Thrive Leisure & Recreation Services

Find a safe and welcoming space where you can work on your wellness goals. If you are facing mental health barriers, Thrive is dedicated to offering help and providing opportunities for personal growth and meaningful community engagement. We are here to support you every step of the way on your journey towards personal development and goal achievement, enhancing your well-being and preparing you to find sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities!

Thrive Opens Door to:

Recreation and Leisure Activities

Our recreation program will empower you to foster the development of social skills and boost your confidence. You will acquire new leisure skills and gain the necessary tools for independent participation in recreational activities.

Personal Growth

Through Individualized rehabilitation planning and mental health management programming, you will develop personal strengths, motivation, coping skills and increased self-confidence. Our aim is to empower you to overcome challenges and thrive in all aspects of your life.

Employment Navigation and Community Engagement

We offer personalized employment support to help you recognize your strength and access job services. Our team also helps you connect with local recreation programs to enhance your overall well-being.

Who Services are for

Join Thrive program if you are:

17+ years old;
A resident of Vancouver Coastal Health service delivery area and,
Experiencing mental health and/ or substance use challenges.

We offer individualized and group services that support you to identify and set goals, explore motivational strategies, build confidence and become engaged in their communities. To help each person meet their needs and achieve their goals, our services are divided into two streams: Therapeutic Recreation Services & Community Connections Services

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View Current Program Calendar

Program Highlights

Leisure, Health & Wellness Bursary

Funded by Vancouver Coastal Health, the bursary is designed to support people 17 years and older with a mental health diagnoses living in Vancouver, who have a new identified leisure, health or wellness goal.
Bursaries with the maximum award of $150 per person are awarded by random draw. Bursary draw takes place on the 15th of every month. Applicants must be referred by a health professional.

Apply for a bursary

Conquering Waves- Dragon Boat Team

For over 18 years, the Conquering Waves Dragon Boat Team has been working to change the stigma of mental barriers by bringing together individuals living with mental challenges, their friends, families, and/or supporters of Mental Health Promotion to train weekly for 15 weeks and compete in the annual Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival held each summer!

Learn more about Conquering Waves

Summer Sessions for Young Adults

Summer Sessions provides an opportunity for youth and young adults (17-26 years old) with mental health barriers to enjoy fun, free activities and connect with others. If you are interested in attending our Summer Sessions please click on the link below and fill out the application form.

The 2024 event calendar is now available, and we are welcoming new participants. Apply for the Summer Sessions today to kick start a fun summer.

Applications for Summer 2024 are now closed. Please stay tuned for Summer 2025 activities!

Peer Support Worker Training & Work Experience

Are you passionate about making a difference in people's lives? Are you looking to embark on a rewarding career in social services? Whether you're looking to gain practical experience or receive comprehensive training, Thrive's Peer Support Worker Program provides the resources and support you need to succeed. Join us in making a positive impact on individuals and communities while advancing your career in social services.

Discover Peer Support Worker Training

About the Open Door Group thrive Program

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What our Clients are Saying

"I started attending various leisure and recreation programs. It was hard at the beginning when I started attending groups, I was awkward in social situations and wasn’t comfortable to go out but then when I was in the group, I enjoyed it. I joined Community Gardening Program in the summer 2019. Gardening was so therapeutic and I started enjoying being outside. I made start walking. I started first walking around the block. I also took a Bike program and connected with other clients and started biking with them. Last winter we biked every week. I did some Walking Groups and joined the Running group. If someone ever asked me that I would run 10k, I would say never. Even when I was younger I never run and yet, I ran 10km Big Elf Run this December. I credit my success with running to Anja (facilitator). She has been such a good coach. I now go for runs regularly and last week I run 6km without stopping. "

"I’d just like to take the time to thank you for supporting me. I remember first reaching out to Thrive as a young person in my early 20s, unsure of what to expect. I hadn’t even had my first hospital stay then. I was nervous and fearful of the stigma and laden with shame. Coming to Thrive and having something to do with my time was really helpful for me, and meeting other young people (and not so young/older people) who had similar experiences was reassuring to me so that I knew I wasn’t alone. From watercolor, to ukulele, to go-karting and running, to summer BBQs, I’ve benefited greatly from Thrive’s programming and chance to socialize and participate in recreation/leisure. I lost a lot of confidence in myself as a result of my illness, and Thrive was a space where I could just be and exist, without the fear of being judged and without the expectation to put on a mask. Throughout my years being part of Thrive on and off, despite 13 hospital stays, I slowly got more comfortable in my own skin and gained leadership skills through my volunteer and paid work, including the Work Experience Opportunities Grant with Thrive. Thank you so much for this opportunity to professionally develop myself and apply my lived expertise."

Our Impact

94%

of clients reported Thrive helped them connect to leisure, recreation and education opportunities.

89%

reported Thrive helped them reduce feelings of isolation

90%

reported Thrive helped them connect with others

75%

reported their confidence increased after attending Thrive

98%

of Thrive members would recommend Thrive to others

We Want to Hear from You

At Open Door Group, we are dedicated to providing every customer with a high standard of quality and care throughout their journey with us. Your experience matters, and we genuinely want to hear from you. We invite you to share your feedback, whether it's positive or negative. We appreciate your trust in our services and commit to utilizing your feedback to enhance the quality of our services!

Fill our feedback form

Our Location

Thrive office address 300 - 1338 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H1H2

Acessibility

Scent free environment
Accessible work station available
For parking information, please connect with us at thrive.registration@opendoorgroup.org prior to your appointment.
Vehicles that display a SPARC permit get parking exception in Resident Permit Parking – 3hrs

Contact Us

Have any questions? For more information about the Thrive program, please contact us at: 604-876-0773 or email thrive.registration@opendoorgroup.org

Our Funder