VERA

Escape Virtually Anywhere

About

Introducing VERA! The Virtual Escape from Reality Activity! Imagine being able to visit a dream destination, take a walk down memory lane, or escape the stresses of daily life, all from the comfort of your favourite chair! Add on the benefit of an attentive and inquisitive listener to guide you and share stories with and we believe we can offer a rewarding and memorable experience.

Josh Honrud, Founder
Josh comes along with VERA and his presence brings added value and comfort to the virtual experience. He has years of experience as a caregiver to people with disabilities, is a heralded performer in the Barbershop quartet world and is an Eagle Scout, so you know he’s prepared for anything! On top of his many personal achievements, he has the distinct and seemingly rare talent of being a present listener and is genuinely interested in everything people have to say.

We are currently offering our services Wednesdays through Saturdays (in the Lower Mainland of BC). We can offer full day (up to 6 hrs) themed events or individual visits specific to your requests. We are fully vaccinated and use good viral hygiene practices to protect you. Contact us to find out more and book!

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Our services

Company Re-Focus

Is your team feeling stressed out in the office? VERA can help reframe your space using targeted virtual reality mindfulness programs combined with sense memory anchors to recall a feeling of calm and focus during stressful days. Contact us to see how few sessions it would take to transform your space!
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VERA Time Capsule

Each of us has a special story to tell with our lives. Using all 5 of the senses, we will embark on an in-person journey with your loved one to retrieve the deepest memories and the fondest stories, preserving their voice and their laugh for times when you miss them the most.
If you would like to look after your or your loved one's memories, send us a message!
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Nature Bath

Being in Nature has been proven to be helpful for stress, anxiety and depression but it can be very hard to do in the winter months or with decreased mobility. This immersive activity gives you both audio and visual relaxation scenes from beaches to mountain tops with a tactile twist!
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Memory Lane

Definitely a crowd favourite! Using a Virtual Reality headset and the power of google street view, stroll down 'almost' any street in the world and see what it looks like now! Things change over time but you would be surprised what stuff stays the same, and what kind of stories this type of journey unearths!
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Gallery

This looks fun!

Customer reviews

Kate

I had three amazing immersive experiences with VERA. Josh showed me how to navigate a beach and below the ocean, a visit to my best friend's home in New Zealand and even a fun, realistic walk out on a plank! Since I can't travel to New Zealand yet, I was exhilarated when I felt I was truly there! Two weeks later, I'm still feeling a vivid connection. It was magical.
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Sue

Having spent the morning caring for my mother who has dementia, I was feeling a bit down when Josh came over with VERA. I was a bit skeptical at first thinking I might feel claustrophobic wearing a headset, but within a few minutes I was literally transported to another world. I visited my family home in England, sat on a beach and relaxed to the sound of the ocean, and wandered down the coastal path to where we used to camp as kids. Within a short space of time, I was able to forget about my "caregiver" world and enjoy happier times when my mother was healthy and fun to be with. It left me feeling much more optimistic! Definitely recommend VERA!
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Rod

VERA was truly an amazing experience for me. I was able to visit the home where i was born in Toronto and "walk" down the street and visit friends houses and the school I went to as a kid. I was also then able to visit the crumbling remains of my dad's old cottage in Scotland which was amazing to experience. I'm still smiling thinking about my time with Josh and VERA. I will remember this for a long, long time. If you get the opportunity to experience what I did, do it!
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Chartwell Carrington House

Our home had the pleasure of being the "startup" to VERA. We are an assisted living facility. Residents varying in age and cognition were able to have one on one experiences into an immersive 360 degree world. As Josh interacted with these residents, it cued many memories for them, and it was wonderful to see them have such a fulfilling experience. Some residents were able to go back to their home they grew up in. This is an experience that can be unmatched and if it weren't for Josh, they wouldn't have accomplished this. It is more than the VR, it is his interactions with residents of varying abilities, both physically and cognitively and his ability to cue different memories and emotions. I could not recommend him enough for his attitude, his ideas and his overall commitment to granting seniors the opportunity to go to places they could not go (like space) or places they may not be able to revisit, like their old home. Any home that has seniors would benefit from the experiences that VERA provides.
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