Wired for Connection - The Pathway to Resilience
About this conference…
The annual Healthy Communities Conference provides a forum for people to exchange information and to learn and share ways to promote health and wellness throughout Southern Health-Santé Sud communities.
It is our pleasure to host the 22nd conference for 2021 in Morden as a kick-off to our eventful Mental Health Week in May. Our conference planning committee has worked very hard to bring you a virtual conference experience like no other – filled with impactful workshops, programming ideas and follow up resources all from the comfort of your home or office.
We anticipate that all of us will be able to connect to the conference theme in some way. Most people, regardless of culture, profession, work settings, life stage and age, experience feelings of loneliness. We are all wired to be connected. The conference offers ways to withstand the inevitable struggles of life, to find meaningful help and to gain the connections we all desire and need.
Conference Keynotes
Wired for Connection:
The Pathway to Resilience
Carolyn Klassen
As human beings, we are wired for connection. We need relationship like we need food, water and oxygen. We all do better when we are in close and meaningful relationship with others. COVID-19 has been the obvious interrupter of connection in our lives and it joins other factors that were creating distance long before the virus came. As we recognize these factors that create distance, we can better move forward to enhance the relationships in our lives. Close and meaningful relationships are the conduit to resilience.
Carolyn Klassen is a therapist at Conexus Counselling in Winnipeg. She has a BMR(OT) from the University of Manitoba (U of M) and an MA(MFCC) from MBBS. Carolyn taught for years at the U of M. She speaks widely about the healing power of connection, including a weekly interview on CJOB with Hal Anderson. She has authored several books such as one about the pandemic, “What is Mentionable is Manageable.” She is married with eigth children and a recent grandmother.
Rethinking Self-Care to Foster Connection and Build Resilience from the inside Out
Jeanette Bronée
What does it take to thrive in 2021? A key factor is to learn to cope with the loneliness and isolation on a global and local scale and adapt to the changes in our work-life culture.
At the core of a thriving resilient human is our need for belonging and connection. By rethinking self-care, we can reconnect with our personal power and inner resilience and learn how to be more adaptable by taking charge of our physical, emotional and mental health.
Jeanette is a Rethinker, Culture Strategist, Global Keynote and two-time TEDx Speaker, Author and CEO & Founder of Path for Life® Inc. She helps companies and their people bridge the wellness gap by rethinking performance, engagement and culture so they can prevent burnout and create better results.
She speaks, coaches and consults about how to create better relationships and engagement in the work-culture. She has spoken at the United Nations and delivered TEDx talks, keynotes and workshops at conferences and corporate events around the world to facilitate change in our relationship with mental health and wellbeing at work.
Website: http://www.jeanettebronee.com
blog: http://pathforlife.com
twitter: @jeanettebronee linkedin.com/in/jeanettebronee
Session Descriptions
📅 Community Connections: Managing Loneliness in the UK
Presenter: Olivia Field
In recent years, the UK has seen a shift among government, employers and healthcare professionals in their understanding and attitudes about loneliness. Work to tackle the issue is now taking place at all levels. At a national level, they have a minister responsible for loneliness, a national strategy, dedicated funds and many new policy commitments.
Locally, the voluntary and community sector, local government, healthcare systems and others continue to invest in and test new schemes on the ground, from one-to-one confidence building support to bringing communities together to make better use of underutilized spaces. Join this session to hear more about their learning journey.
Olivia Field works for the British Red Cross as the Head of Health and Resilience Policy. Her team develops policy and practice solutions in the fields of loneliness and social isolation, health and social care and crisis response in the UK.
📅 Grieving and Loneliness: Connecting During Times of Grief
Presenter: Mike Goldberg, Palliative Care Manitoba
In this workshop, you will learn about different types of grief, how to support others and have opportunities to talk about your own experiences of loss and support if you chose. We will also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated grief for our community and discuss best practices for taking care of ourselves during difficult times.
Mike Goldberg has been the Community Outreach and Education Coordinator at Palliative Manitoba since July 2015. Mike facilitates bereavement education seminars across the province and is the primary facilitator for Palliative Manitoba’s grief support groups for children (Kids Grieve Too and Teens Grieve Too).
📅 When our wires for connection get disrupted: A focus on immigration and the ADDED impact of COVID-19
Presenter: Heather Robertson
The process of immigration and settlement often disrupts the essential connections humans require for survival. In this session, we will explore the challenges many newcomers to Canada experience and how issues like trauma, change in social status, disconnection from family, friends and social support networks can result in loneliness and disconnection from their new community. Strategies to help newcomers "re-connect" and foster resilience will also be discussed.
Heather Robertson works at Aurora Family Therapy Centre coordinating mental health services and supports to newcomer individuals, families and communities. She has over ten years of experience in the settlement sector supporting newcomers with program development and delivery, psychosocial support, mental health, advocacy and therapy. Heather completed her Bachelor of Social Work (2005) at Univerty of Manitoba and her Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy (2018) at the University of Winnipeg.
📅 When our wires for connection get disrupted: A focus on life transitions and the ADDED impact of COVID-19
Presenters: Dr. Maxine Holmgvist, Dr. Amanda Lints-Martindale
Significant life events and transitions, like moving to a new place, starting a new job, having a baby or becoming ill can impact our ability to initiate, maintain and rebuild meaningful connections with others. In 2020, the emergence and global spread of the novel coronavirus led to unprecedented changes to how we work, parent, provide care and participate as members of a community. Using COVID-19, this workshop will highlight how life transitions and stressful events can disrupt our connections and offer strategies for self-care and fostering supportive relationships.
Dr. Maxine Holmqvist is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Manitoba (U of M) and is a long-standing clinical teacher in the Max Rady College of Medicine. She practices at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
Dr. Amanda Lints-Martindale, C. Psych., is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Clinical Health Psychology at the U of M and Consulting Clinical Psychologist with
Conference Features
📅 Mindful Moment and Moment for Self-Compassion
Presenter: Daphne Andrew Peers
We have many experiences in our life that “matter.” Our ability to pay attention to them may not be as clear or connected as we would wish. Teaching ourselves to pay attention on purpose may help to clear our thoughts, feel more connected and at ease in the moment. Mindfulness meditation is one way of learning to pay attention. In our mindful moment, we learn how we can reduce the negative effects of stress and give ourselves the same kindness we’d give to a friend.
Daphne Andrew Peers is a Mindfulness Meditation teacher with years of experience as a therapist for mental health. In her retirement, she continues to teach Mindfulness Meditation at retreats and for recreation programming.
Schedule
Most session videos will be available to registered conference participants to view post-conference.
9:00 - 9:15 am Welcome and Introductions
9:15 - 9:30 am Video: Lived Experience with Loneliness
9:30 - 10:30 am Plenary Session
Wired for Connection: The Pathway to Resilience
Carolyn Klassen, Conexus Counselling, TedX Speaker
10:30 - 10:45 am Mindful Moment - Daphne Andrew Peers, Mindfulness Teacher
10:45 - 11:45 am
Community Connections: Managing Loneliness in the UK - Olivia Field, British Red Cross
Grieving and Loneliness: Connecting During Times of Grief - Mike Goldberg, Palliative Care Manitoba
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:00 pm When our wires for connection get disrupted
A Focus on Immigration and the ADDED impact of COVID-19
Heather Robertson, Aurora Family Therapy
A Focus on Life Transitions and the ADDED impact of COVID-19
Dr. Maxine Holmgvist, U of M, Shared Health and
Dr. Amanda Lints-Martindale, U of M, Southern Health-Santé Sud
2:00 - 2:15 pm Moment for Self-Compassion - Daphne Andrew Peers, Mindfulness Teacher
2:15 - 2:30 pm
Video coordinated by Robyn Wiebe (interviews) and Morden HCC Committee
Finding Hope in Community Connections - Hear the lived experiences of loneliness across the lifespan and the resources that helped build resilience
2:30 - 3:30 pm Plenary Session
Rethinking self-care to foster connection and build resilience from the inside out
Jeanette Bronée, TEDx speaker, Health and Wellbeing Catalyst, Founder of Path for Life Inc.
3:30 - 3:45 pm Closing Remarks
