Thank you to all RRC students and employees who dropped by and participated at our ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ Wellness Event last week at NDC and EDC!

The ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ theme was evident by the interaction and participation at our various stations. Over 50 people relaxed at the Adult Colouring station and many took a coloring sheet back with them to finish their artwork! We received rave reviews over the tasty cookies and hot chocolate – what a nice treat on a cold winter day!

Our guest Marc Forrester, from Winnipeg Insight Meditation Group, enjoyed sharing his knowledge! 64 students and employees indicated an interest in finding out more about meditation.

The Therapy Dogs and owners were a special treat. The smiles on everyones faces during their interactions speaks volumes as to the benefits we gain from being around these lovely animals.

There was a renewed interest in what Lifeworks – the RRC employees Employee and Family Assistance Program – has to offer. We navigated the pages within the Lifeworks.com website to find interesting articles, information and tips on a diverse number of topics including quitting smoking, child care information, Will kits, finance sections, where to call to speak with a consultant or counsellor. Click here to access the LifeWorks website.

Look for the LifeWorks posters over the campuses too!

The Wellness Committee will donate 3 books to the Library – The Path of the Yoga Sutras; The Relaxed Mind and The Kundalini Yoga Experience.

Stay tuned for more Wellness Events including the ‘Get Movin’ Challenge’ for the month of February.

Finally, Congratulations to the prize draw winners!

‘How to Meditate’ books – Paul Brady (NDC) & Judyta Szacilowski (Roblin Centre)
Adult Coloring Books – Gurpreet Kaur (NDC) & Virginia Wark (Roblin Centre)

Thanks for your participation! The Wellness Committee

Calm mind brings inner strength & self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health – Dalai Lama

 Join the Wellness Committee on January 21 at NDC and January 22 at Robin Centre where you can de-stress and rejuvenate for 2016. 

Meet us in the hallway for hot chocolate and cookies, and while taking a break from the computer screen, you can unwind and clear your thoughts with a favorite pastime, colouring…

Yes! Research has shown that colouring for adults is a great way to reduce stress and clear your thoughts.   

After colouring, wander over to meet our meditation expert who will share with you the proven scientific benefits of meditation: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Next, visit Lifeworks.com, the RRC Employee and Family Assistance Program website to navigate and find resources to help in managing stressors in your work and personal life.

 End your break by visiting our therapy dogs who will brighten your day and lift your spirits!

 Staff and students – please drop by!

 January 20, 2016 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – NDC Library Hallway

January 21, 2016 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Roblin Centre Atrium

For more information, contact wellness@rrc.ca.

Dig out your ball and glove and come out for a fun and friendly competition at the 9th annual Red River College’s Staff Co-ed Slow-Pitch Community Event!

You can register as a team or register as an individual and be placed on a team. Teams consist of at least TEN players and must have a minimum of FOUR females playing in each inning. Every team can play up to three games.

The event takes place on June 4th from 9:30am to 4 pm at the John Blumberg Park ball diamonds, at 4540 Portage Ave. Registration is available from the RRC Wellness Blog page or by contacting “Super” Mario De Negri (mdenegri@rrc.ca).

Each player must contribute $15.00, which covers park fees, use of equipment, and a lunch. Please state if you are a vegetarian in your registration. This will also get you one raffle ticket to win one of many prizes through out the day. Make cheques payable to Red River College Slow-pitch event.

You can also register to play one of our many Low Organized Games such as bocce and ladder toss or bring a musical instrument to jam if slow pitch isn’t your forte but would like to be a part of the event. $15.00 will also include a lunch and raffle ticket.

If you feel you would just like to come out for the day or even a few hours please feel welcome at no cost. Food cannot be paid for on the day of the event to RRC.

This is an eco-friendly event so please minimize all waste. Bring reusable water bottles or jugs as water is not supplied at the diamonds but refilling can be done in the clubhouse. Pack out what you pack in. Bring your own gloves, sun lotion, and hat.

Registration deadline is May 25th,2015

Location of the tournament is John Blumberg, 4540 Portage ave. Every registered player will be forwarded game rules and a game schedule.

Directions to John Blumberg is head west on portage ave just passing the perimeter. It will be on the south side.

Slow Pitch Registration 2015

Rebels Athletics and Recreation Services along with the Student Association are hosting three Intramural Special Events this year in a variety of sports. This is great way to meet new people, relieve stress and be active! All events cost $10.00 each, so this is an affordable way to get exercise and participate in some fun sports! Each event is open to all RRC staff and students. Door prizes and a player’s lounge are a part of every event.

To participate, print the 2015 Winter Intramurals Registration Form and take it to either The OX on Notre Dame Campus or The Mercantile in the Exchange Campus to register. Deadline to register for each event is the Wednesday prior to.

Saturday January 24- Rebels Badminton Classic
Location: North Gym
Time: 8am-4pm
Cost: $10 per person. Can enter as many categories as you wish
Categories: Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles and Mixed Doubles

Saturday February 7th-Rebels Floor Hockey
Location: North and South Gyms
Time: 8am-4pm
Cost: $10 per person
Categories: Register as a team or a Free Agent. 5 players to a team including goalie.

Saturday March 21st- March Madness 3vs3 Basketball
Location: North
Time: 8am-4pm
Cost: $10 per person
Categories: Register as a team or a Free Agent. Men’s and Women’s Divisions. Max 5 players per team, 3 on the court at one time.

For further information please contact Athletics and Recreation Coordinator Cole Skinner at 632-2397 or coskinner@rrc.ca

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It’s a great time for mental health at Red River College!

First of all, today is the official launch of this site, which is part of Red River College’s Healthy Minds Healthy College initiative. We hope you continue to check back as we’ll be posting interesting and useful mental health articles, videos and resources on this blog throughout the year.

Secondly, Red River College’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is coming up fast and the Red River College Students’ Association has some exciting things planned to help students de-stress and take control of their mental health.

Check out the following events on campus during RRC’s MHAW (Oct. 14 – 17):

• Send Your Stress Away
  When: Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Exchange District and Notre Dame Campuses and 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Winkler Campus
  Where: Atrium at the EDC, Library Hallway and Voyageur Hallway at NDC and the Student Lunch Room at Winkler
  Get your creative juices flowing with this post-secret inspired art event! Drop by to create a postcard inspired by something that stresses you out to help relieve some of that stress! After the event, the postcards will be collected anonymously and displayed around the school for other students to view.

• Dog Therapy Day
  When: Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  Where: Atrium at EDC and Library Hallway at NDC
  Pet your stress away with some help from a group of cute, cuddly therapy dogs from St. John Ambulance!

• Speakers
  When: Thursday, Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Where: EDC, Room P107
  Come listen to guest speakers Kieran Moolchan and Justin Luchinski talk about their struggles and successs with mental illness.

• Sweats and Sweaters Day
  When: Friday, Oct. 17
  Where: All campuses
  Come to school in your most comfy casual wear and relax! You can also indulge in some free chocolate thanks to the Red River College Students’ Association and free hot drinks at EDC and NDC from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Check out the following events on campus during Red River College’s Mental Health Awareness Week from Oct. 14 – 17!

Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Get your creative juices flowing with a PostSecret-inspired art event at the Exchange District and Notre Dame Campuses.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Look out for all the cute, cuddly therapy dogs who will be visiting the Notre Dame and Exchange District Campuses over the lunch hour.

Friday, Oct. 17 – Kick back, relax and enjoy a hot drink on the RRCSA during ‘Sweats and Sweater Day’ at the Notre Dame and Exchange District Campuses.

Check out this video recap of the mental health events Mind it! held on campus during the 2013/14 academic year.

In November 2013, Mind it! partnered with St. John Ambulance to put on two dog therapy events at Red River College.

Our first event was held in the Library Hallway at the Notre Dame Campus. Five certified therapy dogs and their handlers were on hand to help more than 80 people take a break from school and work. The day was a big success that saw students and staff leaving with smiles on their faces and a better idea of how taking care of our mental health can be simple, fun and as easy as petting a cute animal!

Our second dog therapy event was held in the Atrium at the Exchange District Campus.
Approximately 100 people stopped by over the course of the two-hour event to meet the pups and many more people stuck around to ask questions and find out more about mind it! and how animals can play a role in maintaining our mental health.

In October 2013, Mind It! partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Winnipeg to bring two art therapy-inspired events to students at Red River College.

On two different days, tables in the hallways at the Notre Dame Campus and Exchange District Campus were stocked with blank canvases, paint of every colour, decorating supplies such as glitter and plastic gloves for students who felt like finger painting.

From landscapes to abstract shapes to portraits of pets and people, students spent more than two hours painting whatever they desired and chatting with friends.

Overall, it was a great way to break up the day and help everyone de-stress. After the two events were said and done, 105 blank canvases had been transformed by students, staff and others from the community who stopped by!

There’s good reason the saying, ’laughter is the best medicine’ exists. It’s because the natural link between comedy and mental health is very real. Many people with mental health issues turn their lived experience into positive, inspiring and often comical stories and important lessons for us all. Some even wind up making audiences laugh for a living — including award-winning comedian Big Daddy Tazz who paid a special visit to RRC in February 2013 at the Make Laughs! comedy show.

With a fantastic lineup of local comedians, Big Daddy Tazz as the show’s headliner and Ace Burpee as the emcee, this comedy show at RRC’s Exchange District Campus was an absolute hit! Not only did students have a great time but the event helped to increase mental health awareness on campus through Big Daddy Tazz’s performance that had the audience laughing one minute and emotional the next as he opened up about his personal struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression and suicide.

If you missed the show last year, you may get another chance to laugh it up! Planning is underway for mental health events held on campus during the 2014/15 academic year. Keep checking our events page for updates!