WESTMEATH — The Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC) will showcase the links between community vitality, a sense of belonging and people’s health on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The event is one of at least 100 events being held across the province during Community Health and Wellbeing Week, October 19 -25.
The video launch and community forum is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Westmeath Community Hall, which is in the upstairs of the arena.
The WBCHC is one of 109 primary health care organizations across the province and the only Community Health Centre in Renfrew County that delivers medical services in combination with health promotion and community development programs designed to build strong, resilient, communities.
“Feeling like you belong really matters,” said Lara Mylly, Health Promoter for the WBCHC. “That’s why our member centres combine the delivery of medical services with initiatives that strengthen community vitality and make everyone feel like they belong. Research tells us that when people are part of caring communities, and that community makes them feel valued and accepted, they’re more likely to be healthy. We see this every day at our centre.”
The WBCHC delivers a wide range of programs to enhance community vitality and belonging including many community health groups and physical activity opportunities with many local and regional partners.
During the event on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the WBCHC will premiere a new video created specifically to recognize Community Health & Well Being Week. This video is a montage of video clips from interviews with five members of our community. The video touches on several themes including the importance of a strong sense of belonging in our community, the relationship between voting (democratic engagement) and health and views on how the health of our community could be better.
Following the short video presentation, the audience will be asked to respond to the same questions posed to those appearing in the video and to discuss their responses with others attending the event, Ms. Mylly said.
Community Health and Wellbeing Week is co-ordinated by the Association of Ontario Health Centres of which the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre is a member. The Association represents 109 community-governed primary health care organizations including Ontario’s 75 Community Health Centres (CHCs), 10 Aboriginal Health Access Centres, 11 Community-governed Family Health Teams and 13 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. Each is governed by community members which equips them to orient services and programs to community needs.
For a full schedule of Community Health and Wellbeing activities visit www.communityhealthandwellbeing.org
