Communities of Care: Year Together

This gathering is designed to spark connection, reflection, and celebration. Through our interactive Connection Quest, engaging activities, inspiring performances co-hosted by Lulu Lomein and Shay Dior, and a raffle featuring incredible local prizes, we’re creating space for meaningful encounters.

Come on your own and leave with new connections — or bring friends and expand your community together.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Distro Disco, a mobile free-store redistributing essentials to unhoused and under-resourced neighbours. Their work grounds our gathering in action, reminding us that connection and belonging grow through shared care, resources, and dignity.

We are uninvited settlers occupying the stolen, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples. Our relationship with these lands dictates our commitment to understanding and responding to the ongoing impacts of colonization in our practices in and out of the counselling room.

Learn more about the land you’re occupying at NATIVE-LAND.CA

We’re committed to making Communities of Care a safer space for everyone in attendance.

• Gender-Inclusive Bathrooms – Gender-inclusive restrooms will be available on site. We are currently verifying the dimensions and mobility supports available for access.
• Mask Mandate – Masks are required at this event to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees. Extra KN95 masks will be available on-site. Thank you for your solidarity with our immunocompromised kin.
• Live Stream – Enjoy live performances from home via our accessible live stream, bringing the community and creativity directly to you, no matter where you’re joining from.

*Please note: As there will be food and drinks provided, we may not be able to ensure 100% mask policy adherence, 100% of the time. We understand this will impact accessibility for folx looking to attend this event. As part of our efforts to create safer spaces, volunteers will make rounds to remind participants of the mask policy and we will be sending out more information on safer covid practices through our event communications.

See The Birdhouse Accessibility Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lq2Y8UKm-ULov0ilLARqwEhmvR7bE2-zeAhYDYQOSQw/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.1o7tmog81i5w

If you require additional accessibility support or financial assistance to attend, please contact us at [email protected].

• Tickets are final sale and nonrefundable.
• Tickets appear as a sliding scale of $10, $15, $20 (Recommended), and $25 prices.

Please contact [email protected] if you are unable to pay for the event. No questions will be asked about financials.

• If 19+ and drinking, bring 2 pieces of ID.

For the first 2 hours of the event, enjoy a Connection Quest featuring thoughtfully designed zones that invite you to connect with others and the community:

Grounding Ourselves: Receive your name tag (with pronouns), mask, and QR code to access the quest. We set a foundation of openness, respect, and safety.

Community Check-In: Reflect and share with your group about what connection and community mean to you and what brought you here.

Connection Bingo: Complete lines for raffle entries—one line earns 1 entry, the full board earns 5 entries

Connection Zones:

• Conversation Zone — Spark meaningful dialogue with question cards
• Creation Zone — Express yourself through art and button making
• Community Zone — Connect with local resources including the Distro Disco van, QMUNITY, Venturous Counselling, and Prospect Counselling

Experience an unforgettable evening of community-rooted performances—poetry, drag, comedy, and song—co-hosted and with performances by the brilliant Lulu Lomein (@lulu.lomein) and incredible Shay Dior (@thatshaydior), featuring:

• Rhea Rhao (@rhearaomusic)
• Sasha Mark (@sashmark)
• Dex Neily (@codexcreativ)
• Yana Laskov (@yanalaskov)

Venturous Counselling supports mental health through accessible counselling and community care, fostering healing and resilience.

Prospect Counselling provides low-cost, culturally affirming counselling services, prioritizing SDQTBIPOC+ communities.

Alongside QMUNITY and Distro Disco, these partners enrich the event with vital resources and support.

Thank you to our local community sponsors for keeping the connection going long after our event ends! Raffle prizes include:

• Café au Clay Pottery Studio and Café mugs & drinks for two
• Fortuna Bakery and the Portuguese baked good baskets
• Progression Bouldering free passes for first-time climbers
• Soigne Jewelry coin ring classes
• Rain or Shine gift cards
• Terra Breads gift cards
• Krause Berry Farms wine tastings
• Simone Forbes — Clarity & Momentum Session (free 1-on-1 60min call)
• Halsa Float Spa gift card

Purchase your raffle tickets here! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/communities-of-care-year-together-raffle--2026

Mi Tierra Latina is Vancouver’s go-to spot for authentic Latin American groceries, founded by Sonia, Nilka, Michelle, and Alexandra. They bring diverse flavors and community spirit to the city. Follow them @mitierralatina.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the second annual Communities of Care! Connect, celebrate, and be inspired in a space built on respect, creativity, and community.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Venturous Counselling