News

Parent Cafe’s are an opportunity to connect with other parents. Which is important now, more than ever.  Parent Cafés are emotionally safe spaces where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to help strengthen their families.  These will begin as soon as it is safe to do so.  Please take the Parent Cafe survey to help us plan for the best time.

Parent Cafe’s Survey Link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PGYRC2D

Vitality Cafés are peer-to-peer guided discussion groups that use the six Vitality Domains and empowered engagement techniques to help participants come up with strategies to improve their overall holistic health.  Vitality Cafe’s will be offered virtually at first.  Please take the survey to help us plan for the best time.  

Vitality Cafe’s https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/62PR65L

Virtual Winter Wellness at the Carmangay Library will begin in January.  Watch for posters and on their Facebook page for details. Prizes to be won.

Skating  – Champion has their outdoor ice open. Please skate with your own households and respect space from other skaters.

Fundamental Digital Literacy Skills:  Online Privacy – Chinook Arch Libraries in January. Check your local library website or chinookarch.ca and go to Events.

Posters

Snow Angels – Be a Snow Angel in your neighbourhood. If you have a shovel and see someone’s sidewalk not yet cleared, pitch it and help a neighbour out.  You are also helping the people who want to get out and walk safely, free from ice.  You can also sign up with FCSS at 403-485-2192. We will be out of the office until Jan. 4 but you can try us on Facebook messenger.

Fireworks – Vulcan Recreation presents New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Dec. 31 at 7:30pm Vulcan Arena parking lot.

Read With Me – Ages 3-6

Ages and Stages – Development for kids 0-6years

Building Fine Motor Skills for ages 3-6

January programs at Greater Foothills Family Centre

More programs from the Family Centre

Kids in Motion – Ages 3-6

Glow – For girls 9-12

Winter Reading Challenge through Chinook Arch Libraries

MCG Careers – Job Searching During Covid

MCG Careers – Interview Skills Workshop

MCG Careers – “Linked In” Create and Advance Your Online Presence

65 years or older? Join a research study about games created to help keep your mind vibrant.  Must have an android device.

Triple “P” parenting courses online for parents of all ages https://www.triplep-parenting.ca/alb-en/find-help/triple-p-online/?itb=4dcfbc057e2ae8589f9bbd98b591c50a

Top Parenting Tips for School Life during Covid

Balancing Work and Life during Covid

First Nations Health Consortium December Newsletter

Vulcan Library is open for Curbside Pick-up

December 14-January 12

Monday 10-3

Tuesday 10-5

Wednesday Closed

Thursday 10-5

Friday 10-3

Resources

Al-Anon Family Group -meetings as needed. Contact Betty W. at 403-652-8285 for information.

Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society and Vulcan and Region Family and Community Support Services will be closed from Dec. 24 at 12pm – Jan.3.  If you are without food, there are Emergency Hampers at the Vulcan Hospital 24 Hour Reception.

There is also a new Give-and-Take Pantry For anyone in need of food or for anyone to drop off donations. Please only take what you need or donate unopened goods that have not expired. Outside the Vulcan Library.

Mental Health Support  Help Lines

Family Ties Association Clinical team can provide subsidized counselling. Currently the service is available through Zoom.  Referrals can come from the FCSS office or clients can call Family Ties directly and ask to speak to Clinical Intake at 403-320-8888.  We ask that the clients pay what they can.

Online resources:

–      https://www.anxietycanada.com/articles/covid19-balancing-public-health-and-mental-health/

–    Online Mental Health Resource from the U of A – a newly developed online mental health resource that provides tools for families and individuals.   http://www.comhs.health/  this is postponed until January 2021

Text4Hope – Incoming positive daily messages.  Text COVID19HOPE to 393939 to subscribe.

Caring Connections Program by Wild Rose Community Connections  

Contact us at 403 437-4984  Phone or text        Monday – Friday 10:00 – 5:00   or by email at  [email protected]   Emotional Safe Spot for anyone feeling disconnected, alone or just need to chat.   

Help Lines 

Mental Health Help Line: 24 hour- 1-877-303-2642

Distress & Suicide Prevention Line of Southwestern Alberta
1-888-787-2880 Lethbridge and Area

Distress Centre: 403-266-HELP (4357) Suicide Prevention

Family Violence Info Line: 310-1818

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437

Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence. Call or text: 1-866-403-8000

AADAC Help Line: 1-866-332-2322  Addictions

Alberta Health Link:  811 or 1-866-408-5465

Alberta Info Helpline: 211  – connects you to community and social services in your area 24 hours a day in over 150 languages.

Income Support Contact Centre 

Albertans can call the Emergency Income Support Contact Centre 24-hours-a-day to get help in an emergency for basic needs like shelter, food, clothing and transportation.  1-866-644-5135

Canadian Red Cross: 24 hour disaster services – 1-888-800-6493

Vulcan Community Health Center (Hospital): 403-485-3333

Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477

Vulcan RCMP Detachment: 403-485-2267

Poison Control: 1-800-332-1414

Article by Dr. Jody Carrington about her family getting Covid-19.

The mental and emotional toll that comes with contracting this virus is just as bad, if not worse, than the physical. There is an astounding amount of shame, guilt and fear associated with contracting Covid, and we need to be talking about it more. When you are surrounded by good people, you will be surprised by their grace and kindness, and you will rise. I would have very likely fallen apart on day three if it weren’t for this community holding us up. The love and support we were shown reinforces what I already know: We were never meant to do this alone, and I have never been more confident that we are #bravertogether. 

Pandemic and Isolation Stress

This is stressful for everyone. And it is not short-term stress, we have been in this pandemic for a long time and new lockdown restrictions are a stressful blow to almost everyone.  Not being able to be with your loved ones at Christmas and being further isolated from connections and support is going to take a heavy toll on everyone’s mental health.  When you do not get a break from stress, it becomes toxic stress that affects your physical health as well, because your brain is telling your nervous system that it is constantly under threat.

It is important to take charge of the stress so you can get through this long term.

1. Acknowledge that the stress is real. Comparative suffering is not helpful, “I am better off than Mary because she can’t see her sick husband who is battling cancer, so I shouldn’t complain or ask for help.”  Suffering is suffering and knowing that your stress is making you snap at your spouse or drink too much is still real to you and your brain. Just being aware of it and going easy on yourself allows you to take away some of the power the stress holds over your emotions.
2. Forgive others. Remember they are stressed too.  Everyone is trying to process this new reality to make sense of all the new information coming at us.  If they react poorly to a situation, take a breath and try to think, maybe they are having a hard day too. If people are being opinionated or insensitive, remember that your experience and their experience might be totally different and going on the attack is not likely to change their mind.  You might help yourself more by just sending them good thoughts for understanding than to actually engage in a confrontation.  We all tend to find the information to confirm our biases rather than seek to understand more about the other side of an issue.
3. Take care of your body. Sleep is a big one.  Your body is better able to cope with stress if you are getting a good night’s sleep (at night, not all day).  Pick a get up time and a go-to-bed time and stick to it.  Make a routine to make it work better for you and lessen your restless mind.  Have a warm bath, read an interesting book, try meditation or make a gratitude list of small things before you go sleep.  But give up the screen time, phones, tablets and TV’s that will disrupt sleep before bedtime.
4. Choose healthy food. While many of us turn to comfort food and Netflix, what our bodies need to cope with stress is a balanced diet of real food.  Your mother was likely right, you need to eat your vegetables.  Make sure you are getting your daily servings of vegetables, fruit, grains and protein before you dip into the snacks so you are not tempted to overeat.
5. Exercise – Not only is it good for your body, it also boosts your mood. Exercise is good stress and can reset and refocus your brain.  Put on some cheerful music and get moving: dance, stretch, lift, jump, walk or run.
6. Find things that you can control and that you enjoy to “fill your bucket.” Make an effort to make some moments special, even if you are alone. You are worth it.

Furniture Villa is doing a cool thing to support local business….from Facebook

With the new strict restrictions that our government has put in place, we know that times are going to be tough for a lot of our amazing local businesses in the Vulcan County. We at Furniture Villa are strong believers in supporting the local business community, and as such we are starting our “Bring it Home” campaign as a way to help support others in the community.

Here is how it works:

From now until December 31st (or we reach $5000 converted), bring in a gift card to a “Big Box” store and trade it in for a coupon of equal value to a local Vulcan County business that has been affected by the new restrictions.

A few conditions apply:

1. The gift card balance must be verifiable.
2. You must leave your name & contact information.
3. Coupons will only be accepted at the single designated business of your choice, from the list of participating businesses.
4. Coupons valid starting January 2nd.
5. See store for details, other conditions may apply.

Here are the participating businesses:

Hair by Jordyn Cornet

Kona Fitness

Mind Meld Massage Therapy

Vulcan Yoga and Wellness

Vulcan Art Studio

The Hair Hut

Mama’s Pizza

Center Street Eatery – Arrowwood, Alberta

Mossleigh Bar N Grill

Aspen Crossing

Clever Scoops

The Great Full Cup

Lynn’s Place

Village’s Bistro

New Club Cafe

Amy’s Family Restaurant

Denver’s Diner

Milo Hotel/T’s Saloon

Lisa Blair’s Beauty Room

Habitat Lifestyle Boutique

Full Motion BodyworX

ASANI Healing

Bodyworks Fitness Centre

Nails and Hair By Robyn Mears

Lori Gair

Community Liaison

Vulcan and Region Family and Community Support Services

Phone: 403-485-2192 ext. 103

Email: [email protected]