MOUNT FOREST – A wellness festival promoting everyday activities that support both physical and mental health is planned for the fall in Wellington North and Minto.
The Lighthouse Festival is being organized by the HOPE (Healthy Opportunities Promoting Empowerment) committee, a community action group made up of social service workers and members of the community.
The committee aims to educate and destigmatize lived experience of those with mental health concerns and their families and caregivers.
The HOPE program works through the Mount Forest Family Health Team (MFFHT).
Elsa Mann, a team leader with the MFFHT Rural Wellington Community Team, announced plans for the festival during the Minto Mayor’s Breakfast in Harriston on April 14.
“We see every day the stresses that exist for people across our region whether they are at work, with their families or even at school,” Mann stated in a press release.
“Not only is the HOPE committee pulling together a variety of healthy and fun activities that everyone can enjoy, but hopefully folks will learn some new techniques to help them with their own stress.”
Mann said event sponsorship packages “uniquely focus on workplace mental health as well.
“Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington has generously donated six one-hour webinars dealing with workplace mental health to support our sponsorship packages.
“Six high-level sponsors can choose from a number of topics for an employee webinar and their choice of an employee wellness break.
“I think this is a timely offer post-COVID that is available to our sponsors.”
Organizers note CMHA Waterloo Wellington has a team of highly skilled and trained educators that offer mental health promotion and education across the region.
There is a wide range of topics available to sponsors including, but not limited to, understanding mental health, self-care, coping strategies, mindfulness, stigma and suicide.
Dubbed The Lighthouse Festival and billed as “a full weekend of locally-sponsored inspiring experiences,” organizers say the event is designed to “Shine a light on wellness.”
The festival will launch on Sept. 8 at 11 am with a barbecue in Mount Forest, featuring local celebrity chefs, followed by a series of fun activities hosted by local businesses and health practitioners.
The event culminates with “Hope Talks” on the following Sunday in Palmerston.
The Town of Minto and Wellington North communities will host wellness activities and have already embraced the theme of the Lighthouse Festival, organizers state.
Hope Talks
Hope Talks, like popular online “Talk events”, will include a series of short, inspirational presentations.
Hope Talks will take place the afternoon of Sept.10 at the Norgan Theatre.
The Lighthouse Festival was originally planned by the HOPE committee for 2020, but stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
