Women can expect another great line-up of speakers for the fourth annual Day for Women conference scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2009 in Miramichi. The conference organized by the Women's Wellness Program of the Miramichi Regional Hospital celebrates International Women's Day.

This year's conference will feature keynote speaker Kathleen Cooper, an environmental law researcher from Toronto who will present "All in a Day - One Woman's Choices for Self, Family and Community." Other speakers include representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society who will speak about the "Myths and Truths of Cancer" and the NB Heart Centre that will present the latest information about heart disease. Miramichier Paula Foley will also give a presentation about empowerment titled "Reclaiming Ourselves". The day will end with a demonstration from Yoga instructor Charlene Pearce.

The annual conference provides women an opportunity to be educated on women's issues and listen to informative presentations. The Day for Women will be held in the Highland Theatre at the Miramichi Regional Hospital. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or a personal hygiene product. All items will be donated to the Miramichi Food Bank and the Miramichi Emergency Centre for Women. For more information or to register please call 623-6136.

Labels: Miramichi, wellness, women

To celebrate International Women's Day, we invite you to a Champagne Brunch featuring
"Women of our Community"
Like flowers, we grow

Sunday, March 8th
12 pm
Rodd Miramichi
Call 622-7890 for tickets: $15.00 per person

Celebrating the positives that were achieved!

Guest Speakers:
Pam Ward
Sherri Sturgeon
Kim Drisdelle
Lisa McCormack

And presenting a visualization "a new chapter" by Carol Godin Manuel, registered social worker/psychotherapist and owner of private practice Excellence Harmonye "Motivational & inspirational topics"

Labels: women

World Breastfeeding Week to be celebrated

Miramichi's Baby Friendly Committee in partnership with the VON Healthy Baby and Me program, Family Resource Centres, and Mommies and Tummies will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week during the first week of October through various activities both in hospital and the community. Events planned include participation in the International Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge, an information display, and a gift basket donated to a new mother who has initiated breastfeeding.

The International Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge will be held on Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m., at the Miramichi Atlantic Superstore's Community Room for all breastfeeding mothers in the Miramichi region. The challenge will record the most children being breastfed simultaneously at 11 a.m. (local time) across Canada and the United States. Refreshments and door prizes will be available. For more information about this event, women are encouraged to call the VON Healthy Baby and Me program at 773-7005 or Mommies and Tummies at 622-1524.

An information display will also be available in the lobby of the Miramichi Regional Hospital from October 8-10. The display will include information about the importance and benefits of breastfeeding as well as community support information. Gold ribbons will be available at the display and individuals will be encouraged to wear the gold ribbon signifying breastfeeding as the golden standard as the ideal for exclusive and continued breastfeeding.

A new mother who has initiated breastfeeding with her newborn will also be recognized. All mothers of newborns whom are born during World Breastfeeding Week and initiate breastfeeding will have their names entered into a draw to win a gift basket. The basket will be presented at the end of the week.

Research has shown that exclusive and sustained breastfeeding provides a biologically efficient system that gives nutritional, immunological, and emotional nutrition for normal growth and development during the first year and beyond of a child's life. Breast milk also contains antibodies and other immune factors that help babies fight off illness more effectively.

The Miramichi Regional Hospital and Miramichi Public Health have been working to become a designated World Health Organization (WHO)/UNICEF Baby- Friendly organization.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is an international ten-step program established in 1992 by World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to promote, support and protect breastfeeding worldwide in hospitals and in the community. Miramichi's Baby-Friendly committee has been working with its community partners such as the First Nations communities to meet the required Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

Labels: health, hospital, Miramichi, wellness, women

MYPIE activities for the SME week in October

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH:
Women in Business Luncheon
hosted by the CBDC-Northumberland and NB Association of Women in Business
Featuring Paula Morand with topic on: Developing International Networking

12:00-1:30 pm, Rodd Miramichi River
Cost: $5.00/person
To register: Suzie at 778-2121

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND
FREE Breakfast Meeting hosted by Miramichi Leader
Info session featuring Joe Bonura on Marketing Ideas to turbocharge your business

7h30 am, Rodd Miramichi River
To register: 622-2600 or advertising@miramichileader.com

FRIDAY OCTOBER 24TH
FREE Networking session hosted by MYPIE
“Just because we need to celebrate the end of the SME week”
Something to eat will be provided

5:30-7:30 pm
Mulligan’s Pub (Miramichi Golf and Country Club)
For more info: 622-5255 or
nadine.dunn@ent-miramichi.ca

Labels: business, Miramichi, women

Tickets on sale for third annual Women’s Day conference


Tickets go on sale today at area outlets for the third annual, A Day for Women, a one-day conference for women in the region.

Women of the region are encouraged to attend this one day event being organized by the Women’s Wellness Program of the Miramichi Regional Health Authority in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The Program committee wanted to celebrate the internationally recognized day by providing women the opportunity to be educated on women’s issues and listen to informative presentations. The conferences held in 2006 and 2007 were filled with over 120 women attending each year.

This year’s conference promises to be a great event. A change in venue, a well-known keynote speaker and other informative presentations will round out the day being held at James M. Hill Theatre from 8:30am-3:30pm.

In early January, the organizing committee announced CBC host Shelagh Rogers as this year’s keynote speaker. Rogers is the host of “Sounds like Canada” which airs each morning on CBC radio. She lends her voice to a number of causes, in particular, mental illness, which will be her topic during her keynote presentation on March 6.

During the afternoon of this year’s conference, women will be offered presentations by the region’s own registered nurse Jeanne Breau as she discusses Women and Sexuality. Breau will be followed by registered dietician Margaret Young of Sobeys as she enlightens the crowd on her Ten Tips to Healthy Eating.

Other fun parts of the day will feature a musical performance by Miramichi’s own Paula Foley and a Belly-dancing demonstration by Betsy Squires.

The 2008 one-day women’s wellness conference will be held at the James M. Hill Theatre and this year, tickets will be sold at the cost of $10 per person. There will be no pre-registration. Tickets will be available February 6 at the following locations: Bill’s Quick Mart (Chatham); Books Inn (Newcastle); Miramichi Regional Hospital Gift Shop; Neguac Health Clinic, Rogersville Health Clinic, Blackville Health Clinic, Baie Ste. Anne Healthy Clinic and the Miramichi Medical Day Clinic. Anyone from out of the region who wishes to purchase tickets, or for more information, please contact Stacey at (506)623-6136.

Labels: wellness, women

Women’s Wellness Program partners with nurse practitioners to provide Pap Clinic

The Women’s Wellness Program is partnering with nurse practitioners working at the Miramichi Medical Day Clinic to provide the region’s Pap clinic. The Pap clinic will be held at the Miramichi Medical Day Clinic beginning in October.

“This partnership is a natural fit as these nursing professionals are skilled in performing Pap tests and internal exams,” says Karen Copp, nurse manager of outpatient clinics who oversees the Women’s Wellness Program. She says this new partnership will allow more time for the Women’s Wellness Coordinator to provide community education regarding health issues that affect the region’s female population.

The Miramichi Regional Health Authority has been operating a Pap clinic since 2002. The Pap test detects the presence of abnormal cells on the cervix of the uterus. If abnormal cells are detected early enough and treated adequately, the rate of recovery is extremely high. All women are encouraged to have a yearly pap test. The Pap test can be completed by a doctor, nurse practitioner or at the Miramichi Women’s Wellness Pap Clinic at 627-PAPS (7277).

Labels: wellness, women

Casting For Recovery Canada

The first annual Casting For Recovery Canada event to be held in New Brunswick, this year will be in the Miramichi area during the last two weeks of September. This is a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or have had breast cancer. In previous years the retreats were held in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. Led by Kathryn Maroun, a professional fly fisher, CFRC provides an opportunity for women whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn fly-fishing, "a sport for life"!

Just as importantly, this offers an opportunity for time away, to meet new friends and have fun. We are currently looking for PARTICIPANTS, volunteers and/or donations to assist with the retreat this year. Participation is arranged by an anonymous lottery and requires registration and the time to attend. The event takes place over a three day period, usually starting on Friday. There will be no cost of any kind for participants!

For more information or to inquire about volunteering, participating or making a donation please visit the website at:
www.castingforrecovery.com , call Kathryn Maroun at 416.347.7000 or email:
kathryn@whatacatch.net

Casting For Recovery Canada is holding a 50/50 Draw on Saturday August 25, 2007.

There are two top prizes: first is 1 V.I.P. ticket for the “Country Rocks the Hill” Concert in Moncton on September 1, 2007 and second is a Prepaid Cell Phone from Downeast Communications in Miramichi! Bonus prizes to be announced later!

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at all three Downeast Communications locations in Miramichi and the “Opry Music Store” @ 450 King George HWY at a cost of only $2 each. Tax-deductible donations will also be accepted.

Limited amount of tickets will be sold! Help breast cancer recovery and see a great show at the same time!

Labels: event, fundraiser, women

Second annual conference labelled a success

The second annual women’s wellness conference is being labelled a success by organizers and attendees.

Over 90 women from the Miramichi and surrounding areas attended the one-day conference on March 8 at the Miramichi Regional Hospital in celebration of International Women’s Day 2007. The conference, “A Day for Women” was an initiative of the Women’s Wellness Program committee of the Miramichi Regional Health Authority (MRHA). Health professionals from the MRHA and community volunteers worked together to offer this enlightening day for the second year in a row.

During the conference, the program unveiled its new logo, slogan and pamphlet. The design of the logo is a daisy representing regeneration, new growth and simple beauty while the soft pastel colors represent the strength, elegance and the complexity of a woman's anatomy. The slogan, which was penned by MRHA staff member, Beth Murray is ‘Lifestyle to Health’.

“Again this year, we are very pleased with the outcome of the conference. Seats were filled in just three days and we know all the women who attended enjoyed themselves,” says Jacqueline Poitras, the Women’s Wellness Program nurse and chair of the organizing committee.

“We know now that females in our region want to be informed about health issues. They are interested in health promotion and are being proactive by attending educational sessions that we provide for them. The comments received were positive and these comments will help us plan future conferences,” she added.

“A Day for Women” was made possible by the support of many generous sponsors. A thank you is extended to the organizations who donated to the event.

Labels: event, hospital, women