Care, Community, & Wellbeing

Ballet Kelowna respectfully acknowledges our presence on the traditional and unceded territory of the syilx (Okanagan) People. We honour our host nation and the practices of care and healing that have lived on this land for generations.

Art can move us in unexpected ways.

Maybe a moment in the performance touched something tender. Maybe you left feeling grateful, restless, or unsettled – without quite knowing why.
That is part of what art does. And we care about how you are after.
This page is here for you. It offers ways to take care of yourself, places to turn for support, and people to reach out to.

You are not alone. You don’t have to figure things out by yourself.

Right Now, What Do You Need?

→ If you want to take care of yourself – see After the Show & Caring for Yourself
→ If you want to be there for someone else – see Caring for Each Other
→ If you are Indigenous and looking for culturally grounded care – see Cultural & Spiritual Support
→ If something about the work brought up wildfire memories – see Wildfire-Related Support
→ If you are looking for ongoing support – see Community & Local Care
→ If you are looking for support for a specific experience – see Specific Kinds of Support
→ If you are in crisis or feeling unsafe – see When the Moment Is Urgent

  • Sometimes a performance stays with us. You might notice:

    • Tears that arrive without warning

    • A feeling in your chest, throat, or belly that wasn’t there before

    • A memory you haven’t thought about in years

    • Wanting to be alone, or wanting to be close to someone

    • Quietness, restlessness, or a kind of fullness you can’t name

    None of this is wrong. These are signals that the work touched something real. What you do with it is up to you.

    A few gentle suggestions

    • Slow down. Take a walk before going home, or sit with the feeling for a few minutes before checking your phone.

    • Look around the room. Let your eyes find something neutral or pleasant – a tree, a light, a texture, the exits. Notice that you are here, now, in this place. You can leave if you need to.

    • Name what you're feeling. Even just to yourself: "I feel sad." "I feel stirred up." "I feel grateful and a little raw." Naming it helps your body know what to do with it.

    • Find a place of contact. Press your feet into the floor. Feel your back against the chair, or your hand on your own arm or chest. Let yourself feel held by something solid – even if that something is your own hand.

    • Breathe slowly. Try a longer exhale than inhale: in for four, out for six. A slow breath out tells your body the moment has passed.

    • Let yourself move. Stretch, sway, walk, shake out your hands. Feelings are physical – they want to move through the body, not stay stuck in it.

    • Talk to someone. If you came with someone, share what moved you. If you're alone, call or text someone you trust.

    • Drink water. Eat something warm. Rest. The simple things help.

  • Most of staying well is small and daily. These are simple practices anyone can return to.

    Reach for someone

    A friend. A family member. Someone who knows you. A five-minute conversation often does more than an hour of trying to be fine alone.

    Spend time on the land

    Walks along Okanagan Lake. Time at Knox Mountain or Mission Creek. Sitting outside without a phone. The land holds us if we let it.

    Ground yourself when feelings get big

    Look around the room. Hand on your heart. Three slow breaths. These won’t fix anything – but they bring you back into your body, so you can decide what’s next.

    Rest

    Sleep. Slow mornings. Doing nothing. Rest is not a reward for working hard. It is the ground we live from.

    Let yourself feel

    Sadness, anger, longing, joy that arrives at unexpected times – none of these need to be fixed. Sometimes a feeling just needs to be felt.

  • We are part of one another’s wellbeing – in our families, our friendships, our neighbourhoods, and the wider community.

    If someone you love seems moved or shaken

    • Listen without trying to fix. You don’t have to have answers. Being present with them is enough.

    • Ask what they need. Sometimes it’s a walk. Sometimes it’s silence. Sometimes it’s a meal. Let them tell you.

    • Don’t rush them. Hard feelings move at their own pace.

    • Stay close. A check-in text the next day can mean a lot.

    If you’re worried about someone

    Tell them. Gently and directly: “I’m thinking about you. How are you doing right now?”

    If you’re worried about their safety, you don’t have to handle it alone. Any of the crisis lines below can help you figure out what to do next.

  • Wellness is not separate from culture, ceremony, language, family, and ancestral relationship(s).

    For Indigenous audiences and community members, the resources below offer culturally grounded support. We honour them as a centred section, especially because much of our work is in collaboration with Indigenous artists and communities, on syilx (Okanagan) territory.

    Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance – Friendship Centres

    Community gathering, support, and wellness for Indigenous individuals and families.

    • Kelowna: 250-763-4905

    • Penticton: 250-490-3504

    • Vernon: 250-549-1247

    Westbank First Nation – Wellness Program & Services

    Health, mental wellness, and support for WFN members.

    KUU-US Crisis Line Society

    24/7 crisis support by Indigenous responders, for Indigenous people across BC.

    Hope for Wellness Help Line

    Mental health counselling and crisis support for Indigenous peoples – by phone or chat. Available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut on request.

    Métis Crisis Line

    Crisis support for Métis individuals and families.

    • Phone: 1-833-638-4722

  • Wildfire has shaped the recent emotional landscape of the Okanagan. Many of us carry direct experience of the 2023 fire season and the seasons since.

    Some of our work touches fire as a theme. Even when it doesn’t, things like smoke, heat, evacuation alerts, or images of flame can carry weight that has nothing to do with the present moment.

    If a performance has stirred something connected to wildfire grief, fear, or memory, the resources below can help.

    First Nations Health Authority – Wildfire Resources

    Mental health, cultural, and wellness resources specific to wildfire impact for First Nations communities.

    BC Government Disaster Mental Health Supports

    Information and supports for coping with natural disasters, including wildfires.

    Central Okanagan Emergency Management

    Resources to prepare for wildfire season.

    If you worked the fires

    For first responders, firefighters, and frontline workers carrying what you saw and held.

    Wounded Warriors Canada – PTSD Family Crisis Line

    For first responders, veterans, and their families.

    VAC Assistance Service

    24/7 mental health support for veterans, RCMP, and their families.

    • Phone: 1-800-268-7708

  • Community-based mental health, wellness, and recovery services across the Central Okanagan.

    Canadian Mental Health Association – Kelowna

    Free and low-cost programs, peer support, and help finding services.

    Okanagan Mental Health Services Society

    Community-based programs supporting recovery, housing, and mental wellness.

    Interior Health – Kelowna Mental Health & Substance Use

    Assessment, treatment, and referrals for mental health and substance use.

    Foundry Kelowna (ages 12–24)

    Youth-focused mental health, peer support, substance use services, and family supports.

  • Some experiences ask for more specific kinds of care. The resources below offer support for particular forms of grief, loss, identity, and harm.

    If you are grieving a loss

    A performance can wake up grief that is fresh, old, or anticipatory. These supports are free and offered with care.

    BC Bereavement Helpline

    Compassionate listening and referrals to community grief programs. Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

    Canadian Virtual Hospice – MyGrief.ca

    Free online resources for grief, loss, and supporting someone who is dying or has died. Available any time.

    If you are 2SLGBTQIA+

    Support that affirms and supports 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and beyond) community members.

    Kelowna Pride

    Local 2SLGBTQIA+ community, programs, and a curated resource list for the Okanagan.

    Trans Lifeline (Canada)

    Peer support by and for trans people. They will not call emergency services without your consent.

    • Phone: 1-877-330-6366 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm Pacific)

    QMUNITY

    BC's queer, trans, and Two-Spirit resource centre. Counselling, programs, and referrals across BC.

    If you have experienced violence 

    The supports below are free, confidential, and survivor-centred.

    Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre

    24-hour crisis and information line for women, Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse survivors and their loved ones. Translation available in 150+ languages.

    VictimLinkBC

    24/7 confidential phone, text, and email support for victims of crime, including family and sexual violence. Available in 240 languages.

    • Phone or text: 1-800-563-0808

    Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society

    Local support, advocacy, and counselling for women, gender-diverse people, and families affected by violence.

  • If you are in crisis, feeling overwhelmed, or having thoughts of harming yourself – reach out.

    You don’t have to be sure it’s serious enough. The lines below are there for you, day or night.

    CRCL – Kelowna Mobile Crisis Team

    Community-led, in-person, trauma-informed support.

    • Phone: 778-940-2560

    Interior Crisis Line (BC-wide)

    24/7 confidential crisis and emotional support.

    • Phone: 1-888-353-2273

    Talk Suicide Canada

    National phone and text support.

    • Phone: 1-833-456-4566

    • Text: 45645

    1-800-SUICIDE

    Immediate, confidential support.

    • Phone: 1-800-784-2433

    KUU-US Crisis Line (Indigenous)

    • Phone: 1-800-588-8717

    Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous)

    • Phone: 1-855-242-3310

    Métis Crisis Line

    Phone: 1-833-638-4722

  • Whether you came to the show alone, with friends, or with family, support is here for you too.

    Kids Help Phone

    Free, confidential, 24/7 support by phone, text, or chat. For Indigenous young people, you can text FIRSTNATIONS, INUIT, or METIS to 686868 to be connected with an Indigenous crisis responder when one is available.

    • Text: CONNECT to 686868

    • Phone: 1-800-668-6868

    kidshelpphone.ca

    We Matter

    An Indigenous-led, youth-centred organization sharing messages of hope, culture, and strength from Indigenous youth and Elders across the country. Free toolkits, videos, and supports for Indigenous young people and the people who love them.

    Foundry Kelowna (ages 12–24)

    Local, in-person and virtual youth mental health, peer support, substance use services, and family supports.

  • Caring for someone in pain needs support too.

    Family Caregivers of British Columbia

    Free phone support, peer connections, and resources for anyone caring for a loved one.

  • Seniors First BC

    Information, support, and advocacy for older adults — including elder abuse, legal questions, and connection.

    Seniors Distress Line

    Confidential support and a listening ear for older adults.

    • Phone: 604-872-1234

    If substance use is part of what you're carrying

    You don't have to be in crisis to seek support. The resources below offer gentle entry points to support.

    From Grief to Action

    Family-led support for people whose loved ones are using substances.

    SMART Recovery BC

    Community-based, peer-led meetings (in-person and online) for anyone questioning or changing their relationship with substances.

  • BC Mental Health Support Line

    Emotional support, information, and referrals across BC.

    • Phone: 310-6789 (no area code needed)

    BC211

    Free, confidential service connecting you to community, social, and health resources.

    BounceBack BC

    Free coaching to help with anxiety, depression, and stress.

    HereToHelp BC

    Educational resources, self-help tools, and peer support online.

Thank you for being part of our audience. The work we make is incomplete without you.
If a resource here is missing, has changed, or doesn’t feel right – please tell us. This page is a living resource.

Reach Out