Wellness Initiatives
Assiniboine's Initiatives
Welcome to Assiniboine's Wellness Initiatives, where your health and well-being come first. Explore a variety of resources, programs, and events designed to support your physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Join us in creating a healthier, happier community together.
Ongoing Initiatives
- Food Security / Community Fridge
- Assiniboine / BU Medical Clinics
- Move for Health and Wellness
- Wellness Fair
- Fill Your Cup
- From Surviving to Thriving
- Shop Talk: Men's Resource Centre
- Peer Support
Past Initiatives (2024-25)
Ongoing Initiatives
Food Security / Community Fridge
Reducing food waste and promoting food security.
Land and Water Management Alumni, Sara Madill researched and developed the Community Fridge project as part of a Capstone project. Assiniboine’s Community Fridge project is a small-scale solution promoting food sharing to address food waste and food insecurity issues amongst students. The Community Fridges have diverted more than 4600 lbs of food from landfill since we started weighing the donations and rescued food in April 2024.
The Community Fridge project follows the rules and regulations of The Food Donations Act. The Students' Association regularly contributes to the Community Fridge project. Some Assiniboine staff also donate to the fridge regularly. We have also received donations from The Salvation Army, Food Rescue, and Samaritan House since 2022. Additionally, we are very grateful to Mindful Employer Canada for their grant funds over the last three years that we have used to stock the Community Fridges.
The Community Fridges are located near the Students' Association’s Crossroads at the Vic Ave East campus, near the Cube on Mazergroup Main Street at the Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology campus on the North Hill campus, and in the student lounge at Parkland campus.
The Food Security committee meets monthly September to May and includes staff, Students' Association members and student volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, please email [email protected].
Interested in donating towards the project?
Visit our donation page or leave a cash donation in the gray donation boxes next to the Victoria Ave E and North Hill fridges.
Assiniboine / BU Medical Clinics
Offering medical services to Assiniboine and BU students every Wednesday.
In partnership with Prairie Mountain Health and Brandon University, Assiniboine and/or BU students are welcome to attend medical clinics with Nurse Practitioner Berly Belsar-Lawrence at either campus rotating between Assiniboine and BU every Wednesday. Assiniboine medical clinics are walk-in only in room 234, Victoria Avenue East campus. BU medical clinics are by appointment and walk-in in the Knowles Douglas Students' Union Centre (lower level).
Confidential services include but are not limited to medical prescriptions, contraception, LGTB and trans health services, STBBII testing and chlamydia and gonorrhea treatments, mental healthy support and referrals, minor non-urgent medical issues (e.g., ear infection, respiratory tract infection) and referrals.
For more information see the BU / Assiniboine Medical Clinic or call 204-578-4800. Medical clinic dates can also be found on the Assiniboine Students' Association's events page.
Move for Health and Wellness
Fitness Equipment
Thanks to Healthy Together Now, we a pleased to announce that four campuses that do not have a fitness centre or gym (i.e., Winnipeg, Portage, Parkland, and MICA) now have an assortment of fitness equipment. Staff and students at these campuses are invited and encouraged to use fitness equipment. Let’s get moving for our health and wellness!
Wellness Fair
Bringing local resources and organizations to staff and students. Next Wellness Fair: October 10, 2025.
The Fall 2024 Wellness Fair brought representatives from fourteen different community organizations in the Students' Association Crossroads area. Organizations gathered to share wellness related resources with students, staff and each other.
Fill Your Cup
Replenish your stores of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in January.
This is an annual wellness event that ran from January 20 – 24, 2025. There were over 30 events and/or activities including The Shop Talk Lounge: A Wellness Experience, Bell Let's Talk campaign, Assiniboine Students' Association Student VIP visits and a Bannock Contest.
Seven campuses/sites were involved: Victoria Avenue East, North Hill, Parkland, Winnipeg, and Southport. Thanks to all those who made Fill Your Cup a success including Assiniboine Students' Association, Indigenous Affairs, Bell Let’s Talk, and our organizing committee.
From Surviving to Thriving Workshops
Building resilience and planning for stressful situations.
Mindful Employer Canada has sponsored this initiative for the last three years. This 1-hour workshop developed by Canada Life and Workplace Strategies for Mental Health on Mindful Campuses, involves recognizing stressors, exploring automatic responses to stress and choosing healthier responses to stress. Eight workshops were offered throughout 2024-2025.
I want to thank you for offering your services and attending our class today. The students had a bit of a stressful day today so it was very timely on your part.
I personally want to thank you for your service. I genuinely see the need for wellness supports in students and basically everyone in general. I am always looking for new ideas and techniques.
- From faculty member who organized a Surviving to Thriving workshop for their students
Shop Talk: Men’s Resource Centre
Men's Wellness Initiative
Male identifying students from LECTT and MICA North Hill campus are invited to join representatives from Men's Resource Centre every 2nd Tuesday evening from 5 - 7 pm beginning September 16th at the pool tables in the Link at the East Building, LECTT.
- connect | learn | snacks and beverages will be provided
Student Association Peer Support Program
Peer Support Initiative
A Peer Support involves at least two individuals with shared or similar experience who work at building a relationship towards self-development and growth. This program connects students with peers to help them thrive academically while fostering supportive relationships. Interested in speaking with a Peer Support volunteer? Interested in becoming a Peer Support volunteer?
MORE ABOUT PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM
Past Initiatives (2024-25)
Chalking Inspiration
Creating a welcoming environment, fostering a sense of belonging.
Awareness raised about World Suicide Prevention Day September 10, 2024 with students and staff across Assiniboine campuses. More than 300 students and staff wrote inspiring messages of sidewalks at the Victoria Avenue East, Len Evans for Trades and Technology, Manitoba Institute for Culinary Arts, Portage and Winnipeg campuses.
Can I propose we do this more often? The vibrant sidewalks were so beautiful, and the messages put a big smile on my face. We could all use this daily dose of positivity. Great work to all who organized.
Tools for Life
Creating a welcoming environment, fostering a sense of belonging, and learning about resources at the North Hill campus.
Suicide Prevention Implementation Network (SPIN) Brandon sponsored this initiative. We recognize that being a student involves navigating numerous challenges. We created a space for students to learn about various resources available for assistance and support on and off campus at the Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology campus on the North Hill campus. The following community organizations joined us during the 2024-2025 academic year: SERC (November), Huddle (January), Men’s Resource Centre (February), Brandon Friendship Centre (February). Free coffee was provided thanks to the School of Trades. Prizes, give-aways and resources were offered thanks to SPIN and Bell Let’s Talk.
Global Grains and Fitness Equipment
Empowering Assiniboine's international students with the knowledge and skills necessary for food security.
Thanks to Healthy Together Now that sponsored the first Assiniboine Global Grains initiative in 2024-2025. This project, in partnership with Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) aimed to empower Assiniboine international students with the knowledge and skills necessary for food security through a comprehensive program that includes education on grocery shopping, cooking, and community resource utilization. This initiative aimed to enhance international students’ wellness by fostering resourcefulness, meal planning, nutritional awareness, and a sense of community through engaging activities. This project involved focus groups/town halls, meal planning workshops, cooking Food Adventure Meal Prep lunches and some resources related to food security.
Additionally, four campuses without fitness centres or gyms (Winnipeg, Portage, Parkland, and MICA) now have an assortment of fitness equipment. Staff and students at these campuses have access to fitness equipment.
Thank you so much for an excellent workshop on being a smart foodie. It came just at the right time as I started changing my eating habits to eat a heavier breakfast, followed by a balanced lunch and a light dinner. I noticed a change in my body as my energy levels increased with more focus in classes. I hope it leads to a ripple of positive impacts in the future.
- Meal Planning Workshop participant
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8.