Want something fun to do at lunch time? Women in Barriere, B.C., are getting together over the lunch hour on Nov. 9, 2016 at the Ridge to have fun, learn new things, and maybe even win a door prize at the “Getting Together” Event.
Wednesday’s event will include a chance for women aged 16 or older to do something nice for themselves. The topic for this first event in a series of three is “You Matter – Saying Yes to You”.
“It’s a chance to just hang out together and have some fun,” says Grace Baker, the organizer from Yellowhead Community Services. “Every woman’s invited and it is free to everyone to attend.”
“Make a new friend or relax with an old friend. It’s a drop-in so women can come and go any time during the hour. They can bring their lunch if they would like. It’s just a chance for us all to spend some time together and there will be a bunch of fun things to do too” Baker added.
It will be held at the Multi-Purpose room at the Ridge, 4936 Barriere Town Road, Barriere. It begins at noon and is open for drop-ins until one o’clock.
“There will be a ten-minute presentation on “Saying Yes to You” at 12:15pm,” Baker said. “This is a time to focus on you for a few minutes.
The room will be set up so that you can choose what you want to do. For the rest of the time if you just want to chat, that’s fine. If you want to play cards there will be an area for that. There will be a relaxation area in case you just want to rest for a minute during your hectic day.
If you want to learn how to make a great simple piece of jewelry, you can go to the jewelry station and do that. There will also be a self care station that will give people a chance to care for themselves. I got a glimpse at the nail care pile of goodies and I have to say, it looks like fun.
As women, we are often so busy that we are the last ones on the list of things to do. Hopefully this will give us a minute to be a priority.”
Community members and businesses are also participating. “We are so pleased with the support from the community. For example, the IDA Floral Department has kindly volunteered to have a station so that you can make a fall floral arrangement. They’ll be there to help you and give you tips. The best part is that you can take it home with you.”
Baker reports that there will also be information stations for community resources if you are new to town.
“The timing is great because if people want, they can go for a walk together after the session at the Walking Program in the gym at 1:00 p.m.”
This is the first in a series of three weekly sessions. The second session will be on “Family Matters” Wednesday November 16, 2016 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Room at the Ridge.
“We’re doing the second one in the evening so that women who work can hopefully attend more easily,” says Baker.
It will include new information for your family, relaxation, games, a station on doing basic home repairs, and a station on learning to make a quick Christmas craft.
There is an opportunity for people to complete the Ministry of Justice’s Parenting after Separation Online Course which is mandatory for divorcing parents. There will be computers and people available to walk participants through it. Registration is required for this portion. Space is limited. Please call 250-672-9773 to register.
Also, yoga may be available after this second session. Call 250-571-4564 to register for it.
“Tai Chi is also going on that evening so if people wanted to stay, they may be able to arrange to do that as well. It starts at 7:00 p.m. and you don’t have to register. I think there’s just a $10 drop in fee for that.” Baker suggests that for Tai Chi information, people can call or text Jim Cryderman at 1-250-613-5582.
“That would be a great evening, right? Have some fun with friends, learn something, then relax at yoga and finish up with some inner peace at Tai Chi. What more could a person want?” Baker laughed.
The third and final session for this year will be held Wednesday Nov. 23, and will once more be held during the lunch hour at the Ridge. The topic will be “Money Matters – How to Find It, Keep It and What to Do with It”.
This session is loaded with information on money management, finding employment, starting a business, tenant’s rights, how to apply for benefits, child support, budgeting, how to save money when you don’t have any and more. There will also still be fun activities like a station for making Christmas cards, self care, board games, and decorating ideas.
“Once again, the community is really stepping up. The financial part of this session will be presented by the Interior Credit Union.
The IDA Floral Department will be doing a station on a great Christmas decorating idea that people can take home to help save a little cash at Christmas.
Insight Tires is also doing a station on basic vehicle maintenance to try to save us money that way too.
Lastly, but not least, Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach will be doing a station on learning tips and tricks about computer and phone use and there may be a pet care station too,” said an enthusiastic Baker.
If you need childcare, please check with the NTVIC After School Childcare Program. If you are pre-registered with the program, it is $5/drop in. You can contact them at 250-672-0033. Also, the Little Stars Child Care Program or Pre-School Program may be of assistance. To register, call 250-672-9773. If you are involved with the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) the cost of childcare may be covered by them. Please talk to your social worker to arrange coverage.
If you need a ride, some funding is available through Yellowhead Community Services and BC Housing so please call 250-672-9773 ahead of time to arrange for transportation. If you have a Family Support Worker, they may also be able to help.
Baker says the invitation is open. “It’s just going to be so much fun! I can’t wait and I hope to see lots of women there. Come alone or bring a friend... or a bunch of friends but come! Everyone needs a little fun in their life during this hectic time of the year.
If we get a good enough turn out at these sessions, we may run it again next year. It’s sponsored by Yellowhead Community Services Stopping the Violence program so we need to be able to prove to the funders that it is meeting a need for women in the community. Please do come because, in the long run, it will really help women in our community who are having a tough time.”
In the future, this program is also hoping to generate enough interest in other programs as well. They include the following:
- Women’s Self Defense Course (A one day course. Tentatively scheduled for Dec. 10, 2016.)
- “Each One Teach One” Money Matters Workshop (A half day workshop)
- Women’s Substance Use and Relapse Prevention Group (10 weeks)
- “Weaving our Voices” Art Program for Women who have Survived Trauma (four weeks)
To indicate your interest in these additional programs, you can call Yellowhead Community Services at 250-672-9773, text them at 778-586-9772 or email them at info@yellowheadcs.ca. You do not have to have attended the “Getting Together” sessions in order to attend the additional programs. Transportation and childcare may also be available.