The Resilient Journey conference
- Details
- Published on Monday, March 23, 2015
By Sherrill-Lee Hyra
Health Promotion Co-ordinator
In May 2014 a group of community partners came together to begin discussing health and well-being issues in Rivers. There were many thoughts and ideas shared around the table. The discussion was lively and many interesting perspectives were shared. We discussed healthy eating, bullying, literacy, getting more active, end of life care issues and the list continued.
As we discussed all these important issues, the committee felt our own well-being and the well-being of those we care for is strongly impacted by how we choose to manage and cope with the challenges we face in our own lives. We also felt that taking time for self care and finding ways to create balance is key to living a healthy life. Keeping these ideas in mind, the theme of resiliency was chosen as this year’s upcoming conference theme. Resilience by definition means the capacity of people to confront and cope with life’s challenges and to maintain their well-being in the face of adversity .
With the support of Rivers & Area Community Foundation, Rivers and Area Volunteer Palliative Care Committee and Healthy Together Now funds, the group of community partners has realized their goal of offering a one-day wellness workshop called The Resilient Journey. With the funds that we were able to secure and the support of many volunteers, the committee is able to offer this day at no cost to all community members.
The committee is looking very forward to hosting two speakers on April 11.
Dick O’Brien will kick off the day and address the crowd with an important message of what it takes to cope with life’s challenges. O’Brien’s philosophy is, “It’s far better to develop the wisdom to deal with life’s problems than to hope you never have any.” He will explore how we adjust in times of change and bounce back and thrive during these times! Mr. O’Brien hales from Grimsby, Ont. and this will be his second visit to the Westman area; in spring 2014 he spoke to a capacity crowd during a Healthy Brandon conference.
We are also excited that Wendy Sutton from Winnipeg is a part of the conference agenda. Wendy is the creator of Where Next? A Path for Caregivers, a program that supports caregivers with information and access to local resources. Wendy will share her experiences of balancing the caregiving role with the demands of life. She gives recognition to the challenges faced in a caregiving role, but shares a message of how these challenges can teach us all how to live life with strength and significance.
The Resilient Journey conference takes place at Rivers Collegiate gymnasium on Saturday, April 11 starting at 9 a.m.; it runs until 3 p.m. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required by April 1 so enough food can be prepared for lunch. Please register by calling 1-877-509-7852. For full conference details check prairiemountainhealth.ca and click on “calendar of events” for April 11.
