BC EPILEPSY SOCIETY

#610- 4180 Lougheed Highway

Burnaby, BC V5C 4B3

Phone: 604-875-6704   Fax: 604-875-0617

Email: info@bcepilepsy.com   Website: www.bcepilepsy.com

Hours: Monday to Friday 9 AM to 4 PM

The BC Epilepsy Society is a provincially incorporated non-profit organization and a federally registered charitable organization dedicated to providing client support, education, information, resources and community support to the over 50,000 people living with epilepsy and their families. We empower, educate, and support British Columbians living with epilepsy and their families, and fund research to find a cure. We provide client support services, seizure education in schools and workplaces, hospital clinic support services, our in-person Speaking of Epilepsy Lecture Series, our Epilepsy Expert Webinar Series as well as a newsletter and resource library. Through resource development, we are able to provide support groups and our camp subsidy and bursary program for children and youth. There are no barriers to accessing our programs and services as they are free of charge and available in our offices, within community spaces, at epilepsy clinics at hospitals throughout BC and by phone, email and online via Zoom.

Programs & Services:

  • Connecting with Others: The BC Epilepsy Society offers people living with epilepsy and their families, friends, and loved ones the opportunity to meet other inspirational people who truly understand life with epilepsy. Whether we are laughing together or sharing tips and tricks we have learned along the way, connecting with others makes the journey much more fun! Groups include our In-Person Peer Group, our Online Peer Group, our Family Peer Group, our Young Adults Peer Group, our Epilepsy Friends Forever (EFF) program, and our BC Epilepsy Parents Network (BCEPN) program. Groups are offered via both online and in-person means. Visit http://bcepilepsy.com/programs/connecting-with-others for more information.

  • Project UPLIFT: Project UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favourable Thoughts) is an 8-week program that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness to teach people living with epilepsy a valuable skill set that may reduce depression and improve quality of life in people living with epilepsy. Visit http://bcepilepsy.com/programs/project-uplift for more information.
  • New Diagnosis Group: The BC Epilepsy Society’s New Diagnosis Group offers participants an interactive opportunity to learn about their epilepsy and the practical matters they will need to know. The New Diagnosis Group combines medical information with practical recommendations from the real-life experiences of facilitators living with epilepsy. Visit http://bcepilepsy.com/programs/new-diagnosis-group-new-program for more information.
  • Clinic Support Services: Staff meet with families attending the Neurology Clinics at BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey to provide epilepsy resources and assistance with community services. As well, we provide resources to other hospitals and health clinics across the province. Please visit http://bcepilepsy.com/programs/clinic-support-services for more information.

Programs & Services:

  • Partners in Teaching: Through this program, we provide free workshops on epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid and safety at schools, workplaces, and other organizations across the province of BC. Please visit http://www.bcepilepsy.com/programs/partners-in-teaching for more information.
  • Lecture Series & Educational Events: The BC Epilepsy Society hosts both in-person and online lecture series and educational events on a wide variety of epilepsy-related topics and the BC Epilepsy Society website is a host to a number of videos and presentations by experts in the field of epilepsy, allowing the uptake of up-to-date and accurate information on various topics related to epilepsy. Visit http://www.bcepilepsy.com/programs/lecture-series-educational-events for more information.
  • Epilepsy Expert Webinar Series: Through the Epilepsy Expert Webinar Series, professionals in the field of epilepsy provide presentations via Zoom Webinars on a variety of topics that impact the daily lives of people living with epilepsy (ex. health, law, employment, etc.). This allows people living with epilepsy and their loved ones to get up-to-date and accurate information. Please visit http://bcepilepsy.com/programs/epilepsy-expert-webinar-series for more information.
  • Women in Mind: Women and girls with epilepsy have unique health concerns. As a result of these differences, women with epilepsy can face special challenges such as reproductive health, hormonal and menstrual cycles, contraception, bone health, parenting, menopause, and the usage of certain anti-epileptic medications. This program includes resource kits which contain information specifically for women and girls living with epilepsy. Also hosts lectures and highlight new developments and research about women’s health and epilepsy. A list of related Information Sheets, lectures, news alerts, research findings, and other useful sources of information are found at http://www.bcepilepsy.com/programs/women-in-mind.

Programs & Services:

Resources: Our resources includes our international I AM A VOICE for Epilepsy Awareness™ campaign that educates the public about epilepsy and increases epilepsy awareness; our media projects, including our Voice Epilepsy™ podcast series; our robust website with information reviewed by our Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of some of BC’s top neurologists; and our lending library, brochures, newsletters, and medical information sheets