Nobody's Perfect Parenting Facilitator Training: December 2026

Learn how to help parents with children aged 0-5 years connect, build knowledge, and gain confidence.

Develop new skills for delivering strength-based learning and conducting non-judgmental and inclusive community programming. Participants learn how to facilitate experiential learning in which parents gain information and insight and learn how to apply what they have learned to many areas of their lives. NPP is a core training for family support professionals.

This crucial program, developed in Canada for parents of every cultural community, has been consistently demonstrated to positively impact the parenting knowledge, skills and confidence of participants. For parents in particularly stressful situations – when there simply isn’t enough money, when they’re new to the community or to the country, when they’re young, or under-educated, or struggling without a partner or family support – being part of a supportive group of parents who understand and share their difficulties can make all the difference.

Who is this training for?

The Nobody’s Perfect facilitator training is specifically aimed at those with previous experience and/or education in facilitating groups and working with children, youth and families. You will be comfortable with the basic principles of adult education, currently employed with or volunteering at a multi-service or family support organization, and passionate about supporting families in all their diversity.

How will I benefit?

After attending this training, you will have developed:

• Knowledge of Nobody’s Perfect program objectives and materials
• Increased awareness of the principles of adult education and their application to the Nobody’s Perfect program parents
• Enhanced skills in assessing the needs of parent groups
• Ability to plan and direct program sessions
• Enriched practical facilitation skills

A complete training and program materials package is included in the cost of the training.

Location: In-Person

This training will be taking place IN-PERSON at the Chevalier Room at the Rosdale on Robson Suite Hotel in Vancouver, except for a break-out session on the last day, which will be taking place in the Michiko Room. If you would like to stay at the hotel during the training, a business traveler’s rate may be available. Please contact Mark Pinfield at markp2@rosedaleonrobson.com and mention that you are taking the Nobody’s Perfect training with the BC Council for Families.

Please note that this training is not guaranteed to run if we don’t have a large enough group. We do not recommend booking any non-refundable travel.

Meals and Snacks

Lunch will be provided on the last day only. There are a number of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops close by where you can purchase your lunch on the other days. Coffee, tea and snacks will be served during the morning breaks. If you wish to have an afternoon snack, please bring your own.

Scent-free environment

This training will be a fragrance-free environment. Thank you for not wearing strongly scented products.

Prerequisite

To be eligible to take the training you must make arrangements to co-facilitate the program with an experienced facilitator within one year of receiving training. A letter from an agency or organization confirming that they will support you in the delivery of the program, and that you have undergone a criminal record check, is required to confirm your enrolment. Please address the letter to Ruby Banga, and email it to her at rubyb@bccf.ca or fax it to 604-678-8886.
 

Certificates will be issued upon delivery of your first group.
 

About the Facilitators

Syd Bosel has been a Nobody’s Perfect Facilitator for over 30 years and a Trainer for more than 20 years. She has extensive experience supporting families, including roles as a Foster Parent Support Worker and an FASD Key Worker. Much of her career in family support has been spent working in Neighbourhood Houses and Family Places across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Syd has developed and facilitated numerous parent support groups, workshops, and staff training sessions. She holds a certificate in Counselling Skills and brings over three decades of ongoing professional development through conferences, trainings, and continuing education courses.

Originally from Argentina, Maria Cervino has a surveying engineering degree. For the last 27 years in Canada, Maria dedicated her professional career to enhancing the wellbeing of children and families. Her work focused on supporting parents and families, always in the non-profit sector. She worked for MOSAIC, Mount Pleasant Family Centre and other family resource places throughout the Lower Mainland, and facilitated a variety of programs, including Nobody's Perfect. She has been a Nobody’s Perfect Facilitators’ Trainer since 2004. Currently Maria works at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. She is the mother of four children.