July 2 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Members of our community are invited to drop-in and use our space on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to unwind or recharge—with no pressure to engage in structured activities. We have several rooms available–a quiet lounge, computer desks, hang out sofas–you choose. It’s your time to use your way.
Each week, we offer a “third space”—a place separate from home, work, or school where there is no obligation to spend money on food or beverages—to members of our community.
We provide flexible seating, focus tools, and adjustable lighting options in an effort to make our space welcoming and inclusive to those who wish to spend time in it.
Drop-in hours are 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Here are some suggestions of things you may like to do, but this is not an exhaustive list:
- Socializing: Chat with others, make new connections, or catch up with friends
- Using Computers: Access the internet, complete personal tasks, or explore hobbies online. Use our computers and wifi or bring your own device and connect via our network
- Relaxing: Sit quietly, read, listen to music with headphones, or just enjoy the calm space
- Independent Work: Bring personal projects, homework or studying you may need to do, or use the time to focus on tasks
- Unstructured Activities: puzzles, sketching, journaling, or engaging in other personal hobbies
- Exploring Resources: Learn about other programs, events, or services Sinneave offers
- Simply Being: Spend time in the space without any specific activity, just enjoying the presence of others without any expectations to engage
To ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all users, please read over the Rules of the Space before you arrive:
- Check-In is Required: Everyone signs in upon arrival
- No Alcohol or Drugs: This is a substance-free space for everyone’s safety and comfort
- Respectful Content and Behavior: No engagement with explicit content and all interactions should be respectful
- Noise Levels: Keep volume moderate to accommodate diverse activities
- No formal supervision provided: Attend and engage independently
Related Events
July 22 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Are you interested in learning more about the stages of the employment journey and the steps you can take to lead you on a path to success?
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job and keeping a job, including employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this particular session, participants will receive tips and discuss strategies for workplace communication:
- Navigating workplace interactions with clarity and impact
- The importance of social interaction at work and beyond
- The basics of customer service interactions.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and practice strategies to use in workplace interactions, and receive and provide feedback, if desired.
Wednesday, July 22
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)
This workshop combines classroom instruction and time to practice what you’ve learned with support from the facilitators, if needed. Attendees to these workshops must be able to participate independently.
Please note: Space in these classes is limited. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. *If the course is full, you will be added to a waitlist. Please do not attend until your registration has been confirmed by our staff.
To Register:
Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About our Facilitators:
Ryan Elkanah is a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult and professional relationship builder who brings curiosity, empathy, and lived experience to every space they enter. Having navigated masking, burnout, loss, and the ongoing work of reclaiming agency, they approach their work with humility, intention, and care. Ryan creates spaces where people can show up fully, where reflection and authenticity meet courage and growth. Grounded in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, they walk alongside others in the lifelong practice of becoming.
Marcela Montes-Lobos is an EmploymentWorks online facilitator at the Sinneave Family Foundation and is a late-diagnosed Hispanic neurodivergent adult who has embraced her unique diversity as well as her family’s. Having lived experience in language barriers, as well as other barriers that many neurodivergent folks face in life, she decided mid-life to return to school, leaving a career in the airline indjustry and becoming an Addiction and Disability Support Worker. She is passionate about creating safe spaces, always encouraging participants’ autonomy, curiosity and empowering them on their journey.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
Related Events
July 8 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Are you interested in learning more about the stages of the employment journey and the steps you can take to lead you on a path to success?
Our Employment Classroom workshops cover many topics related to finding a job and keeping a job, including employment preparedness, life skills, and soft skills for the workplace.
In this particular session, participants will learn:
- What professional behaviour in the workplace looks like
- How to demonstrate professional behaviour
- What is expected of a new employee in the first week, month, and beyond
- How to identify job scams
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn what is expected in professional settings and receive and provide feedback, if desired.
Wednesday, July 8
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Avenue NW)
This workshop combines classroom instruction and time to practice what you’ve learned with support from the facilitators, if needed. Attendees to these workshops must be able to participate independently.
Please note: Space in this class is limited. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. *If the course is full, you will be added to a waitlist. Please do not attend until your registration has been confirmed by our staff.
To Register:
Click the button that says Sinneave Connects to access registration through our online hub. If you already have a Sinneave Connects account, just log in as usual. If you have not registered yet, it’s free and easy. Just follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About our Facilitators:
Ryan Elkanah is a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult and professional relationship builder who brings curiosity, empathy, and lived experience to every space they enter. Having navigated masking, burnout, loss, and the ongoing work of reclaiming agency, they approach their work with humility, intention, and care. Ryan creates spaces where people can show up fully, where reflection and authenticity meet courage and growth. Grounded in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, they walk alongside others in the lifelong practice of becoming.
Marcela Montes-Lobos is an EmploymentWorks online facilitator at the Sinneave Family Foundation and is a late-diagnosed Hispanic neurodivergent adult who has embraced her unique diversity as well as her family’s. Having lived experience in language barriers, as well as other barriers that many neurodivergent folks face in life, she decided mid-life to return to school, leaving a career in the airline indjustry and becoming an Addiction and Disability Support Worker. She is passionate about creating safe spaces, always encouraging participants’ autonomy, curiosity and empowering them on their journey.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
Related Events
June 24 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Late-diagnosed Autistic people have unique experiences, struggles, and strengths. This session will focus on Autistic late-diagnosed women and gender diverse people, sharing learnings from 33 studies that summarize the social experiences of these individuals.
Topics that will be discussed include:
- social experiences related to social interactions over the lifespan
- coping with being undiagnosed
- identifying they were Autistic, getting assessed and diagnosed, and
- supportive factors for social life.
Attendees will be given a chance to share their own experiences with late-diagnosis and discuss how study findings do or do not resonate with their own personal journeys. Individuals with lived experience attending this session may find that they feel a sense of understanding, validation, and connection.
This learning session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton.
Wednesday, June 24
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Online via Autism Edmonton
When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page, where you can reserve your spot.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Angela Feehan is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences. She works closely with Autistic and other neurodivergent people to conduct research that increases understanding of how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in their day-to-day lives. Her current research focuses on facets of late-diagnosis, social experiences, and thriving in Autistic women and gender diverse people. Dr. Feehan also brings lived experience to her work in neurodivergence.
Dr. Feehan has over a decade of experience providing clinical services to children and youth through mental health programs. This includes working with Autism diagnostic teams, collaborating with multidisciplinary team members, and providing speech, language, and communication assessment and treatment.
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June 22 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
This workshop is designed for Autistic LGBTQ+ folks (youth, teens, and adults), as well as caregivers and professionals who want to better understand and support them. It focuses on validating different ways of experiencing and expressing emotions for those who may find it difficult or uncomfortable to “just talk about it.”
Participants will be introduced to alternative ways of processing emotions, including creative, sensory, and play-based strategies, and receive practical tools for managing overwhelm.
The workshop is interactive, low-pressure, and affirming, with no expectation for participants to share unless they feel comfortable.
Monday, June 22
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Online via Autism Edmonton
When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page where you can reserve your spot.
About the Presenter:
Madison Twa (she/her) is a Registered Provisional Psychologist based in Edmonton, working with children, teens, and adults. She specializes in emotional regulation, creative expression, and play therapy, and takes a neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQ+ affirming approach in her work. Madison is passionate about creating spaces where people feel safe to explore who they are without pressure to explain themselves “the right way,” especially for those who find it difficult to put their experiences into words.
Her approach integrates creative, experiential, and play-based strategies to support emotional understanding and self-expression. Madison believes that emotions don’t always need to be talked through to be understood, and that meaningful growth can happen through play, creativity, and connection.
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July 2 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
This engaging workshop is designed to provide Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals with opportunities to reflect on the causes of, and to develop tools to effectively address, disagreements.
In this session, you will have the opportunity to:
- Reflect on how confident you feel at both the beginning and end of the session
- Learn the difference between disagreement and conflict through realistic, scenario-based examples
- Brainstorm with others how emotions are connected to disagreements and conflict
- Explore practical strategies for resolving disagreements.
Our hope is that participants will experience an increase in their confidence when dealing with future disagreements.
Please note: There will be an interactive component to this session and participants will need some sort of wi-fi enabled device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) to access Slido.
Thursday, July 2
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Ave NW)
There is no cost to attend
This workshop is designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals with opportunities to learn and practice a variety of social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Participants will be provided with information, tips, and strategies that they can choose to apply common day-to-day social situations.
Registration is available via Sinneave Connects, our online learning hub. Click the button that says “Sinneave Connects” to enroll in the session. If you have not created a free Sinneave Connects account yet, you will need to do that. Just follow the instructions on the sign-in page.
About the Presenter:
Sanique Denton is a Life Skills Coach at The Sinneave Family Foundation and has been working with neurodivergent and Autistic individuals for more than 10 years. She has experience teaching and enhancing communication skills for Autistic individuals across their life span. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive community and supporting individuals to thrive and reach their full potential.
If you have questions, reach out to info@sinneavefoundation.org or call 403-210-5000. We’re here to help.
Related Events
Housing is one of the biggest topics facing Autistic and neurodivergent adults and their families.
Conversations about autism and housing are often oversimplified. Families and individuals are sometimes told that “specialized, supportive autism housing” is the answer. While housing options specific to Autistic folks do exist in some places, they are often expensive, designed for people with higher support needs, and can limit choice and independence.
At Sinneave, we are taking a different approach…
View or download the full article (pdf, 75 kb)
June 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
We’re thrilled to offer a group designed specifically for Autistic and other neurodivergent adults (18+) who identify as women or who connect with experiences of womanhood.*
In this session, we will talk about building, understanding, and navigating workplace relationships. Some topics may include:
- Relationships in a new job
- The difference between “friendly” and “friendship”
- Discovering common interests and building rapport with colleagues
- Understanding and navigating work-safe topics of conversation and workplace culture.
Participants are welcome to share lived experiences and discuss strategies that have been helpful for them as they relate to our discussion topics.
Please note, this is not a therapy group, but rather, a supportive, non-clinical space to discuss and share ideas, lived experiences, and connect meaningfully with others. The content and resources shared in this group are informed by both lived Autistic experience and research as they intersect with gendered experiences in society.
*This group is intended for Autistic and neurodivergent folks who identify as women or who connect with experiences of womanhood, inclusive of non-binary and other 2SLGBTQ+ identities and expressions. This boundary ensures that participants can share openly without explanation, justification or judgement.
Tuesday, June 23
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
In-person at The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Ave NW)
There is no cost to attend.
To register, log in to Sinneave Connects. If you don’t have a Sinneave Connects account yet, it’s easy! Click the button that says, Sinneave Connects to access the learning hub and follow the instructions on the log-in page.
About the Presenter:
Alexandra (Ali) Skeet is a Learning and Connection Associate at The Sinneave Family Foundation. She delivers the Information and Navigation service where they have the pleasure to meet with Autistic and neurodivergent individuals one-on-one to provide consistent, person-centred information and navigation to Sinneave programs and services, and/or community-based resources. Ali has both professional and lived experience navigating identity, and the intersectional impact of societal expectations/beliefs on neurodivergent individuals. They bring over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, and a passion for person-centered care and intersectional inclusivity.
*During this session, Sinneave staff, guest presenters, and attendees may share information about community resources. Some information provided may not be accurate, up-to-date, or reliable for everyone. Attendees are also encouraged to be critical consumers of information available on the internet. Providing information about a community resource is not endorsement, and Sinneave does not assume any risk for the outcome of using the information shared during this session.
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.
Related Events
June 10 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
What does it really mean to speak up for yourself and feel confident doing it?
Join Autism Edmonton for an honest and inspiring conversation with Jessica Burylo, an Autistic self-advocate whose work is helping change how we understand identity, accessibility, and belonging.
Jessica is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, where she explores Autistic identity and joy. She also works with Elections Canada to reduce barriers so people with disabilities can take part in federal elections, and collaborates with Accessibility Standards Canada to improve how programs and services are designed. Across everything she does, Jessica brings both professional insight and lived experience.
This session is not about having all the answers. It is about learning how to trust your voice and use it.
Together, we will explore what self-advocacy can look like in everyday life, how to build confidence in who you are, and how to navigate systems that were not built with you in mind. Most importantly, we will talk about joy and why it matters.
You will leave with practical ideas, a stronger sense of self, and a reminder that your voice matters.
This learning session is brought to you by Autism Edmonton, with support from the Sinneave Family Foundation.
Wednesday, June 10
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Online via Autism Edmonton
When you click on the button that says “Register,” you will be redirected to Autism Edmonton’s Eventbrite page, where you can reserve your spot.
About the Presenter:
Jessica Burylo (she/her) is an Autistic self-advocate and PhD student at the University of Alberta, where her research explores Autistic identity and joy. She works as an Outreach Officer with the Inspire Democracy team at Elections Canada, supporting efforts to reduce barriers to participation in federal elections for people with disabilities.
She works with Accessibility Standards Canada to help shape national standards for accessible program and service delivery, and serves as an advisor to Proof Positive: Autism Wellbeing Alliance. Her work brings together accessibility and lived experience with a focus on creating spaces where Autistic people can meaningfully participate and thrive.
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June 16 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Much of our everyday communication involves the use of non-spoken cues and unwritten social rules. These can include things like facial expressions, posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone of voice.
These are often used to emphasize a particular point that the communicator is trying to make. They may also be used to change the meaning of the words being spoken. For example, using sarcasm.
Not everyone uses or understand these cues or rules, yet it is often assumed that everyone knows what they are and what they mean. Thankfully, they can be explored, practiced, and adapted in ways that support everyone’s understanding.
In this session, you will have the opportunity to:
- Develop greater understanding of non-spoken cues and how they impact shared communication.
- Discuss strategies for noticing, interpreting, and responding to non-spoken cues.
- Receive tips to support effective non-spoken communication across different social situations.
Tuesday, June 16
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
In-person @ The Ability Hub (300, 3820 24 Ave NW)
There is no cost to attend
Our Social Communication workshops are designed to provide Autistic and neurodivergent individuals opportunities to learn and practice a variety of social communication skills in a safe and welcoming setting. Participants will be provided with information, tips, and strategies that they can choose to apply in common day-to-day social situations.
Advance registration is not required, however, if you want to sign up, our team can contact you in the event of any last minute changes or cancellations. Click the button that says “Sinneave Connects” to enroll in the course.
If you have not created a free Sinneave Connects account yet, you will need to do that. Just follow the instructions on the sign-in page.
About the Presenter:
Cedric Nicholson is a certified professional life coach at The Sinneave Family Foundation. With more than 20 years of experience mentoring, coaching, and supporting individuals in the developmental disability field, Cedric is passionate about empowering others to set meaningful goals, create effective plans, and take purposeful steps toward personal growth and self-improvement
Neurodiversity Acknowledgement
We honour neurodiversity and strive to create environments that value the many ways people think, learn, and communicate. Our programs, services, and activities are designed to be neuroaffirming, accessible, and guided by the input from the people we serve. Read the full neurodiversity acknowledgement on our website.