March of Dimes holds an overnight camp in BC for persons with aphasia

Aquafit For All

Works with community groups to design and provide accessible aquatic exercise opportunities for people with disabilities or injuries who may not be able to access regular aquatic programs

BC Adaptive Snowsports

Enhances the quality of life for children, youth, and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, their families, and volunteers by providing opportunities to experience the benefits of adaptive snowsports

BC Artistic Swimming

Adaptive synchronized swimming programs are offered by 3 synchro clubs: the Burnaby Caprice, the BC Aquasonics, and the Kamloops Sunrays. Participants can train recreationally and enjoy the club environment, or go down a competitive pathway and enter competitions. There are also mixed ability events where clubs can form a team with a mix of adaptive athletes and athletes without a disability.

Best Buddies

Best Buddies creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships and leadership development for people with intellectual disabilities.  Participants enjoy opportunities for social interaction and build lasting and meaningful friendships.

Read a Best Buddies success story here

BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association 

Facilitates participation in all aspects of physical activity for British Columbians who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind

BC Disability Kids Activities

Colouring pages, games, and a list of more fun and educational resources to keep kids entertained

BC Mobility Opportunities Society

Provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to access outdoor recreation. Activities include hiking, paddling, and beach wheelchairing.

BC Wheelchair Basketball Society 

Supports wheelchair basketball programs throughout BC

BC Wheelchair Sports Association

Provides exceptional wheelchair sport programs and services that build community and promote active living and the pursuit of excellence. Sports include tennis, rugby, athletics, curling, and more.

Bloedel Bird Conservatory 

Home to hundreds of amazing and exotic birds, the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park offers free admission to persons with disabilities

Caledonia Adaptive Snow Sports

CASS programs make snow sports accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive challenges, age, or experience

Camp Fees Supplement

The BC government may provide a supplement to fully or partially cover the cost of attendance at a recognized camp for children of income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance recipients, or to recipients with Persons with Disabilities designation

Camp Alohi Lani

Each summer, the ALS Society of BC hosts a camp for youth who have a parent or grandparent living with ALS 

Camp Silver Lake Autism Spectrum Camp

Located in Peachland, Silver Lake Camp offers outdoor education and activities such as canoeing, hiking, swimming, low ropes, logger sports, archery, field sports, fishing, nature walks, and games

Canucks Autism Network

CAN's highly supportive programs empower individuals with autism to build the confidence and skills necessary to enjoy a lifetime of sport and physical activity

Centre for Athletics, Recreation, and Special Abilities

Located on the University of Victoria campus, CARSA provides opportunities to engage in athletics and recreational pursuits, while at the same time raising awareness of disability issues and creating a culture of inclusion on campus and beyond

City of Burnaby Adapted Recreation

The city of Burnaby offers a range of adapted recreation and physical literacy programs for persons with disabilities 

City of Kelowna Adapted Recreation

The city of Kelowna provides adaptive recreation programs, events and discount recreation passes for people with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. This includes more than 35 weekly programs each season for adults and children with disabilities including assisted, adapted, and wheelchair options. 

City of Surrey Adapted Recreation

The city of Surrey offers a range of adapted recreation programs for persons with disabilities 

City of Vancouver Adapted Recreation

The city of Vancouver offers a range of adapted recreation programs for persons with disabilities 

Columbia Outdoor School Special Needs Inclusion Program

This program has been designed to offer children with physical and or developmental disabilities an opportunity to participate in summer camp programs

Co make do

Offers a range of experiences to connect neurodiverse folks with self, community, and the wider world. These experiences will take place online, using YouTube, Facebook Live, Zoom and over the phone, for those without Internet access.

 

Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS Adaptive Adventures)

Utilizes adaptive equipment to assist people with disabilities to experience nature and outdoor recreation

Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding 

Offers therapeutic horse-riding experiences for persons with disabilities

Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association 

Provides therapeutic horse riding and equine-based wellness programs for persons with special needs. Services include therapeutic riding, therapeutic horsemanship, para-equestrian sport, adapted equestrian vaulting, and stable management vocational development interventions as well as horse camps for children of all abilities.

Curiko

Connects people with disabilities and without disabilities to one another, with hundreds of different activities and experiences available

Deaf Youth Today Summer Camp

A summer program committed to providing language-rich social, recreational, and leadership experiences for deaf and hard of hearing young persons in British Columbia

Disability Foundation

Supports programs that create a higher quality of life and healthier human beings. Programs include adaptive sailing, hiking, paddling, music, and gardening. 

Disabled Independent Gardeners Association 

Provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to actively participate in gardening

Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia

Offers opportunities for people with physical disabilities to experience recreational and competitive sailing in fully accessible sailboats

Down Syndrome Activities

Recreational activities for children, youth, and adults with Down syndrome are held regularly by the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society and the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. Dances, picnics, game nights, and more!

DSA Taekwon-do 

DSA offers individually tailored taekwon-do lessons to persons with special needs

Easter Seals BC/Yukon
Easter Seals aims to enable abilities in communities through their one-of-a-kind overnight camps for youth and young adults with disabilities, fun and skill-building day programs, discounts on entertainment and travel, and more

Easter Seals Camps

A summer camp tradition for 50 years, Easter Seals BC/Yukon offers one of the best nature-based, outdoor summer camps for children and young adults with disabilities. It is a place where campers can explore and develop their abilities in a safe, warm, fun and supportive environment.

Easter Seals City Adventures Day Camp

Participants with diverse abilities explore the Lower Mainland, North Vancouver, and Victoria, building skills through fun adventures and activities

Enable Occupational Therapy

A family centered practice using evidence-based treatment and assessment. Recreational activities include ice skating, hiking, mini-gold, biking, kayaking, swimming, and more.

ET Music Therapy

ET Music Therapy is based on one principle: music is one of the most motivating and effective mediums for building strong connections with individuals with diverse needs. Serving early intervention to adolescents and adults.

ETRA Therapeutic Riding Association

Provides therapeutic horse-riding sessions which improve the physical and mental well-being of riders with a wide range of disabilities

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Jewish Community Centre Inclusion Programs

Recreational programs for youth and adults with diverse abilities. Art, cooking, day trips, socials, and more.

Kudoz

Brings people with and without disabilities together, allowing them to share interests and passions with one another

Nanaimo Gymnastics Special Needs Program

Nanaimo Gymnastics has the resources to help improve the lives of those who are living with special needs. By using gymnastics equipment, participants increase flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, self esteem, and allow pathways in the brain to be developed.

North Shore Disability Resource Centre 

Offers a range of recreational programs and day camps pre-teens and teens with intellectual disabilities

Operation Trackshoes

A provincial sports festival for people with developmental disabilities.  It includes a full-length track and field meet, events for people in wheelchairs, and many fun recreational events.

 

Para Archery

Archery is open to athletes with a physical impairment, who may shoot with assistive devices allowed under classification rules, if required. Para archery competition, which includes specific competition categories for athletes with certain classifications, is an integral part of the Paralympic Games.

Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence 

Offers barrier-free facilities and inclusive programs, including adaptive strength and conditioning, and wheelchair basketball

Pacific Riding For Developing Abilities

Provides horses, ponies, and riding facilities for children and adults with disabilities in order to promote their physical, psychological, and social well-being

Pitt Meadows Paddling Club 

Provides water safety and paddling programs for the local community. Proud recipient of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Accessibility and Inclusion Award in Leisure and Recreation.

Port Moody Adaptive Soccer Club

Offers an adaptive soccer program for boys and girls ages 6-18

Power for All Adventure Therapy 

Provides universal access to adventure-based activities to people from all walks of life regardless of physical, cognitive, social ability and financial resources

Power To Be 

Empowers people living with a barrier or disability to explore their limitless abilities through inclusive adventures rooted in nature

Richmond Therapeutic Riding Association

Provides a quality therapeutic riding program for children and youth with disabilities in order to promote physical, social, and psychological well-being

Silver Star Adapted Snow Sports

From beginners to budding racers, SSASS programs make snow sports accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive challenges or age

Sirota's Alchymy Special Needs Martial Arts

Sirota’s Alchymy has been in the forefront of globally pioneering, creating and implementing martial arts and self-defense programs for people with various special needs and impairments

Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society

Offers a therapeutic horseback riding program to children and adults with special needs who require alternative forms of therapy to aid in their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development

Special Olympics BC

Dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport

SportAbility

Ensures and facilitates opportunities in physical activity and sport, enabling all British Columbians who have a physical disability to enhance their quality of life by being active in their community and beyond

Theatre Terrific

Creates inclusive opportunities for artists of all abilities to develop performance skills and collaborate in the production of theatrical works. All of Theatre Terrific’s classes, workshops, community, and professional productions are made up of people of all colors, abilities, genders, and backgrounds.

Travelling with disabilities

Provides information on accessible transportation and travel across Canada with the aim of making accessible travel an easier and more enjoyable experience for Canadians with disabilities and seniors, as well as for their families and caregivers

Trinity Yoga

Yoga expert Mary-Jo Fetterly teaches adaptive yoga to students with a range of abilities. A class or session may include adapted postures or poses, breath-work and breathing techniques, restorative or releasing techniques, mindfulness or meditation techniques. The practice is adjusted to facilitate the best experience possible for the student using props, bolsters, straps, blankets and blocks to completely support the student.

Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Society

A volunteer-based charity in Aldergrove that provides medically approved therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy treatments for children and adults of varying abilities

Vancouver Adapted Music Society

Supports and promote musicians with disabilities, offering learning experiences for everyone from beginners to the advanced, as well as providing recording and performing opportunities

Vancouver Island Society For Adaptive Snow Sports

Provides snow sports instruction to people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities

Vancouver Island Spine Trail

BC's first purpose-built adaptive mountain bike trail. Read more!

Vancouver Ocean Sports

Vancouver Ocean Sports provides an inclusive paddling venue for people with all levels of ability and skill. They are a club for the community, offering kayaking and beginner, recreational, and competitive paddling courses for outrigger canoe racing.

Vancouver Power Soccer 

PowerSoccer is soccer played by individuals who use powerchairs, with an attached customized footguard used to “kick” the soccer ball. This unique team sport that is played worldwide has 4 players to a side including the goal keeper with two 20 minutes periods.

Powersoccer has been adapted for powerchair users with severe physical impairments such as Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, Multiple Sclerosis, head trauma, stroke, and other disabilities. Anyone can play powersoccer including those who are trached and vented, use head control, chin control or foot control. 

Victoria Wheelchair Sports 

Provides wheelchair sport opportunities for the Greater Victoria area. Sports offered include basketball, rugby, sledge hockey, tennis, and strength and conditioning. 

Vikes Athletics and Recreation

Vikes Recreation offers an exciting variety of drop-in and registered inclusive activities, including adapted strength and conditioning, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, blind soccer, inclusive spin classes, inclusive dance, and adapted climbing

Volleyball BC

Volleyball BC offers information on sitting volleyball for disabled adults and youths

Western Society for Children

Provides social development and self-esteem training through fun activities, as well as information and training that enables peers of children with disabilities to make games and activities more accessible

Wheeling 8's Dance

A wheelchair square dancing and recreation group open to persons with disabilities and non-disabled participants

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program

Whistler Adaptive is committed to introducing individuals with a disability to sport, recreation and therapeutic sport programming. Activities include biking and hand-cycling, canoeing, kayaking, yoga, and more.

YMCA of Greater Vancouver

YMCA programs offer safe places where youth and families from all backgrounds and of all abilities can exercise, play, and socialize together

Zajac Ranch for Children

Zajac offers a full camping experience for children, young adults, and adults with disabilities 

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What is BC Disability?

BC Disability: BC PWD, Canada Disability Benefit, BC disability assistance, BC disability services, news, and resources. Here to help you with disability, BC PWD, Canada Disability Benefit, and more!

Editor, Spencer van Vloten: spencer@bcdisability.com

 

Many thanks to computer whiz Ryan Groth

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