JANUARY 2016
VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 12
LAKE COWICHAN CHRISTMAS PARTY SALT SPRING ISLAND CHRISTMAS PARTY PICTURES
Billie Woods Photography - Copy link for full album billiewoodsphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/2158298/
TEAM LEADERS We would like to thank our Lake Cowichan team leaders! Bill, Meat Manager, Bob, Produce Manager, Laurie, Deli / Bakery Manager, Denise, Front End Manager Daryl, Dairy/ Frozen Supervisor, Janice, Garden Manager Wayne, Assistant Grocery Manager, Sandy, HR Manager Roxanne, Bulk Foods Supervisor, Dyllan Wiersma, Assistant Grocery Manager
NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER day!
‘TIS THE SEASON!
KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTIES, PANCAKE BREAKFAST, CHRISTMAS DINNER AND THE TRUCK PARADE! December was a busy month for the team members at Country Grocer! The kids loved meeting Santa and receiving their gifts at the Kids Christmas parties that were held for each Country Grocer location. Featured on the front page are some photos from our Ugly Christmas Sweater particiapnts. National Ugly Sweater Day was on December 18th, however, some locations wore their sweaters on the 24th and the week leading up to Christmas.
SANTA!!
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Lake Cowichan Fire Department’s Christmas Panacake Breakfast Fundraiser for our Local Food Bank. Thanks everyone!
CHRISTMAS DINNER Linda from Chase River serving food for local residents in the South End of Nanaimo! ‘Tis the Season for Giving!
TRUCK PARADE Despite the heavy rains and wind this year, we managed to get some lights up and keep them up! Thank you to everyone coming out and supporting Country Grocer.
ANNIVERSARIES
ESQUIMALT (5,10 YEAR) AND LAKE COWICHAN (5, 20 AND 25 YEAR) CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!
Kevin Johnston Esquimalt, 5 year anniversary
Daniel Hutchinson Esquimalt, 10 year anniversary
Kim Lewis Esquimalt, 10 year anniversary
5 YEARS OF SERVICE Lake Cowichan Wayne Callagher, Assistant Grocery Manager Janice Shand, Garden Manager Britney Doney, Produce Clerk Dwayne Relke, Receiving Brian Kitchen, Grocery Clerk
20+ YEARS OF SERVICE Lake Cowichan 20 years of Service Shelley Johnson, Deli Dept 25 Years of Service Denise Basso, Front End Manager
TONNE OF LOVE! 9 pallets (13,700 pounds) of FRESH food was delivered to the The Mustard Seed on December 16th. Hams, cheese, eggs and a bounty of fresh produce. A huge thank you to our staff who pushed the Tonne of Love, Odd Fellows campaign to our Victoria customers! You are all amazing. We would also like to thank Adams Storage for lending us their truck!
HELP FILL A DREAM BBQ’S! Chase River held a Hot dog & Drink BBQ at the end of November and raised $293. On December 3rd $686 was raised at the Esquimalt Country Grocer BBQ. Chef Michael cooked up smokies by donation for Help Fill a Dream Foundation.
WINTER IS HERE
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LAKE COWICHAN Roxanne Bryce
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BOWEN ROAD
As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, even the best of us can get a little down. The “winter blues” are characterized by the mild depression, lack of motivation, and low energy that many people experience during this cold season. Luckily, there’s a lot one can do to both prevent the blues from coming on and get back to normal if they’re already here. 1. Exercise Exercise isn’t only for maintaining your weight and staying healthy. It’s great for relieving the stresses of life. The positive effects of a good workout can last for several hours - more energy throughout the day, and elevated metabolism too. Exercise also helps the mind by releasing endorphins that improve mood
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2. Eat a Healthy Diet What and when one eats affects mood and energy. Avoid refined and processed foods (like white breads, rice, and sugar). These foods are not only devoid of the nutrients the body craves, but they zap energy levels and can affect mood, causing depression, lack of concentration, and mood swings. Try to incorporate more complex carbohydrates (whole wheat breads, brown rice, veggies, and fruit) and get 8 cups of water daily. These healthy foods provide the body with nutrients, and stabilizing blood sugar and energy levels.
CHASE RIVER
4. Consider omega-3, herbal and/or amino acid support Leading physicians at Harvard Medical School confirmed the positive effects of omega-3s, a natural, anti-inflammatory molecule, on emotional health by elevating and stabilizing mood. Herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort, Ginseng, Maca and the amino acid 5-HTP can help relieve symptoms of the winter blues, including mental health and immune function issues. If you are taking prescription medications, it is important to consider how these supplements interact with pharmaceuticals by consulting your Pharmacist before adding herbals to your daily regimen.
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3. Get Some of the Sunshine Vitamin Most people know that sunlight provides us with Vitamin D. Winter days are shorter and darker than other months, and because of the cold weather, a lot of people spend less and less time outdoors. Lack of sunlight can cause many people to become depressed - without knowing why! Taking a Vitamin D supplement can boost mood and immunity, especially during the darker months of the year.
5. Relax! Life is busy! Even if you enjoy being busy, everyone needs some time off. Try to spend a few minutes each day doing nothing. Read a book or magazine, sleep in on the weekend, go to bed early, try some meditations, or take a yoga class. Relaxation, especially in the form of yoga, can alleviate stress and leave you with a calm energy. Mental exercises like meditation and positive thinking can help keep depression at bay. * This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. As with all supplements, it is important to consider where the product comes from and what the ingredients are. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalized care prior to starting any new supplement plan.