Around the Regions

Labrador Heart Health Coalition

Heart Month Events in Labrador

• In partnership with the local Recreation Department and fitness center, the Labrador Heart Health Coalition Core Group held various community events to mark Heart Month, including: Ticker Tom Day, Lunch-time Skating, Low-Impact Aerobics for Seniors, and D.J. Night with Heart Health and The Body Firm.

• The Heart Smart Restaurant Program Inservice for Volunteers was also launched during Heart Month and the exciting news is that four more restaurants in the area are now Heart Smart.
• The Kick the Nic Smoking Cessation Program for teens was offered in Labrador West in February, 2002, another initiative which has proved to be very successful.
• Other events held during Heart Month to promote heart health included: an Anger and Stress Management Workshop, public service announcements on the radio, and the printing of heart health tips on employee pay stubs.
• In Sheshashiu, the Diabetes Program started the new year with the formation of a Healthy Living Group. The group meets every Thursday night to discuss topics related to healthy eating and healthy living, and they also have a quick weigh-in. The sessions have gone very well so far with 15-20 participants attending each Thursday night. An exercise night is also planned at the gym for Wednesday nights. During the month of February, one night was dedicated to Heart Smart Cooking and a discussion around women and heart disease. The night was a great success and everyone enjoyed the new healthy recipes provided.
  On another healthy note, Sheshashiu also recognizes the importance of a smoke-free work place. The Sheshashiu Band Council recently implemented a smoke-free policy in their buildings.
• The health staff of the Mushua Innu Health Commission in Davis Inlet celebrated Heart Month with a Heart Health/Diabetes Awareness Fair. The Fair consisted of eight booths with display boards in both English and Innuemium, along with blood pressure checks and glucose testing. During the Health Fair, which was held in a Davis Inlet school, the children participated in Ticker Tom activities in the middle of the gym. We would like to thank the staff of the school for organizing the Ticker Tom events. A good time was had by all and we look forward to holding another health fair next year.

A Born Non-Smoker Campaign

Since February 2002, there are many more healthy hearts in the Labrador Region. The celebration of Heart Month started early as the Labrador West Heart Health Coalition coordinated the “A Born Non-Smoker” campaign during National Non-Smoking Week.

As a result of this initiative, all babies born in Labrador this year will be presented with a specially designed baby t-shirt inscribed with the slogan “I’m a Born Non-Smoker”. Parents of the newborns will be provided with a package of information on the health effects of exposure to second-hand smoke and the ways to protect children from it.

A Fond Farewell

The Labrador Heart Health Coalition would like to thank Leila Gillis for all her work with the Coalition over the past seven years. Leila was with the Labrador Heart Health Coalition since it started and remained in the role of chair or co-chair until 2001. She will be greatly missed. We wish Leila the best of luck in her future endeavours.