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March 2026 – Newsletter
Creating Culturally Respectful Home Sharing for Indigenous Individuals
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their home. In-home sharing, this means intentionally honouring Indigenous cultures, identities, traditions, and histories in everyday life. A culturally respectful home is one where traditions and language are welcomed, identity is affirmed using Nation-specific terminology where appropriate, discrimination is actively challenged, and Indigenous culture is recognized and celebrated throughout the year.
This matters because home sharing is built on shared daily living. Indigenous individuals should feel safe to practice ceremony, speak their language, prepare traditional foods, and remain connected to their communities. When cultural identity is supported, individuals experience stronger belonging, confidence, and overall well-being.
For example, an Elder from the Coast Salish Nation who moved into a home sharing arrangement in Nanaimo shared that having space for beadwork and smudging, along with support to attend local gatherings, helped her feel respected and truly at home. Small, intentional actions can have a significant impact on quality of life.
Across British Columbia, organizations such as the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society, and the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society provide cultural programming, housing supports, and community connections that can strengthen culturally respectful home sharing practices.
Creating culturally respectful environments is not an additional layer of service. It is foundational to safe, inclusive, and high-quality home sharing.
“Cultural diversity is not a reason for division, but a source of collective strength. Our differences do not diminish us. They expand what we are capable of achieving together.”
— Justin Trudeau
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
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March 1: Zero Discrimination Day
Led globally by UNAIDS, this day promotes equality and calls for the removal of laws, policies, and practices that discriminate against individuals and communities.
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**March 8: **International Women’s Day
Recognized by the United Nations, this day highlights the achievements of women and advances gender equity across cultures and societies.
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March 15: International Day to Combat Islamophobia
Established by the United Nations, this observance promotes understanding, inclusion, and the protection of religious freedom.
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**March 20: **International Day of Happiness
This day recognizes wellbeing, social inclusion, and connection as foundational elements of healthy and diverse communities.
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March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Marked by the United Nations, this day calls for collective action to eliminate racism and strengthen human rights protections.
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March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
A global awareness day focused on promoting the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down syndrome across all cultures.
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March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
This observance honors the victims of slavery and acknowledges the lasting social and economic impacts of historical injustice.
Regional Information Session
March 12, 2026
1:30 PM to 3:00 PM PST
Home Sharing Support Society BC will be hosting a Regional Information Session on March 12 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. This session is designed to strengthen collaboration across the home sharing sector and ensure alignment between CLBC regional staff, service providers, and home sharing providers.
Participants will receive an overview of current HSSSBC initiatives, training opportunities, sector supports, and engagement priorities. The session will also provide space to identify emerging regional challenges, share feedback, and explore opportunities to enhance coordination and quality of service delivery.
Registration is required.
Please register here: [Registration Link]
Registration will close on March 9 at 4:00 PM.
**Work Safe BC – Policy Change **
Recently, HSPs told us the policy change at WSBC that has accounts under the $600.00 threshold were moving to annual payments was causing some disruption in the community.
We had the opportunity to meet with WSBC to communicate the issue and discuss possible solutions going forward.
An HSP paying annually can stop their coverage by cancelling their account. If they need to restart coverage, they need to reapply. One month’s notice is required to request cancellation.
If an account is cancelled, any remaining funds will be prorated for the remainder of the year (minus the one-month notice) and will be refunded.
If there are changes in an HSP’s status, or if an HSP has any other questions regarding their account, they can contact the Employer Service Centre by phone at 1.888.9222.2768
Home Sharing Provider Awards Update
The Home Sharing Provider Awards recognize the commitment, professionalism, and impact of Home Sharing Providers across British Columbia. The awards celebrate individuals who support choice, stability, and quality of life for adults with disabilities through home sharing.
Nominations will be opening soon. More information, including award categories and nomination details, will be shared in the coming weeks.
Open Future Learning Access Transition Update
As of December 1, 2025, access and registrations are offered by the Home Sharing Support Society BC (HSSSBC) at no cost to the home sharing community.
If you are a service provider and would like your home sharing providers to access the service, you are encouraged to submit user information using HSSSBC’s OFL Registration Template. Each service provider will need to identify a key contact who will manage their users.
Home sharing providers can also request access directly through the HSSSBC website using the self-serve option.
If you are an existing OFL user and already have an email registered in the OFL system, please request to have it removed before requesting the HSSSBC set up your new account. Each user will receive a new password request link.
HSSSBC provides the administration & payment for users registered and is only free for users that are registered by the HSSSBC.
Need assistance? Email: executiveassistant@homesharingbc.ca
Download Registration Template
Open Future Learning Module: Diversity and Race
This module, written by Charles Archer and Roger Ramsukh, explains the importance of talking about race as well as provides strategies for managing racism from the people you are supporting.
This module features presentations from Charles Archer and Roger Ramsukh.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Understand the importance in starting to have conversations about race to break down barriers that exist amongst races.
- Describe a range of strategies to manage personal attacks and discrimination.
Length: 42 minutes