Technology training series for housing and service providers

Cybersecurity – Social engineering
Computer fraud continues to be the #1 cyber-attack vector. We see many successful attacks within our sector. The consistent factor in these attacks is that attack human weakness. Join us to talk about how to protect your organization from Social Engineering.

Staying safe in the age of AI
This session shows how cyber threats are changing with AI and what people can do to stay safe. You will learn how criminals use fake emails, messages, and AI‑made scams to trick people. The session also explains how to use AI safely. How to protect private information and follow good cybersecurity habits. Participants will leave with simple, practical tips they can use right away at work.

Privacy 101
Learn the basics on how to protect personal information. Join us to touch on FIPPA and PIPA and how it relates to your role.

Governance, risk and compliance
This session contains an introduction to IT governance, risk management, and compliance. Topics include an overview of leading industry frameworks and standards, integration with organizational strategy, core considerations, key definitions, and examples of application.

Cybersecurity – Social engineering
Computer fraud continues to be the #1 cyber-attack vector. We see many successful attacks within our sector. The consistent factor in these attacks is that attack human weakness. Join us to talk about how to protect your organization from Social Engineering.

Introduction to AI
This beginner-friendly, discussion-based course introduces artificial intelligence in simple, everyday terms. Participants will explore what AI is, where it appears in daily life, and what it can and cannot do. The session also examines key strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations to support a balanced understanding of AI. The focus is on shared learning and discussion rather than tools or demonstrations.

Copilot – Elements of an effective prompt
This session builds on basic Copilot use and focuses on writing clearer, more effective prompts. You’ll learn the key elements that influence Copilot’s responses, including how to provide context, clarify your goal, and refine your requests. Through examples and demonstrations, the course helps improve the quality and reliability of Copilot outputs. It avoids advanced prompt types, which are covered in later sessions.

Copilot – How to verify AI sources
This session builds on basic Copilot use and focuses on verifying AI-generated information before you share or act on it. You’ll learn why AI can sound confident even when it’s wrong, how to recognize different types of sources, and how to break Copilot responses into smaller, checkable claims. The course introduces practical techniques for checking accuracy and deciding how much verification is needed based on risk.

Copilot for emails
This workshop focuses on using Copilot to streamline everyday email tasks such as drafting responses, adjusting tone, summarizing long threads, and extracting action items. Participants will learn how to craft effective prompts that help Copilot generate clear, accurate, and context‑appropriate email content. The session includes demonstrations, guided practice, and examples showing how Copilot can reduce time spent composing and interpreting emails while still requiring human oversight, judgment, and final decision-making.

Microsoft planner – getting started
This beginner-friendly session introduces Microsoft Planner as a tool for organizing and tracking work. Participants will learn how to create plans, buckets, and tasks, and how to use Planner for both shared teamwork and personal task management. The course also shows how Planner fits within Microsoft 365 to support collaboration and visibility. Examples focus on simple, practical use rather than formal project management.

Word – Introduction to styles
This hands-on workshop introduces the basics of Word Styles and how they help make documents clear and consistent. Participants will learn how to use built-in styles like headings and body text, make easy changes using styles, and see how styles help organize longer documents with features like navigation and tables of contents. The session focuses on simple, practical skills that save time and reduce formatting problems in everyday Microsoft Word to use.

Excel 101 – Getting started
This beginner-friendly course introduces the basics of Microsoft Excel and helps users feel comfortable working with spreadsheets. Participants will learn how to create and format a worksheet, so it looks professional and presentable. The course also covers basic formulas and commonly used functions to support everyday tasks. Examples focus on practical, real-world use rather than advanced features.

Excel tables and pivot tables
This intermediate level course focuses on using Excel to analyze data and uncover insights. Participants will learn how to create and modify tables and PivotTables to organize information and explore patterns and trends. The session emphasizes understanding data visually and interactively rather than memorizing steps. Examples are practical and focused on making data easier to interpret and communicate.

Excel formulas
This course builds on basic Excel skills and teaches you how to work better with data. You will learn how common functions that can help you analyze information. The session includes an interactive demonstration with simple, real‑world examples. You will also receive a practice workbook so you can keep learning on your own after the session.

Outlook essentials
This course teaches you the main features of Microsoft Outlook that help you get your daily work done faster and more easily. You will learn how to organize and manage email using tools like Quick Steps, Rules, and Categories. You will also learn how to set up out-of-office messages and email signatures.
The course covers how to search for emails, manage your calendar and meetings, and use simple time management tips. Real-life examples are used so you can see how Outlook can help with everyday tasks.

Project & change management
This session gives an introduction to project management and organizational change management. You will learn about best practices, how they connect to an organization’s goals, and the terms you need to know. The session also includes examples in real situations.

Cloud computing – Azure overview
This session introduces cloud computing in a clear and easy way. You will learn what the cloud is, and how it helps organizations run their systems online. We will cover different ways to run applications in cloud. How to manage cloud costs, and how cloud systems stay available during outages. Participants will also learn how it keeps data safe and supports business continuity.

IT disaster recovery
We will discuss what an IT disaster is and what to do if something goes wrong. We will also talk about what disaster recovery is, and what it is not. You will learn how to prepare for problems like system outages, data loss, or cyber incidents. And also learn how organizations can plan ahead so systems can be repaired. This training helps teams stay ready and reduce downtime when problems happen.

Incident management and crisis coordination
This session is about what to do when something goes wrong with technology and services. Leaders will learn how to work together during emergencies. How to make good decisions and share clear information with others. The session also shows how teams support each other and help leaders stay calm and organized during serious problems.

The connection between OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint
This course gives a big-picture view of how OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint work together to help people share information and collaborate. You will learn what each tool is used for, how files move between them, and where files are stored when you work in Teams and SharePoint sites. The focus is on helping you understand how these tools connect, not on step-by-step setup.

Search techniques in M365
This workshop teaches staff how to efficiently find information across Microsoft 365. Participants learn how to search in Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint, as well as how to apply advanced search operators such as keywords, Boolean logic, and property filters to quickly locate files, messages, and other content. The session also highlights how search results differ across M365 apps and provides hands-on practice with realistic scenarios. Examples focus on simple, everyday ways improved search skills can support productivity and collaboration in Microsoft 365.

PartnerHub
This session teaches you how to use BC Housing’s Operational Review process. You will learn about the assessment tools we use, including the IT Risk Assessment. The session also covers the training and support that our Support Team provides.

Navigating the non-profit portal
The Non‑Profit Portal makes it easy for Non‑Profit Providers and BC Housing to share documents and communicate. These training sessions are for those using the PartnerHub Operational Review process. The course explains how the Portal works and how to use it.

HIFIS for outreach & shelter workers
This session will cover information that is required to be recorded in HIFIS for emergency shelters and outreach programs, including:

• Year-round shelters (Program in HIFIS is ESP & HEARTH)
• Temporary shelters, Emergency Response Centres (Program in HIFIS is Temp Shelter)
• Common inquiries received by HIFIS Support
• Outreach Programs (Programs in HIFIS are HOP, HPP, AHOP, IOM, ICM)

Please bring your questions for our Q&A section.

This session will not cover information related to Extreme Weather Response (Program in HIFIS is EWR).