Communities ChooseWell

‼️FREE Webinar💚

June is National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month, and what better time to learn about the intersection of these two topics than with the launch of ARPA's new Two-Spirit Toolkit!

For the launch, we are honoured to host this webinar featuring Kôhkom Kathy Hamelin and Remy Boudreau, who will share teachings about Two-Spirit people from a Cree context, and from their own ties to Two-Spirit communities in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amiskwacîwâskahikan ("Edmonton"), Treaty 6, and beyond.

Register for this free webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QauacAzCRXaiwRjG4YecqQ #/

The success of any initiative is that the momentum builds and takes over. The story of the ChooseWell program in Lacombe shows that momentum must be built on the solid base of the 3 Ps – partnership, perseverance and perspective.

Sonya Beauclair has been Recreation and Culture Assistant Lacombe for the past 7 years. She understands the marketing adage of the Rule of Seven, that a prospective buyer has to hear or see a marketing message 7 times before they will buy. Even so, sometimes the desired results take a long time.

Read the full story: https://communitieschoosewell.ca/story/1944/

💭Imagine if… You discovered a love for ballet but witnessed how the ballet space wasn’t always welcoming for diverse folks.

“Growing up in Venezuela, Serenella discovered her love for ballet but as she grew, she witnessed how the ballet space wasn’t always welcoming for diverse folks. So she created Ballet Bodies YYC – a non-profit organization that offers dancers a safe and welcoming space that celebrates diversity.”

Read the full story: https://communitieschoosewell.ca/story/every-body-is-a-ballet-body/

💭Imagine if… You created a charity that makes opportunities for people living with disabilities to experience outdoor recreation.

Adaptable Outdoors, a Pincher Creek-based charity, uses adaptive equipment and volunteer help to provide hiking, paddling and fishing adventures to people with disabilities.

A Communities ChooseWell participant, Adaptable received a Healthy Community Grant to fund a summer program coordinator, helping the non-profit deliver outdoor experiences to more people.

“When people succeed or try something new, whether that be reaching a destination or goal it , builds confidence and helps them try more things; and not be afraid to fail,” says Steve, Adaptable’s executive director. “It can be life-changing.”

Read more:
https://communitieschoosewell.ca/story/theres-always-a-way-adaptable-outdoors-is-carving-the-trail-to-recreation-adventures-for-people-with-disabilities/

💭Imagine If... there was a youth program that encourages wellbeing from a physical and mental perspective, but also a spiritual and ceremonial one.

What does it mean to be well? Often, things like fitness, nutritious food and mental health come to mind. And for those who run the Iiyika’kimaat youth program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary (BGCC), wellness is all of those things...and more.

“As Indigenous people, spirituality is the crux of who we are, and for many years that piece has been denied to us by policy and legislation,” she explains. “So when someone gets to experience that ceremonial and spiritual component, through an outing or learning a new skill, there’s a sense of accomplishment that they can really understand who they are.” - Christy Morgan, director of Indigenous Initiatives with the BGCC

Read full story:
https://communitieschoosewell.ca/story/the-iiyikakimaat-program-a-place-to-be-brave/

💭 Imagine if you had a roadmap for healthy eating and active living in your community.

We're excited to tell you that it's possible. Explore the FREE Online Healthy Communities Framework.

https://communitieschoosewell.ca/healthy-communities-framework/