Speakers at parent retreat provided helpful tools

By Joan Janzen

KINDERSLEY - Clearview Community Church was a popular venue on Monday, February 10th, as people braved the cold weather to attend the 2nd Annual Parent Empowerment Retreat. Although there were a few cancellations due to the extreme cold, the parking lot and streets were filled with vehicles.

The event, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and West Central Play Mobile Inc, included three guest speakers as well as networking displays featuring different services and organizations. Lunch was provided by Jackie’s Delicious Delights.

Dr. Gillian Mandich, a Happiness Expert, was the keynote speaker at the 2nd Annual Parent Empowerment Retreat, held at 819 Main Street, Kindersley, on February 10th.

The retreat began with Keynote Speaker Dr. Gillian Mandich, a Happiness Expert, coming to the podium. “Our brain wants to take the path of least resistance,” she said. She advised her audience, saying, “Don’t seek happiness; see happiness. It takes effort and focus.” She included helpful tools such as exercise, cultivating a happy mindset, getting sufficient sleep, and staying connected.

Dr. Mandich reminded her listeners that happy people are healthier, have a stronger immune system, and live more fulfilled lives. A quote she gave was, “It is normal, healthy, and a good thing to experience the full range of the emotional experience.”

The next scheduled speaker was Brianna Dellezay, a Behaviour Analyst, who pointed out that behaviours always have a reason behind them. She described behaviours as a means of communicating, and it’s important to develop the why and rationale behind them.

Carmen Ledding from the Canadian Mental Health Assoc. (CMHA) finished off the afternoon by focusing on well-being, balance, and resilience. She shared a wealth of tools to help those present focus on progress, not perfection. She defined anxiety as figuring out what’s inside your control and what’s not and stressed the importance of relationships that sustain us, even as we age.

Chantal Palynchuk attended the retreat and said, “I appreciated how all three of the speakers gave practical examples of how to prioritize ourselves in our daily lives so that we can be a better caregiver to others. The goal is to thrive, not just survive. We can’t pour from an empty cup, so we need to make the effort to take moments in our day to look after our personal needs and seek happiness so that we are more patient, kind, understanding and present with our loved ones.”

The retreat combined learning and connection while empowering those present with effective and practical tools for their day-to-day living.