Connecting Albert County - Wellness and Recreation - Connecting Albert County

Footloose in Albert County

29/5/2023

The original Footloose Program was a catalyst that brought Albert County together in its quest for moving more, improving health and changing habits. The community gathered, rallied and encouraged each other to reach their goals. Focusing on health changes on our own can be overwhelming. But, if you want to go far, go together!

Our goal with Footloose 2023 is to bring our community together once again - working towards a common goal, having fun and, let’s face it - Who doesn’t like a little friendly competition?

Urban/Rural Rides Appreciates their Volunteer Drivers

2/1/2023

by Kelly Taylor

On Dec 2, Urban/Rural Rides held their annual Driver Appreciation Event at the Riverview Lions Club. The volunteers give their time throughout the year to help others, so it is important to take time to thank them and acknowledge their generosity.
A delicious breakfast was prepared by volunteers of the Riverview Lions Club. Several door prizes donated by local businesses such as Universal Accessories, National Tire Distributors and others were well received by those who won them.
Volunteers were presented with certificates of appreciation and gifts. A client testimony was shared and one of the volunteers, Louise, shared
what being a volunteer means to her and how it has impacted her life. A video of her story is on our Facebook page and website for viewing.
The volunteer drivers are what makes this program work and they truly do change lives one ride at a time with their kindness, generosity and willingness to help others. Words are not enough to express how much they are appreciated.
If you would like to be part of the team of amazing volunteers, please call 962-3073 or visit the website at urbanruralrides.ca

Survey on Mental Health and Addict ion Support Available for NB Seniors

2/1/2023

Seniors addiction and mental health care is an issue that concerns many New Brunswickers. The NB Department of Health, Addictions and Mental Health Services Branch, is conducting a scan of existing mental health and addict ion resources available to support New Brunswick seniors. A scan of seniors programs in Canada and other jurisdictions identified by the Branch is also being undertaken to identify benchmarks and best practices. This research will help to uncover potential opportunities for New Brunswick to make changes and/or improve available resources.
The Branch wants to ensure that it receives input from as many people as possible. A brief (10 minute) survey has been developed to collect this information. The survey will be open from December 6, 2022 to January 6, 2023 for input. This is the link to take the survey:

Click here for the survey in English

New Brunswick Seniors' Addict ion and Mental Health Program s Survey for the Community (survey monkey.com )

Please take a few minutes to check the online publication and respond t o t he survey to give your perspective.
Results of this research will inform the development of future programs and resources in New Brunswick for seniors with mental health or addiction needs. We will keep you apprised of progress and our findings.
Thank you for your support,
Dr. Linda Hoyt,
Medical Officer, Addictions and Mental Health Services, Department of Health, GNB

Albert County Community Health Center

2/1/2023

We are continuing all visits by appointment only in Albert and in Hillsborough. Now is the perfect time to book an appointment with our diabetic nurse, dietician or social worker. Services provided to the public with a requisition from a health care provider are X-Rays, ECGs, Holter Monitors, IV/Infusion therapy, PICC care, Port-A-Cath flushing, physiotherapy, wound care, suture removal, etc. Currently we are having covid booster clinics on Thursdays for ages 18 years and older and we are using Pfizer Bivalent.

Call Riverside-Albert to book appointments at our Hillsborough Office, open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 8:15-11:15am for bloodwork, blood pressure checks, B12 injections, etc.
At home covid test kits are available by appointment through www.gnb.ca and can be picked up at our Hillsborough Office and in Albert.

On January 18th from 1:00-3:00pm we are having a BP Clinic at the Albert County Pharmacy in Riverside-Albert. Our center is not a walk-in clinic as our health care providers only see their own patients. If you need a family doctor, you can register for one by calling 811. If you have any questions, call us at 882-3100.

Moving into the Green: Gardening, Mental Health & Emotional Resiliency

30/8/2022

by: Melody Land, MACP, LCT-C

It’s no secret that gardening contributes positively to our overall sense of health and wellbeing. During the height of the pandemic there was an influx of new gardeners. Many now had time to dedicate to a new “hobby” and there was a deep-rooted urge to grow. The Japanese practice of “Forest Bathing” became a common concept. Nature Therapy, otherwise called “ecotherapy”, became its own distinct area within psychology, with some practitioners now dedicating their work to that field exclusively. My own journey started with a small, raised bed and before I knew it, I was growing my own plants, learning about seed saving, and canning and preserving the yields.

Urban/Rural Rides needs you!!

30/3/2022

by Kelly Taylor

Have you been feeling lonely and isolated? Couldn’t go shopping freely; couldn’t visit friends and relatives; couldn’t go to appointments; couldn’t live the life you think you deserved? That’s two years of Covid restrictions! You have been hoping that this will all be over soon – and it may be – soon; for you – right? There is light at the end of the tunnel – right? Many Covid restrictions have already been relaxed or eliminated, or soon will be. But what if it was not going to be over soon? Would you feel bad about that? Would you be distressed, frustrated, discouraged, depressed, and maybe even angry? Of course you would, some people are already.

For a lot of our residents in New Brunswick, this has been their life for longer than the last two years, and it won’t be over soon even with vaccines and medications to fight Covid or whatever might come along to replace Covid.

ParticipACTION Makes Community Better Challenge 2022

29/3/2022

By Alicia O'Hara and Alma Recreation Council

Spring is coming and that means summer is quick to follow. Isn’t that exciting!? It also means that ParticipACTION is launching its Canada-wide Community Better Challenge in the search for Canada’s more active community! Not only does the winning community get the honour of being crowned most active, but also it wins $100,000 for the community. In addition, there are prizes for the most active community in each province. Let’s show them what Albert County is made of!

Nutrition Month 2022

27/2/2022

By Brittany Butland, RD

Did you know March is Nutrition Month? Created in 1982, dietitians have been celebrating Nutrition Month for the last 40 years. Nutrition Month is a public awareness campaign created to promote the importance of healthy eating and to identify dietitians as the most credible source of food and nutrition information.

There is a new theme each year, and this year’s theme is “Unlock the Potential of Food: Ingredients for a Healthier Tomorrow”. Canadians face many challenges when making food choices, including social influences, food marketing, and the increasing availability of foods high in fat, sodium and sugars. These factors have a major impact on food choices and can make healthy eating a challenge for many people, which is why having the knowledge and skills to be able to read and understand nutrition labels is important.

Rural Destination Development Survey

27/2/2022

by Ian Duncan, Friends of Fundy Program and Events Coordinator

Upper Bay of Fundy Project Charting a Sustainable Path for Rural Communities

A first ever community-led regional development process for the Rural Upper Bay of Fundy region is bringing people together to develop a plan that reflects the area’s unique community assets and opportunities.

The initiative covers an area comprising Hillsborough, Riverside-Albert, Alma, Sussex, St. Martins, and their adjacent rural areas. It brings together residents, business owners, non-profit managers, and local municipal officials.

The two year project is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Province of New Brunswick. It is administered by the non-profit Friends of Fundy. The first phase, which includes extensive community engagement, data collection and initial recommendations, will be completed by May 2022. The Working Group of the project has been studying tourism principles and reviewing the previous reports on the region and has now begun to formally engage communities. We’d love to hear your thoughts regarding the role tourism could play in community growth and development; if you’d like to share them, you can fill out a survey here: Rural Destination Development Survey (google.com)

Youth at Risk and the Drug Intervention Program

25/6/2021

By Jennifer Shelby

If you, or a young person you care about, is struggling with drug addiction, the free Drug Intervention Program (DIP) can help. Specifically tailored for youth aged 15-24, DIP is an outreach program from Youth Impact Jeunesse, which recently extended into Albert County with funding from the Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation. Program Manager Jonathan Thibodeau explains that “there is a rise in addiction in most regions of the province and some of this seems to be correlated to the pandemic.”

Some clients contact DIP on their own, while others are referred to the program. “We offer help with alcohol, marijuana, and, of course, all the harder substances.” DIP can be reached by calling 506-856-2633 or by visiting youthimpact.org.

COVID Vaccination Clinics April 16 2021

14/4/2021

Attention Albert County!
Vaccination clinics will be happening locally this Friday April 16th for the populations below and there are still spots available! To book, visit www.gnb.ca/bookavaccine or call 1-833-437-1424

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.