The ABCs of Adoption: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Adopt
Thursday, January 15, 2026
6 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: The Adoption Council of Ontario (ACO)
Workshop Description:
Discover the different types of adoption available to Ontario residents: public, private and international. Joined by the Adoption Council of Ontario, you’ll gain insight into the processes involved in each option, as well as the unique set of challenges that come with each. Don’t miss this chance to embark on a remarkable journey towards understanding adoption and the beautiful families it creates.
Program Highlights:
- Home Study: Required for all adoption pathways, involving a thorough assessment of the home environment and family dynamics to ensure suitability for adoption.
- PRIDE Training: A crucial training program to help you understand the complexities of adoption and prepare you for the rewarding role of an adoptive parent.
Ready to take the next step? Join us to learn more, ask your questions, and start your adoption journey with confidence.
Helping Children Navigate Boredom & Downtime
Why “I’m bored” isn’t a problem—and how unstructured time builds creativity, confidence and emotional regulation
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
7 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Sam Leeson, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Parenting Coach, Fertility Coach, Infant Feeding Specialist
Workshop Description:
Many of us were raised hearing, “go find something to do,” yet today’s children are growing up in a world of constant stimulation, instant entertainment and very little true downtime. No wonder boredom feels bigger—and harder—than it used to.
In this seminar, we’ll explore what boredom actually is, why children seem to experience it so intensely right now and how healthy unstructured time plays a critical role in developing creativity, resilience, confidence and self-regulation.
Together, we’ll unpack:
- Is there anything wrong with keeping kids busy? Understanding the difference between overstimulation and healthy engagement
- Why boredom is a developmental tool—not a failure of parenting
- How children’s processing abilities (especially for younger kids) impact how they experience downtime and digital input
- The role screens and social media play in modern parenting—including when they’re helpful, necessary and okay
- How to gently break “micro-habits” of constant entertainment (like automatically reaching for devices)
- Practical, realistic routines that support comfort with downtime at home, during transitions and before/after school
- How to respond to “I’m bored” with connection and coaching—without guilt, pressure or power struggles
We’ll also place today’s boredom in perspective, reflecting on how it mirrors (and differs from) the boredom many of us experienced growing up. This isn’t about removing screens or striving for perfection—it’s about helping children safely navigate what they’re exposed to and building skills that will serve them long after the moment passes.
This workshop is collaborative and supportive. We’ll build strategies together that honour your family’s values, capacity and real-world needs.
Strengthening Family Connections: How Understanding Our Past Shapes Our Parenting
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
6:30 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Myroslava Tyzkyj, BA, RVT, Registered Psychotherapist
Workshop Description:
This workshop is designed for queer and trans individuals and families who are navigating the journey of starting a family. Together, we will acknowledge and explore the complex emotions, personal histories and lived experiences that often arise in this process, with particular attention to how trauma and triggers can surface.
Whether you are actively preparing to grow your family or seeking supportive community as you consider your options, this session provides concrete grounding practices and identity-affirming strategies. Participants will learn tools for recognizing and responding to emotional triggers, cultivating resilience and approaching family-building with care and self-compassion.
Participants will:
- explore how trauma and systemic oppression can shape the experience of family-building for queer and trans communities
- identify common triggers and learn ways to respond with gentleness and intention
- build tools for emotional preparedness and healing throughout the family-building journey
- connect with others in a supportive space that honours identity, lived experience and collective strength
This is a trauma-informed, identity-affirming space that centres queer and trans voices and lived experiences. You’ll leave feeling more equipped to move forward with clarity, connection and care.
Supporting Fertility with Naturopathy: Holistic Approaches to Reproductive Wellness
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
6 to 7 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Dr. Aida Martinez, Yoga Mamas
Workshop Description:
Ready to explore how naturopathy can support your fertility journey?
This welcoming session looks at how naturopathic care can play a supportive role in reproductive health and family-building. Together, we’ll explore gentle, holistic approaches that centre the whole person and honour the many paths to parenthood.
In this workshop, you’ll learn about:
- how naturopathy approaches fertility and reproductive wellness
- natural therapies that may support hormonal balance and cycle health
- nutrition and lifestyle practices that nourish the body and support fertility
- ways naturopathic care can complement medical fertility treatments or stand on its own as part of a wellness-focused approach
Participants will leave with practical, accessible tools and a deeper understanding of how naturopathic strategies can support both fertility goals and overall well-being, at whatever stage you are in your journey.
2SLGBTQ+ Family Building: Solo Parenting – Heavy is the Load
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
6:30 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Rae Jardine (she/they), MA, RSSW, CC-PMH
Workshop Description:
This workshop is designed for 2SLGBTQ+ solo parents by choice or by circumstance, including single parents, parents with absent co-parents and those carrying the primary parenting load. The session centres empowerment, sustainability and community care.
Participants will:
- Validate the unique strengths and challenges of solo parenting
- Reflect on capacity, burnout and internalized expectations of “doing it all”
- Identify practical and emotional support needs across parenting stages
- Explore tools for building shared care and mutual aid
- Develop strategies for self-advocacy, boundary-setting and rest
Parent Pod Mapping: Community Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Families
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
6:30 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Rae Jardine (she/they), MA, RSSW, CC-PMH
Workshop Description:
This interactive session is designed for 2SLGBTQ+ expectant parents, prospective parents and current parents who want to build strong, sustainable support systems for themselves and their families. Grounded in community care and mental health-informed practice, this workshop introduces Parent Pod Mapping as a practical and empowering tool to identify, strengthen and sustain networks of care beyond the nuclear family.
Recognizing that queer and trans families often parent within systems that were not built for us, this session centres chosen family, mutual aid and collective resilience as essential foundations for thriving families—whether you are preparing to welcome a child or already navigating the realities of parenting.
Participants will:
- Learn what Parent Pod Mapping is and why it matters for 2SLGBTQ+ expectant and current parents
- Explore the unique realities, strengths and barriers queer and trans parents face when building and maintaining support networks
- Reflect on how identity, mental health, capacity, boundaries and life stage shape community care
- Identify key people, resources and roles within their current or envisioned parenting pod
- Gain practical strategies to grow, communicate with and sustain affirming, flexible support systems over time
This is a supportive, identity-affirming space that honors the diversity of 2SLGBTQ+ family structures, caregiving models, and parenting journeys. Participants will leave feeling more connected, resourced and confident in building community-based care—knowing that parenting was never meant to be done alone.
Starting the Journey: Initial Steps in Surrogacy Planning
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
6 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Babies Come True
Workshop Description:
Starting a surrogacy journey can feel exciting, overwhelming and full of questions! In this workshop, Babies Come True will guide intended parents through the crucial early stages of the surrogacy journey, offering a clear and grounded introduction to what comes first and why it matters.
This session explores the key legal, medical and emotional considerations involved in planning a surrogacy, with a focus on helping participants navigate the process thoughtfully and with confidence. Topics include understanding roles and responsibilities, setting realistic expectations and addressing foundational elements such as financial planning, medical screening requirements and securing appropriate legal representation.
Surrogacy Finance 101: Budgeting, Trust Accounts and Financial Planning
Monday, February 23, 2026
6 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Babies Come True
Workshop Description:
Wondering about the costs of surrogacy and how to plan for them? This practical, information-rich session is designed to help you better understand the financial realities of building your family through surrogacy.
Together, we’ll break down the full range of costs involved, including budgeting basics, typical expense categories and how trust accounts are used to manage funds throughout the process. The session will also highlight commonly overlooked or unexpected expenses and offer guidance on planning for changes or delays along the way.
Grounded in real-world considerations, this workshop aims to reduce financial uncertainty and support informed decision-making. Participants will leave with greater clarity, practical tools and increased confidence to navigate the financial side of surrogacy and plan thoughtfully for their family-building journey.
World of Options: Exploring International Destination Surrogacy
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
6 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Babies Come True
Workshop Description:
Considering surrogacy beyond your home country? You’re not alone, and there is a lot to navigate.
Join us for an in-depth, interactive exploration of international destination surrogacy, a family-building option that more intended parents are turning to for a range of personal, legal and practical reasons. This workshop creates space to unpack what it really means to pursue surrogacy abroad, moving beyond surface-level information to focus on real-world experiences and considerations.
Together, we will explore:
- Why intended parents choose international surrogacy and what draws people to specific destinations
- Key benefits and potential challenges, including cost, timelines and emotional considerations
- Legal and ethical frameworks across borders and what they mean for parentage, citizenship and protections
- Practical steps for getting started, from choosing agencies and clinics to planning travel and support
Designed to be informative, affirming and grounded in lived realities, this session offers a supportive environment to ask questions, reflect on your options and strengthen your confidence in navigating international surrogacy as a family-building pathway.
Parent Perspectives: Navigating the Surrogacy Journey as an Intended Parent
Thursday, February 12, 2026
6:30 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Chad Da Maren & Chase Jacusiw, James & Paul Sileika, parents via surrogacy
Workshop Description:
Considering surrogacy or already on the journey and wondering what it really looks like in practice? In this peer-led discussion, two couples share their personal surrogacy journeys as intended parents, offering insight into the realities, decisions and emotions involved in choosing surrogacy as a family-building option. Through two distinct lived experiences, participants will hear firsthand reflections on navigating the process, building relationships and finding support along the way.
Designed as a supportive and affirming forum, this session creates space for intended parents to ask questions, connect with others on similar paths and learn from shared experiences in a community-centred environment. Participants will also be introduced to resources and supports that may be helpful as they explore or continue their own family-building journeys.
Nourish & Thrive: Nutrition and Lifestyle Factors for Fertility
Tuesday, March 10, 17, 24, 30, 2026
6 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Jennifer Atkins, Dietician, MPH
Workshop Description:
A 4-Week Program for 2SLGBTQ+ Family Building
Are you preparing for your family building journey? Join us for this four-week program designed to help you optimize your health and wellness as you navigate the fertility process. Our expert-led sessions will provide you with the tools, knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions every step of the way.
This program goes beyond nutrition. We’ll address the psychological, financial and physical risks associated with misleading fertility advice, providing a holistic approach to family building. You’ll walk away with actionable steps to support your journey, whether you’re just starting to think about building your family or actively preparing for conception.
We’ll focus on:
- Dietary strategies: Practical advice on how to nourish your body for fertility, including tips on meal planning, lifestyle adjustments and the role of nutrition in reproductive health.
- Essential nutrients: Discover the key vitamins and minerals essential for fertility and how to ensure your diet supports your body’s readiness for conception.
- Identifying false promises: Learn how to spot misleading health claims and nutritional myths often promoted in the fertility space.
- Navigating popular health recommendations safely: Evaluate the latest trends, supplements and advice with a critical eye to ensure you’re making safe, evidence-based choices.
- Mental health and self-care: Acknowledging and giving space for the emotional and physical challenges and setbacks that come with navigating family building options.
Make sure you’re well-prepared and supported as you start your family building journey. Join us and get the tools you need to Nourish & Thrive!
Understanding and Strengthening Parent–Child Attachment: Everyday Practices That Build Trust, Security and Connection
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
7 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Sam Leeson, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Parenting Coach, Fertility Coach, Infant Feeding Specialist
Workshop Description:
Every moment of connection—especially the messy ones—can become an opportunity to build trust, safety and deep belonging with your child.
Discover practical, everyday ways to nurture a secure and trusting bond with your young child in this inclusive, queer-affirming workshop. Explore how your own attachment history shapes your parenting, learn to recognize and foster secure attachment and gain tools to repair misattunement or conflicts when they arise. We’ll also cover how to honour your own emotional limits while staying deeply connected to your child.
Key messages for parents/guardians:
- Understand attachment in daily life for children from infancy to age five
- Recognize patterns of secure and insecure attachment without judgment
- Build strategies to repair moments of conflict and strengthen trust
- Learn to balance your boundaries with your child’s needs in a trauma-aware, inclusive way
Raising Responsible Kids: Using Age-Appropriate Tasks and Allowances to Build Life Skills
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
7 to 8 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Sam Leeson, Childbirth Educator, Doula, Parenting Coach, Fertility Coach, Infant Feeding Specialist
Workshop Description:
Helping kids build life skills doesn’t have to feel like a power struggle—it can be a shared, confidence-building process.
Learn how to help your young child develop responsibility, competence and life skills through age-appropriate tasks and thoughtful use of allowances or alternative systems. This inclusive, trauma-aware workshop provides practical strategies to scaffold skills, model tasks and integrate responsibilities into your family dynamics—without shame or pressure.
Key messages for parents/guardians:
- Identify what responsibilities look like for children of all ages
- Learn techniques to teach tasks and provide constructive feedback
- Explore allowances and alternative systems in a values-based, inclusive way—good, bad and otherwise
- Adapt expectations to your child’s temperament, neurodiversity and developmental capacity
Navigating Surrogacy: Beyond the Surrogate or Egg Donor
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6 to 7:30 p.m. (VIRTUAL)
Guest Facilitator: Angie Pruim, Nici Shipway, Hive Surrogacy
Workshop Description:
Surrogacy in Canada can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Join Angie and Nici for an informative, candid session on navigating the surrogacy process in Canada. With over 21 years of combined experience, they bring practical insight and real-world perspective to every stage of the journey.
In this session, you will learn about:
- How Canadian surrogacy works, from start to finish
- Building the right team and why it matters
- The key roles involved beyond the Surrogate or Egg Donor
- Common misconceptions and what prospective parents should really expect
- How to move forward with confidence, clarity, and realistic expectations
Designed for intended parents at any stage, this session breaks down a complex process into clear, manageable steps and offers the guidance and support needed to move forward feeling informed and empowered.
