News and Events
2025 CASP Conference
May 14 to 16, 2025
Vancouver Island Crisis Society is committed to learning and integrating the latest research about suicide awareness and prevention in its Crisis services, Community Education workshops, School Programs. and Suicide Bereavement Support services.
Grand Opening of
Lantzville Mental Fitness Trail
Since July 2022, Vancouver Island Crisis Society has been working on a passion project with Rotary Club of Lantzville, District of Lantzville, and CMHA – BC Division, to create Canada's first Mental Fitness Trail. We were so proud to participate at the grand opening on July 12, 2024!
There is a passage from the book, The Teachings of Don Juan, by Carlos Castenada, that reads, "This question is one that only a very old man asks. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good."
When we think about a path that has heart at the Crisis Society, we think about this trail, and the many, many hearts that were involved in making it so.
Launch of the Lantzville Mental Fitness Trail. VICS personnel in attendance included, from left to right, Lyndsay Wells, Community Education Program Coordinator; Joanne Hogan, Office and Promotions Administrator; Camilla McGuire, Community Education Volunteer; Neil Cutler, Community Education Coordinator; and Heather Makus, Community Education Master Trainer.
You are invited to view the signage created for this special trail
When FUN is part of FUNdraising!
An annual fun event occurred for the 8th time in 2024! The Disc Golf Jamboree took place once again at the lovely site of Mary's Farm & Sanctuary on Saturday, June 8. And once again, organizers Odd Fellows Columbia Lodge No. 2 of Victoria, as well as Odd Fellows Bastion Lodge #4, were devoting time to raising funds for the Vancouver Island Crisis Society, as part of this event. To say that the Jamoboree was a success is putting it mildly: The friendly competition, the participants, the organizers, the food and refreshments, the perfect weather. We must add hat the fundraising was record-setting. We cannot thank these kind folks enough for their ongoing support of the services we provide to Vancouver Islanders.
Our Community Awareness Coordinator, Neil Cutler, was asked to accept a donation cheque at the September meeting of the Lodge in Victoria. The fundraising lead organizer, Dave Pettenuzzo, a true friend of the Society, provided this commentary, "I wanted to give a special Bouquet to Neil for coming down and his impassioned words he shared with our lodge at our meeting last night. To say that Neil is genuine in all he does, is simply an understatement. He did a masterful job of 'linking' together VI Crisis and all you stand for, with our core morals of FL&T (Friendship, Love and Truth). A very rare thing happened after our meeting, when our Junior Past Grand, Russ Campbell, awarded Neil with our 3-links, which will hopefully help keep him warm at all times and further link our two groups together. Thanks again Neil and to all of you."
Many thanks to Dave and all at Odd Fellows - Columbia #2 Victoria BC and Odd Fellows Bastion Lodge #4. 
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Thank you to the team members
at the Vancouver Island
stations of Pattison Media!
Pattison Media is all about community and is dedicated to making their radio stations the voices of the cities they serve. Their philosophy is simple: Local, Local, Local. By working with organizations like ours, they further their mandate in a very relevant way. The Vancouver Island Crisis Society is grateful for the continued support provided by the Pattison Media. Lives are saved because of these important messages being broadcast to our communities.
Promotion of the Vancouver Island Crisis Line
and our volunteering opportunity on
The Wolf 106.9 FM The WAVE 102.3 FM
The Lounge 99.9 FM The Beach 88.5 FM
The Peak 93.3 FM The Eagle 97.3 FM
100.3 The Q! The Zone@91.3
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Honouring our Executive Director's accomplishments
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) acknowledged the dedication, professionalism, and accomplishments of our Executive Director, Elizabeth Newcombe, with the presentation of the 2024 Crisis Services Award at the annual AAS conference, held this year from May 5 to 10 in Las Vegas.
Photo taken on the occasion of the award presentation. Included, from left to right: Kimberley Korfuzan (Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Director, e-Mental Health & Special Projects); Cari Szalai – VICS CL Training Coordinator; Elizabeth Newcombe – VICS Executive Director; Trystan Jackson – VICS CL Supervisor Special Projects; Don King – Crisis Line Services Manager; and Alberto Almeido (PHSA Project Manager II, Crisis Line Enhancement Project).