Connecting Albert County - Wellness and Recreation - Connecting Albert County

Tips for Fall Prevention During Winter Hikes

25/1/2021

Cleats similar to the ones above are available at the Albert County Pharmacy in Riverside-Albert and Jean Coutu in Riverview. (Image: JW)

By Sarah Lord

1. Buy a good pair of ice cleats that fit your outdoor boots well, something with teeth rather than pegs or coils. (See image) Try ice cleats on the boots you'll be wearing before buying.
2. Don't take short cuts: take the long way around if safer.
3. Use hiking poles.
4. Make sure your path is well illuminated with a good headlamp.
5. If descending, lower your center of gravity to the ground and, if necessary, slide on your bum.
6. Take your time. Don't be in a hurry.

Want to connect with the Women of the Wilderness? We welcome women of Southeastern NB who love to hike, camp, and spend time in nature. Look up Women of the Wilderness (WOW) on Facebook, answer a few questions, and we hope to see you soon.

Gaming Masks in the COVID-19 Era

25/10/2020

Article and Images provided by James Wilson.

One thing that has occurred as the pandemic drags on is the transition from utilitarian surgical masks to a dizzying variety of custom masks. Masks with simple colours, geometric patterns and flowers have all become common as people settle in for the long haul.

Support your Health through Good Nutrition

25/10/2020

By Brittany Butland

Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy eating pattern will help you feel good, maintain your weight and meet your nutrient needs. Here are five tips to support your health through good nutrition:

Why Would I Want to Talk to a Social Worker?

25/10/2020

By Alicia O'Hara

I like to think of social workers as jacks-of-all-trades. There are so many different places you can bump into us. We are in hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, non-profit organizations and other places, where you can find us working in mental health and addictions, advocacy, child welfare, seniors’ services, policy creation and the list goes on!

My role at Horizon’s Albert County Community Health Centre is to assist with overall well-being. My goal is to help patients and clients develop a sense of safety, self-worth and mastery over their future. My focus is to empower people through building skills to achieve personal fulfilment, meaningful social roles and relationships in the community.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions:

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19

25/3/2020

Image by Jennifer Shelby.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.

It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a stressful situation. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during a disease outbreak will help you think clearly and protect yourself and your family. Self-care during a stressful situation will help your long-term healing.

How Hiking and Trail Culture Has Changed my Life

5/3/2020

By Paul Gaudet
I hope that what I am about to write does not sound too self-indulgent. I assure you that it is simply the truth and it comes from the heart (no pun intended, which you will understand in the following paragraph).

Safe, Affordable Housing for Rural Albert County

8/5/2019

By Roy Ries

In 2016, the Albert County Community Health Needs Assessment identified a list of ten community issues that needed to be addressed. One was the need for more safe, affordable housing.

Fundy Curling Club Update: April 2019

15/4/2019

By Alan Demaline

The snow is melting, days getting longer and sun growing stronger, which signals many things including the end of another great year of curling at the Fundy Curling Club (FCC). March was an exciting time both on and off the ice, and it proved to be a great conclusion to a spectacular season.

Be prepared: Emergency Measures (2nd of 2 articles)

8/1/2019

By Bob Rochon
(See companion article Empowered: overcoming power outages by clicking here)

During the past two winters, we have seen a number of power outages in New Brunswick. In the north part of the province, power was out for more than one week. Here, in the south, we were without power for up to 109 hours, or roughly four and one-half days.

Empowered~ Overcoming power outages (1st of 2 articles)

8/1/2019

By Janet Wallace
See the companion article: Be prepared: Emergency Measures

After five nights of complete darkness, the flashing orange lights of three power trucks were a welcome light at the end of the tunnel.

I stopped my car next to a man who shone a massive flashlight into dark woods. He wore the orange coveralls of a linesman with a hardhat and headlamp like a miner.

“When I drove by earlier,” I told him, “a yellow birch was on the lines around the corner.”

“We just cut that and freed the lines,” he replied. “Power should be back on within the hour.”

Try your hand at curling~free afternoon

1/1/2019

December was a busy month at the Fundy Curling Club with Santa arriving early and his elves unpacking our brand new ice plant! With the help of the elves and a dedicated team of volunteers, the new plant is up and running, and ice will be ready during the first week of January. (Image by Kevin Snair of Creative Imagery).

Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation

14/5/2018

The Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation is a charitable organization that provides funds for the Albert County Health and Wellness Centre and many community initiatives including Sistema-Hillsborough, Tele-Drive, Literacy Express, the Imagination Library, spin bikes in classrooms and Connecting Albert County.

The Driving Force behind Tele-Drive

14/5/2018

by Janet Wallace

Social isolation is a problem in rural areas – but less so in our area thanks to Tele-Drive Albert County. For a low cost, anyone in the county can be picked up from their house, driven to wherever they need to go, and taken back home again. The result? Seniors who lose their licenses or can’t afford cars are able to live in their own homes longer – Tele-Drive will take them to medical appointments, the grocery store and even social events. Parents of young children can take their children to the doctors, to early literacy events and to the library – a great help if the stay-at-home parent doesn’t have a car.

Albert County Area Community Health Assessment: Updates!

29/11/2017

A lot of work has been taking place to move forward on the priorities of the Community Health Needs Assessment, covering Hillsborough to Alma. Below, you will find the 10 priorities with an update of what is happening under each. Many of the initiatives listed below are supported by the Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation.

Albert County Health and Wellness Centre Hours

25/7/2017

The Albert County Health and Wellness Centre has changed its hours. Please note current hours below. For appointments in Riverside-Albert or Hillsborough, or information about other services, call 882-3100.

Old dog, new tricks - experience of an adult learner

6/10/2016

We have an adult learning program right in Albert County, in Riverside Albert; a partnership between the Albert County Health & Wellness Centre (which provides the classroom) and the South East Regional Adult Learning Board. One of the graduates wrote of his experience in the program. According to Jim, he and his wife, Mariann, went back to school “largely to encourage others.” Mariann started the program first but had to stop for a year due to a stroke. Once Mariann was well enough to return to the classes, Jim went with her.

Both Jim and Mariann graduated in Spring 2016 and had the exactly the same grade (an average of 77% for all their courses). Jim says he even got a job out the program. After their graduation was publicized, Jim received a call that eventually led to a new job—Pastor of the Albert Mines Baptist Church.

“Old Dog, New Tricks” was a classroom assignment by Jim Rae. See what he wrote below:

Fundy Bike Fest - Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2016

28/9/2016

New Brunswick’s Fundy Coast region’s rugged coastal landscape is the ideal destination for Mountain Bike enthusiasts. Join in during the first weekend of October for 3 days of mountain-bike themed events for riders of all ability levels – and while you are here enjoy the dramatic colours of fall in Fundy Coast region!

Parks Canada has partnered with Outdoor Elements, IMBA and the Elgin Eco-Association for a weekend of fun. Activities include a mountain bike marathon, being able to demo "fat bikes", group rides, "take a kid mountain-biking day" and a trail building workshop.

For full information, see here

Tele-Drive to the Rescue!

31/8/2016

Sharon Campbell, Tele-Drive volunteer, at the Hillsborough Freshmart.

It’s a long walk from our house to the nearest grocery store. It’s even longer for my preschooler’s wee little legs. Plus, I’m pregnant.

My spouse has to drive all over Canada for his job and can be gone for up to a month at a time, so when our second vehicle broke down without notice, things were grim. If he takes time off, there’s no extra cash to fix the car situation, and without him we’re walking.

Albert County Health Care: A team approach

3/5/2016

In rural Albert County, we are fortunate to be able to access the services of the Albert County Health and Wellness Centre. The Health Centre provides primary health care and promotes healthy lifestyles within the communities of Hillsborough, Riverside-Albert, Alma and the surrounding areas. The Health and Wellness Team of physicians, nurse practitioner, outreach diabetes case manager, nurses, dietitian and physiotherapist care about your health and are there to support you.

The Imagination Library: Bringing Books to Rural Albert County

22/3/2016

Robin Stuart reads to Owen (3 years) and Liam (4 months); both boys receive books from the Imagination Library. Owen is actively engaged in the story Where’s My Nose? and is pointing at his own nose.

“I like books!” says Owen, piling his favourite books on his bed. The three--year-old eagerly shows me his library.

His mother, Robin Stuart, fills in the back story. Owen is enrolled in the Imagination Library. From birth until their fifth birthdays, children receive a book in the mail each month.

“A friend of mine told me about the Imagination Library,” says Robin. “She told me you can get a free book each month. It sounded amazing. And it is!”

The inspiration and force behind the program is Country-and-Western singer Dolly Parton. She wants to help children “fall in love with books at an early age,” according to her website. The long-term goal is greater literacy.

The Imagination Library costs $60 per child per year but the families don’t foot the bill. Thanks to the Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation, families in rural Albert County of all income levels have been able to use the free program since 2010.

CRHS 'Smart Choices Centre' Reinforces Tobacco-Free Habits

3/3/2016

CRHS teacher Benjamin Kelly and prinicipal Donna Godfrey.

Like many rural schools, Caledonia Regional High School (CHRS) had few entertainment options during noon hour. Besides the school library or sports activities in the gym, there was little for students to do. Out of boredom, many of the older students left the school grounds and congregated at local businesses. And this was linked to another problem.

“When kids hang out with no purpose, smoking becomes the cool thing to do,” says teacher Benjamin Kelly, who knows that a lack of stimulating activities can lead teenagers to make unhealthy choices. The evidence was in the school’s high smoking rates among students.

Exciting news from the Hill: Caledonia Activity Place

3/2/2016

There’s been a lot of excitement on the “hill” the past few months, and we are excited to share it with the community! Caledonia Activity Place has been working on revamping our activity program and we are ready to invite all of you to participate!

What's going on at Caledonia Activity Centre in February?

3/2/2016

A lot is happening at the centre at the top of Hopewell Hill! Drop in to the Caledonia Activity Centre, 5295 Rte 114, Hopewell Hill. Click 'Read More' or scroll below to learn about the events happening on weekdays throughout the month. Call 882-2604 for details.

Alma Winter Carnival

24/1/2016

Alma Winter Carnival is coming!
Join the fun from January 29 - 31, 2016, at the Alma Recreation Centre “the Rink." Click 'Read More' to learn more or visit the Alma Recreation Centre's Facebook page.

Tele-Drive offers more than just a drive to town

29/9/2015

By Deborah Carr

When Serge Levesque first moved to Hillsborough, he found the people to be warm and compassionate, but he didn't understand the full extent until he was diagnosed with cancer in June 2014.

"We needed to find a solution to our transportation problem quickly because I wasn't allowed to drive during my chemo treatments or the periods of crippling fatigue that came with them," he said. His wife, Martine, did not drive. An they had no family in the province.

While in a doctor’s office, Martine picked up a pamphlet describing a new Albert County service called Tele-Drive.