CASC / ACSS

05/13/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Lynn Granke has been honored with the 2026 Verda Rochon Award for Distinguished Service at the CASC/ACSS National Conference. 🏆
There is perhaps no one who embodies the spirit of Verda Rochon more than Lynn. Described as a "focal point of communication, humor, and esprit de corps," Lynn has spent decades serving CASC/ACSS and the spiritual health profession with contagious joy and dedication.

Lynn’s impact on professional Spiritual Care is profound:
🔹 National Leadership: Served as Vice President, President (2022-2024), and Past President of CASC/ACSS National.
🔹 Advocacy: A tireless voice for practitioners, fighting for wage parity, chart access, and provincial regulation.
🔹 Innovation: Instrumental in developing Family Presence During Resuscitation (FPDR) and "Code Lavender" staff support programs.
🔹 Education: As a Certified Supervisor-Educator, she has mentored a generation of students with a blend of high-energy leadership and deep compassion.

Lynn, thank you for your thousands of hours of selfless service, your resilience in the face of adversity, and the sparkle you bring to every room. This honor is so richly deserved!

Please join us in the comments in congratulating Lynn on this incredible achievement! 🥂✨

05/05/2026

Mental Health Week, May 4-10 2026, provides an opportunity to remember the intricate link between mental health and spiritual health. A healthy spirit equals a healthy mind. As we reflect on the importance of caring for our minds, we invite you to consider your spiritual needs. How's your spirit? 💚


-----
La Semaine de la santé mentale, du 4 au 10 mai 2026, est l'occasion de rappeler le lien intime entre la santé mentale et la santé spirituelle. Un esprit sain est le reflet d'une âme en paix. Alors que nous réfléchissons à l'importance de prendre soin de notre mental, nous vous invitons à considérer vos besoins spirituels. Comment va votre esprit ? 💚

04/28/2026

We are wrapping up the 2026 CASC/ACSS National Conference, in Ottawa and what an incredible 3 days it has been! Riveting keynote sessions, dynamic workshops, inspiring poster presentations, meaningful connections, networking opportunities, amazing food, beautiful venue and so much fun. Centred around the theme "Thresholds of Transformation, Spiritual Health in the Age of Innovation", Spiritual Health Professionals, Therapists, Counsellors, Researchers, Educators and students gathered to deepen knowledge about spiritual health and why it matters.
Check out some highlights!

03/19/2026

There is still time to register for the CASC/ACSS National Conference taking place April 26-28!
❗️The deadline to register is April 8th.

We have great speakers, workshops, and activities lined up including:
🔹 Dr. Hillary McBride, psychologist, podcaster, and author with her new book Holy Hurt
🔹 Dr. Shane Sinclair, researcher and head of the Compassion Research Lab
🔹 Dr. Tracy Trothen, Queen's professor and imminent researcher in AI and relationships
🔹 Dozens of workshops and research posters presented by your fellow colleagues
🔹 A chance to visit downtown Ottawa for an evening of sightseeing
🔹 Relaxing at the famous spas of the Brookstreet Hotel
🔹 And of course, the opportunity to show off your moves at the dance!

Secure your spot today and be part of an event that will leave you feeling renewed and inspired!

✨ Registration and Information: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/CASCACSSNC26/register

03/10/2026

The CASC/ACSS National Conference is fast approaching, on April 26-28, 2026 and there is still time to register for the most prominent event in spiritual health in Canada!

Our full-line up of workshops is now live on the conference website. Check them out today to view our incredible speakers and topics.

If you are a:
🔹 Spiritual Care Practitioner
🔹 chaplain
🔹 therapist
🔹 psychologist
🔹 social worker
🔹 nurse
🔹 physician
🔹 educator
🔹 student
🔹 faith leader

OR you work in:
🔹 the armed forces
🔹 correctional facilities
🔹 hospice centres
🔹long-term care facilities

This event is for you! Taking place in the Ottawa region, the CASC/ACS national conference is your opportunity to expand your knowledge, and learn why spiritual health is a vital component in whole-person care.

For information and registration visit the webpage below:
🔗 https://site.pheedloop.com/event/CASCACSSNC26/home

See you in April! ✨

02/06/2026

How we define spirituality is constantly evolving, informed by a growing body of spiritual health research.

Today we celebrate CASC/ACSS Member Jeffrey Vidt, for his recent publication, "Sacred Sensations: Achievable Spirituality in Severe Autism".

The essay "reframes spirituality as an embodied and sensory reality rather than primarily cognitive. [It] challenges providers to expand their spiritual imagination, recognizing sensory experiences as sacred and inviting new approaches to spiritual care."

Congratulations, Jeff, on this vital contribution to the field!

Check it out here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15423050261420829

⭐️ (CASC/ACSS Members have free access to this article, via the member portal).

This essay explores the spiritual lives of individuals with severe autism through the lenses of embodiment theology, disability theology, and personal storytell...

02/02/2026

This week is World Interfaith Harmony Week (Feb. 1–7), an annual event established by the United Nations in 2010 to promote mutual understanding, respectful dialogue, and peaceful relations between all people, regardless of their faith.

At CASC/ACSS, we believe that spiritual health is universal; all people deserve to lead meaningful spiritual lives. But spirituality is incredibly diverse. This week, we celebrate the unique and diverse ways people cultivate spiritual health in their lives—whether that be through a particular faith tradition, prayer, meditation, rituals, music, creative endeavours, spending time in nature, or more. 🙏🌎 💙

01/30/2026

IFS and Spirituality Workshop
**Certificate of Completion provided from the Internal Family Systems Counselling Association

How do we respond when clients share encounters with the "non-physical"? In modern Western contexts, these experiences are often pathologized or dismissed. But what if there was a respectful, clinical, and soulful way to engage them?
Join Robyn Dickson, RP and IFS trainer, and Marnie Roper, Spiritual Care Practitioner, for a deep dive into the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach to spirituality and "spirit" beings.

📅 Event Details:
Date: Friday, February 27th, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM PT (Adjusted for all time zones)
Location: Online (Virtual Workshop)

⚡ Space is limited! Space is limited to 50 participants to ensure a respectful and inclusive environment for sharing and discussion.

Register by February 15th to secure your spot.
Registration Link is in the comments.

01/23/2026

Huge congratulations to long-standing CASC/ACSS Member, Dr. Peter Barnes, for receiving the prestigious 2026 Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellence in Advocacy from the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC).

We also commend Pallium Canada for recognizing the immeasurable value of spiritual care in health care settings. It is through these partnerships and recognitions that we continue to humanize care for all. 👏 👏 👏

Congratulations to Rev. Peter Barnes on receiving the Honourable Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellence in Advocacy from the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC) for 2026! 🎉

With decades of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and health system leadership, Rev. Barnes has played a pivotal role in advancing spiritual care in palliative and bereavement services throughout Canada. From hands-on patient care and program leadership to teaching and national research, he has shaped how care teams support the whole person. His expertise has been instrumental in developing Pallium’s Psychosocial Spiritual Care Module, establishing national communities of practice, and shaping the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework, ensuring psychospiritual care is recognized and valued as an essential part of compassionate, holistic support for patients, families, and health care teams.

Thank you, Rev. Barnes, for your remarkable dedication and transformative contributions to palliative care in Canada and beyond! https://buff.ly/3PYmZec

01/17/2026

Registration is now OPEN for the CASC/ACSS National Conference 2026!
Taking place April 26-28, we are thrilled to invite you to join us for the most prominent annual spiritual health conference in Canada. Our dynamic programme offers opportunities for professional growth, networking and inspiration, all while having a great time.

This year’s event takes place at the beautiful Brookstreet Hotel, located just west of Ottawa.

Meet Our Keynote Speakers:
🔹 Dr. Hillary McBride: Registered Psychologist, CBC podcast host, and award-winning author.

🔹 Dr. Shane Sinclair: Professor and Director of the Compassion Research Lab at the University of Calgary.

🔹 Dr. Tracy J. Trothen: Interdisciplinary Professor of Ethics at Queen’s University and specialist in AI and religion.

⏳ Early Bird Rates: Register by February 13, 2026, to take advantage of preferential rates.

👉 Register here: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/CASCACSSNC26/register