Health Promotion and Wellness Activities

Mental Health Mondays- Stop The Stigma

Take a break from the books and join us for mini canvas painting! This event offers a creative outlet to relieve stress while fostering an open conversation around mental health. Paint, connect with your peers, and learn about the mental health resources available. Let’s work together to create a supportive community, reduce stigma, and prioritize well-being in our academic journeys. All supplies provided—just bring yourself!

Mental Health Mondays: Why do I feel like an Imposter? Challenging lmposter Syndrome for Law Students

Imposter syndrome can leave us feeling like we are all alone in the world, but ironically, many students in professional programs, faculty and high achievers experience these feelings of inadequacy.  Join SHW counsellor, Irene, for a discussion around common triggers for the imposter phenomenon and the steps you can take to work through them.

 

Mental Health Mondays: Create Your Own Self-Care Plan

Join Student Health and Wellness Counsellor, Alexa to create your own self-care plan. This workshop will guide students through the process of evaluating their current coping strategies, learning about the various dimensions of self-care, and developing a plan to better support themselves when faced with isolation, loneliness, life transitions or stress. 

 

Mental Health Mondays: Student Health and Wellness Speed Meet

Come out for a snack and meet the Student Health and Wellness Counsellors and Staff.  Holly, Irene, Alexa, Lindsey and Mel will be at PACI in the restorative Justice Room to say hello, answer questions about counselling, health services and wellness programming and provide information about all the health and wellness resources available to you.

 

(OR) Wiigwasitig Gitigaan 'Birch Tree Garden' Harvest with ONWG

You are invited to Wiigwasitig Gitigaan ‘Birch Tree Garden’ Harvest!

Join Student Health & Wellness, Indigenous Initiatives, and Orillia Native Women's Group (ONWG) from 10 am to 12 pm to harvest sweet grass in the Medicine Wheel Teaching Garden. Sweet grass teachings will be given by the grandmothers of ONWG.

Fill Your Cup

Calling all teaching candidates! Drop by our table to learn more about Student Health and Wellness Services and Supports and how to keep your cup full throughout the upcoming year!

Mindful Meditation

Join Student Health and Wellness for live, counsellor-led mindful meditation sessions every Wednesday in our activity room.

No experience necessary – whether you are new to mindfulness or practice regularly, having the support of a group can help strengthen your practice.

Open to all Lakehead students, staff and faculty.

Tackling the First Grocery Shop of the School Year

The first grocery shop of the school year is a doozie-  making a plan ahead of time can help you take advantage of deals, ensure you have all the staples and avoid each roommate buying their own 10lb bag of rice. Check out this list below for some pantry essentials.

Grains/Starches
  • Long-grain white rice, one or two other grains (such as quinoa or farro)
  • dry pasta
  • rice/ramen/udon noodles
  • plain bread crumbs/panko
  • bread
  • wraps/pita/naan
  • breakfast cereals, oatmeal
Oils and Vinegars
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • neutral cooking oil (such as canola or grapeseed)
  • whatever vinegar you must often use- rice, balsamic, white, red wine, etc.
Cans and jars
  • Canned tuna
  • Tomatoes in all forms (diced, paste, sauce)
  • Soups and stocks
  • Canned Beans (white beans, black beans and-or chickpeas)

Canned foods can be as nutritious as their fresh or frozen counterparts and often contain little to no sodium or preservatives. They are very budget friendly and are shelf-stable for long periods.

Spices and dried herbs
  • Kosher salt
  • red-pepper flakes
  • ground cayenne
  • curry powder
  • bay leaves
  • black pepper
  • sweet paprika
  • ground cinnamon
  • ground cumin
  • garlic powder
  • granulated garlic
  • dried thyme
  • dried oregano
  • ground coriander

If you are a somewhat experienced cook, you'll know what spices you often use but this is a good starting point for beginners. Opting for packages over jars also saves money or making use of bulk bins can make sure you only buy what you need.

Condiments and sauces
  • Salad dressing
  • Mustard
  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Hot sauce
  • Salsa
  • Soy sauce
  • Fish sauce
Baking
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cornmeal
  • Rolled oats
  • Cornstarch
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Vanilla extract
  • Brown and white sugar
  • Chocolate: chips, baking, etc.
  • Raisins or another dried fruit
  • Cocoa powder
Dairy
  • Cheese
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Sour cream

If you follow a lactose-free or adhere to a vegan diet, look for affordable substitutes that contain protein.

Freezer
  • Frozen fruits and veggies
  • Frozen proteins
  • Frozen meals (e.g. lasagna, pizzas, samosas) These can come in the clutch when you are short on time or energy
  • Ice cream/sorbet/gelato- sometimes you need a sweet treat

Opting for frozen instead of fresh is often more affordable and lasts way longer, just be mindful of freezer space, especially if you are sharing with roommates.

The rest
  • Nuts and nut butters: Walnuts, almonds, roasted peanuts, peanut butter (smooth and crunchy). 
  • Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, granulated sugar.
  • Preserves and pickles: Fruit jams and preserves, pickles, etc. 

 

This list is by no means exhaustive- you know your own likes and dietary restrictions- but it is a good place to start. You'll also need to consider your fresh produce and proteins and snacks. 

If you are new to the city, we have maps of where to get food in the city!

To make sure you are getting the most of your budget, try an app like Flipp which lets you look at flyers and compare pricing- a lot of stores will price match items if they are cheaper elsewhere. You can also use apps like Checkout51 or Caddle to get cash back. Some grocery stores have loyalty programs where you can points for future discounts or get coupons/deals specifically for you or they might have days with student discounts. 

For more information about eating healthy- visit the Healthy Eating page of our site!

 

Thunder Bay Campus Fitness Guide 2024

Your campus fitness guide

Whether you’re looking to be active, meet new people or explore new hobbies, Lakehead has plenty of options. Here are some ways to get involved if you want to get moving this year.

Visit the Lakehead Athletics Centre

Membership to the Athletics Centre is included in your student fees and you have access to all the facilities- pool, courts, multiple training areas, outdoor soccer fields, beach volleyball courts, indoor turf and track in the Hangar.  To learn more about the facilities and see open times, check out their website. 

*Wolfie Pro tip: Be sure to download the LakeheadMOVE app to for your digital gym barcode to sign in, sign up for fitness classes, and see open gym/field hours! 

 Download: Apple App Store      Download: Google Play Store

Move with the pack

If you’re looking for a fun way to work out with others, check out these options:

  • Group fitness classes: Campus Rec offers a variety of classes that are led by a qualified instructor. Classes range from cardio, strength, dance-oriented, yoga, and water-based classes. Stay tuned for the class schedule in October on their group fitness page.

  • Go with the Flow: The Athletics Centre is home to Modo Yoga, classes aren’t included in your facility membership but they do offer a student rate, karma classes and an energy exchange program. Student Health and Wellness also offers free yoga classes during the academic year on Saturdays from 11am- 12pm- classes begin on September 14, no experience or registration is required! 

ResSports: If you live in residence, Reslife coordinates sports leagues and drop-ins throughout the year, you can break a sweat and earn house points! Get more information from your RA. 

Get outside

Living in Thunder Bay means you have access to some of the most scenic natural areas in Ontario, right in your own backyard! If you’re interested in getting outside this semester, check out some of the resources below

  • Campus Trails: You don’t even need to leave campus to enjoy the beautiful scenery- check out our campus trail map.

  • Hiking in the area: There is no shortage of parks, conservation areas and trails in the area, with some only a bus ride away, use the wayfinder app to plan your route in advance. 

  • Equipment checkout: The Outdoor Rec Depot has tons of equipment available for the public at low rates. Athletics has equipment available such as basketballs, badminton racquets and skipping ropes available at the front desk. Residence has a variety of sports equipment available to res students, stop by Bartley Front to see what is available!  Res students can also book the outdoor tennis courts and residence rink in the winter months. 

  • Outdoor Courts and Fields: Want to throw together a scrimmage with friends? Check out the outdoor sand volleyball courts by the Fieldhouse or one of the soccer fields on campus (by the Fieldhouse, behind the Avila or behind the Bora Laskin Education building) 

  • Lake Tamblyn: Skating on our campus lake is a time-honoured tradition, watch for an announcement from Security for when the ice is safe. 

Play sports

Sports can be a fun way to stay active and meet new friends. Here are a couple of ways you can get involved in sports at Lakehead:

  • Intramural Sport leagues: Campus Rec offers multiple sessions of Intramural Sports leagues throughout the year. You can sign up as a team or join a team as a free agent to play a variety of sports. No experience is required to play, and all ability levels are welcome. Not sure you can commit- watch out for mini-leagues being offered.

  • Sport Clubs: Participate in competitive sports and compete against teams outside the university. Some teams may also require tryouts. Learn more about Sport Clubs

Follow us on social

Learn more about upcoming opportunities and events through Campus and Student Health and Wellness by following us on social (@Lakeheadcampusrec and @lakeheadlife)!

 

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