Spinal Cord Injury BC

Three years ago, Gracie’s life changed forever. It happened just a few days before Christmas. Driving near Nelson, Gracie suddenly hit black ice. Her car swerved off the road – and that’s the last thing she remembers. Gracie woke up two months later in the hospital. She had been in a coma since the crash. Doctors told Gracie she was paralyzed from the waist down. For the 26-year-old who loved the outdoors and her job planting trees, it was a lot to take in. Those early days were tough. Gracie had to relearn everything and find a new place to call home. A place where she wouldn’t need someone to carry her up and down stairs whenever she wanted to go out. In Nanaimo, she met Jocelyn and Bert, our friendly staff, who introduced her to our Peer Support Program. “You’ve given me a connection to people who are going through similar struggles or who have gone down this road before. It makes life easier knowing I can take their experiences and integrate them into my own. I’ve gained so much from the group.” Gracie especially values these connections during the winter months when isolation can creep in. “Bert invited me to the ‘Hockey Night in Nanaimo’. It was my first time going to a game in years. I usually wouldn’t be able to spend money on something like that so it was nice to have an evening out. And I enjoyed chatting with the group after the game. Bert and I have a similar sense of humour. We just laugh a lot! I also went to the holiday party. Having a nice meal and listening to the music was a real treat. It was great to see everyone getting into the festive spirit and making connections. I don’t go out very often. So I appreciate these events because they bring people in wheelchairs together. It opens up our world.” Gracie is looking forward to spending time with family and friends over the holidays. She loves the big traditional Christmas dinner they have every year. This year, you can make the season brighter for someone like Gracie by donating to SCI BC (link in bio). #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #Nonprofit #BritishColumbia

Our 2025 Annual Report is now available online! We believe knowledge is power, and this year's recap shares how SCI BC is working every day to ensure we remain a trusted place where accurate, relevant and useable information is shared. As you scroll through the pages, you'll meet SCI BC member, Diane, who knows she can rely on peer support for advice and encouragement. You'll also get to see how our Access BC team is making accessibility a reality across the province. What we do at SCI BC would not be possible without the kindness and generosity of our donors, sponsors, members, volunteers and partners. Thank you so much for your support! To read the full report, click the link in our bio or visit sci-bc.ca/annual-report #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #NonProfit #BritishColumbia

We are incredibly grateful to the Provincial Employees Community Services Fund (PECSF) for providing funding to support peer activities in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Victoria, Prince George and Kamloops. PECSF's support helps SCI BC offer events for peers and their families, including peer meetups, summer BBQs, adaptive recreation opportunities and more. Thank you for helping people with SCI and related disabilities adjust, adapt, and thrive! #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #PeerSupport #ThankYou

"My favorite part of the Charity Challenge is the camaraderie and getting together for a common goal. SCI BC makes a huge difference by providing knowledge and opportunity to those currently living with an SCI. You should donate to SCI BC as it helps those who cannot help themselves," says Scotty, Team SCI BC Okanagan Captain. The Charity Challenge is an annual charity race and fundraising event, and this year marks SCI BC’s 14th year participating! Participants can wheel, walk or run 5 km or a half-marathon. Join Team SCI BC for the Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K on June 28, or at one of our regional Roll n’ Stroll events across BC in June. Visit sci-bc.ca/TeamSCIBC2026 to support one of our team members today or make a donation to our whole team— your support has an enormous impact! #CharityChallenge #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #PeerSupport

Pottery painting with peers! Thanks to everyone who joined us for a fun and relaxing pottery painting night in Nanaimo. We loved creating together! #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #PeerSupport

A new donor-funded service is improving access to care for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) 💚 SCI Nav (Spinal Cord Injury Navigation), offered by Vancouver Coastal Health, connects people living with SCI, their families, clinicians, and caregivers across BC and the Yukon with expert support and guidance — with no referral required. SCI Nav helps patients: + Navigate treatment, rehabilitation, and life with SCI + Access SCI-specific resources and education + Connect with specialists at the world-class G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre + Transition from the hospital to community care VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to support the SCI Nav program in delivering more accessible care to everyone in BC. We are grateful to the Rick Hansen Foundation for their generous gift that established this program. Learn more at the link in our bio. VGH+ @vchhealthcare VGH+ @rickhansenfdn VGH+ @sci_bc

We’re proud to launch the Spinal Cord Injury Navigation Service (SCI Nav) - a free, no-referral service supporting people living with spinal cord injuries and the professionals who care for them, with personalized guidance, coordination and connection to care. 💙 Funded and guided by Rick Hansen Foundation (@rickhansenfdn ), with input from Spinal Cord Injury BC (@sci_bc ) and support from VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation (@vghfdn ), the new service is led by a specialized team at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver. Learn more: vch.ca/sci-nav #SpinalCordInjury #SCI #Disability #SpinalCordInjuryRecovery

Accessible camping isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all, and no one knows that better than SCI BC Peer Program Coordinator Ryan Clarkson. His solo road trips and camping adventures have taken him as far north as Alaska and as far south as the US-Mexican border. Ryan shares: “Always think about what type of camping you are doing and how are your transferring skills? If you plan to go to more remote locations down service roads, you will want beefier tires to avoid flats. But larger tires mean higher ground clearance which means a higher surface to transfer to and some teardrop trailers will have a six-inch gap or more between the mattress and door which means you have to transfer on to a hard surface, which means your skin is at risk.” Ryan’s practical tips for trailer camping include: - Learn how to pack your truck and the trailer. A trailer that has been loaded improperly is more likely to cause trailer sway. The weight should be balanced on each side of the trailer, and about 60% of the weight should be toward the front. - Know what the towing capacity of your vehicle is. Your car might have zero issues towing something around sea level but load it up with camping gear and water and it might not make it over mountain passes. - Consider your chair. For most teardrop trailers, you are going to have to get comfortable with leaving your chair outside to the open elements or have a partner to pack it away in your vehicle. Some people don’t like the thought of either leaving their chair out in the open for others to see, or having it packed away and not easily accessible in case of an emergency—so think about what you want. Want more tips? Head to sci-bc.ca/camper-trailer-round-up/ (link in bio) to hear from SCI BC peers and trailer experts about the pros and cons of using camper trailers to explore the great outdoors. #AccessibleCamping #CamperTrailer #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #PeerSupport

Gear up for a good time at our Adaptive Mountain Bike “Try It” Experience in Prince George this August! Come ride, hang out and check out the North’s newest adaptive trails at Tabor Mountain. We’ll have two days of riding with Adaptive Adventures (adaptiveadventures_), good company and a great chance to try a wide range of adaptive equipment with experienced coaches and professionals. All abilities and experience levels are welcome, whether it’s your first time on an adaptive mountain bike or you’ve been riding for years. Come for one day or both, or simply drop by on Saturday to enjoy a BBQ lunch and connect with peers. To learn more, click the event link in our bio. Looking for more summer events across BC? Head to sci-bc.ca/events #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #AdaptiveMountainBiking #PeerSupport #PrinceGeorge

Check your inbox (or click the link in our bio) for our May Online Events Newsletter! Our online community keeps growing, and we’re glad you’re part of it. Whether you’re a familiar face in fitness classes, a regular at peer meetups, or drop in for the occasional webinar, we’re glad you’re here. This month includes a practical webinar on building codes and making your living space work better for you, plus a chance to learn about the new G.F. Strong SCI Navigation Service. #SpinalCordInjury #Disability #PeerSupport #OnlineEvents

One of our favourite nights of the year on Vancouver Island! Our annual Victoria Sunset Dinner Cruise brings peers together for a relaxing ferry ride, great conversation and a shared meal with incredible views. Thank you to Alyx, one of our peer members, for volunteering to take pictures. #SpinalCordInury #Disability #PeerSupport #Community

Let's talk mental health, medications and spinal cord injury (SCI). Living with SCI can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. But you may wonder: Can medications for mental health make SCI‑related issues worse? And what should you know before starting or changing medication? We spoke with Peter Ngsee, Pharmacist at Vancouver General Hospital and G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre to get clear answers. Read his full response on our blog (link in bio) or check out some key takeaways below: - Depression and anxiety are common after SCI, and treating them can support rehab and overall well-being. - Treatment doesn’t look the same for everyone. It may include medication, peer support, therapy or a mix of options. - Common medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). - These meds often take up to four weeks to start working, so it’s normal not to feel changes right away. - Side effects usually show up in the first two weeks and may go away or be managed if identified early. - Doses are often increased slowly over weeks or months, and meds are tapered when stopping to reduce problems. - It’s important to weigh possible side effects against benefits like improved mood, reduced anxiety and better daily functioning. - Some meds can make it harder to sweat, increasing the risk of overheating, especially if you already take other meds like oxybutynin. - A rare but serious reaction called serotonin syndrome can happen. Symptoms may include fever, stiffness, muscle twitching or very high blood pressure. Because symptoms can look like SCI‑related issues, clinicians carefully review all medications to avoid harmful interactions. What else do you want to know about SCI and mental health? Tell us in the comments. #SpinalCordInjury #MentalHealth #Medications #Anxiety #Depression