VIVRS

06/16/2026

Come and join our Courtenay team!

Pay: From CA$32.00 per hour

Job description:

VIVRS is hiring one Employment Navigator to join our team.

This provincially funded program will serve participants who are facing complex barriers to employment, including homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, trauma, and systemic exclusion.

This is not a traditional office-based employment counselling role. This is an outreach-focused position in a brand-new program. We are building this from the ground up and are looking for Navigators who are creative, adaptable, and willing to try new approaches to meet the needs of participants and fulfill contract requirements.

About the Role

Navigators provide direct, hands-on support to participants through:

Community-based outreach and drop-in engagement
One-to-one goal setting and action planning
Foundational skills and work readiness support
Supported referrals and system navigation
Work experience coordination and sustainment support
Collaboration with Peer Mentors and community partners
Navigators meet participants where they are — physically and emotionally. Services may take place in community spaces, during outreach, or alongside partner organizations.

This role requires flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to balance creativity with documentation and accountability.

This Role May Be a Fit If You:

Have 1–2 years of experience working with individuals facing complex barriers (mental health, substance use, housing instability, trauma)
Are confident working within harm reduction and trauma-informed frameworks
Are comfortable in outreach settings and non-traditional environments
Can think on your feet and adjust plans in real time
Are willing to pilot new ideas and learn alongside the team
Understand that employment readiness is often incremental and relational
Naloxone training and First Aid are assets (or willingness to obtain).
Related education (Diploma, Certificate or Degree)
Because This Is a Start-Up…

We are looking for Navigators who:

Enjoy building systems and processes from scratch
Can tolerate ambiguity and help shape structure
Are excited to experiment thoughtfully and refine programming
See challenges as opportunities for innovation
You will help shape how this program evolves.

We Value More Than Resumes

At VIVRS, we recognize that strong Navigators bring more than formal credentials.

We value:

Lived experience
Community involvement
Creative talents
Athletic or fitness pursuits
Cultural knowledge
Past work in any field (hospitality, trades, arts, caregiving, service industry, military, retail, etc.)
Volunteer and grassroots experience
Side projects, hobbies, and entrepreneurial efforts
Tell us about yourself. What do you bring that isn’t obvious on a resume? What skills, passions, or experiences shape how you show up in the world? What communities are you connected to?

We are building a diverse team and believe that life experience, creativity, and relational skills are powerful assets in this work.

Qualifications

1–2 years’ experience working with the target population preferred
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to document services and track participant progress
Comfort working both independently and as part of a small, collaborative team
Valid driver’s license preferred (outreach component)
This is an opportunity to help design and deliver a program that supports people who are often excluded from traditional employment systems.

If you are grounded, compassionate, flexible, and ready to build something meaningful with us, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits:

Dental care
Employee assistance program
Paid time off

Send a message to learn more

05/28/2026

VIVRS is hiring for our Courtenay WAVE Team!

Pay: From CA$29.00 per hour

Job description:

VIVRS is hiring Part-Time Peer Mentors to join our start-up team. These part time roles are ideal for people on PWD who are looking for meaningful work opportunities, or anyone with lived experience who would benefit from a part time opportunity.

This program supports individuals facing complex barriers to employment, including homelessness, problematic substance use, and mental health challenges. Peer Mentors play a vital role in walking alongside participants, offering encouragement, modelling wellness, and helping build practical pathways toward employment and stability.

This is a start-up program — and Mentors will help shape how it grows.

About the Role

Peer Mentors bring lived experience and use it intentionally and thoughtfully to support others.

We are seeking individuals who:

Have personal lived experience with homelessness, substance misuse, and/or mental health challenges
Have maintained stable housing for at least two years
Have sustained recovery from substance misuse for at least two years (where applicable)
Have stable mental health supports in place
Actively practice personal wellness strategies
An important part of this role is modelling stability, boundaries, self-care, and accountability.

What Mentors Will Do

Peer Mentors will be hands-on in both program development and delivery, including:

Participating in community outreach and engagement activities
Supporting participants in drop-in and one-to-one settings
Assisting with onsite work coaching and employment activities
Co-facilitating workshops and learning sessions
Supporting group-based activities
Sharing knowledge of local resources and services
Contributing ideas to program design and improvement
This is not a passive support role — Mentors will be active members of a small, collaborative team helping to build this program from the ground up.

We Are Looking For People Who:

Have a genuine desire to support others facing similar challenges
Demonstrate strong teamwork and communication skills
Understand boundaries and the importance of professional conduct
Are comfortable working within harm reduction and trauma-informed frameworks
Can model reliability, consistency, and wellness
Because this is a start-up, flexibility, creativity, and willingness to try new approaches are essential.

Beyond Lived Experience

We value lived experience deeply — and we also value the full person.

Tell us about:

Your personal wellness strategies
Community involvement
Creative talents (art, music, writing, etc.)
Health, fitness, or outdoor interests
Cultural knowledge or community leadership
Entrepreneurial experience or side projects
Volunteer or grassroots involvement
Any other skills or passions that could strengthen this program
You may have talents that can help shape workshops, group activities, or employment pathways — and we want to hear about them.

We are specifically interested in mentors who may have experience in commercial cleaning and commercial food prep experience.

Qualifications

Lived experience as outlined above
Minimum two years of demonstrated stability
Strong interpersonal skills
Ability to work collaboratively within a team
Knowledge of local services and resources in the Comox Valley is an asset
First Aid and Naloxone training (or willingness to obtain)
This is an opportunity to transform lived experience into leadership and impact.

If you are grounded in your own stability and ready to support others in building theirs — we encourage you to apply and tell us your story.

Send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Work Location: In person

05/07/2026

Great day visiting our partners at the Habitat for Humanity Nanaimo Re Store. We really appreciate the invite and tour!

Celebrating new partnerships with VIVRS! 💙💚

We’re excited to work together to provide hands‑on retail experience, support skill‑building, and create meaningful pathways for people to gain experience while helping us serve our community and build affordable housing.

Stay tuned!

03/18/2026

We are recruiting 8 participants for our new Job Creation partnership. Gain paid work experience from April 2026-February 2026. Full time commitment. Gain experience in retail, community based organizing, social media, administration and valuable team work skills, receive support for job search, and gain references. Contact 250-753-4225 ext 102 or [email protected] to express interest in this paid learning opportunity. 30 hours per week commitment.

02/04/2026

We are incredibly proud to share that VIVRS has been recognized by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce with an award for Diversity and Inclusion.

A HUGE thank-you to the Chamber for this honour, and to our amazing clients, team, and community partners who continue to champion inclusive employment and break down barriers for people with diverse-abilities.

We are excited to keep learning, growing, and building a more inclusive community together.