- Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Time: 1:00 - 3:30 PM EDT
About this Workshop
In recent months, the immigrant and refugee sector has gone through major changes. Funding cuts—especially to programs supported by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)—have had a strong impact on organizations, teams, and staff. Many people are dealing with several challenges at once. Programs are being reduced. Colleagues are leaving due to layoffs. There is ongoing uncertainty about the future. This has created a shared sense of loss and stress across the sector. Staff are often unsure about their own job security, and many expect more changes ahead. Managers and supervisors are also under pressure. They are trying to support their teams while managing their own stress and responsibility. At the same time, staff are still expected to support their clients, who may be feeling more vulnerable and anxious than usual.
This raises some important questions:
- How can staff and managers take care of themselves during ongoing uncertainty?
- How can we stay compassionate toward ourselves and others when things feel out of our control?
- How can we continue to support each other while also carrying the emotional weight of our clients’ experiences?
This 2.5-hour workshop offers a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with inner resources during a difficult time. The session is practical and experiential. Participants will take part in guided exercises, as well as individual and group reflection. A key idea in this workshop is “pause and pivot.” This means learning how to slow down, create space around difficult thoughts and emotions, and respond with more clarity, care, and intention—even in challenging situations.
Workshop Components
- Settling the Mind: Participants will learn why calming the mind is important and how simple practices can help regulate emotions. This will include guided exercises using the breath, along with an introduction to open awareness and meta-awareness. These practices help create space around overwhelming thoughts and feelings.
- Loving-Kindness Practice: Participants will explore how to relate to colleagues—with care and humanity—even when situations feel unfair or painful. Through guided practice, they will learn how to extend kindness and compassion to themselves, their colleagues, and the wider community.
- Self-Compassion and Shared Humanity: Participants will deepen their understanding of self-compassion as a practical and sustainable support. They will explore common barriers to self-compassion and reflect on the idea of shared humanity—that struggle, uncertainty, and grief are part of being human, and something many people are experiencing together, especially in this sector right now. This section will include a guided reflection on what realistic self-care can look like during uncertain times.
Facilitator
Tsering Tsomo brings over 30+ years of experience working with community-based and non-profit organizations across Canada and internationally. She has extensive expertise in strategic planning, operational development, and the management of complex programs, and currently serves in a management role at YWCA Toronto. A dedicated meditation practitioner for more than 15 years, Tsering has trained in Vipassana, placement, and analytical meditation traditions. In 2019, she became a certified teacher of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), further deepening her commitment to compassion and mindfulness-based approaches. She has also co-taught Mindfulness for Compassionate End-of-Life Care at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies, integrating contemplative practices into healthcare education.
Dan D'Agostino's journey into the practice of compassion began long before his certification as a teacher of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) in 2019. His approach is experiential and practical, helping people develop greater compassion for themselves and others in the midst of everyday life. Through meditation, reflection, and discussion, participants learn skills that can support emotional resilience, strengthen relationships, and reduce the stress and disconnection that often accompany modern life.
Registration deadline: July 21, 2026
If you have any questions, please contact Caley Cross (she/her) at: ccross@ocasi.org