New Language: Exercise for the Brain

Your brain is looking a little chubby. When was the last time you dedicated some of your time to learning something new? Were you in university, high school? For some of us that might not have been a long time ago. I get it; you're still recovering from those midnight cram sessions. For the rest of us however, it could have been years since we last sat down with a textbook to study, well, anything. While browsing through health magazines we are inundated with how to get physically healthy, lose weight or bulk up. But let’s not forget about our minds.

Click to read more ...

Learning doesn’t begin when we start school – it begins at birth

When most people hear the word “education” they immediately think of school, usually starting with kindergarten. But the truth is, learning doesn’t begin when we start school – it begins at birth. The first few years of our lives are a period of incredible learning and development and by the time we turn three we already have many of the skills and abilities we need to succeed at school. That’s why it is so important to ensure that every child in our community grows up in a healthy and nurturing environment and that communities support families with young children.

Click to read more ...

Ice on Whyte

Community festivals are a great way to promote healthy and safe neighbourhoods in our region. The Ice on Whyte Festival does this by encouraging individuals and families from all walks of life to come together to partake in fun and engaging winter activities. I was fortunate to have been able to attend the weekend festival for the first time with a few friends. I saw amazing ice sculptures, listened to live music and watched as children and adults alike, played on a 17-foot high ice slide - lamenting that I did not think to wear my snow pants.

Click to read more ...

A Hip Way to Fight Poverty

On January 16th the United Way office was buzzing with anticipation. It was the first time United Way held an online auction and no one knew what to expect. We had spent the previous week promoting the opportunity for 24 people to see The Tragically Hip from the luxury suite at Rexall Place through emails and social media and we all were excited to see the auction, appropriately titled, A Hip Way to Fight Poverty take off.

Click to read more ...