July 30, 2026
Introduction to VAST
In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
We facilitate the healing process for 2500 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to
provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution. VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT).
Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 40 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor and trainer to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.
Employment Type: Contractor
Hours: Part-time (15 hours/week)
Rate of Pay: $27.05 per hour
Work Format: Hybrid (In-Field Outdoor Sessions, In-Office Collaboration, and Remote Admin)
Background
The VAST Outdoors program was launched in January 2019, initiating with 3 months of research, program design, grantwriting, and gathering input from the VAST community. The first Outdoors activity took place in April 2019, and we had a total of 12 sessions for over 25 participants (including an overnight camping trip) until April 2020. In October 2019 VAST received a one-year grant from MEC to support the program. From March-July 2020 we spent time restructuring and redesigning the program to ensure safety and support with the COVID-19 context. Our existing Coordinator had to move away from Vancouver, and in July 2020 VAST re-hired for the Outdoors Coordinator position.
Description of Duties
The VAST Outdoors Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day implementation of the two-year Walking in Your Lands project across Vancouver, Surrey, Nanaimo, Prince George, and an additional partner community to be confirmed. The role will focus on creating accessible, trauma-informed opportunities for refugees and newcomers to rebuild connection to land, place, identity, and community following displacement. The Coordinator will organize year-round guided walks, seasonal gatherings, medicinal plant and healing garden activities, participant transportation, and other program logistics. They will also liaise with Indigenous Elders, knowledge holders, land-based educators, facilitators, and regional partners to ensure activities are grounded in Indigenous teachings about land, stewardship, reciprocity, and responsibility to place. In addition, the Coordinator will coordinate and facilitate regional training, locally adapted program delivery, the development of the project handbook and toolkit, partner communication, activity tracking, reporting, evaluation, and the ongoing strengthening of respectful relationships between Indigenous and newcomer communities.
Planning
- Schedule and plan up to four outdoor activities a month, two on weekdays, two on weekends – two more leisurely, two challenging (Less during cold seasons)
- Plan a camping trip in summer
- Develop Surrey Outdoors program
- Build relationship with VAST clinical team to ensure effective communication
Collaboration
- Collaborate with the clinical team before and after events:
- Get referrals about identified and recommended clients
- Conduct screening for clients who are new to VAST Outdoors - ensure VAST clinical team is supportive of their participation at this time, brainstorm together other activities that clients should participate in prior, or supports that may be needed to ensure their safe and impactful participation
- Get basic information about each participant’s individual situation and needs
- Report to the clinical team and the counselors involved with the individuals after the trip: who participated and if any issues arose
- Share ideas for group therapeutic activities that could be facilitated while outside
- Collaborate with the Social Media team to share information about outdoors activities: at least one week prior, and up to one week after
- Collaborate with staff involved in VAST support groups to promote the program and receive information about interested clients
- Send a confidential debrief email after the trip to VAST Management and report on who went (clients, volunteers), when, where, and highlight special moments.
- Discuss each activity, the experience, location, and feedback on what worked and what didn't with VAST Management
Educational
- Gain knowledge of trauma-informed practices
- Although the Outdoors Coordinator is not a therapist nor is expected to practice therapy directly, they should understand and build VAST’s body of knowledge related to Ecotherapy, Nature & Land-based Therapy
- Get updated with the refugee application process, needs and barriers
- Get updated with services provided for vulnerable newcomers in Vancouver area Operational
Before Events
- Update and follow the guideline for the event planners and guides.
- Ensure that the events are planned according to the above-mentioned document well in advance, and enough, clear information has been communicated with the VAST staff and the Social Media group to have them promoted
- Recruit volunteers along with the ED, to help with preparation and support
- Consider recruiting volunteers who can provide car transportation to access remote locations, eliminate stress of commute, and compensate for the shorter daylights in the Fall and Winter
- Compile and organize donated outdoor gears and manage an inventory system
- Organize systems for loaning out gear (shoes/jackets) and distributing bus tickets Scope out hikes and walks systematically (recording time/confirming wheelchair accessibility, etc)
- Design group activities suitable to VAST clients and the nature of each event Incorporate MEC volunteers into program if appropriate
- Prepare first aid kit, snacks, water, transit tickets
During Events
- Strengthen relationships with interested clients while setting and maintaining professional boundaries
- Be attentive to participants throughout the trip (whereabouts, challenges, needs)
- Provide information for the clients about services at VAST and other organizations, and refer them to the VAST support groups and individual sessions, as well as the other service providers, if needed
- Develop client leaders (Spanish speaking/Farsi speaking/Arabic speaking) After Events
- Enter the list of the participants into Simple CTS
- Write notes about individual’s concerns, needs to be met, referrals to be made, etc, in that individual’s CTS file
- Debrief and report to VAST Management Funding
- Contact BC Camping and formalize a relationship with them
- Contact YMCA Camps/Camp Summit/Power To Be etc. and explore possible partnership with them - look at sponsored camp experiences for children/youth
- Reach out to more potential corporate sponsors (Lulu/Arcteryx/NorthFace/HH/Mark's Work Wearhouse)
- Collaborate with the ED to contact private donors
- Collaborate with the ED to apply for MEC grants
