The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The monthly Healthy Flin Flon Luncheon was held at the Flin Flon Friendship Centre on Monday, January 5 with Christa McIntyre from the NOR-MAN RHA, Health Promotions acting as host. There were three speakers introduced, with the first one being Jason Mandes of the Flin Flon Friendship Centre. Jason spoke on the Bust the Winter Blues Winter Festival 2004 that is going to take place from February 13 to 15 and will include special events taking place in Flin Flon and Creighton. For the first time, the City of Flin Flon, the Town of Creighton and the Flin Flon Friendship Centre have merged together in the hopes of creating one huge winter festival instead of several small ones with basically the same events going on. The organizers are hoping to create a festival that the whole community will enjoy by raising community spirit, making it an enjoyable social atmosphere and, at the same time, give people an opportunity to use their talents to entertain their fellow citizens. Some of the events will include: a Much Music teen dance, as well as a "Bust The Blues" adult social, the sled dog races will be a one day event this year, a snowboarding competition, boot hockey tournament, the Lion's snowshoe race, fishing derby, trappers events, Aboriginal Headstart Family events, giant craft sale and a flea market as well as card tournaments and a crib tournament. The sponsors will be happy to know that they were also being considered and will only be asked once to sponsor any of the above events. Volunteers are needed to help make this festival a success. The committee of Aimee Deans, Jason Mandes, Cindy Davis and Heather Todoschuk are working together to make this a viable event, but they need your help! Happily the Flin Flon Lion's Club, Aboriginal Headstart and the Recreation Technology Class have already committed to the Winter Festival but individuals are also welcome to volunteer. Please call any of the above people and I am certain they will find something for you to do! Jason 687-8855, Aimee 687-7542 or Cindy at 688-8254. Plan to be there! See 'Smoking' P.# Con't from P.# The second speaker at the Healthy Flin Flon meeting was Joy Tetlock from the Smoking Reduction committee from the NOR-MAN RHA. Joy reiterated what most of us already know. The statistics show that this region has the highest smoking rate in the province of Manitoba! Not something to be proud of! Health Canada has given a grant for two schools in this region to set up a program to teach Healthy Lifestyles for kids as well as there is a Smoking Cessation program for teens. Even if your school was not picked, there still is a lot you can do. The Manitoba Lung Association provides detailed information free of charge to help any school interested set up such a program in their schools. Look for more details later on the non-smoking week programs. The non-smoking week is January 18 to 24. The Manitoba government has legislated an all out smoking ban in all public places to become effective October 1, 2004. This time allowance is given to businesses, etc., Ð time to get prepared. There will be no delays or extended deadlines. The goal is to reduce smoking in this province by 25% in the next five years and to eliminate second hand smoke completely. The third speaker was Brad McDougall from the Community Nurse Resource program of the NOR-MAN RHA. He gave a talk on the New Year's resolutions, specifically physical activity and diet. He emphasized that people should be much more direct with their resolutions and not make too many. He stated that you need a plan and then you need to stick with it. Remove the word 'should' and change it to 'will'. For example, instead of saying "I should lose weight", rather say "I will lose weight". Take the time to visualize what you want for the year. What size to you want to become? Daydream about it, write it down, and then let it become a reality. Only you can do it for yourself. As Brad says, then "do it"! Accept the idea and then commit to it. If it is something that is taxing to you could you delegate it? Such as driving the kids every which way every night of the week. Could you car pool or take turns with other parents? If there is a problem that has be plaguing you for many months, or years, ask yourself if you really need it Ð if it doesn't fit in your lifestyle or you can't commit to it Ð dump it! Have you set your expectations too high? Perhaps when it comes to weight gain, you should focus on the inches rather than the pounds! Make a plan. Are you going to exercise? Then do something you enjoy. If it's walking do it, if it's swimming do that. Perhaps you want to weight train, that would be a new way to meet new people. Try it, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy the activity. Focus on how good you feel doing something for yourself and think how good you will look in that new outfit you are going to get to reward yourself for improving your physical self. Keep yourself motivated by reading all about good healthy lifestyles, record your progress and feed off the support you get from your family and friends. The Health Promotion Team has made up a brochure on things to do as a family during the cold winter months both indoors and outdoors. Call Brad at 687-1342 for information on how to get a brochure or for advice on a healthy lifestyle. In Community Updates: the Health Needs Survey has been completed in the Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage area. The results will now be taken into the community to try and fulfill the communities' needs sometime during the month of February. Don't forget Healthy Flin Flon meets every first Monday of the month at the Flin Flon Friendship Centre. See you there!
