Around the Regions

Western

Heart Smart Restaurant Volunteer Training Workshop

A volunteer Training Workshop was offered by the Western Heart Health Coalition and the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Corner Brook on November 16, 1999. Twelve volunteers attended the one day workshop at the Mamateek Inn. The volunteers started in February visiting restaurants from Port Aux Basques to Cow Head. It is hoped to see this program throughout the Western Region by the end of the Year!

Thanks to all the volunteers and the St. John's Heart Coalition for their direction and for sharing the Heart Smart Restaurant Volunteer Training Manual.

Heart Month Activity... A Free Skating Party

During the months of February and March, communities throughout the Western region offered a Free Skate to the general public. These skating activities were sponsored by the Western Heart Health coalition and organized by Public Health Nurses and Nursing Students. Community members and Health and Community Services staff enjoyed being active and received valuable information on preventing heart disease. Blood pressure checks were also offered to those in attendance. Thanks to all who participated in Deer Lake, Stephenville, Port aux Basques and Rocky Harbour. Being active can be fun with friends!

Western Heart Health Promotion Calendar

The Western Heart Health coalition was pleased to offer its first Heart Health Promotion calendar in January 2000. The Calendar was developed to create awareness of the Heart Health activities undertaken by the staff of Health and Community Services Western and communities.

Health Promotion messages are included on this handy Calendar, which can be used to plan Heart Health activities. Community groups, Board Members and the Minister of Health and Community Services, the Honorable Roger Grimes, received copies of the Calendar. Thanks to Arild Helgeland for his technical support on this project.

Western Launches Smoke-Free Mall Survey

The Tobacco Free Network of Western Newfoundland, in cooperation with the Valley Mall in Corner Brook, coordinated a Smoke-Free Mall Survey during National Non-Smoking Week, January 17 - 23, 2000. Survey response was excellent with approximately 315 surveys completed by Valley Mall shoppers. The results of the survey are being analyzed and will be available in the near future. A special thank-you is extended to the Western School of Nursing for their assistance and support with this project. The Tobacco Free Network in Western would also like to thank the St. John's Heart Health Coalition whose experience and expertise was very useful in conducting the survey.

Shoppers at the Valley Mall in Corner Brook were asked the

question, "Do you want a smoke-free space to shop and enjoy a

meal at the food court?"

Women and Heart Disease Seminars...

Women and Heart Disease Seminars were held in the Western Region during the months of February and March. Information for the seminars was developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation with funding provided by Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company.

Three of the Seminars were held in Corner Brook and Daniel's Harbour, featuring a presentation on Women and Heart Disease followed by a question and answer period. Fourth year nursing students Janet House and Stacey Ryan, and Public Health Nurses Rhonda Terry and Vera Lynn Alteen, planned and facilitated the Seminars.

These events were successful in highlighting the issues around the prevention of heart disease for the eighty people in attendance.

Lunch and Learn Series in Western...

To celebrate Nutrition Month, Regional Nutritionists Stephanie Buckle and Lesley French offered a Lunch and Learn Series to the staff of Health and Community Services Western.

Six sessions were offered whereby staff had the opportunity to try recipes from the new "Great Food Fast" cookbook. This event turned out to be a wonderful way to promote the message that healthy eating can be fun, fast and easy.