Unsinkable Events

Upcoming Events

April 25, 2026

Graphic for a youth writing workshop titled 'Waves Words: What Keeps Us Afloat.' Features photos of three young women, Hanna Grover, Disha Shetty, and an unidentified woman. The background is teal with a large raised pen illustration and handwritten text in the center. Includes event details: April 25th, 2026, at 2 PM ET, online at Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, with logos and a QR code.

Waves & Words: What Keeps Us Afloat

A Free youth writing workshop

April 25 @ 2 PM EDT [11am PDT | 12pm MDT | 1pm CST]

Virtual (Zoom) and In-Person

Hosted by Unsinkable with Poet2Poet and Just Be You, this hybrid space is for youth (16–30) to come together, get creative, and talk about real life.

Waves & Words is a writing workshop where we’ll be exploring themes like nature, resilience, and what it means to stay afloat. Using guided writing prompts and creative activities to help you put thoughts into words (no pressure, no “perfect writing” needed).

It’s a no-judgement zone that keeps a chill vibe so everyone can enjoy themselves.

We’ll talk about:

  • What being “unsinkable” actually looks like in real life

  • The hard moments—and what helps us get through them

  • How creativity can be a way to express what’s hard to say out loud

Join in-person or online—whatever works for you. And if you don’t want to share, that’s totally okay.

In person at Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre - 2200 Sawgrass Dr, Oakville

No pressure. No expectations. Just show up as you are.

May 6, 2026

From Individual Story to System Change

Mobilizing Mental Health Narratives Across The Spectrum

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 @ 12 PM EDT [11am PDT | 1pm MDT | 2pm CST]

Virtual (Zoom)

Unsinkable and Stepped Care Solutions come together to explore the full arc of mental health storytelling — from individual experience to institutional transformation.

Moderated by Afreina Noor, this fireside conversation brings together perspectives across the storytelling spectrum — from lived experience to systems design — to examine how narratives shape both personal healing and institutional change.

Together, we will explore:

  • How individual stories shape self-understanding and community healing

  • How narratives inform policy, care design, and population-level change

  • The cycle of knowledge: what happens after a story is told

  • How to mobilize lived experience into systems change without extraction

  • Why resisting a single, dominant mental health narrative matters

This conversation is part of Unsinkable@Work, where we build alliances with like-minded organizations to further Unsinkable's mission. Growing Unsinkable's thought leadership, brand awareness and credibility in the corporate and nonprofit ecosystem.

May 13-14, 2026

A black and white photo of a smiling woman with glasses, promoting the CONVERGE Mental Health Summit 2026, featuring her name Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable. The event is scheduled for May 13-14 in Toronto, with a red button labeled 'Register Now' at the bottom right.

Converge Mental Health Summit 2026

Designing the mental health system we need

In-Person in Toronto, Ontario

Meet Hailey Hechtman, a compelling voice in lived-experience driven leadership who will be part of one of our new Convergence Spaces at #converge2026.

As Executive Dire
ctor of Unsinkable, Hailey’s work centres on the power of storytelling to move people through shame, build connection, and foster a deeper sense of belonging. Her leadership is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a strong belief in the value of shared humanity.

Hailey will help lead an interactive session that invites leaders to reflect on how their own lived experience shapes the systems they are working to change. This session will encourage participants to consider what shifts when those experiences are named with intention and brought into leadership.

Register for #converge2026 now to be part of this meaningful conversation.

May 18 2026

Happy man with dreadlocks smiling, wearing a pink hoodie, in a cozy indoor setting with plants and wooden decor, for a fireside chat series.

eMHIC Fireside Chat: Authenticity Over Algorithm

Why Real Stories Matter in Mental Health

May 18 @ 2:30 PM EDT [11:30am PDT | 12:30pm MDT | 1:30pm CST]

Virtual Webinar

We’re surrounded by narratives dressed up as stories; about mental health, health, wellbeing, and how to hack your way beyond any challenge - curated narratives shaped, shortened, or filtered for an outcome, an agenda, or an algorithm.

So, what happens when we see authentic storytelling in the midst of the endless impressions and return to something more human?

In this conversation, Hailey Hechtman (Unsinkable) and Jimmy (The Human Aspect) explore the power of storytelling as a way to connect, compared to narrative marketing as something we construct to persuade or simplify.

Because while narratives can inform, polarize and impact us, authentic stories, shared in someone’s own words, with all their nuance and contradiction, have the power to connect for us to shift how we understand ourselves and each other.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as someone saying “Let me share what I have experienced” in a way that makes us pause and listen more deeply. As we connect in this way, stepping out of our intellectual mindset, judgement softens, and new perspectives and insights come to us as we recognize our mutual humanity, and connect in a more emotional, human way. 

This conversation will also look at how today’s digital landscape is shaping the stories we see and how narrative tellers fueled by big tech polarize society but also numb us all down.
Algorithms tend to reward what is fast, certain, and polarized, leaving little room for complexity, cultural context, or the reality that people and their experiences evolve over time.
In that environment, storytelling can easily become narrative-telling content: flattened, performative, and disconnected from the person it came from. But when we make space for authentic, lived experience storytelling, something else becomes possible.

Past Unsinkable Events & Webinars

  • Graphic celebrating World Storytelling Day with a microphone illustration and a globe, featuring text in English and French.

    World Storytelling Day - Creating Connections: Light in the dark 2026

    This collaborative gathering invites storytellers, listeners, and community members into a thoughtful space where lived experience is honoured and authentic dialogue is welcomed. Together, we'll explore how storytelling helps us navigate darkness, build connection, and foster collective resilience — and how deep, open listening can be its own form of light.

    This event is about sharing our experiences of stories and storytelling, not the stories themselves. Real voices. Shared reflection. The human capacity to illuminate one another's paths.

    Events in English and French

  • Quote on health awareness: 'Beyond the body check: health doesn't have a look.'

    Beyond the Body Check: Health Doesn’t Have a Look 2026

    A Lunch & Learn for Eating Disorders Awareness Week

    Presented in collaboration by Unsinkable and the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) Canada. 

    This conversation centers body misunderstandings and internalized stigma: how shame shows up in recovery, how harmful messages about weight, movement, and worth take root, how recovery is often non-linear and shaped by setbacks, shifts, and resilience, and why these experiences so often remain invisible.

  • A promotional poster for an event titled "Stories To Heal History" focused on mental health, featuring headshots of five speakers: Alice Leblanc, Fabrice Rosier, Edouard Ferron-Mallett, Max D'Astous, and Gregyuschka Félix.

    Unsinkable Quebec presents: Stories to heal history

    Stories have the power to heal, bring people together, and transform.

    An evening of storytelling, reflection, and dialogue on mental health at the intersection of identities, cultures, and lived experiences.

    During this event, Unsinkable Québec will present its brand-new video project resulting from its storytelling workshops—a collective space where voices come together to repair, reimagine, and reclaim their stories.

  • Group of young adults standing together on a busy city street at night, with colorful neon signs and tall buildings in the background. One person is taking a photo, while others are smiling and talking.

    In My Own Words: Re-Defined x Unsinkable Documentary 2025

    This film amplifies the lived experiences of newcomers to Canada, their resilience, challenges, and pursuit of belonging.

    The documentary dives into what it means to start over in a new country, navigate stigma, and build community. These stories remind us of the courage it takes to rebuild a life and the healing power of connection in supporting mental health and well-being.

    Newcomer youth face mental health challenges at 2.5x the rate of their peers. 26% report anxiety and 20% report depression. Yet, newcomers are 2.5x less likely to seek support because of stigma and systemic barriers.

    Free Discussion Guide

  • Cover image for a talking event about men's mental health and suicide prevention, showing a man with headphones working on a laptop, with a notebook and papers on a desk, and plants in the background.

    The 75% We’re Not Talking About: A Fireside Chat on Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 2025

    In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, this special conversation centers the voices of men who have lived through mental health challenges and are now working to change the system—alongside a clinical expert offering practical insight and support.

    Suicide Canada Infographic

  • A diverse group of people at a storytelling event, with a woman in the center taking a photo on her phone, smiling and laughing.

    WAVELENGTHS: An Unsinkable Storytelling Showcase 2025

    The very first live storytelling showcase from Unsinkable.

    We’ve taken five fearless voices from the page to the stage. After two months of deep dives, edits, and heart-spilling moments, these storytellers are ready to share their lived experiences live and unfiltered. This is their graduation, celebration, and coming-out party all in one—and you’ve got front row seats.

  • A promotional flyer for a webinar titled "Beyond the Labels," featuring a woman in an orange sweater standing outdoors with trees in the background. The flyer includes details about the event date and time, May 23, 2025, at 6 PM ET, and mentions speakers Maria Rosa Gouveia, a caregiver, and Andrew Howlett, a psychiatrist. The flyer also has a photo of Maria Estrada, a program manager, and shows a cozy living room with a light blue sofa and a potted plant.

    Beyond the Labels: Embracing & Supporting Your Loved One with BPD 2025

    This webinar aims to challenge the stigma around Borderline Personality disorder and create a compassionate space for those supporting someone with BPD. Through personal stories and expert insights, attendees can gain deeper understanding on how to offer truly meaningful support. Join us for an open discussion that prioritizes the power of connection and empowers caregivers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their loved ones.

  • A promotional graphic for a fireside chat titled 'Unmasking Self Care Myths,' featuring Photos of five diverse speakers and logos for GoodLife Fitness and Unsinkable.

    Unmasking Self-Care Myths: What Mental Wellness Really Looks Like

    Join Unsinkable and GoodLife Fitness for a candid and powerful Fireside Chat: Unmasking Self-Care Myths: What Mental Wellness Really Looks Like in honour of Mental Health Week.

    Resources available here

  • Three diverse women smiling, participating in a live online event titled 'Joy as Resistance: Fireside Chat for Black Mental Health Week' with a brown background.

    Joy As Resistance: A Fireside Chat on Black Mental Health 2025

    For far too long, Black mental health has been shaped by struggle—by the weight of systemic oppression, racial trauma, and the constant push for survival. But within that struggle, there is something just as powerful: joy. 

    This Black Mental Health Week, Unsinkable panelists engaged in a powerful Fireside Chat exploring how reclaiming joy can be a radical tool for wellness and liberation. In a world that so often tries to silence or diminish Black voices, choosing joy is a way of saying: we are here, we are whole, and we will thrive. 

    Black-Led Organizations

    Resources available here

  • Promotional graphic for Eating Disorder Awareness Week featuring a woman in a beige dress on the right and bold yellow text on a dark background reading 'Eating Disorder Awareness Week' and 'A Fireside Chat with Afreina'.

    Eating Disorders Awareness Week Fireside Chat 2025

    This powerful conversation explores the complexities of eating disorders, self-worth, and recovery.

    "Healing from an eating disorder isn’t about winning a battle with your body—it’s about learning to see it as a home, not a project."

    Watch as our panelists share insights, lived experiences, and reflections on breaking the silence and reclaiming self-compassion.

    Resources available here

  • A promotional graphic for Blue Monday event featuring a smiling woman with dark curly hair wearing a white turtleneck, looking at her phone. The image has a dark blue background with bold yellow text that reads 'Blue Monday' and smaller yellow text that says 'Unsinkable x Lamplight Discussion.'

    Blue Monday Webinar: A Lamplight Panel Discussion 2025

    At the center of the discussion is Rosiel Elwyn’s groundbreaking paper, Fear of the Impaired Practitioner, Mandatory Reporting, and Clinician Suicide: A Lived Experience of Fitness to Practice Investigation as a Student.

    Together, these leaders shine a light on systemic barriers and share a vision for building more compassionate and supportive spaces within academic and professional settings.

  • Promotional poster for an Unsinkable Voices webinar titled "No Shouting On Yourself" featuring a woman with headphones taking notes in front of her laptop.

    No “Shoulding” On Yourself

    Expectations: where they come from and how to break free. We all carry expectations—shaped by caregivers, friends, culture, and society. They tell us who we "should" be and what we "should" do. But when we fall short, we often end up “shoulding” on ourselves, spiraling into guilt and shame. In this powerful and transformative conversation, we dive deep into the origins of these “shoulds” and how to free ourselves from their weight.

  • Cover image for a talk titled 'Mental Health in the Workplace' featuring a woman in a beige dress with dark hair, titled 'A Fireside Chat with Afreina'.

    Fireside Chat: Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace

    An insightful fireside chat in honor of World Mental Health Day. This year's theme emphasizes the crucial need to prioritize mental health in our workplaces. Hosted by Afreina Noor, Program Manager for Community Engagement & Partnerships at Unsinkable.

  • A celebration banner reading '5 years of Unsinkable' with a note of thanks to partners, sponsors, and donors. Logos of various organizations are displayed at the bottom.

    Unsinkable’s 5 Year Anniversary Event

    The Unsinkable community joined together to honour five incredible years of resilience, growth, and support for mental health.

    We reflect on our impact, share powerful stories of triumph, and unveil exciting plans for the future.

    Whether you've been with us from the start or are just joining our community, this celebration is for YOU. Together, let's continue to rise above, spread hope, and show the world that with resilience, we are truly Unsinkable.

    5 Year Impact Report

Past unsinkable Youth Experiences

  • Cover page of MEND community care guide featuring diverse LGBTQ+ youth in Toronto, with title and subtitle text.

    The Mend Project Showcase: A Queer Storytelling Series 2026

    Are you an artist? Or an arts appreciator? Then we’ve got something for you!

    What’s MEND? Glad you asked! MEND is an art project where Toronto-based BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ youth artists will exhibit works that answer the questions: “What are you healing from?” and “What brings you joy?” The idea is that healing is a thread used to stitch our wounds, a mending so-to-speak – and we hold the sewing needle. That is to say, The MEND Project is a celebration of the joy that we intentionally cultivate in our lives.

    We are cultivating a brave space for storytelling, community connection, and transformation.

  • Digital flyer for an Unsinkable Youth Webinar titled "When Youth Grieve: Recognizing Our Reality," featuring speakers Jason Dockeray, Mariela Ruiz, and Maria Estrada, scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th, from 6 to 7 pm ET, hosted by Lighthouse for Children & Families, with a Zoom icon.

    When Youth Grieve: Recognizing Our Reality An Unsinkable Youth Webinar 2025

    Unsinkable invites you to a heartfelt and impactful webinar amplifying the voices of young people navigating grief. Through lived experience and professional insight, we’ll explore how resilience and pain can coexist — and what meaningful support truly looks like.

    We’ll explore how grief uniquely impacts youth, the intersection of loss, identity, and resilience and what meaningful support looks like - from peers, families, and communities.

  • Poster titled 'The Mental Health Check-In: Navigating Back-to-School Together' featuring photos of speakers and moderators Maria Estrada, Jen Peacock, Felix Oresario, Arissa Roy, and caregivers Courtney Dowling, Maria Rosa, and Alexandra Howard, with logos of Unsinkable Youth and Straight Up Health at the bottom.

    The Mental Health Check-In: Navigating Back-to-School Together 2025

    The back-to-school transition can feel like a tidal wave for young people and their parents alike. This 60-minute virtual fireside chat brought together youth, parents, and a mental health professional for a real, raw, and respectful conversation about what this season actually felt like, offering stories that made participants feel seen, practical tools to ease tension at home, and honest reflections from both generations.

    Toolkit available here

  • Breaking the Silence: Open Conversations on Student Mental Health 2025

    Unsinkable and LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research at York University present "Breaking the Silence: Open Conversations on Student Mental Health".

    This insightful webinar by Unsinkable and LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research at York University dove into the crucial role of peer support in student well-being through insights from those with lived experience. Catch the recording to challenge stigma and help create a more supportive community.

  • Group of diverse women and one man smiling, posing for a photo against a plain white background.

    KBI Mapping Our Futures Event 2024

    Young people entering adulthood are facing unique and complex challenges that intersect with their mental health, and our panel and co-hosts Asante Haughton and Abbigale Kernyawill take a deep dive into the issues.

    In-person live “Life Outside the Box” recording featuring Asante Haughton, Kritika Sharda and Barira Manzoor (Unsinkable Youth facilitators).

  • Cover page of Grief Interactive Tool Kit by Unsinkable & Project Power Global with logos, titled 'GRIEF Interactive Tool Kit'.

    Grief Event 2023

    This event was aimed at harnessing the power of story to ignite conversations around the spectrum of grief and in turn, educating the community, challenging stigmas, and spotlighting the supports available to help young people.

    This unique virtual and interactive experience allows participants to hear from diverse lived experiences, engage in interactive exercises, and gain access to a helpful interactive toolkit.

  • Colors of yellow, teal, orange, and light green in a wavy striped pattern with text announcing 2023 youth and family back to school event by Unsinkable and Sun Life. Decorative stars and company logos are also visible.

    Back-To-School Mental Health Event 2023

    A youth-led mental health event that harnesses the power of story.

    Whether in elementary school or graduating from college, youth are struggling with their mental health as they pursue education through political, social and community uncertainty.

    This event is for young people looking to connect and relate to the stories and strategies of their peers, for parents to learn more about tips and strategies that can support their loved ones and service providers who are looking to learn first-hand from the experiences of youth.

    Toolkit can be found here

Shared Spaces

  • Europe map outline made of green nodes and lines next to the text 'European Health Futures Forum - The future of health and healthcare now' in dark green.

    EHFF: Storytelling 2025

    Storytelling - how can the recent past inform your future?

    Well, it can be done by watching the recording of EHFF’s recent webinar earlier this month with Hailey Hechtman (Unsinkable Executive Director).

    We managed to touch upon storytelling in community and individual empowerment, methods to embed techniques for inclusion, and lots of uses for dignity, transformation, and bridging uncertainty.

    We look forward to continue using and promoting storytelling - as human as breathing and essential for our future.

  • Cover of a booklet titled 'eMHIC FIRESIDE CHAT SERIES' with a blurred image of a woman on a phone screen in the background and an open notebook with handwritten notes in the foreground.

    Bridging Minds: The Transformative Power of Digital Storytelling in Mental Health Care: EMHIC Webinar 2024

    This comprehensive session highlights how engaging storytellers with lived experience can activate learning for clinicians, provide direct feedback to influence mental health systems and bridge the expertise gap between professionals and those they serve. 

    Unsinkable is at the forefront of this movement, using digital storytelling to create meaningful change and share impactful stories with its audience.

    Learn more

  • Person holding a smartphone taking a selfie with a man sitting cross-legged holding a water bottle in a gym or fitness studio.

    Bridging Minds Part 2: Deepening the Conversation on the Transformative Power of Digital Storytelling in Mental Health Care: EMHIC Webinar 2024

    Following the powerful insights shared in our first session, this webinar continued to explore how digital storytelling is reshaping mental health care b connecting clinical knowledge with the real, lived experiences of those navigating mental health challenges.

  • Graphic design promoting the Changemaker Wellbeing Summit with diverse people and abstract icons, featuring the tagline 'Wellbeing for Teams, Impact for Everyone'.

    Changemaker Wellbeing Summit

    Presented by Co-operators, Future of Good’s first-ever 2024 Changemaker Wellbeing Summit is a unique professional experience that aims to convene social purpose teams in a safe learning setting to gain insights and advance action on workplace wellbeing.

    The 2024 summit hosted a mix of talks, practical workshops, discussions, peer learning, and artistic experiences on critical topics such as mental health, with closing keynote from our own, Silken Laumann (Founder).

    Visit Summit Playlist