Vision & Mission

What Drives Us

Our Vision

Adults in BC exercise their right to self-determination* and have access to trusted support through personal planning should they need help with decision-making.

What is Self-Determination?

Individuals from marginalized communities have both historically and in modern times, been denied their right to self-determination. Self-determination is about having the right and freedom to make choices and decisions about your own life, and to have the responsibility to experience the consequences of these decisions.

Supporters and allies can help promote self-determination by providing individuals with independence, interdependent support, or substitute decision-making on an as-needed basis, while recognizing and understanding the importance of all individuals to participate meaningfully in their own lives and in their communities.

Nidus is the expert on Representation Agreements, which are a legal model for supported decision making. B.C.’s Representation Agreement Act inspired Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008) which calls on governments to implement legislation that ensures all adults receive support with decision making without the need to take away or restrict their rights. The Convention has been ratified by Canada.

How we’re getting there

Our Mission

Make personal planning* widely known, actionable, and accessible for adults in BC.

What is Personal Planning?

the act of making one or more legal documents that authorize your personal supporters to help you manage your affairs or make decisions on your behalf if you need assistance due to illness, injury, or disability.

Since 1995

Why Nidus

What sets Nidus apart

Nidus is the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning. Its existence sets British Columbia apart as a leader in addressing the critical needs of an aging population.

The Nidus Resource Centre provides, as funding allows:

• public legal education on personal planning and related matters;
• Representation Agreement forms;
• training for volunteers and groups;
• problem solving and coaching in support of best practices for attorneys, representatives, and monitors; and
• policy consultation for third parties.

The Resource Centre also operates a centralized Registry, called the Nidus Registry for personal planning documents and other important information and documents in case of a health crisis or other emergency.