The 16th annual Health and Wellness Fair is back in Parksville on April 9 with a healthy lunch, interactive demonstrations and more than 75 exhibitors.
This year’s theme is “Accessing Your Community,” which featured speaker Dan Bauer will address directly.
Bauer is executive director of the Accessible Wilderness Society in Campbell River which has recently received a grant to make a park accessible to people with mobility restrictions.
Parksville’s Measuring Up Committee is working with this group and are following their progress closely.
Due to the ongoing success of the fair, which attracts people from across the region, they expanded to the neighbouring building and Bauer will speak in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre Forum (where city council meetings are held) at 1:15 p.m.
For more on the Accessible Wilderness Society check www.awsociety.org.
Along with Bauer and the information and demonstration booths, there is also a full list of speakers on a wide variety of topics including Doreen Bakstad on Laughter Yoga, Kerri Isham and Lesley Stedmon on sexual health after age 60, Anne Turner on art therapy, a report from The Hand on youth collaboration in the community, details on the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital renovations, a report on how friendly local communities are for people with mobility challenges and a children’s story time.
Organizers say there will be a community-wide array of companies and volunteer organizations with everyone pitching in to make the day a learning and networking opportunity.
The exhibits offer a chance to find out about local home care and support services, care facilities, interesting products for healthy living and exercising, healthy food and snacks, water filtration systems and more.
Lisa Leger, one of the organizers, said one of the best things about the fair is that it provides opportunities for discussion among community members.
People who attend can make their views known on issues like our local environment, seniors driving, the health clinic plans, gaps in services and how to make this area more healthy, vibrant and sustainable for everyone.
Admission is free and there is plenty of fun, food, samples, prizes, entertainment, information and fellowship to be found. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9.
More details at www.vividliving.ca.
writer@pqbnews.com
