- This event has passed.
Western Slipstream 2019
July 5, 2019 - July 7, 2019
Last year we hosted almost 100 people living with type one!
Experiential Education
No classrooms. The best way to learn is in the real world.
Relax & Recharge
It's an awesome weekend in the woods around a campfire!
Lasting Connections
Attendees go on to make lifelong friendships with other T1s.
WHAT: Western Slipstream
WHERE: Lake Louise Alpine Centre, Alberta
WHEN: July 5-7, 2019
WHO: Adults (18+) with Type 1 diabetes
PRICE: $325 Early Bird / $375 Regular
Connected In Motion invites you to join us for a weekend of community, connection + continuing education, set against a backdrop of fresh air + adventure!
Get in touch with your rustic, outdoorsy side on a hike or paddle, or kick it back by the campfire for a s’more. The weekend will be full of hands-on, diabetes-themed workshops, as well as group discussions where we can share our collective diabetes knowledge. Don’t miss out!
What Is A Slipstream?
A Slipstream Weekend is an active, social and educational weekend for adults living with Type 1 diabetes. But that explanation sounds so formal… What it really is… is a weekend jam-packed full of outdoor adventure, engaging workshops, great food and incredible people. It’s a chance to connect (or reconnect) with like-minded Type 1s, get out and try something new and learn from each others’ experiences. Let’s celebrate the year’s accomplishments and focus on the positive aspects of what we CAN do with Type 1 diabetes.
All The Important Information You Could Need
Lake Louise Alpine Centre
203 Village Rd, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0
Driving
Lake Louise is conveniently located in beautiful Banff National Park, Alberta.
From Calgary, AB – 2 Hours
From Edmonton, AB – 4.5 Hours
From Spokane, WA – 6.75 Hours
From Vancouver, BC – 9.5 Hours
Airports
Lake Louise Alpine Centre is located approximately 2 hours / 182 kms from Calgary International Airport (YYC).
Carpool Information
Don’t forget to check out our Carpooling Tool – Join a car or offer a ride, here.
When attending a Slipstream, you can expect to stay in shared bunk-style accommodation. All accommodations offer electricity in the cabins for all of your diabetes-charging needs. When CIM is searching for venues, we look for options that are comfortable with adults including easy access to bathrooms and showers (in the cabins, whenever possible), climate controlled spaces, and reasonable sized beds.
Slipstreams take place in outdoor playgrounds across North America. There are plenty of opportunities to get active and have fun regardless of what Mother Nature throws at us. We always plan for weather to be unpredictable – hot, cold, wet or dry and cooler in the evenings. We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we dress. We will plan to be generally active outside for the majority of the weekend. Bring lots of comfy layers, as well as athletic, fast-drying, wicking clothing. This ain’t no fashion show!
Camp Clothes
- Your underwear of choice ( a couple of pairs)
- 2 pairs of wool socks
- 1 quick-dry t-shirt
- 2 long sleeve t-shirts
- 1 pair of pants
- Long-johns (top and bottom layer)
- Comfy clothes for lounging – jeans, hoodies, sweats, etc.
- Rain gear (jacket and pants)
- PJ’s (hopefully matching plaid flannel)
- Fleece or hoodie
- Insulated Jacket (Puff jacket, wool, something warm!)
- Brimmed hat, toque, mitts
- Bathing suit & towel
Shoes / Footwear
- Slippers / sandals (indoor shoes)
- Running shoes and/or trail/hiking shoes
Toiletries
- Shampoo/conditioner/soap/body wash
- Brush/comb
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Personal Items
Camping Equipment
- Bedding is provided at this venue.
- An optional small blanket may be useful around the campfire.
Diabetes Supplies / Meds
- Any meds you need, labeled
- Insulin and supplies (enough to last a week) – be sure to pack extra pump sites, reservoirs, pump batteries, syringes, pen camps, etc.
- Glucose meter and supplies
- Your favourite low supplies
- Glucagon Kit (if you have one)
Other
- Camera
- Flashlight / headlamp (cam gets dark at night!)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- 1L Water Bottle
- Small backpack/fanny pack (yes, these are cool)
- Glasses / contact lenses
Optional
- Musical instruments
- Toque / wool hat
- Yoga mat
- Season specific sport equipment (Think tennis racquet, fishing rod, frisbee)
- Cards / your favourite board game (you never know!)
Schedule at a Glance
We are currently working on our schedule for this event and will update this page when it is available. If you would like to see an example schedule from a previous event, click here.
Speakers
We’ve hand selected an incredible range of inspirational speakers to cover topics related to type 1 diabetes over the weekend. More speakers will be announced shortly.
When Heather was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 16, Connected in Motion was one of the first organizations she was introduced to as a "new member" of the diabetes community in Toronto. Soon after, Heather moved to Nova Scotia to attend Acadia University, later graduating with a Kinesiology degree. For the past three years, Heather has been working with a number of diabetes organizations in the community, coordinating programs for youth and adults with T1D. She has also stayed busy teaching all varieties of fitness classes (and has a special love for aquafitness!).
Ellie was born in Toronto, ON and has lived with type 1 diabetes for 21 years. She may have grown up in the city, but Ellie developed a love for the outdoors spending every summer kayaking in Charlevoix, and canoe tripping at Camp Huronda. Ellie completed her BA&Sc at Quest University Canada in Squamish, BC, and is now a graduate student at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience in Lethbridge, AB. Specifically, her research tackles learning and memory, and environment familiarity. When she’s not in the lab, Ellie can be found camera in hand, skiing or hiking in the mountains. Ellie is incredibly excited to be working with the Connected in Motion team to create an awesome program for the 2019 Western Slipstream, and connect with other folks living with T1D.
Jane is an avid exercise enthusiast whose professional and personal passions both include physical activity. She took a winding road to arrive in Augustana in January 2014, having done a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, a Master of Science in Physical Anthropology at University College London in the UK, a PhD in Population Health at the University of Ottawa, and postdocs in Thermal Physiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Ottawa and the University of Manitoba respectively. Her research focuses on describing the effects of different types of exercise on blood glucose in individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Our Sponsors For This Event
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Slipstream Weekend, anyway?
A Slipstream Weekend is an active, social and educational weekend for adults living with Type 1 diabetes. But that explanation sounds so formal… What it really is… is a weekend jam packed full of outdoor adventure, engaging workshops, great food and incredible people. It’s a chance to connect (or re-connect) with like-minded Type 1s, get out and try something new, learn from each others’ experiences, and celebrate the year’s accomplishments – focusing on the positive aspects of what we CAN do with Type 1 diabetes.
What goes on at a Slipstream? Do you have a schedule ready?
Think of Slipstream as a choose your own adventure experience. You’ll have the chance to build your own schedule to create an experience that works best for you and your goals for the weekend.
When the schedule is ready, it will be added to this page under the Schedule At A Glance.
Who can attend a Slipstream Weekend?
Slipstream Weekends are available to people aged 19+ who are living with Type 1 diabetes. We have had participants from ages 19 to 82 and have no upper age restrictions as long as you are willing to bring a smile and a love for being active.
We do offer programs where your friend or partner living without Type 1 can join through our 5.5er series! Check out our 5.5er Canoe Trip.
Getting There? Accommodations? Food? Packing List?
Oops, you’ve scrolled too far! All of that information is answered further up the page. Click here!
What is the vibe of the weekend? Is this like a conference?
Not really! Here, at Connected in Motion, we wanted to get away from the typical ‘conference’ style of learning. We want to have meaningful conversations, hands-on learning, and actually get outside and put into practice some of the strategies for living well with diabetes that we’ve all learned along the way. You can expect a mix between indoor learning sessions – sometimes we’ll bring in special guests to share with us, other times we’ll run group workshops – and outdoor adventure sessions – don’t worry, we’ll let you define adventure! Think, camp for adults!
I'm not super fit. I don't know if I'll be able to handle this event.
Of course you will! The CIM team are trained educators and adventure guides. We work hard to make sure that everyone experiences success, defined on your own terms. Whether that’s climbing a mountain, or just strolling to the trailhead, we’ll mould the experience to suit all ability levels. We’ll encourage you to step to the edge of your comfort zone, but we won’t push you off!
I have a special dietary need: celiac, dairy sensitivity, allergy, etc. Can the venue accommodate me?
We do our best to accommodate special dietary requests, and our team works closely with the venue to ensure they are aware of any food allergies or special diets in the group. If you have a special dietary concern, please be sure to let us know well in advance so we can find out what accommodations or substitutions the venue is able to offer.
Will there be low supplies on site, or do I need to pack my own?
Low supplies will be plentiful, but it’s always a good idea to bring your own! We’ll supply juice boxes, glucose tabs, granola bars, etc. As always, if you have your own favourites, please bring them along! (Maybe they will become our favourites, too!)
I see a lot of cool outdoor adventure activities listed. Do I need any of my own equipment?
Nope! For every activity offered at Slipstream, gear will be provided. It’s included in your registration fee!
What's included in my registration?
- Shared accommodation (usually bunk-bed style)
- All meals and snacks (Friday evening dinner through Sunday Lunch)
- Outdoor programming (past examples include: rock climbing, challenge course, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, etc)
- CIM-specific programming
What is NOT included?
- Transportation to and from the program venue is not included
- Diabetes supplies (make sure to bring everything you need for yourself!)
I'd love to join, but don't think I can afford it.
We never want someone to miss out on a CIM experience, simply because they can’t afford it. The purpose of the CIM Program Subsidy is to eliminate financial barriers for those who want to attend a Slipstream weekend or Adventure program. These subsidies are possible because of the fundraising by past CIM Adventure Team members.
To apply for a subsidy, please complete a CIM Program Subsidy Application.
What is the refund policy?
Unfortunately, CIM is unable to refund Slipstreams registrations that are canceled less than 30 days from the start of the program due to arrangements with our host venues. For all other cancellations, please email info@connectedinmotion.ca.
I still have a question I need answered.
Still have questions? Send them to heather@connectedinmotion.ca with Slipstream FAQ in the subject line and we’ll get your questions answered!
Don’t believe us? Just watch!
What Slipstreamers Had To Say
Ready to Join the Adventure?
What are you waiting for? Join other Type 1's for an unforgettable event.
Register Now
