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.

• Food Security / Community Fridge
• Global Grains
• BU / Assiniboine Clinic
• Student Association Peer Support Program
• Chill on the Hill
• Fill Your Cup
• Wellness Fair
• From Surviving to Thriving Workshops

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 in 2022 as part of a Capstone project. Assiniboine’s ongoing Community Fridge project is a small-scale solution promoting food sharing to address food waste and food insecurity issues amongst students.

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 grateful to Mindful Employer Canada for their grant funds over the last two years that we have used at Food Rescue.

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 regularly and includes staff, Students' Association members and student volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, please email [email protected].

Global Grains

Empowering Assiniboine's international students with the knowledge and skills necessary for food security.

Thanks to Healthy Together Now, we are pleased to announce Assiniboine’s first Global Grains initiative. Our 2024-2025 project in partnership with Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) aims to empower Assiniboine's 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 aims to enhance international students’ wellness by fostering resourcefulness, meal planning, nutritional awareness, and a sense of community through engaging activities. This project involves focus groups/town halls, creating a cookbook, meal planning workshops, grocery store tours, cooking classes/demonstrations and various resources related to food security.

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BU / Assiniboine Clinic

Offering medical services to Assiniboine and BU students every Wednesday.

In partnership with Prairie Mountain Health and Brandon University, Assiniboine or BU students are welcome to attend medical clinics with Nurse Practitioner Berly Belsar-Lawrence at either campus rotating between BU and Assiniboine 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, birth control, LGTB and trans health services, STI testing and chlamydia and gonorrhea treatments, and referrals.

For more information or to book an appointment at the BU clinic, email [email protected] or call 204-578-4800. Medical clinics can also be found on the Assiniboine Students' Association's events page.

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Student Association Peer Support Program

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

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Chill on the Hill

Creating a welcoming environment, fostering a sense of belonging, and learning about resources at the North Hill campus.

Suicide Prevention Implementation Network Brandon have sponsored this initiative for the last two years. 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.

Student Success Advisors and external supports were in attendance and shared valuable information. The following community organizations joined us during the 2023-2024 school year: Huddle (December), Men’s Resource Centre (January), Brandon Friendship Centre (February) and Westman Crisis Services (March). Incentives included free pizza and draws for various prizes thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk, the Assiniboine Students' Association, Assiniboine’s Marketing department, and Recruitment department.

Fill Your Cup

Replenish your stores of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in January.

This is an annual wellness event that began on Blue Monday (January 15, 2024) and ended on Bell Let’s Talk Day (January 24, 2024). There were over 30 events and/or activities including the Wellness Fair, therapy dogs, Myofix massages, Bell Let's Talk campaign, Assiniboine Students' Association Student VIP visits and Students' Association breakfast.

Seven campuses/sites were involved: Victoria Avenue East, North Hill, Parkland, Winnipeg, Southport, Morden, and Neepawa. More than 1200 students and staff participated. Thanks to all those who made Fill Your Cup a success including Bell Let’s Talk, Assiniboine Students' Association, Indigenous Affairs, Financial Aid & Student Life Officer, Learning Commons Admin Assistant, Student Success Advisors, CLI, Dana Hospitality and our organizing committee.

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Wellness Fair

Bringing local resources and organizations to staff and students.

As part of Fill Your Cup, the January 2024 Wellness Fair brought representatives from sixteen different community organizations in the new Students' Association Crossroads area. Various organizations gathered to share wellness related resources with students, staff and each other.

In attendance this January: Assiniboine Accessibility Committee and the Disability and Neurodiversity Club, Assiniboine Indigenous Education, Assiniboine Learning Curve, Assiniboine Students' Association, Addictions Services, Brandon Bear Clan, Brandon Friendship Centre, Huddle, John Howard Society, Manitoba Possible, Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, Neil Squire Society, Sexuality Education Resource Centre, Suicide Prevention Implementation Network, Westman Crisis Services and Westman Immigrant Services.

It was a great opportunity to connect students and staff to various organizations promoting wellness in our community. The wellness fair is free and open to all Assiniboine staff and students.

From Surviving to Thriving Workshops

Building resilience and planning for stressful situations.

Mindful Employer Canada has sponsored this initiative for the last two 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. Workshops were offered during lunch breaks in November and in January. Sessions were offered in person at the Vic Ave East campus and via Zoom for all other campuses and sites.

I feel so grateful for the incredible opportunity provided by our mentor Mireille, whose rich experiences have been an invaluable source of inspiration for me.

- Student participant