Each year over 4000 Canadians die by suicide. With each loss, families and communities are left to grieve and ask questions about what may have prevented the tragedy. World Suicide Prevention Day is observed each year as a chance to promote understanding of suicide, bring people together, and create hope through action.

All community members are invited to join the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) and Campus Well-Being to observe World Suicide Prevention Day at RRC Polytech. Together we will explore how to promote life through building connections.

Keynote speakers Will Landon and Taylor Behn-Tsakoza of the Youth Action Group for Life Promotion will share with us their life promotion toolkit. Strengthening Our Connections to Promote Life: A Life Promotion Toolkit by Indigenous Youth was developed as a youth-focused and youth-led response to suicide, mental wellness, and substance use in Indigenous communities. We’re happy to welcome Taylor and Will to campus.

Event Details

Date: Friday, September 9, 2022

Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm

Location: Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae 319 Elgin Ave.

Hosted by Ace Burpee, the event will feature:

• Art making activities by Art Beat,
• Light refreshments, and
• ASL interpretation

Register here

Come in person or contact Breanna Sawatzky for information on how to catch the livestream. For accessibility needs please also contact Breanna.

Therapy Dogs are back at Red River College Polytechnic for the Fall Welcome! Come say hello to dogs from the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. They will be attending campuses in Winnipeg, Steinbach and Portage. 

Animal and human interactions can offer many positive health benefits. For example, animals can help decrease our cortisol levels (a stress hormone), lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of loneliness, and help boost our mood. They are also fun to have around and offer us to chance to form unique and intimate bonds.  

Join us for the Fall Welcome, and ease into the term with a visit from a furry friend.  

The Details 

Notre Dame Campus  

Date: Monday, August 29^th
Time: 11:30-1:00pm 
Location: STTC Lobby 

Exchange District Campus 

Date: Wednesday, August 31^st  
Time: 11:30-1:00pm  
Location: Roblin Centre and Manitou a bi Bii daziigae 

Steinbach Campus  

Date: Thursday, September 1^st  
Time: 11:30-1:00pm  
Location: The Fishbowl 

Portage Campus  
 
Date: Wednesday, August 31^st  
Time: 11:30-1:00pm  
Location: Student Lounge Area  

If you have any questions about the visit feel free to reach out to Pamela Villafranca.  

Drop-in Sports 

Enjoy the opportunity to play some of your favorite sports at our weekly drop! Our North Gym is open for lunch hour basketball and pickleball drop-ins! See below for more information:  

Basketball

Monday, Wednesday & Friday, NDC, 11:00am-1:00pm 

• August 3^rd 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 5th 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 8^th 11:00am-1:00pm
• August 10^th 11:00am-1:00pm
• August 12^th 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 15^th 11:00am-1:00pm 
• August 19^th  11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 22^nd 11:00am-1:00pm
• August 24^th 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 26^th 11:00am-1:00pm 
• August 29^th 11:00am-1:00pm
• August 31^st  11:00am-1:00pm  

Pickleball

Tuesday and Thursday, NDC, 11:00am-1:00pm  

• August 2^nd 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 4^th 11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 9^th 11:00am-1:00pm 
• August 11^th  11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 16^th  11:00am-1:00pm 
• August 18^th  11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 23^rd 11:00am-1:00pm 
• August 25^th  11:00am-1:00pm  
• August 30^th  11:00am-1:00pm 

Check back later in the month to find out more information about the fun events we are planning for the fall!

Wellness Events 

July 6^th 12:00pm -1:00pm In-Person Immersive Yoga with Holly* 

July 13^th 12:00pm-1:00pm- In-Person Immersive Yoga with Holly* 

July 20^th th 12:00pm-1:00pm In-Person Immersive Meditation with Crystal Bowl Healing*   

*In-Person events require registration by emailing pvillafranca@rrc.ca    
All in-person events taking place in- The immersion room (GM32, NDC- Mall level just outside the North Gym at NDC)   

Drop-in Sports

Our North Gym is open for lunch hour basketball and pickleball drop-in! See below for more information: 

Basketball– Monday, Wednesday & Friday, NDC, 11:00am-1:00pm  

July 4^th, 6^th & 8th 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 11^th, 13^th & 15th 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 18^th, 20^th & 22^nd 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 25^th, 27^th & 29^th 11:00am-1:00pm 
 
Pickleball– Tuesday and Thursday, NDC, 11:00am-1:00pm  

July 5^th & 7th 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 12^th & 14^th 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 19^th & 21^st 11:00am-1:00pm 
July 26^th & 28th 11:00am-1:00pm 

Virtual Yoga with Holly

• Tuesdays 4-4:30pm   
• Fridays at noon-12:30pm   
• Yoga for all levels   

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU:   
 July 5^th 4:00-4:30pm Register Here 

July 8^th 2022  Noon-12:30pm Register Here 

July 12^th 4:00pm-4:30pm Register Here  

July 15^th Noon- 12:30pm Register Here  

July 22^nd Noon- 12:30pm Register Here 

July 26^th 4:00pm-4:30pm Register Here  

July 29^th noon-12:30pm Register Here  

  Virtual Power Pilates with Sheena

• Mondays 12:15pm-12:45pm  
• Mat based Core Strengthening for all levels   

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU:  

Monday, July 4^th  

Monday, July 18^th 

Monday, July 25^th  

Virtual Circuit Training with Sheena 

• Wednesdays 12:15pm-12:45pm  
• Full Body Circuit for all levels   

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU:  

Wednesday, July 6^th  

Wednesday, July 20^th  

Wednesday, July 27^th  

Join us on June 21st from noon-1:00 pm to participate in our Pride Virtual Film Viewing, with films curated by the mental health team at Campus Well-Being. The film viewing is a space to view short films about pride, gender identity and the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community while engaging in discussion and exploring ways to support mental health. 

Moving beyond simple notions of self-care, our discussion will explore the systems that often place expectations on people. When we talk about mental health and the queer community, we need to challenge stereotypes that support heteronormativity and often “other” folks who live outside mainstream ideals of gender and sexuality. These oppressive stereotypes and ideals can strain the mental health of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.  

During the virtual event, we will watch films that highlight the history of Pride, discuss the importance of community and talk about gender diversity. In addition to the films, we will review and practice different grounding techniques and discuss student resources available at the College. 

The Campus Well-Being team is passionate about inclusivity and is motivated by a vision there everyone feels safe, has access to affirming mental health care, and lives in a world where their gender expression and sexuality is honoured. 

Date: Tuesday, June 21^st 2022 

Time: noon – 1:00pm  

Register Here  

For any questions about the event or accessibility requests please contact Pamela Villafranca. 

Buddy Up is a suicide prevention campaign created for men by men, encouraging us to have conversations with our buddies and to find ways to support our friends if they are struggling with thoughts of suicide. Unfortunately, there are often barriers to individuals feeling comfortable discussing their mental health. These barriers like fear of judgment, expectations surrounding gender roles, or simply not knowing where to reach out can leave people feeling alone and isolated. So, for June, we are highlighting and encouraging a conscious effort to reach out and check in with friends in your circle. 

Men are often socialized to internalize their experiences of stress and emotional pain. This can contribute to learning to cope without a support system or using harmful behaviours to cope. Sometimes men turn to suicide instead of seeking support from others or receiving professional help.  

As a community, when we have conversations about our mental health and check in with our friends, we actively work to combat the stigma associated with mental health. 

All humans go through periods where they may need additional assistance. When we are balancing working, going to school, and navigating the world, we sometimes feel pressures that can impact our mental health. Being able to rely on our friends, family, and service providers when we are having feelings or thoughts of suicide helps to cope with these challenging and scary feelings. 

As part of the Buddy Up Campaign, we will be hosting a Therapy dog visit. Stop by for a chance to discuss the resources available at the College, pick up some Buddy Up swag, and support deconstructing the gender norms that stop individuals from accessing life-saving services.  

To learn more about the campaign, visit the Buddy Up website. The site includes helpful tips to initiate difficult conversations and identify warning signs, and provides a list of national suicide prevention and crisis resources.   Sign up for the “Buddy Up Challenge” for the month of June.

Stop by and say “Hi” to therapy dogs at NDC  

Date: June 23^rd 2022 

Time: 11:30-1:00pm  

Location: Dining Area of the STTC  

This month MindWell has some amazing workshops and classes organized to assist students, faculty and staff find ways to manage and support their mental health, using mindfulness based practices. All workshops and classes are free to Red River College Polytechnic faculty, staff and students. Sign up for a Free MindWell Account to access, and find a class that is right for you!

• Foundations of Self-Compassion   
• Using Breath to Decrease Stress
• Optimize Your Energy  

4 Week Program on Self-Compassion – June 9th

Starting June 9th, join Erin McCarthy, Ph.D. to build your self-compassion in multiple ways in this 4 week foundations class. Including finding way to quiet your inner critic, to find ways to manage our experience of stress and anxiety, while maintaining a compassionate and understand lens towards ourselves and our feelings.

Thursday, June 9th, 12:00pm CST

Register Here

Using Breath to Decrease Stress – Every Friday in June

Our own breath is one of the most effective tools we can use to decrease our stress levels and bring a sense of calm into our lives – particularly during or after stressful situations – so we can perform our best no matter what is going on around us. Join in each Friday to learn how to use your breath as a tool to decrease stress and improve your overall well-being.

Fridays starting June 3rd at 11:00am CST.

Register Here

Optimize Your Energy – Mondays in June!

If it’s true that lack of sleep and lack of movement can both make us feel tired, how do we choose between rest and exercise? As students we may be balancing many priorities at once, which can contribute to our energy levels feeling low, or experiencing a lack of motivation.

Join Lucia every Monday in June to learn how to optimize your energy by learning when to push and when to pull back as you explore the push and pull muscles of the body.

Mondays, at 12:00pm CST.

Register Here

For any questions about MindWell, please feel free to contact Pamela Villafranca, Mental Health Coordinator.

Wellness Events

June 8^th 12:00pm -1:00pm In-Person Immersive Yoga with Holly*

Join us for a full hour-long mindfulness-based yoga class in the College’s Immersion Room (GM32, NDC). Join us for a unique yoga experience, and allow yourself to take a break, recharge, and focus on yourself. Click the link above to register by emailing Pamela Villafranca, Mental Health Coordinator.

June 14th 12:00pm-1:00pm In-Person Immersive Meditation with Crystal Bowl Healing*  
A guided imagery meditation with sound healing to help us find peace within while relaxing to the healing intention and vibration of the crystal singing bowls. l’aura Carrol will guide us into nature and peaceful places to unwind, restore and rejuvenate.

June 22^nd 12:00pm -1:00pm In-Person Immersive Yoga with Holly *

Join us for a full hour-long mindfulness-based yoga class in the College’s Immersion Room (GM32, NDC). Join us for a unique yoga experience, and allow yourself to take a break, recharge, and focus on yourself.  

June 29^th 12:00pm- 1:00pm Immersive Journaling & Meditation* 

The workshop is an experiential workshop where you will be guided through different types of meditation and visualization to relax your body and mind deeply. We will go back and forth between meditation and journaling to process your thoughts and feelings and develop new ideas for simple ways to reduce stress and increase joy in your life. Bring a journal/notebook and something to write with.

*In-person events require registration by emailing pvillafranca@rrc.ca   
All in-person events take place in The Immersion Room (GM32 – Mall level just outside the North Gym at NDC).

Drop-in Sports

Our North Gym is open for drop-in sports! Come play during our staffed hours (call our front desk at 204-632-2399 for day-to-day availability). Otherwise, we have the following drop-in slots scheduled for the month of June:

Virtual Yoga with Holly Pluchinski 

• Tuesdays 4:00-4:30pm  
• Fridays noon-12:30pm  
• Yoga for all levels  

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU:  
Friday June 3rd

Tuesday June 7th

Friday June 10th

Tuesday June 14th

Friday, June 17th

Tuesday, June 21st

Friday June 24th

Tuesday June 28th

Virtual Power Pilates with Sheena 

• Mondays 12:15pm-12:45pm 
• Mat based Core Strengthening for all levels  

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU: 

Monday, June 6^th 

Monday, June 13^th

Monday, June 20^th 

Monday, June 27^th 

Virtual Circuit Training A.B.C (arms, butt, core) with Sheena 

• Wednesdays 12:15pm-12:45pm 
• Full Body Circuit for all levels  

REGISTER FOR EACH CLASS THAT WORKS FOR YOU: 

Wednesday, June 1^st 

Wednesday, June 8^th

Wednesday, June 15^th 

Wednesday, June 22^nd

Wednesday, June 29^th

The following is a guest post by RRC Polytech’s Fitness Coordinator, Mario De Negri.

Doing anything for the first time will seem challenging and intimidating! We might try to avoid doing new things because it might feel uncomfortable. We may have questions like… where do I start? How will I know what to do? Will I feel okay? These questions are all normal thoughts we can have when we enter into places of uncertainty. 

 Interestingly enough, when we challenge ourselves to leave our comfort zone, things can turn out way different from expected. It’s like going on a trip to a new destination. We don’t know what to expect. We might have feelings of fear or nervousness. When we get back from our trip, it becomes a part of our comfort zone, so then we can’t relate to the feelings we had before. We may have never known if we hadn’t tried! 

 Here are some helpful perspective tips to help get you on your journey to physical health and well-being. 

Mind = Body  

Some steps to help ensure success is to visualize each specific action needed to get to your goal. An example of coming into the gym would be to imagine, and maybe you could list the things you need. “I have to get my bag packed with gym clothes and shoes. Then, I’d have to find my way of transportation to get to the gym. Then, I’d have to enter the gym and get changed in the changeroom.” Trying to picture yourself already doing all the steps means you are halfway there in motion. Visualizing our trip to the gym also helps us feel prepared for what we need and allows us to feel grounded in our discomfort.  

Discomfort = Comfort  

Most of the time, it’s more about showing up than it is about feeling the need to do things perfectly. Just attending can bring more comfort to the new environment for moving and exercise. The act of being there will start to feel more normal. Doing simple things like standing, to sitting on the floor and back to standing, repeating those actions can feel uncomfortable at first, but after enough repetitions, we begin to feel more at ease. Then, we can move on to more complicated and challenging movements that could invoke more discomfort, which our bodies will adapt to become comfortable again.  

Weak = Strong  

One of the things we don’t speak about in the gym is that the practice we are doing is trying to make ourselves weaker. In trying to feel weaker, the body will respond, and its response will be strength. The sensations we are experiencing in the gym are our bodies moving into more strength with each time we allow ourselves to feel out of breath or we cannot pick up that object one more time. Embracing our efforts to find where our limits are will transform us into how strong we will become.   

Silly = Serious  

Any new skill we attempt can make us feel silly. That is part of the journey of success. Try to practice being silly a few times in the gym by crawling on the floor, rolling around, or jumping around. The sillier we allow ourselves to be and feel, the response from the body will be a mastery of the movement, plus it will enable us to not to take ourselves too seriously and feel more ok being ourselves. Silly is more childlike and playful. Although it may be termed a “workout”, the gym should be a place for play and for users to feel more like children again. Jumping, crawling, pushing, and lifting are the playful actions we can do to help bring us more in tune with our inner self, which is outstanding work.  

Nervous = Relaxed  

It is normal to feel nervous when going into unfamiliar spaces. Meeting new people, new clubs, and new spaces all bring up some nervousness. However, after a bit of time, we meet others or get more familiar with the space, we can start to feel more comfortable because we know what to expect! Embracing some of the nervousness as your inner wisdom to understand there are things you may not know. As you step into this wisdom to grow and learn, you will relax and be more open to new experiences and essentially a new you. The gym can make us nervous because some things may be new, but the more we try, the more comfortable we will feel using gym equipment and working out in the space.  

Not Knowing = Knowing.  

We know far less than we think we know. Regardless if you have visited the gym 5 times or 30 times, we will always have new things to learn. If you are worried you won’t know something, ask questions, lots of them! Do a simple internet search on one exercise for one body part and practice it. Asking for help is difficult in any situation, so use the gym as a practice tool to ask for help so that it becomes easier to apply that to other areas of your life. For example, you could email us and get a fitness consultation with a simple questionnaire and some direction or book a time to get an orientation on the equipment. On the surface, many people put on a good show, but with every move they make, they experience the same discomfort and challenges we do, which connects us all. Knowing you may not know everything is a liberating and enlightening experience and will open doors to us we otherwise didn’t know. We are all human, and we all navigate through feelings of discomfort. The whole Campus Well-Being team is here for you to help meet you where you are at! 

The following blog is written by Judimar Diotay, 1st year Electrical Engineering Technology Student, at Red River College Polytechnic.

Hello, my name is Judimar. I am in my first year of electrical engineering technology at RRC Polytech. I like to work out and attend the EDC and NDC fitness centers now that the doors have re-opened. I noticed that the gym has been quiet, and the attendance levels have been low. Unfortunately, the college hallways reflect this as well.

I know we are coming out of a pandemic, but it made me reflect on barriers that my friends and classmates were facing that stopped them from heading to the gym.

I decided to do an informal survey to ask my fellow students what was stopping them from going to the RRC Polytech fitness centers. A significant barrier for many of them was related to body stigma and self-esteem. Additionally, my classmates discussed uncertainty about how to use the equipment. Finally, there was an overarching worry about how they would be perceived while working out.

When I heard this message – it gave me flashbacks to elementary school and what it was like to be bullied for being fat. It got worse during physical education no matter the activity -basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. My classmates always told me to sit out of the games. I rarely got to play unless the teacher intervened. So, I could relate to my colleagues’ worries personally, and I knew that I wanted to share their concerns with the Campus Well-Being unit.

It is hard to feel comfortable in a space where society has expectations of what we should look like, and which bodies hold more merit. But I realized early on that I deserve to care for my body just like anyone else and that I deserve to take up space in the gym if that is what I wanted. Body positivity is so much more than just accepting other bodies, but it is also an acknowledgement of the systemic barriers that hurt people who do not fit into these stereotypes. We need to figure out how to combat those hurtful ideas and come together as a community.

I want to share my body confidence principles with you!

  1. Focus on the people who “get it” 

Other people’s opinions about your body are more about them than about you. Focus on the people who cherish you and use that as motivation to focus on caring for yourself in your body. whatever that looks like for you!

  2. What can I control? What is not my job to control?

You cannot fully control what a person thinks or says about you, but you can control who you are and what you are meant to do on this earth. We will have days where our body image is worse than other days. But find the things you can control. Take extra care of yourself and talk to a friend who supports you.

  3. Remember you are loved and wanted

Your family, friends, and people who care love you for who you are and will be there when you need them the most. You deserve and have the right to take up space in this world, no matter what your body looks like. Finally, you can reflect on what your body has done for you. Bodies have helped us navigate the world and create relationships based on so much more than our weight.

  4. Follow Body Positive influencers

Fill your feed up with influencers with diverse body types. You will see all types of bodies working out, living, and wearing the clothes they want to wear. This normalizes different body types, but it also supports people who exist outside of dominant beauty standards.

  5. Be an ally

Stand up for others, advocate for your needs, and challenge body image and beauty stereotypes. Speaking up against injustice is a small step towards creating a cultural shift. Critically think about where the messages about beauty are coming from.

My Closing Message

Rest assured! Individuals who feel they do not belong in the gym hesitate to go. I discussed creating a body-positive and accepting environment at the gym with the Fitness Centre Supervisor and Mental Health Coordinator. Safety and comfort are priorities for the Campus Well-Being unit. We discussed the processes to ensure people feel safe at the gym. There are many supports available, and if you are hesitant about attending the gym, please make sure to contact recreation@rrc.ca. They would be happy to help you with starting your journey at the RRC Polytech fitness centres.

 I hope that this message helped reach someone who may have been struggling with the same issues around body stigma – and that this will encourage them to reach out to someone for support or to try something new. Even though we at RRC Polytech represent a small corner of the world, we can turn this corner into a platform that promotes love and acceptance of an individual’s diversity and create a safe space for all people. We can challenge the norms together that often exclude individuals from certain activities. We can make body stigma and self-esteem issues a thing of the past through our combined willpower and perseverance.

Thank you for reading this, have a wonderful and joyous morning/afternoon/evening.

Sincerely, 

Judimar Diotay