Animal-Assisted Wellness (PAAW): Professional Integration Labs

About this event

Each semester, we host six (6) Professional Animal-Assisted Wellness (PAAW) Professional Integration (PI) Labs scheduled outside of regularly held class hours.

⭐ Special Limited-Run Opportunity: These exclusive labs offer a rare chance to learn directly from the original curriculum designers of the PAAW program. You’ll gain firsthand insight into the vision, ethics, and practical applications behind your coursework straight from the creators themselves!

As we have 3 statutory holidays this semester, ALL online PAAW PI labs serve as designated Attendance Make-Up Labs to supplement missed class hours from college closures. Each 2-hour session provides 0.5 make-up attendance credit for an impacted course while offering high-level clinical reflection, interspecies practice insights, and peer support.

Upcoming Fall 2026 Lab Schedule

All times shown in Pacific Time (PT - Vancouver).

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Make-Up (Sept 30 Closure)

• Lab 1: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)
• Lab 2: Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)

Thanksgiving Day Make-Up (Oct 12 Closure)

• Lab 3: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)
• Lab 4: Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)

Remembrance Day Make-Up (Nov 11 Closure)

• Lab 5: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)
• Lab 6: Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:15 PM PT (Facilitator: Chantal Russell)

For full details on our Attendance Policy and Make-up offerings, please visit the Student Hub on Moodle.

Why Join a PAAW Professional Integration Lab?

Animal-assisted work is a unique, deeply rewarding field that blends human-centred therapeutic skills with animal welfare, handler ethics, and co-regulation. These labs offer a dedicated, expert-led space to process your training, ask nuanced questions, and bridge theory with real-world practice.

Beyond earning make-up attendance, these labs are your opportunity to:

• Learn from the Creators: Connect directly with the PAAW curriculum designers to gain deep, behind-the-scenes perspectives on program concepts and industry standards.
• Integrate the Human-Animal Bond: Bridge wellness theory with real-world animal-assisted interventions, co-regulation techniques, and client-animal safety.
• Navigate Handler & Animal Ethics: Explore critical topics like animal welfare, advocate boundaries, handler self-care, and burnout prevention in a supportive circle.
• Build Your AAW Community: Collaborate and network with peers across cohorts who share your passion for human-animal synergy and will become your future colleagues and referral partners.

What to Expect

Each interactive 2-hour lab is structured around organic dialogue, practical application, and practitioner connection:

• Welcome & Framing: Ground into the space, set intentions, and connect with fellow PAAW students.
• PAAW Concept Spotlight: A focused exploration of a core animal-assisted theme (e.g., reading animal body language in session, handler presence, client safety, or ethical practice).
• Guided Reflection: Individual reflection to connect coursework directly to your personal growth and emerging identity as an AAW practitioner.
• Group Case Dialogue & Breakouts: Engaged discussion, case study exploration, and peer skill-sharing in small groups.
• Integration & Application: Walk away with concrete mindset shifts, session ideas, or practical tools to bring into your training and future client work.

Registration & Attendance

• Who Can Attend: Open to students enrolled in our Professional Animal-Assisted Wellness (PAAW) program and related course streams.
• Registration: Spaces are limited for these special designer-led sessions! Registration is required prior to attending and closes 15 minutes before the start of each session. Ticket Tailor will automatically email your Zoom link upon registration and send reminders leading up to the lab.