The Family Support Institute is a volunteer-powered network across BC that provides peer-to-peer support, information, events and training and community.
About Us
The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability.
FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family-to-family organization with a broad volunteer base.
FSI’s supports and services are FREE to any family.
The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) honours that FSI grew out of an era that did not value the pivotal role of families. Therefore, FSI believes:
*All guiding principles will be led by our Vision, Mission and Beliefs as an organization in all we do
In 1985, the members of a family support committee of Inclusion BC discussed ways to better support families.Our founding members were facing the challenges of institutions, navigating segregated education systems, and making an inclusive and valued place for them in society. At the time, families were not recognized as vital voices in decision making for their loved ones. They wanted better lives for their children and knew there were hundreds of other families like them across the province who wanted the same. It became clear that there was a need for an organization to bring these families together to provide this family support. In the fall of 1986, with funds from the St. Christopher’s Foundation, the Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) was established.
The first of its kind in Canada, FSI became a separate non-profit agency. The mandate of the Family Support Institute of BC is to strengthen families who had a son or daughter with any disability. FSI began with 6 volunteer Resource parents and have now grown to over 260.
The Board makes decisions on the policy and direction of the Family Support Institute. Most board members are family members of people with disabilities. Some of our board members are also Resource Parents/Peers.
Region: Island
Came on FSI board:
December 3, 2018
Region: Vancouver Coastal
Came on FSI board:
June 17th, 2019
Region: Vancouver Coastal
Came on FSI board:
April 28, 2021
Region: Vancouver Coastal
Came on FSI board: June 9, 2023
Region: North
Came on FSI board:
March 31, 2023
Region: Interior
Came on FSI board:
October 27, 2018
Region: Fraser Valley
Came on FSI board:
March 31, 2023
Region: North
Came on FSI board: June 9, 2023
Region: Vancouver Coastal
Came on FSI board: April 9, 2022
Region: Island
Came on FSI board:
June 9, 2023
Region: Fraser Valley
Came on FSI board:
December 3, 2018
Executive Director
604-540-8374 ext. 6
Director of Finance and Administration
604-540-8374
Director of Programs
604-540-8374 ext. 7
Indigenous Practice Advisor
604-540-8374 ext. 8
Office Manager
604-540-8374 ext. 1
Office Manager (on leave)
Team Lead, Transition and Adult Family Supports
604-540-8374
Team Lead, Early Years and Children’s Family Supports; Newsletter Editor
604-540-8374
Training & Special Events Coordinator
604-540-8374
Communications Specialist
Family Support Coordinator
(NACL Liaison)
604-540-8374 ext. 4
604-540-8374 ext. 5 
Family Support Coordinator
604-540-8374 ext. 2
Family Support Tool-Kit Developer
604-540-8374
Technology Support
604-540-8374
Online Resource Coordinator
Regional Network Coordinator
Regional Network Coordinator
Increase awareness of FSI throughout the province so families find us when they need us.
Strengthen our programs, particularly in Northern, rural, and remote communities.
Strengthen FSI’s organizational capacity to be healthy and sustainable to better serve families.
Raise the voices of families and people with disabilities to affect systemic change in BC.
Embed and embrace Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion in all aspects for the organization.
227 6th Street
New Westminster, BC
V3L 3A5
(604) 540-8374 ext. 523
Fax: (604) 540-9374
Support Line:
1-800-441-5403
Did you have a great experience with FSI? Please let us know!
As a provincial organization, Family Support Institute acknowledges that our work spans across all of the traditional, ancestral and unceded Indigenous territories in BC. Therefore, we respectfully honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, as well as their ancestors, who have lived here and cared for these lands. It is with gratitude that we can live, learn and do our work in the province now known as British Columbia.
©2023 Family Support Institute | Privacy Policy | Registered Charity Number: 105629497RR0001. We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
