Healthier You | Fall 2017 by Prince George Citizen

Healthier You Fall

2017

HEALTHY SUMMERS, LIFELONG WELLNESS Healthy summer projects set the stage for wellness all year long!

DISC GOLF IN N

OH FORT ST. J

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DOCS WOWED BY DINOS IN TUMBLER RIDGE ENTER OUR CONTEST!

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Volume 6, Issue 3

Fall

TEEING OFF ON TOBOGGAN HILL!

featurestory

With the support of a Northern Health IMAGINE Community Grant, disc golf has become a permanent fixture in Fort St. John.

3D: DRUGS, DINOS, AND DINNER �� PAGE 5 A unique conference wows in Tumbler Ridge.

PLAYING TOGETHER �� PAGE 8 Recreation in Fraser Lake keeps residents and visitors active and engaged.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN ACTION �� PAGE 10 A day of learning and sharing sets the stage for healthy community actions.

SMARTMOM �� PAGE 12 Canada’s first prenatal education program by text message.

2017

REGULAR FEATURES 4 CEO WELCOME

11 FEATURED INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE

SOWING SEEDS OF CHANGE

p.18 A holistic approach to youth development in Hazelton.

HEALTHY AGING IN ACTION �� PAGE 17 A senior in Quesnel shows the way!

TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK �� PAGE 19 Sarah Lazzarotto uses her love of rodeo to support cancer care in northern B.C.

ABORIGINAL DAY OF WELLNESS �� PAGE 21 Northern pride celebrated at Nazko and June 21 Day of Wellness events.

RECIPE FOR YOUR BEST BEACH BODY �� PAGE 23 #1: Have a body; #2: Put on a swimsuit; #3: Go to the beach.

TAKE PART IN A SUMMER OF WELLNESS! �� PAGE 14 Tell us what wellness means to you and you could win!

FALL 2017

Healthier You

welcomemessage

Healthy summers and lifelong wellness

Cathy Ulrich President and Chief Executive Officer, Northern Health Where can you find Healthier You?

• Doctors’ offices • Walk-in clinics • Pharmacies • Other community settings

Whether it’s hiking local trails, planning BBQs with family and friends, paddling in lakes and coastal waters, tending to a garden, or simply slowing down for some solitude and reflection during an evening’s sunset, there are so many healthy summer activities to enjoy in northern B.C. We’ve been inspired by “healthy summers” for this issue of Healthier You magazine. As I look at the stories in the pages ahead, two things jump out at me. First, people and communities in northern B.C. were busy this summer creating projects that promote health where we live, work, learn, and play. Second, healthy summers can set the stage for wellness all year long. While the activities you will read about in this issue may have launched this summer, the healthy foundations they are building will make a difference for health well after the leaves start to fall.

When we share stories of healthy people and healthy communities in this magazine, we have two goals in mind: Not only do we want to celebrate these stories and let you know about programs happening in your region, we also want to inspire you to take up some of your own healthy activities wherever you live in northern B.C. When you read about Quesnel community member Rich McKay, for example, – 95 years young and, in his words, “fit as a fiddle” – you may start to plan some family hikes or look into new activities, like yoga, that you can try at any age. Or maybe Sarah Lazzarotto’s story from the Kispiox Valley gets you thinking about your hometown. Sarah combined two passions close to her heart – rodeo and cancer care – and to date has raised over $15,000 for cancer care in the Bulkley Valley. How might your passions make your community healthier? If you have a healthy community story that you’d like to see in a future issue of Healthier You, please contact our health promotions team at healthpromotions@northernhealth.ca.

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Healthier You Volume 6, Issue 3 – Fall 2017

Published by:

the northern way of caring

www.glaciermedia.ca

PUBLISHED BY NORTHERN HEALTH & THE PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Contributors / Healthier You is produced by the Northern Health health promotions team with contributions from Northern Health staff and partner organizations, in partnership with The Prince George Citizen.

Advertising Sales Prince George Citizen

Advertisements in this magazine are coordinated by The Prince George Citizen. Northern Health does not endorse products or services. Any errors, omissions or opinions found in this magazine should not be attributed to the publisher. The authors, the publisher and the collaborating organizations will not assume any responsibility for commercial loss due to business decisions made based on the information contained in this magazine. Speak with your doctor before acting on any health information contained in this magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without crediting Northern Health and The Prince George Citizen. Printed in Canada. Please recycle.

medicaleducation The trail clearing crew.

3D: DRUGS, DINOS, AND DINNER A UNIQUE CONFERENCE WOWS IN TUMBLER RIDGE Dr. Charles Helm, Family Physician in Tumbler Ridge

In order to maintain their licence with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. and to stay up-to-date on the latest medical research, physicians are required to take part in individual and group continuing medical education throughout the year. In Tumbler Ridge, famous for its dinosaur bones and tracks, one such educational event left quite an imprint on visitors. The “3D Conference” – Drugs, Dinos, and Dinner – was held in Tumbler Ridge this past May. It was a great success! With 42 physicians and pharmacists attending, it was one of the largest conferences ever held in B.C.’s northeast. Conference participants were treated to hours of stimulating talks by Dr. Tom Perry and Aaron Tejani from the Therapeutics Initiative, a UBC-based think-tank that analyzes evidence on which medications work and which don’t. One of the main themes of these talks was “deprescribing” – trying to get by with fewer medications. Continued on page 6

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MORE INFORMATION

So far, this may not sound too different from other conferences or classes: intriguing and relevant lecture topics, constructive discussion, and a healthy meal over which to discuss the finer points of what had been learned.

Want to experience what wowed the doctors in May?

However, that is where similarities end. Tumbler Ridge physicians decided to create a regional conference that could benefit everyone and showcase the things that make Tumbler Ridge the best place to learn, work, live, and play.

• Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark: tumblerridgegeopark.ca • Dinosaur Discovery Gallery: trmf.ca/ dinosaurdiscovery.html • Tumbler Ridge visitor information: tumblerridge.ca

What made the 3D Conference special? The event was held in the education room of the Tumbler Ridge Museum, and learning activities were interspersed with dinosaur attractions that are available nowhere else in B.C. Paleontologists Dr. Richard McCrea and Dr. Lisa Buckley and staff brought participants through exhibits in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, the collections area, the preparation lab, and through the photogrammetry imaging area. Tumbler Ridge is famous not just for having B.C.’s dinosaur bones, but also many dinosaur footprints that include the only known tyrannosaur trackways in the world. Conferences attendees took field trips to two dinosaur footprint sites following the event. One key to the conference’s unique approach was its timing. Many attendees were planning on attending an important rural medicine conference a day later in Prince George. With these attendees having free time the morning after the 3D Conference – and since there was no registration fee – participants were excited for the chance to “pay back” Tumbler Ridge’s hospitality. To do this, nine medical residents from the teaching program in Fort St. John gallantly agreed to take out deadfall that had accumulated over the winter on Tumbler Ridge’s world renowned UNESCO Global Geopark hiking trails. The Geopark is one of just 120 such UNESCO sites in the world, and one of only two in North America. Equipped with chainsaw gear, two doctors (Dr. Boudreau and Dr. McIver) took the lead, followed by a boisterous team of residents hauling large logs off the trail. At the end of three hours of toil and bonding, the job was done, followed by exclamations of: “Wow, this is one of the best conferences I have ever attended.”

What unique features could your community bring to a learning event? For information about continuing medical education in northern B.C., physicians and medical staff are encouraged to contact ncme@northernhealth.ca.

Exploring the Flatbed Trackway Site at Cabin Pools.

Touring the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation processing facility.

Small towns have a way of displaying special hospitality. TR Cares, a local charitable organization, sponsored the accommodation of the medical residents in appreciation of their gift of clearing the trails. Add live violin music and free entry to the swimming pool thanks to the support of the District of Tumbler Ridge, and a unique learning environment unlike anywhere else in the world was created, cementing the reputation of Tumbler Ridge as a destination with a difference.

Conference participants clearing the Tumbler Ridge trail. 6

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In addition to being the expert speakers, Dr. Tom Perry and Aaron Tejani took part in all the activities, and commented: “This was one of the liveliest audiences we have taught and learned with. It is a pleasure to reach out from UBC to the communities whose work helps support our own. We would love to return if invited back, and think Tumbler Ridge has advantages for hosting similar educational events where the community spirit, natural history, and recreational activities form part of the educational package.” Heather Gummow, physician education liaison for Northern Health, assisted with the event and commented: “I knew the event was going to be a success the moment I stepped foot in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery. I was greeted by very kind and welcoming staff and the number of attendees at the event was incredible to see. After the conclusion of the lectures, everyone went on an excursion to view dinosaur footprints, which was a very unique and amazing experience. The following morning we went out again to view a different dinosaur track site. I can’t wait to attend again next year and look forward to supporting this conference to become an annual event.” At the end of the conference one sentiment echoed through the dinosaur halls: “Is it possible to make ‘3D’ an annual event?”

Touring the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery.

Tom Perry presenting at the 3D medical conference.

FALL 2017

Healthier You

healthycommunities

THE COMMUNITY

THAT PLAYS

TOGETHER,

STAYS TOGETHER RECREATION LOOKS TO KEEP RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN FRASER LAKE ACTIVE, INVOLVED, AND ENGAGED Vince Terstappen, Health Promotions, Northern Health

When I sat down to talk with Jennel Harder, recreation director for the Village of Fraser Lake, the vast number and type of recreation activities available in her community became instantly clear. As we sat on the shores of Fraser Lake – the beautiful blue sky and lakeside benches making an outdoor meeting simply too tempting – all I had to do was turn my head to see a handful of healthy activities. Outdoor exercise equipment, a new playground, a shed for community canoes, a bandstand, and walkers and runners on a trail along the water’s edge. And then I saw Jennel’s list. Earlier in the week, I had asked what types of activities exist for children, youth, families, and seniors in her community. And there, in her hand, was a sheet of paper covered front and back with a list of activities unlike any I had ever seen for a community of just under 1,000 residents. “We have the skateboard park, junior golf team, Men’s Shed, downhill biking, music, ball hockey,” started Harder, as I scrambled to write notes – missing what I’m sure were dozens of other recreation opportunities. “Over the summer we offer four major weeklong camps for kids: Xplore Sports, Xplore Arts, Xplore Science, and Xplore Adventure. We have great Family Day events, a provincially competitive carpet bowling team, hiking trails, a Christmas charity hockey game. And our bluegrass festival, the Festival of the 8

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Arts, and the show and shine are all popular events.” Then came Harder’s confession: “As I started to write these down,” she shared, “I didn’t realize how much we have. No one can say we have an inactive town!” There’s a simple but powerful statement that Harder constantly thinks about when she and the Village of Fraser Lake support these different recreation opportunities: “The community that plays together, stays together.” With this in mind, Harder supports programs that not only appeal to a wide variety of community members but also looks for activities that families can do together, like the Pumpkin Walk, groomed cross-country ski trails, and craft days for children and their parents. “I want to challenge the compartmentalizing of activities: Susie’s soccer and Jimmy’s pottery and dad’s hockey night. I’m always looking for things that families and community members can do together.” “Fraser Lake is such a great playground,” shared Harder. “And we like to create and support programs that celebrate that outdoor playground! We have 170 lakes within a 50 km radius of our town. I want to challenge the trend towards screens. Sitting in front of screens takes its toll. More and more, people seem to be pulling straight into their garages and then hiding out in their homes. Having avenues to reach out and connect is what makes communities like Fraser Lake last.”

According to Harder, the Village of Fraser Lake has a dual role here: they both create recreation opportunities and they serve as a hub to let people know what is happening in town. When exploring new opportunities, Harder is open to trying anything once! “Our programs respond to local needs,” said Harder. “We keep it simple but that lets me be responsive. We had some local seniors ask about adding pickleball lines to our facilities, for example. I looked into the sport, looked at opportunities to partner with community members to offer it, and now we have pickleball nets and lines being set up soon!” When it comes to being a hub, Harder’s role is to connect with local organizations and make sure that others know about their recreation opportunities. In these cases, the Village of Fraser Lake might advertise the program or event, work with local service providers, provide space, support grant applications, and more. “Anything that helps the program be successful is the Village’s responsibility,” shared Harder. A few examples of this support include karate offered locally by a private instructor, the Fraser Lake Saddle Club and its local gymkhanas (an equestrian event), Autumn Services (a seniors’ drop-in centre), and the Fraser Lake indoor playground – a new activity held at the local arena thanks to funding from Northern Health.

As Harder continued to list programs during our conversation – the Outdoor Adventure Klub (OAK), crib night, mud bogs, the splash park, the daffodil tea – she paused for a moment. “The best part of town,” she said, “is the people. These programs wouldn’t exist without the people.” Whether it’s the families who take part in craft days or the local fusion glass artists who volunteer their time to teach a course, Fraser Lake comes together around recreation. “For me,” said Harder, “a healthy Fraser Lake is a community that is active, involved, and engaged. This can take work, but it’s happening here. I think that we’ve able to achieve this because we keep it simple and have gone back to basics – just getting people together and offering a range of activities. We keep things affordable and accessible here, and that brings neighbours together.” “This is a community that easily becomes home,” said Harder. “Remember: the community that plays together, stays together.”

MORE INFORMATION • Village of Fraser Lake: fraserlake.ca

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Healthier You

healthycommunities

WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHIER

NORTHERN COMMUNITIES A DAY OF LEARNING AND SHARING SETS THE STAGE FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITY ACTIONS

Holly Christian, Healthy Community Development, Northern Health

On May 2, 2017, Northern Health leaders, Indigenous community, and local government representatives came together in Terrace on the traditional territory of the T’simshian peoples to celebrate Healthy Communities in Action. This healthy communities forum was planned to coincide with the North Central Local Government Association’s annual convention and brought together over 65 delegates from across northern B.C. We had three main goals for the day: • To offer up a space to celebrate successes in community health • To connect local government, Indigenous, and health authority champions working on improving health at the community level • To highlight resources and shared opportunities Using a variety of activities and methods for sharing, the delegates and communities certainly delivered! • In a community show-and-tell, the Greater Terrace Healthy Communities Committee and Nisga’a Valley Health Authority shared innovative ways their communities are addressing youth engagement, seniors’ needs assessment, tradition and culture from birth to death, and mental health strategies. • The importance of housing as a determinant of health was highlighted in a presentation from UNBC’s Community Development Institute. • Discussion tables allowed for focused dialogue on the topics of air quality, harm reduction, agefriendly communities, road health and safety, active transportation, and food security. 10

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It was clear that the success of this work in communities requires a place-based approach and local drivers along with strategic partnerships with defined roles. Community delegates also highlighted the importance of local-level evidence and timely data (surveys, statistics, and stories) for their healthy community work. One project that was highlighted was the Smithers Community Vitality Report Card and how it evolved into a locally-led data collection project to measure how the community of Smithers was doing in all of its dimensions. This innovative project not only created a way to bring together data collected from multiple sources, but provides a means to measure progress going forward. Although the great work around community health happens in each individual community, it is important to allow space and time for cross-community collaboration to build on successes and problem solve common barriers. What type of healthy community work can your community share with others?

indigenoushealth

FEATURED INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE CULTURAL WELL-BEING IS FOUNDATIONAL TO HEALTHY WELL-BEING. DID YOU KNOW... • Aboriginal peoples include three distinct populations: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. • 30 per cent of the Aboriginal people in B.C. live within the Northern Health region. • Of the 300,000 people served by Northern Health, over 17 per cent are Aboriginal. • In the northwest, over 30 per cent of the population is Aboriginal. Celebrating culture, language, and traditional activities are key to healthy communities. Incorporating culture and language into activities and relationships leads to healthier, more resilient communities.

To learn more about Indigenous languages and to hear recordings of words, phrases, stories, and songs, visit:

In northern B.C., there are many diverse Aboriginal peoples, territories, languages, and cultures. This issue, we’re highlighting a unique contribution of one of these languages, Haida, to a new health care facility in Queen Charlotte.

• FirstVoices.com •F irst Peoples’ Language Map of B.C. maps.fphlcc.ca • LearnMichif.com • I nuktitut Tusaalanga tusaalanga.ca/aboutinuktitut

XAAYDA GWAAY NGAAYSDLL NAAY The Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre – Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay – is the first facility in Northern Health with both an English name and a First Nations name. The Haida name was put forward by the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program, who shared that it means “Haida Gwaii Healing House,” a name reflective of the hospital’s role on Haida Gwaii. The X is underlined because it is a part of the Haida alphabet and this gives it a different pronunciation than the plain X. Learn more about the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program and download their language app at: haidanation.ca/Pages/language/skidegate.html FALL 2017

Healthier You

prenatalhealth

SMARTMOM: CANADA’S FIRST PRENATAL

EDUCATION PROGRAM

BY TEXT MESSAGE A FREE TEXT MESSAGING PROGRAM SENDS YOU HEALTHY PREGNANCY AND BIRTH INFORMATION TIMED TO YOUR STAGE OF PREGNANCY Amber Hui, Optimal Birth BC, SmartMom Canada

SmartMom website.

Did you know only one-third of Canadian women attend prenatal education classes? In an effort to support more pregnant women, Northern Health launched SmartMom, Canada’s first prenatal education program delivered by text messaging, in June. The program is available free of charge to women and their families. SmartMom texts evidence-based messages to guide women through each week of their pregnancy, ensuring that women receive the right information and resources at the right time. Messages include links to websites, videos on topics like fetal growth and development, options for screening in pregnancy, and preparation for labour and delivery. Participants receive three messages per week and may opt for additional messaging for specific concerns, such as use of tobacco, use of alcohol and illicit drugs, depression, planning a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery, nutritional support and weight management, pregnancy loss, first pregnancy after 35 years, and exposure to intimate partner violence. The project was developed with input from focus groups with pregnant women and new mothers in Northern Health communities. Since its pilot in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, and Fort St. James, SmartMom has received a great deal of positive feedback. One mom in the Fraser Lake area said, “The information from SmartMom is better than any other baby app I’ve signed up with. You get very localized information to read versus mass amounts of tips. I like that I can sit down and read just one tip. I am a busy mom with a busy toddler so simple messaging is important for me.” 12

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Mindful of how women juggle multiple sources of prenatal health information, SmartMom aims to enhance the way women use existing resources. “I like that text about making a list [of questions],” said one young woman. “When you have your prenatal appointments, you maybe would feel a bit more prepared with some questions that had been brought up in the text messages – as opposed to trying to think of all the things that you want to ask your doctor at your one appointment. Because it’s not easy to just go in and ask a question, right?” Northern Health care providers are also reporting early success with the SmartMom program. Pene Berthelsen, primary care nurse in Fort St. James, said, “SmartMom is a great service! It has clear messaging for moms to share with their families and their partners. With everyone using smartphones, it is very convenient. I am pleased with this option for self-education. It is empowering for women to get the information on their own.” “The overall goal of the SmartMom project is to support pregnant women and their families to make evidence-informed decisions to improve health outcomes,” said Dr. Patricia Janssen, UBC professor and project co-lead. “SmartMom is intended for women having uncomplicated pregnancies. Messages are meant to complement prenatal advice and information provided by caregivers, not to replace it.” Enrol in the program at smartmomcanada.ca. For more information or questions, please contact SmartMom at smartmomcanada@gmail.com or toll-free at 1-855-871-BABY (2229).

MORE INFORMATION SmartMom was developed by UBC-affiliated clinician researchers (Optimal Birth BC - optimalbirthbc.ca), the BC Ministry of Health, Northern Health, and First Nations Health Authority. SmartMom is being evaluated with support from the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, the Alva Foundation, and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

Sample text messages sent to SmartMom participants.

Curious about what messages you might receive? Here are some examples of SmartMom text messages: Sign up at your local prenatal registry here bit.ly/2aL1zQ7 to get the best possible support and find a copy of Baby’s Best Chance!

Our Sacred Journey is a Pregnancy Passport tailored for Aboriginal moms-to-be. Ask your care provider for a copy or go to bit.ly/2atFAMh

Some women find it really hard to cut down on drinking or drugs while pregnant. Try calling 1-800-663-1441 or visit bit.ly/2aNu6Wn for help

You are your baby’s DJ! Your baby loves the soothing sound of your voice so talk & sing to him/her often. See video @bit.ly/2ajHsV2

Staying active can actually boost your energy, improve your sleep, & reduce your aches & pains! Win-win-win! See bit.ly/2afZs7n

Once contractions are regular, 1st labours last usually 10-14 hours. There are four stages of labour. What to expect @bit.ly/2agutbh

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Healthier You

Take part in a Summer of Wellness! Summer is a great time to grow our wellness. It is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a healthy and fulfilling life. Holistic wellness includes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves. How can you include wellness as you live, learn, work, and play? All summer Northern Health will be sharing health tips, stories, and information on how you can find wellness! Look for these on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, and other channels.

What does wellness mean to you? We want to hear from you! Tell us what wellness means to you to be entered to win a grand prize (see details at blog.northernhealth.ca/summerofwellness). Fill out the entry form below or submit a photo, story, poem, drawing, or video explaining what wellness means to you. All submissions must be made by September 3, 2017. Enter online at blog.northernhealth.ca/summerofwellness

Name: Email: Phone: Community: Your story:

Permission: May we use your photo, video, or story for future promotional use Date: Signature: Please mail all submissions to: Health Promotions, 810 Suite 299 Victoria St., Prince George, BC, V2L 5B8 14

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Yes

communitygranting

TEEING OFF ON TOBOGGAN HILL! DISC GOLF BECOMES A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN FORT ST. JOHN THIS SUMMER Mandy Levesque, Healthy Community Development, Northern Health

Formed in early 2016, the Fort St. John Disc Sports Club set out with the goal of bringing the game of disc golf to Fort St. John. With the support of City Council, the club was able to install a temporary 9-hole disc golf course on Toboggan Hill in July 2016; temporary to ensure that the community was on board and that the location for the course was the right one. Since the installation of the temporary course, the club has seen a rapid increase in interest in disc golf. Over the past year, volunteer club members have donated instruction time and equipment to local schools and organizations to introduce community youth to the sport. What is disc golf? It’s much like regular golf but uses a disc (Frisbee) instead of a golf ball and clubs. Players throw the disc from the tee area towards the target, which is a basket. Each throw begins at the spot where your last disc throw landed. The goal of the game is to get your disc to the target in the least amount of throws, just like regular golf! There’s a major difference between disc golf and regular golf, however: cost. Access to the disc golf course in Fort St. John is free and equipment costs are very affordable compared to other sports. Club members note that with the economic downturn of the region, offering a low cost activity where people and families are able to get outside and enjoy nature while

being physically active is a benefit for everyone. The Disc Sports Club does offer yearly memberships for $20 that are directed towards club events and activities and to support course maintenance. Membership privileges also include a custom-made bag tag, BC Disc Sports insurance, and voting rights for the club meetings. Another difference between the two sports is accessibility. Disc golf is a low-impact sport that can be played by people of all ages and abilities. One of Continued on page 16 FALL 2017

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the club members is able to enjoy the activity from her motorized scooter! With seed funding support from a Northern Health IMAGINE Community Grant in the fall of 2016, the FSJ Disc Club was able to purchase permanent baskets for the course. Club president Clint Warkentin shared a funny story about the day they installed the permanent baskets this May: “On the day of our basket installation, we were informed that there was a bear in the same park as us! The bear hung around all day, following us from hole to hole as we installed the baskets. Police were always near us, making sure we were safe. We never had any close encounters, but it was always on our mind. True northerners, risking our lives for the sake of the community!” The City of Fort St. John has been very supportive of the project and will be partnering with the club to complete the course to include tee pads, tee signs, and course signs. Community members are also pleased to see positive activity taking place at Toboggan Hill, an area that neighborhood residents had felt needed some improvements. Neighbouring communities are also taking part in the excitement that disc golf is creating for the region.

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MORE INFORMATION • FSJ Disc Sports Club: fsjdiscsportsclub.com or facebook.com/fsjdsc “Having a permanent course is really good for the whole Peace Region,” said Warkentin. “There are now courses in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Grande Prairie. The partnership between Dawson Creek Disc Golf Club and our club has really been strengthened and we are continuing to work together as partners (and rivals!).”

healthyaging

HEALTHY AGING IN ACTION:

RICH’S STORY A SENIOR IN QUESNEL SHOWS THE WAY! Vince Terstappen, Health Promotions, Northern Health

He spent his most recent birthday hiking up the Yukon River, packing healthy bag lunches and composing poems on the trail. He does lightweight yoga every other morning and is teaching others how to use yoga to stay active. He has a pull-up bar installed in his doorway and uses it for strength and stretching exercises every day. He lifts weights and is known to lift upwards of 250-300 pounds on occasion.

• Rich stretches every day. For him, “stretching helps both physically and mentally.” • In addition to stretching and balance exercises – key to preventing falls and maintaining independence – Rich includes weights and strength-building exercises into his routine. Much of what he learned as an amateur boxer in his earlier years continues to influence his strength training! • In addition to active living, healthy eating has helped Rich to age well. He describes the grocery store as a “potential minefield” and thinks carefully about the foods he chooses and meals he plans.

And did we mention that he’s turning 96 this September? With a commitment to active living and healthy eating, and a desire to stay connected and keep learning, Quesnel’s Rich McKay leads by example when it comes to healthy aging and maintaining independence as we age. So, how does he stay “fit as a fiddle”? He shared a few tips and stories with us: • Rich’s commitment to staying active and living what he describes as “a pretty healthy life” started young. When he was going to school in Riske Creek near Williams Lake, Rich emerged as the top athlete during all-school championship when students from 5-6 country schools got together every year for a competition before the summer holidays started. Following one of those events, he also decided to race against some older boy scouts just for fun – a race he would have won were it not for a hole in the track that sent him for a couple of somersaults! • Yoga has been a part of Rich’s life for decades, starting when he was a student in the 1930s. It continues to form part of his weekly routine to this day. Rich is also committed to lifelong learning and sharing his skills. He is currently sharing his yoga expertise with several friends. FALL 2017

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youthhealth

SOWING SEEDS OF CHANGE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

MORE INFORMATION • Upper Skeena Development Centre: usdc.ca

Kristine Van Oflen and Roberta Squire, United Way of Northern BC

High unemployment coupled with low literacy rates has left many youth in Hazelton feeling hopeless. Through the funding of United Way of Northern BC, however, the Upper Skeena Development Centre is providing youth with the life skills needed to become successful adults. The program is unique in that it takes a holistic approach to youth development by focusing on connection: a connection to self, others, and the land. By engaging youth and their families in gathering and growing food and exploring traditional and modern teachings, the program cultivates personal, community, and mental well-being. The summer program runs from May to September. Youth ages 17-26 go to a former dairy farm three days a week to learn how to plant, grow, rotate, and harvest food in the large garden and greenhouse. In July, the participants sell produce in a weekly market and help package fresh food boxes that are purchased by the community. Gitxsan Land and Culture Advisor Sally Lavallee said, “We also teach them to harvest food from the territory. Because of poverty, they don’t get to go to the territory 18

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• United Way of Northern BC: unitedwaynbc.ca to harvest so these skills have been lost. Just recently, we picked rose petals and root cambium and talked about their nutritional value. We talk about the medicinal value of plants. We teach them how to use the whole salmon, how to smoke salmon and make jerky.” “We also focus on their mental health,” Lavallee said. “We teach them how to meditate and visualize. While we’re sitting at the river, we ask them to imagine their ancestors pulling cedar. What does it smell like? What are the elders doing? What are they talking about – are they telling jokes? It’s important to connect with our ancestry, regardless of what it is.” If youth have low literacy levels, a tutor is also available to work with them. During the program, youth are shown what programs Northwest Community College has to offer. Last year, four youth participants registered with the college to begin upgrading their skills. Youth Program Coordinator Amber McGrath reiterated that connection is what helps youth succeed: “It’s important that they connect to their sense of self and their community. This isn’t a vacation from their lives, but a way to improve their lives.”

healthycommunities

TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK

IN THE KISPIOX VALLEY SARAH LAZZAROTTO USES HER LOVE OF RODEO TO SUPPORT CANCER CARE IN NORTHERN B.C. Vince Terstappen, Health Promotions, Northern Health

If you’ve been to a rodeo recently, you may have noticed some cowboys and cowgirls dressed in pink. And if you found yourself at the Kispiox Valley Rodeo this summer, you definitely would have noticed someone at the centre of those pink cowboys and cowgirls. New Hazelton’s Sarah Lazzarotto, in her sixth year of fundraising, surpassed $15,000 in total fundraising dollars for cancer care in the Bulkley Valley. I recently had the chance to chat with Sarah about this achievement and two of her passions: rodeo and cancer care fundraising.

about cancer prevention and fundraise for local cancer care. The name comes from the cowboys and cowgirls who wear pink to bring attention to the cause. What I like about it, and why it works so well for me, is that it’s flexible! Where other rodeos might focus on breast cancer, I can keep it more general, which is important to me given my sister’s experience and that of other individuals who were close to me. The actual fundraising varies and may include BBQs, raffles, auctions, and more but a big part is typically selling Tough Enough to Wear Pink merchandise at local rodeos. It sounds like the rodeo community is an important one for you! How did you get involved in rodeo? I grew up in New Hazelton and spent lots of time in the Kispiox Valley. I worked out there, rode everyone’s horses out there, and was part of the drill team and multiple rodeo queen contests. Did you know that Continued on page 20

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What inspired you to start fundraising for cancer care in the Bulkley Valley? When I was eight years old, my older sister was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She was 10 at the time and had to spend a lot of time in Vancouver initially for treatment. I didn’t get to see much of her for a while so it meant a lot to me that she was able to get her follow-up treatments at the cancer care clinic in Smithers. Treatment for my sister’s cancer was successful and my family stayed involved in raising awareness and funds for cancer research and treatment. We would have a team in the local Relay for Life every year but that event was always scheduled at the same time as the rodeo, which is something I love and was involved with at the time! So I asked myself, how can I stay involved in rodeo and get involved in cancer fundraising? I learned about the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign while visiting the National Finals Rodeo in 2011 on a vacation in Las Vegas and it was a perfect fit! I decided I wanted to host a Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day for my hometown rodeo in the Kispiox Valley. It was a way for me to give back while staying involved in rodeo. What is the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign? It’s a nationally recognized campaign – a toolkit, really – for rodeos and western events to raise awareness FALL 2017

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Kispiox has one of the biggest drill teams in Canada next to the RCMP Musical Ride? I worked for the president of the Rodeo Club and was one of the youngest Rodeo Club members, having joined in grade 9. I ran for Rodeo Queen in 2008/2009 and won. I carried my title of Kispiox Valley Rodeo Queen over to the 2010/2011 season, too. In that role, I got the chance to learn about rodeo events, take part in community events, and represent Kispiox at other rodeos. At the time, I lived, slept, and breathed rodeo! For the past three years, I have been living in the city so it hasn’t been as easy to be around the rodeo environment. However, as of this summer, I moved to Quesnel because I missed the small town feel after I had come back from the Kispiox Valley Rodeo. So I’m hoping to get more involved again. Why is the rodeo community such a special place for you? Why did you look there when it came to the chance to fundraise for cancer care? I just love being around the rodeo community! It’s homey and social. You can go up to anybody at a rodeo and have a great conversation. I find the people are always kind and appreciative – in part, I think, because of how much work goes into rodeo. I also simply enjoy and appreciate rodeo as a serious sport. Cowboys and cowgirls practice year-round, just like other athletes. Rodeo is exercise for yourself and your horse, it takes mental discipline, and it leads to new skills – it’s healthy all around and I love watching my friends and others compete or take part in different events! Now that you’ve surpassed $15,000 in fundraising at the Kispiox Valley Rodeo, what’s next for your combined interests in cancer care fundraising and rodeo? I’d love to bring the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign to other rodeos. I don’t like to see a rodeo go without it! I’m currently working with a nice new team to host the event in Smithers. Your successes and passion are inspiring! What advice do you have for others who are looking to support health and wellness in their community? Find something to join and contribute to. And if there’s nothing that ignites your passion, be courageous, go out there, and be the first to do it! Don’t be afraid of people saying no. In my experience, there’s a very good chance that people will say “yes” to a cause that you’re passionate about and that contributes back locally. Everyone will have opinions – remind yourself of why you started what you started and just go with it. Everyone in the world has an opinion and they are great to consider, but don’t let it stop you from organizing an amazing event. At the end of the day, it won’t be an event without you. 20

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It sounds like the community comes together around this event at the Kispiox Valley Rodeo. Is there anyone in particular you’d like to acknowledge? The community businesses are wonderful – they donate baskets for us to raffle, sell our merchandise, offer their services at no cost, host BBQs, and more. In addition to these sponsors and volunteers, I have to say a very, very special thanks to my mom, Liz Lazzarotto, and to family friend Jude Hobenshield, who has been so instrumental in making the events happen over the last six years. Thank you to anyone who has ever supported me because that is obviously a huge motivation to keep going with Tough Enough to Wear Pink. I also love, love, love all my volunteers! I love you all!

indigenoushealth

NORTHERN PRIDE CELEBRATED

AT NAZKO AND JUNE 21 DAY

OF WELLNESS EVENTS 160 EVENTS MARK ABORIGINAL DAY OF WELLNESS Submitted by the First Nations Health Authority

The sun was out and the community hall in Nazko was full on June 7 for a Wellness Day celebration. Many of the Nation’s 200 local members were either involved in organizing the event or attended. As Elders relaxed, chatting away in both Carrier and English, adults walked around visiting the various information tables. Two displays had samples of Traditional medicines in their natural form, dried, or made into tinctures, soaps, creams, food, or tea. Do you have a few aches and pains due to aging? Rub an arnica solution on the area; but be aware that it is poisonous to drink or eat. Labrador tea (also called Hudson’s Bay tea, Haida tea, or bog tea) helps with many things, from digestion to migraines. If added to a bath, it may help with arthritis. Some other Traditional medicines were birch and willow bark, chaga (a fungus that grows on birch trees), various flower tops, and colourful jars of jam. Dora Laurent worked on her beading and had assorted jewellery and beaded bags for sale. Her table was next to a couple of women who had samples of knee braces and orthotics. The College of New Caledonia has a satellite campus in Quesnel and was also on site. Visitors helped themselves to brochures on health programs like Health Care Assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse; educational programs, including Early Childhood Care and Learning; and community programs, such as Social Work. As people milled about, Health Director Tanya Hjorth had several one-on-one sessions with individuals. On the stage (behind a large screen for privacy),

What is Day of Wellness? On June 21 this year, First Nations communities, their partners and the general public celebrated wellness with 160 National Aboriginal Day of Wellness events. The wellness-focused, community-organized events included Cultural Safety Workshops, Run/ Walk Events, Health Workshops, Totem Raising, Sweat Lodges, Hoop Dancing, Weaving Workshops, and Storytelling with Elders, Traditional Medicine Gathering, and more. “We’ve seen great interest in the June 21 Day of Wellness events as an opportunity for First Nations communities to celebrate their health and culture, and showcase the strength and resilience of their peoples and Nations,” said Joe Gallagher, CEO of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). Initiated by the FNHA in 2013, June 21 Aboriginal Day of Wellness events celebrate and showcase community health and wellness as determined and defined by First Nations and Aboriginal communities in B.C. Events are created by communities to celebrate and reflect their diversity, cultures and perspectives. two massage beds were set up, and Tanya could be seen speaking quietly and using alternative medicine with those who were interested in trying this holistic approach to wellness. A rancher from the area who had severe shoulder pain showed up to consult with a medical intuitive. His wife said they didn’t want to drive into Quesnel, 100 km to the east, so they thought Continued on page 22 FALL 2017

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they’d give this a try. Did it work? The rancher gave a thumbs up. Close to noon, kids came from school. They handed their passports over at each table they visited to get stamped for door prizes. One of the longest lineups (and most fascinating to the kids) was the health screening station where everyone had their blood pressure taken. After a delicious lunch blessed by an Elder, it was time for speeches and to introduce the new Mobile Support Team (MST) for Nazko, Lhoosk’uz Dene, and Lhtako Dene to everyone. Chief Stuart Alec officially welcomed nurse Jolene Pagarut and clinical counsellor Adeline Dupuis, who both shared how deeply touched they felt by the generous welcome they received from the three communities they are serving.

Culture Camp in Nazko This summer, Nazko also hosts its annual Culture Camp in August. Their “Find the Joker” fundraiser sold out by early afternoon. Many in the area will attend this family event and enjoy fishing, gathering medicine, and picking berries. Lahal games at the Culture Camp can get loud and intense, as teams distract each other by drumming or singing in order to win. Less boisterous activities include smoking and tanning hides, and joining in Sharing Circles.

Mobile Support Teams provide services, support, and education around mental wellness and substance use, working to ensure culturally responsive care that is community-driven and Nation-based. When requested by communities, MSTs can provide crisis response, education for staff, training on suicide risk awareness and prevention, and capacity building to improve inhospital service provision and discharge plans. “We’re helping where we can, meeting people where they are at,” said Jolene. The MST is funded by Northern Health and the First Nations Health Authority and operates out of Quesnel.

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Chaga, a fungus that grows on birch trees, is a traditional medicine.

healthyeating

RECIPE FOR YOUR BEST BEACH BODY BREAK FREE FROM UNHEALTHY BELIEFS ABOUT YOUR BODY; DIVE IN AND ENJOY LIFE NOW! Flo Sheppard, Registered Dietitian, Northern Health

What’s your favourite childhood memory of summer? There’s a good chance that a beach or lake is part of that memory: lazy days of swimming, building sandcastles, floating in a tube, or lounging with a good book. In childhood, beach time is typically filled with carefree adventure and happiness. Fast forward to adulthood. Beach time is complicated. Many women, and ever increasing numbers of men, express dread and shame when faced with wearing a swimsuit in public, which may result in avoiding the beach, sometimes for years. What contributes to this? Our culture, supported by unrealistic media images, has created an ideal of what bodies, especially “beach bodies,” should look like. Unfortunately, this ideal is not: • Realistic: It is common that media images are tweaked to make models (who don’t represent average men and women) look taller, slimmer, fitter, whiter, supposedly more “perfect.” Since these images aren’t real, how can real people ever achieve them? • Representative: Since 67% of women in North America wear a size 14 or larger, media images don’t represent the majority of women. Do you see yourself, your sister, your friend, your mother, your daughter when you view media images? Check out #everybodysready on Twitter for more representative images of beach bodies.

• Healthy: It is commonly believed that thin = healthy, but this is often not true. Health is influenced by behaviours (like competent eating, moving regularly in ways that feel good, appreciating the body you have and what it’s capable of doing, and practicing body kindness) and can’t be assumed based on one’s size. This gap between the “ideal” and the real leads to bad feelings about our bodies. These feelings makes us vulnerable to ads for products and programs that promise a quick fix, but ultimately fail and move us further away from health. This also creates a culture of judgement. It’s within this culture of judging one another’s bodies as “beach worthy” that our dread and shame develop. For me, it was the summer between grades 6 and 7 that my feelings about my body changed. This was before we understood that it is very normal to gain weight before and during puberty. I was in the middle of these biological changes and was the tallest, most developed girl in my class. A well-meaning older cousin told me I was fat, and that I needed to be careful about what I ate. That was the beginning of my dieting career. I’m fortunate that my education and career path crossed the work of Ellyn Satter, Geneen Roth, Susan Kano, Frances Berg, Evelyn Tribole, Linda Bacon, and Lucy Aphramor. With their support, I have been able to incorporate the principles of eating competence and health at every size into my life. And this has allowed me to regain my positive relationship with food, eating, activity, and my body. Is it time you consider breaking free from unhealthy beliefs about your body? After all, the recipe for a beach body is simple: 1. Have a body. 2. Put on a swimsuit. 3. Go to the beach. Don’t wait to reach that unrealistic beach body; dive in and enjoy life now! FALL 2017

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