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Grey Bruce Kids Fall 2021

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A FREE MAGAZINE FOR<br />

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS<br />

FALL <strong>2021</strong> • Volume 11 Issue 3 • greybrucekids.com<br />

Girls<br />

in STEM<br />

Encourage pursuit of<br />

non-traditional roles<br />

LOVE<br />

LANGUAGES<br />

Connect with your<br />

child’s personality<br />

DEALING WITH<br />

TRAUMA<br />

Help kids process<br />

the pandemic<br />

FREE!


Get help paying for Child Care<br />

Child care costs add up. Fortunately, families in <strong>Grey</strong> County may<br />

be eligible for a fee subsidy for children in licensed child care.<br />

Net Family Income<br />

Monthly Cost for<br />

Families*<br />

$20,000 $0.00<br />

$30,000 $83<br />

$40,000 $167<br />

$50,000 $417<br />

$60,000 $667<br />

$70,000 $917<br />

You may be eligible if:<br />

• You are a <strong>Grey</strong> County resident<br />

• You are are working, attending school or training<br />

• You have a referral from another agency<br />

• You are the child’s legal guardian<br />

• Your child is living with you<br />

• You have filed your taxes<br />

• You are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident<br />

*Monthly Costs are on a per-family basis and not per child. Families may have multiple children<br />

in licensed care. The above table is only an estimate. An income test will be completed upon<br />

application to confirm eligibility.<br />

Learn more and apply at www.<strong>Grey</strong>.ca/Childrens-Services<br />

PLAY • LEARN • GROW<br />

Find program calendars for<br />

EarlyON locations across <strong>Grey</strong> County at:<br />

<strong>Grey</strong>.ca/Childrens-Services


FROM THE PUBLISHER<br />

Weathering the storm<br />

Who would have predicted that I would be penning yet another pandemic Publisher’s<br />

Note, 18 months after the world first shut down “for two weeks.” The year-and-a-half<br />

since has been challenging on so many fronts for many people – everyone has been<br />

affected in some way.<br />

A quote I heard that resonated with me is, “We are not all in the same boat, but we are<br />

all in the same storm.” I hope that your boat is keeping afloat and this storm will soon<br />

pass!<br />

A bright light (besides the fact school is back for in-person learning!) is that we are<br />

back in print! We transitioned to publishing exclusively online last summer, and<br />

though I was hopeful it would just be for an issue or two, it has been five since<br />

we’ve been able to hold the magazine in our hands. Thank you to our loyal readers<br />

and advertisers who kept us going – it was our honour to continue to provide our<br />

demographic with relevant, meaningful and local content during such trying times.<br />

Be sure to check out all our past issues online if you missed them at greybrucekids.<br />

com.<br />

In this issue we are proud to feature some awesome articles. Sarah Irwin explains ‘Love<br />

Languages’ and how to use them with family. Sarah Foster talks to local women with<br />

careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) about how to recognize<br />

and encourage your daughter’s interest in these non-traditional roles.<br />

Getting back on track with healthy eating and making good choices after a busy<br />

summer is always a challenge – especially during COVID – and Jennifer MacTavish<br />

educates us on a some great tips to keep kids healthy.<br />

Local finance expert Michele Mannerow helps us to plan our savings, while Rebekkah<br />

Williams writes about how to help our kids process disruptions and potential traumas<br />

associated with the ongoing pandemic.<br />

Once again, I thank you for your continued<br />

support of <strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> magazine, and I<br />

wish you and your family a safe and healthy<br />

fall!<br />

CONTENTS<br />

4 Family bonding<br />

10 Girls in STEM<br />

14 Nutrition<br />

18 Plan your savings<br />

22 Dealing with trauma<br />

26 Resources<br />

30 Recipes<br />

Amy Irwin, Publisher<br />

FALL <strong>2021</strong><br />

Publisher<br />

Amy Irwin<br />

amy@greybrucekids.com<br />

Magazine Design<br />

Becky Grebenjak<br />

Advertising inquiries<br />

amy@greybrucekids.com<br />

<strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> welcomes your feedback.<br />

EMAIL amy@greybrucekids.com<br />

PHONE 519-524-0101<br />

MAIL P.O. Box 287, Ripley, ON N0G 2R0<br />

<strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> is distributed for free in <strong>Grey</strong> and<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> counties, and is published each March, June,<br />

September and December. Distribution of this<br />

publication does not constitute endorsement of<br />

information, products or services by <strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong>,<br />

its writers or advertisers. Viewpoints of contributors<br />

and advertisers are not necessarily those of the<br />

Publisher. <strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> reserves the right to edit,<br />

reject or comment on all material and advertising<br />

contributed. No portion of <strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> may be<br />

reproduced without the written permission of the<br />

Publisher.


FAMILY<br />

CREATING<br />

that bond<br />

LET YOUR PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP THRIVE<br />

BY SARAH IRWIN<br />

4 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


The parent-child relationship is a complex and unique bond<br />

which every child and parent will experience.<br />

For some, this bond forms instantaneously, while for others it<br />

takes time to flourish. Regardless, its influence on the child’s<br />

personality, life choices, and behaviour create the foundation for<br />

which the child develops emotionally, physically, and socially.<br />

Much like adults, children express and experience love in<br />

different ways. This can bring an additional layer of strain and<br />

challenge into the already difficult responsibility of parenting.<br />

Speaking our child’s ‘love language’ helps them to understand<br />

what it means to be loved unconditionally. Until we take a<br />

moment to pause, to begin to truly understand our children’s<br />

individual love languages, we are only speaking our love to our<br />

child, and they won’t be able to feel it.<br />

Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell introduced the concept<br />

of love languages in the book The Five Love Languages of<br />

Children. They explain that, like adults, children feel love<br />

through physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service,<br />

gifts, and quality time.<br />

Love language combinations are individual to each child. And<br />

yes, when navigating love languages within a family unit may<br />

be challenging; however, if you focus on the five basic love<br />

languages, it will make an enormous difference in your child’s<br />

sense of being loved.<br />

Five love<br />

languages<br />

PHYSICAL TOUCH<br />

For a child who craves the love language of physical touch, you<br />

may notice them constantly climbing on your lap, asking for<br />

tickle fights or wanting to roughhouse. For most children this<br />

is their primary love language. The presence of physical touch<br />

communicates love to them, even more than praise or gifts.<br />

The key to the language of physical touch is touch beyond the<br />

necessary. Without little pats on the back, a ruffling of their<br />

hair, hugs or kisses, their “love tank” will remain less than full.<br />

The gift of physical touch may become more difficult to give<br />

as children grow into tweens and teens. Depending on their<br />

emotional security, parents may hold back from giving this out<br />

of fear of lashback. Many teens may be resistant to affectionate<br />

touch; however, they still require physical touch as an<br />

affirmation of love. Teen boys are more accepting of a rougher,<br />

more abrasive touch such as wrestling, playfulness, bear hugs,<br />

or high fives. Girls too are open to this type of touch but also<br />

respond to a gentler, more compassionate touch such as a longer<br />

hug.<br />

Expressions of physical touch to<br />

express love include:<br />

• Giving lots of hugs and kisses, letting a smaller child sit on<br />

your lap<br />

• Snuggles<br />

• Spinning round and round<br />

• Reading a book together<br />

• Wrestling, tickle fights<br />

• A playful elbow and smile as you walk by<br />

• Creating a spa night and giving pedicures and manicures to<br />

each other<br />

• High fives or affectionate pats on the back<br />

• Tousling their hair<br />

greybrucekids.com • 5


WORDS OF AFFIRMATION<br />

A child whose love language is words of affirmation longs to be verbally supported,<br />

praised, guided, and encouraged. They crave statements that aren’t necessarily “I love<br />

you,” but rather, “I care about you, you are my focus.” They show this by asking for<br />

validation, checking to see if you saw what they just did or handing you their finished<br />

work.<br />

When giving words of affirmation, keep them short and sweet; focus on declarations<br />

that nurture your child’s inner sense of worthiness or security rather than a longwinded<br />

talk.<br />

How to tell a child they are special and<br />

appreciated:<br />

• Affirming their efforts and achievements<br />

• Cheering them on at sports<br />

• Saying, “I love to watch you…” or “I’m so proud of you for…”<br />

• Writing love notes to them<br />

• Giving them a loving nickname<br />

6 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


QUALITY TIME<br />

When a child has a love language of quality time they will constantly be requesting<br />

your attention. They’ll interrupt you to constantly, which is a good indicator their<br />

tank is empty. Children will go to great lengths, even acting out, just to receive the<br />

tiniest bit of quality time. Quality time tells the child they are important. It is not<br />

the event that matters, but rather the time together which counts.<br />

Ways to create quality time:<br />

• Play in the sandbox together<br />

• Create a 1:1 parent-child date<br />

• Bring your child along during errands<br />

• Create art together<br />

• Throw a ball together<br />

• Lay on the ground looking at clouds together<br />

• Stop what you’re doing and make positive, loving eye contact<br />

• Take a walk together<br />

greybrucekids.com • 7


GIFTS<br />

You’ve likely witnessed a child who jumped up and down in<br />

excitement as they received a present. Or the child who’s so<br />

excited they tell everyone who will listen about their special<br />

gift. These kids are showing us that their love language is that of<br />

receiving gifts.<br />

The giving and receiving of gifts is complex. As a love language,<br />

its focused intention is that of thoughtfulness – gifts as symbols<br />

of true love.<br />

The thought and intention is what matters most and it’s critical<br />

to those with this love language to feel as though they’re being<br />

heard and seen. For those with gift giving as their love language,<br />

in order for their love tank to remain full, the gift must be<br />

combined with their other love languages.<br />

Here are ways to provide a<br />

successful gift:<br />

• Snuggle on the couch explain why you’re giving them the<br />

gift and then exploring it together<br />

• Choose small tokens or homemade thoughtful presents<br />

• Add to a coveted collection<br />

• Create a special book of memories for them<br />

A true gift is an expression of love by the individual and is<br />

freely given by the parent, not a bribe or to benefit the parent<br />

in any way. The present must be genuine and not a payment for<br />

cleaning their room or being quiet during a work meeting. The<br />

child must deeply feel that their parents genuinely care.<br />

ACTS OF SERVICE<br />

If a child is naturally wanting to help or seeks ways to assist<br />

others, their main love language may be acts of service. The<br />

primary motivation of being a parent isn’t to continuously<br />

please our children, but rather to do what is best. To please<br />

them in the moment isn’t necessarily going to give them the<br />

best example of love. Acts of service are focused on doing things<br />

which they cannot do for themselves. Then, once they are able<br />

to do these services themselves, it becomes about taking the<br />

time to teach them these skills or services.<br />

Be mindful. These services mustn’t be focused on your child<br />

fulfilling a dream you have for them, but rather supporting<br />

them in working towards their dreams and curiosities.<br />

Acts of service:<br />

• Mend a broken toy together<br />

• For younger kids, instead of sending them to bed, carry<br />

them to bed and do a special tuck in<br />

• Organize and clean out their closet or dresser<br />

8 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


• Sit and calmly help them do homework<br />

• Lovingly brush their hair as you catch up on the day<br />

• Make a bucket list of one-on-one activities to do when they<br />

least expect it<br />

• Not assuming your child can ‘handle it,’ but rather offering<br />

support or showing up to help<br />

To discover and understand your child’s love language gives you<br />

both the gift of deepening your parent-child connection. The<br />

key is to strengthen their sense of self-worth, which is key for<br />

long lasting self-love and confidence.<br />

As you continue fulfilling your child and family’s love language<br />

needs, it is equally important to ensure your own tank is being<br />

refilled. Your mental, emotional and physical health is just as<br />

important as theirs. Asking for your own love languages to be<br />

met is equally important.<br />

As you and your family continue to grow, both as an individual<br />

and a unit, continue to observe your family’s unique and<br />

individual love languages. Although it can be hard, it will help<br />

you deepen your family’s bond based on unconditional love. GBK<br />

SARAH IRWIN is a Mom and owner of Alternative Wellness, in<br />

Kincardine. Her focus is empowering individuals and assisting children,<br />

youth and adults in regulating their Central Nervous System through a<br />

holistic approach to health. Learn more at myalternativewellness.com.<br />

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greybrucekids.com • 9


FEATURE<br />

SEEKING<br />

HELP GIRLS PURSUE SCIENCE, TECH, ENGINEERING, MATH.<br />

BY SARAH FOSTER<br />

10 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


Weina Chong was around 10 years old when she<br />

remembers first being exposed to what is commonly<br />

referred to as STEM — science, technology, engineering and<br />

math.<br />

It wasn’t from a book — it was from a toy.<br />

“My parents got me a construction and assembly-type toy that<br />

allowed you to build your own motorized vehicle,” Chong<br />

explained, nearly 25 years after first laying hands on the toy. “My<br />

dad and I would spend hours building and taking apart the cars.”<br />

Chong’s interest in STEM stayed with her as she discovered<br />

more about what it included, and she began taking courses in<br />

machine shop, drafting and computer-aided-design. Through<br />

these courses, she recognized a passion she never knew she had,<br />

which was working with her hands. She also discovered she<br />

was quite good at drawing and visualizing things. She began to<br />

research what university program would best suit her skills, and<br />

she found one in engineering.<br />

Around the same time, Sarah Patterson was also trying to<br />

discover what best suited her when it came to post-secondary<br />

studies and deciding on a career. As a kid, she loved learning<br />

everything, not just STEM-related courses. Her love of learning<br />

is something she still has today.<br />

“I used to spend time helping my dad with construction projects<br />

around the house,” Patterson said. “But I also enjoyed sports,<br />

reading, listening to music, playing video games, and hanging<br />

out with my friends. I definitely did not fit the stereotype of<br />

someone who would go into engineering or another STEM<br />

field, but I’ve found that most people don’t.”<br />

While Chong was building cars with her dad with that<br />

motorized toy, and Patterson was helping her dad with<br />

construction projects around the house, across the province<br />

a woman Chong and Patterson didn’t yet know was blazing a<br />

trail for women – not just in STEM, but in Canada’s nuclear<br />

industry. Tracy Primeau was always good at math and science,<br />

but decided she wanted to be a teacher — at least until she was<br />

attending the University of Waterloo and learned two things.<br />

The first was that she didn’t think she wanted to spend the rest<br />

of her life around high schoolers after all. The second was that<br />

she was really good at working with computers.<br />

“Remember, this was 1986, so programming was a pretty new<br />

item to major in and I was fortunate enough to get a job as a<br />

Teaching Assistant (TA) in that department,” she said.<br />

While Primeau considered her options with her major, her dad,<br />

who had worked in the nuclear industry since his daughter was<br />

three, told her about an opportunity in Operations at Ontario<br />

Hydro. Primeau’s youngest sister also followed their dad’s<br />

footsteps into the energy industry.<br />

“(She) is an electrical engineer and, like me, Indigenous,”<br />

Primeau said. “She has gone from working in the energy<br />

industry at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)<br />

to becoming the President and CEO of the Canadian Council<br />

of Aboriginal Business (CCAB).”<br />

While women in Operations roles in nuclear are more common<br />

today, in the late-80s there were no role models for Primeau to<br />

look up to. Going into Operations meant she would be forging<br />

her own path.<br />

“There were not a lot of women on my shift, (just) one other<br />

female operator, a control tech, and a woman in the lab,” said<br />

Primeau, who recently retired after 31 years in the industry. “No<br />

one in the control room or in leadership positions at all. The<br />

construction office we took breaks in was covered in pin-ups.”<br />

Physical strength and height were the two biggest differences<br />

often pointed out between her and her male colleagues. Instead<br />

of focusing on how she didn’t literally measure up in those areas,<br />

Primeau decided to make it an advantage. She could operate<br />

valves using her bodyweight as a lever and fit into equipment<br />

others couldn’t.<br />

“As time went on it became clear that my gender and size was a<br />

win when someone needed to go into a condenser water box or a<br />

steam drum or boiler, and I could fit in and stand up once inside.”<br />

In <strong>2021</strong>, it may surprise you to learn that the number of women<br />

in STEM-related fields remains very low, even while women make<br />

greybrucekids.com • 11


“We should be encouraging<br />

kids to find the types<br />

of work that they will<br />

find interesting and<br />

helpful for them.”<br />

up almost half of first-year students in an undergraduate STEM<br />

program. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016 just 23 per cent<br />

of science and technology workers were women, even though<br />

women in a STEM-related university program graduate before<br />

men typically do (27 per cent of women completed their degree<br />

in four years compared to 16 per cent of men).<br />

That disparity of women in the workforce is more than just<br />

numbers. It means women may not have role models of other<br />

women in leadership positions to look up to, and also means<br />

that women tend to face challenges in an industry where they<br />

do not see themselves represented.<br />

“It was important I be better than the guys to get the same<br />

amount of respect,” Primeau said, recalling early in her career it<br />

was OK for men to go unchallenged when they said they didn’t<br />

want a woman on their crew or working in one of their units.<br />

“I was challenged that I was taking a ‘man’s’ job and not looking<br />

after my husband,” Primeau said.<br />

Phew, you may be thinking. I’m so glad that women in STEM no<br />

longer have to deal with things like that. Sadly, you’d be wrong.<br />

Chong says people often underestimated her capabilities and<br />

dismissed her accomplishments throughout high school,<br />

university and even in the workforce. When she was interviewing<br />

for co-op positions as part of her engineering degree, she found<br />

interviewers were surprised to learn she was female.<br />

“I found myself working harder than my peers to prove my<br />

worth,” she said, adding when she entered the workforce it<br />

wasn’t just about proving herself anymore. “You’d be surprised<br />

how many times I was mistaken to be an admin or an assistant<br />

during work meetings and even walkdowns (in the field).”<br />

INTEREST IN STEM<br />

So what can parents do if their child begins showing an interest<br />

in STEM-related activities? Chong says introducing STEM toys<br />

and activities early on can be a great way to explore it in a fun<br />

way, but just as importantly, parents should introduce them to<br />

role models in STEM whether through books, websites, video,<br />

or, if possible, in person.<br />

Primeau agreed.<br />

“Start talking about it early. It’s never too young to talk to your<br />

kids about STEM careers. Introduce them to others in the field<br />

– friends and family who can talk about how much they love<br />

their jobs.”<br />

For girls or non-male identifying children, it’s important<br />

parents be supportive of their kids’ interest in STEM.<br />

“Have an unbiased and open dialogue about their interests and<br />

avoid discriminating a (career) field due to your child’s gender,”<br />

Chong said. “Parents of girls or non-male identifying children<br />

can be supportive of their children’s passion and interests.<br />

(More) often than not, their children can face many oppositions<br />

from their peers to their teachers, etc. The last place they want<br />

to be second-guessed or doubted is at home.”<br />

Looking back, Patterson recognizes today she and her brother<br />

were treated differently when it came to their STEM-related<br />

interest as kids. Growing up, both were interested in the<br />

skilled trades.<br />

“I was actively pushed away from pursuing a job in the trades<br />

— my brother wasn’t,” she said. “We’re both happy in our<br />

STEM careers, but I am sometimes jealous that he gets to wear<br />

coveralls and fix things at work every day.”<br />

12 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


When it comes to nurturing a child’s interest in STEM,<br />

particularly for girls, Patterson said it’s important to nurture the<br />

interest, but not to put too much pressure on it.<br />

“A lot of times when a child identifies that they’re interested<br />

in STEM, the first thought is to get them into the most<br />

prestigious academic institution – especially if they don’t fit the<br />

stereotype for what we think the STEM field is looking for,”<br />

Patterson said. “We push these kids to do the best to prove they<br />

really belong. That’s a lot of unhelpful pressure.<br />

“We should be encouraging kids to find the types of work that<br />

they will find interesting and helpful for them.”<br />

Primeau advises parents to contact groups in the industry,<br />

which will often have programs supporting diversity in STEM.<br />

Specifically, Primeau recommends Skills Ontario as a resource.<br />

As well, research STEM camps in your areas, high school clubs<br />

(like robotics) and what scholarship opportunities exist.<br />

“If you’re not getting the support you need from the guidance<br />

department in your school, look elsewhere.”<br />

Chong said parents who work in a STEM-related field have an<br />

extra responsibility for the women and non-male identifying<br />

employees who are already there.<br />

“For those parents that work in the STEM field, think about<br />

your own actions and mindset, and make sure you are not<br />

unintentionally creating a sexist culture at your own workplace.”<br />

Patterson has advice for kids, too.<br />

“Don’t choose a career or direct your life into something that<br />

you think will be needed just because people tell you to,”<br />

Patterson said. “Choose something that you’re interested in, and<br />

if you don’t know what that is, that’s totally OK.<br />

“There will probably be a lot of opportunities out there that<br />

you haven’t even considered,” she added. “To take advantage<br />

of them you’ll need to make sure you spend your time on<br />

something that you don’t hate, and be flexible… The world is<br />

full of great opportunities – STEM-related and otherwise!”<br />

Primeau can attest to that.<br />

“I am a Bachelor of Arts university graduate who started in the<br />

field operating valves and checking gauges, and ended up leading<br />

an entire crew of operators running four reactors and producing<br />

thousands of megawatts all because I got into STEM.” GBK<br />

SARAH FOSTER has been telling stories throughout her 20-year career,<br />

beginning in 1999 as a journalist at The Hamilton Spectator. Since then,<br />

she has written for numerous publications including the National Post,<br />

The Toronto Star, The Kincardine News, and CBC Parents. While not<br />

in a STEM-related field, she works in the nuclear industry, where she<br />

participates in Women in Nuclear to advocate for diversity and equity.<br />

She lives in Huron-Kinloss with her husband, five-year-old son and their<br />

cat. You can find her out in the community on a run, enjoying a beer on<br />

the patio at <strong>Grey</strong> Matter or volunteering with the Kincardine Theatre<br />

Guild. She can be reached by email at sarmillar@gmail.com.<br />

Did you know you<br />

can check out...<br />

• FISHING RODS<br />

• SPORTS KITS<br />

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• UKULELES<br />

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• STEM KITS<br />

Rediscover your library!<br />

Register for a digital access card online at getacard.brucecounty.on.ca<br />

or visit any of our 17 branches for a full-access card.<br />

greybrucekids.com • 13


HEALTH<br />

FAMILY NUTRITION<br />

GETTING BACK ON TRACK AFTER A SUMMER OF FUN<br />

BY JENNIFER MACTAVISH<br />

GBK<br />

14 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


As fall approaches, and with it the hope of life returning<br />

to some sort of pre-pandemic normalcy, many people are<br />

wondering how to get their families back on track with their<br />

eating habits.<br />

Since March 2020 many people have been working or schooling<br />

from home, with constant access to the kitchen. While some<br />

people took the opportunity to learn a new skill (sourdough<br />

bread anyone?), others found themselves or their families<br />

constantly snacking to help pass the time or for comfort during<br />

the dark days of various lockdowns. For some families, the<br />

pandemic provided an opportunity to slow things down and<br />

reconnect over family meals more often. For others, a tighter<br />

food budget may have left them more stressed, trying to stretch<br />

every dollar to fill the stomachs of their growing children.<br />

Whatever your experience has been over the past year-anda-half,<br />

the fall marks a great opportunity to get re-organized<br />

in the kitchen and to take some time to reflect on what has<br />

changed in your family that you’d like to keep and what habits<br />

have crept in that you’d like to move away from.<br />

While many folks were working on their dining room tables<br />

or in very close proximity to the kitchen anyway, we’ve gotten<br />

used to the idea of food constantly being at our sides. Now<br />

might be a good time to work your way back to a more regular<br />

eating pattern that allows time in between regular meals and<br />

snacks to take a break from eating, let digestion happen, and<br />

permit appetites to build. Grazing patterns, or even filling up<br />

on liquids like milk and juice between meals, leave children<br />

without much of an appetite. This means there is very low<br />

desire or motivation to try new foods or even eat at all during<br />

meals. It is one of the most common concerns parents have<br />

about their children’s eating.<br />

Hunger really is the secret ingredient to building a child’s dietary<br />

variety. Every family will find their own rhythm with this, and<br />

often the pattern that works the best for children (and adults<br />

alike) is one that includes three meals, with one-to-three small,<br />

balanced snacks built in between. Allowing for two to three hours<br />

between meals and snacks, in which only water is offered, lets<br />

children’s tummies digest the food they’ve consumed, and come<br />

to the table hungry for their next meal or snack.<br />

Similarly, skipping meals, or going for prolonged periods<br />

without eating during the day, leaves people cranky, lacking the<br />

fuel supply required for their brains to think and concentrate<br />

at school and work, and causes people to become over-hungry,<br />

which can lead to more snacking or over-eating later in the day.<br />

Family routines, including regular meal times, help maintain a<br />

sense of normalcy even in difficult times. If you are wondering<br />

where to get started with your family’s nutrition, getting back to<br />

a routine with your meals and snacks is a great first step.<br />

COOK TOGETHER<br />

Perhaps your family picked up some traditions during the<br />

pandemic that are worth keeping, such as cooking together or<br />

experimenting with new recipes.<br />

Cooking together is a great way to reconnect with your family,<br />

to expose kids to new foods, and, of course, teach an important<br />

life skill. Getting kids involved in planning meals, shopping,<br />

gardening, and helping in the kitchen is a wonderful way to<br />

increase their exposure to food. <strong>Kids</strong> often need repeated but<br />

neutral (no pressure) exposure to new foods before they will<br />

School lunch ideas<br />

Muffin tin frittatas. Add a salad and finish with a<br />

yogurt and chopped-up fruit.<br />

California quinoa salad. make a big batch to serve<br />

up for lunches. Try this recipe at yumyummer.com/<br />

california-quinoa-salad.<br />

Taco salad. Use leftover ground beef from tacos to<br />

serve on top of mixed greens or romaine lettuce,<br />

topped with their favourite additions like red peppers,<br />

black beans, green onions, grated cheese, and tortilla<br />

strip salad toppers.<br />

Chicken wraps. Grill extra chicken breasts for<br />

supper to use in wraps for lunches. Use whole-grain<br />

wraps, add their favourite dressing (try mayonnaise,<br />

southwest chipotle dressing or ranch), and their<br />

favourite veggies (chopped peppers, cucumbers,<br />

grated carrots or shredded cabbage).<br />

greybrucekids.com • 15


come to enjoy them as part of their normal dietary variety, so<br />

avoid the dreaded “just try a bite.”<br />

These experiences allow children to see, touch, and smell foods<br />

they might not yet be ready to put in their mouths. Simple acts<br />

like having your kids help you unload the groceries, wash the<br />

lettuce, cut the peppers, assemble a salad, or grate carrots for<br />

muffins helps your child learn important information about<br />

foods – how they look, feel and smell. This helps to build their<br />

comfort (and curiosity) for tasting, and eventually eating those<br />

foods. They’re also more likely to try new foods if they have a<br />

hand in preparing them.<br />

Many parents worry about their children’s limited dietary<br />

variety, and start to get sneaky, hiding foods in other foods<br />

(pureeing vegetables to add to muffins or sauces, adding feared<br />

foods into smoothies, etc.). While the intention may be good,<br />

the consequences can be quite negative. Hiding or sneaking<br />

foods into other parts of children’s meals leaves them with<br />

feelings of mistrust. Allowing children to come to new or feared<br />

foods themselves, through repeated neutral exposures, puts your<br />

child in the driver’s seat of becoming an adventurous eater and<br />

helps you avoid food battles at the table.<br />

For more ideas on how to involve your children in the kitchen<br />

at different ages, check out the resources section at the bottom<br />

of this article.<br />

EAT TOGETHER<br />

In addition to cooking together, the benefits of eating together<br />

are well known, and go beyond nutrition. Children feel a<br />

stronger sense of connection with their families when they take<br />

time to eat together. When extracurricular activities start to<br />

increase, it can be tricky to protect that time, yet we can find<br />

creative ways to keep this tradition going. Any meal or snack<br />

can be an opportunity to eat together. Taking a little more time<br />

in the morning to eat breakfast before hustling everyone off<br />

to work and school, having a picnic lunch on a weekend, or<br />

planning a family dinner the few nights a week when everyone<br />

will be home is worth the effort.<br />

Having screens or other distractions on during mealtimes can<br />

take away from that feeling of connectedness. With so much<br />

time at home, it’s been easy to eat meals with the TV on or with<br />

people on their devices at the table. Eating with distractions<br />

takes away from our ability to listen to our internal hunger<br />

and satiety cues. Sometimes parents feel that their children will<br />

eat better or eat more if they have a device in front of them,<br />

however, distractions at the table may actually take away from<br />

children’s ability to become competent eaters because they’re<br />

disengaged from the process of learning to eat and the benefits<br />

of using all of their senses to explore and enjoy foods.<br />

Consider implementing a “no screens at the table” plan, and<br />

be sure to be a good role model yourself by putting your own<br />

phone away during family meals.<br />

BUILD YOUR FOOD RELATIONSHIP<br />

When working on family eating habits, consider Ellyn<br />

Satter’s ‘Division of Responsibility in Feeding’ (www.<br />

ellynsatterinstitute.org), which provides a framework for<br />

fostering a healthy feeding relationship. When it comes to<br />

feeding your family, it is important to stick to your job, and<br />

allow children to do their part in eating.<br />

16 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


As parents, we can choose what, when and<br />

where we are offering food. By establishing<br />

a reliable meal and snack structure, offering<br />

a variety of foods in a balanced way, and<br />

determining where our family will eat, we<br />

can set the stage for our children to then do<br />

their part in eating.<br />

Children get to decide how much they will<br />

eat (if any) of what we have offered. When<br />

parents pressure their children to “eat one<br />

more bite” or “just try a bite,” children will<br />

often resist. Food battles generally don’t end<br />

well, and take away from children’s natural<br />

curiosity and desire to try new food.<br />

As you start to steer your family’s eating<br />

habits back to normal, remember to go<br />

slow and be patient with yourself and your<br />

family. With time and consistency, we can<br />

get our whole family back on track. Being<br />

organized in the kitchen can help things to<br />

go smoothly and save money. Try stocking<br />

your kitchen with healthy foods that are<br />

visible and easy to grab, keep fresh fruit<br />

in a bowl on the counter, and cut up fruit<br />

or vegetables in a clear container that is<br />

noticeable when you open the fridge door.<br />

Making a flexible meal plan that is<br />

based on your family’s upcoming weekly<br />

schedule, and purchasing groceries<br />

according to the plan can go a long way in<br />

creating a healthy eating pattern. Involving<br />

the whole family in meal planning,<br />

preparing food, and packing lunches and<br />

snacks helps reduce the workload on any<br />

one person, and provides the support kids<br />

need to do well with their eating.<br />

Finally, keeping a non-dieting approach in<br />

your house is critical to helping children<br />

develop a positive relationship with food<br />

and their bodies. Avoid diet, calorie, and<br />

weight talk, and the negative messaging that<br />

comes with it. Even very small children pick<br />

up on adult’s comments about their bodies.<br />

Remember that just like the fruits and<br />

vegetables created by nature, we too come<br />

in all shapes and sizes. Recognize that all<br />

foods fit, and that children and adults alike<br />

flourish when they enjoy a variety of foods<br />

together. GBK<br />

JENNIFER MacTAVISH is a Registered Dietician<br />

with the Brockton & Area Family Health Team.<br />

Learn more about the Family Health Team<br />

at www.bafht.com or call to speak to one of the<br />

dietitians today.<br />

Resources<br />

For more ideas on<br />

helping your children<br />

become adventurous<br />

eaters, and developing a<br />

positive relationship with<br />

food, visit:<br />

kidseatincolor.com<br />

kidfoodexplorers.com<br />

mymunchbug.com<br />

www.ellynsatterinstitute.org<br />

www.pbs.org/parents/<br />

thrive/three-steps-toparenting-in-the-kitchen<br />

Please keep pets on a leash, on the<br />

trail, and under control at all times.<br />

Always clean up after yourselves.<br />

Pack out what you bring in, including<br />

pet waste.<br />

Keep dogs on leash.<br />

Rediscover Responsibly<br />

Visit<strong>Grey</strong>.ca | @visitgrey<br />

greybrucekids.com • 17


FINANCE<br />

Plan your savings<br />

MILLENNIALS FACE A HARDER ROAD TO<br />

FINANCIAL SECURITY THAN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS<br />

BY MICHELE MANNEROW<br />

18 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


Happy 40th! Where<br />

did the time go?<br />

You grew up so fast!<br />

The first Millennials (born 1981-96) are turning 40 this year. They represent 27 per cent of the<br />

Canadian population.<br />

They have been shaped by the Great Recession (2008-09), as they began to graduate and look<br />

for employment in a very tough economy. Home ownership rates for Millennials aged 30-34<br />

are 51 per cent, similar to Gen-X and Boomers. The Millennials have, however, taken on more<br />

mortgage debt relative to their income. Millennials are also the most educated generation with<br />

70 per cent holding a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. With this higher education<br />

comes higher student debt as well.<br />

Is it any wonder that Millennials may be feeling a bit squeezed? What I can say from personal,<br />

as well as 30 years of client experience, is that the years when you are just starting to work,<br />

buying a house, and starting a family are stressful! There are so many things to do, yet never<br />

enough money or time to do them all.<br />

What if I told you that if you concentrate on only three things, you will feel a whole lot less<br />

stress in your life? Would it be worth a couple of hours a month? Either on your own or with<br />

an advisor, if you are able to identify your short- and long-term goals, build your balance sheet,<br />

and set up your income/expenses to almost run themselves, you will have more time and have a<br />

better idea of the progress you are making.<br />

I often find that Millennial clients are running so quickly that they really have no idea where<br />

they’re going! A little bit of upfront work and time, followed by a once- or twice-a-year update,<br />

will save you hours of frustration and stress down the road.<br />

greybrucekids.com • 19


THE PLAN<br />

Goal setting. Have an honest conversation with yourself and<br />

your partner about short-term (one to five years) and long-term<br />

goals (5+), and always write them down.<br />

Build a balance sheet. Create a spreadsheet to outline<br />

everything you own and everything you owe.<br />

Organize. Automating your income and expenses will save you<br />

hours down the road.<br />

Sound terrifying? It doesn’t have to be. Let’s take a closer look<br />

and see if we can slay that finance monster.<br />

Goal setting: Studies have shown that what gets written down,<br />

gets done. Grab a glass of wine and do some blue-sky thinking<br />

about the future. Start a binder (or electronic folder, but I think<br />

paper is better) listing your short- and long-term goals.<br />

For example:<br />

• Pay off and cancel credit cards within the next three years.<br />

• Start regular, monthly retirement savings of $500 per<br />

month on Sept. 1.<br />

• By the end of next week, call to make an appointment<br />

with your lawyer to start drafting the will and powers of<br />

attorney you have been avoiding.<br />

• Open a separate account to save for vacations once every<br />

two years.<br />

• Have $50,000 in savings for each of the kids by the time<br />

they are 18.<br />

Goals need to be clear and concise, with defined timelines<br />

attached. You will likely also have to prioritize these goals. Is a<br />

vacation every two years possible while building your retirement<br />

nest egg? What are you willing to give up for that vacation? It<br />

can be tough to commit to long-term goals like retirement at<br />

the expense of short-term goals like a holiday. It is important to<br />

find a balance so you can enjoy life now, but also enjoy life later!<br />

Balance sheet. Also known as a net-worth statement, the<br />

balance sheet helps to clarify where you are in your financial<br />

life right now. Some items will be ballpark figures (the value<br />

of your house). Others, like your bank balance, mortgage, and<br />

credit card debt, can be more precise. If you are in a private<br />

pension plan through work, determine your total deposits plus<br />

interest online or on your most recent statement and add it to<br />

the balance sheet. Once every year or so, this can be updated to<br />

see actual progress in your finances! Sometimes it is tough to see<br />

the forest for the trees, but if the bottom line is increasing from<br />

year to year, then you are going in the right direction. If not,<br />

speak to a professional to see where you are going wrong and<br />

what your options are to fix it.<br />

Income and expenses. The good news is there’s an app for that!<br />

Taking a monthly or annual look at your income and expenses<br />

is critical to controlling your finances. Better the devil you<br />

know than the devil you don’t. There are budgeting apps such<br />

as ‘Mint’ or ‘You Need a Budget’ that allow you to link to your<br />

bank accounts, credit cards, etc., and help to categorize and<br />

notify you if you are going off the rails. If you don’t want to be<br />

that committed, almost all online banking systems allow you to<br />

download your bank account and credit card transactions into a<br />

workable format. Once your information is there, you can sort<br />

20 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


through and see where your money is being saved or spent.<br />

Remember your goals from above? Why do we always leave<br />

them to the bottom of our expense lists? Should we pay<br />

everything and then maybe save something if we’re lucky? I<br />

recommend Millennials consider first the money that hits their<br />

bank account (after taxes), then set aside the savings that are<br />

required to meet the goals as listed. Only then can you see<br />

how much money is left to pay the fixed (needs) and variable/<br />

discretionary (wants) expenses. If you have too much money<br />

left at the end of the month, start from the top and re-crunch<br />

the figures until they work.<br />

Putting this all on paper or into an app is fine, but how can you<br />

really bring this income/expense structure to life? I find that<br />

creating one bank account for fixed savings and expenses, and a<br />

second bank account for discretionary spending, can really help.<br />

First, have all of your income deposited into one bank account<br />

(let’s call it the saving/fixed payment account), then deduct your<br />

savings, mortgage, car payments, utilities, phone, child care,<br />

insurance, and all other fixed expenses. You will be left with<br />

how much you actually have to spend on variable/discretionary<br />

expenses like groceries, gas for the car, dining out, clothes, etc.<br />

I think this is where people get into trouble. With so many easy<br />

ways to spend our money (debit, credit, line of credit, don’t<br />

pay for 18 months, etc.) it feels like we have more discretionary<br />

income than we really do. We then end up robbing Peter to<br />

pay Paul to make sure there is money in the account to make<br />

the car payment. That’s where the stress comes in, resulting in<br />

creative household accounting. What if you took your “leftover”<br />

or discretionary spending money figure and divvied it up into<br />

an automatic weekly transfer to your “discretionary” spending<br />

account? Sort of like paying yourself a weekly allowance. Back<br />

in the bad old days, people used to set up different envelopes for<br />

different expenses. With so little cash in use these days, separate<br />

bank accounts is the best strategy.<br />

If you can do this, you should always have enough money left in<br />

your fixed savings and expense account to pay the bills that never<br />

change. So much less stress! Only using the second discretionary<br />

spending account for the variable expenses puts a limit on your<br />

spending and allows you to meet your savings goals.<br />

It will take some time and commitment, but know that it<br />

will be worth it when you start to achieve your goals, not to<br />

mention being able to sleep at night. GBK<br />

MICHELE MANNEROW, CFP, RFP, CIM, FCSI, FMA, is a financial advisor,<br />

Manulife Securities Incorporated and Life Insurance Advisor, Manulife<br />

Securities Insurance Inc., based in Owen Sound. Visit her online at<br />

mannerow.ca Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are offered through<br />

Manulife Securities Incorporated. Insurance products and services are<br />

sold through Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. Please confirm with your<br />

Advisor which company you are dealing with for each of your products<br />

and services. The opinions expressed are those of the author and may<br />

not necessarily reflect those of Manulife Securities Incorporated or<br />

Manulife Securities Insurance Inc.<br />

We’re scientists,<br />

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experts. And<br />

PROUD CANADIANS.<br />

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Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel.<br />

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greybrucekids.com • 21


HEALTH<br />

DEALING WITH<br />

TRAUMA<br />

HELPING KIDS PROCESS HARDSHIP CAUSED BY COVID-19<br />

BY REBEKKAH WILLIAMS<br />

22 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


Over this past year-and-a-half, our world has faced<br />

unprecedented hardship. COVID-19 changed everything;<br />

the very nature of how we behave as social creatures has been<br />

indelibly affected. The pandemic continues to cause additional<br />

stressors, and it is imperative that we adapt to this new reality<br />

with flexible thinking patterns. It is an evolving global world.<br />

The pandemic has caused a crisis of physical, public and mental<br />

health, including rising addiction and personal hardships of<br />

many types. There has been unprecedented stress put upon our<br />

children, from shifting formats of learning, to unprecedented<br />

amounts of screen time, and the removal of friends, school and<br />

social supports.<br />

Anxiety in families and individuals is at an all-time crisis point.<br />

For some kids school, socialization and extra-curriculars are a<br />

relief from the stressors at home. Some kids have had to deal<br />

with chronic adult issues and domestic crisis, while others have<br />

had to navigate increased substance use at home and intensified<br />

abuses.<br />

COVID-19 forced us to make sudden and dramatic changes to<br />

our lives, which has seen us pivot quickly, with no certainty for<br />

how long or to what end. So now what? How do we ‘get back<br />

to normal’ when no one knows what that will look like? When<br />

transitioning back to ‘normal’ life after such a traumatic event<br />

we need to redefine what ‘normal’ even is. And what can we do<br />

to help support our children?<br />

Trauma is a fact of life. However, so is resilience.<br />

RESILIENCE<br />

Resilience is the capacity that we all possess to rebound from<br />

stress, feelings of fear, helplessness and being overwhelmed.<br />

We actually build the capacity and increase our resilience as we<br />

encounter the stressors and traumas of life.<br />

Trauma can result from many extraordinary events such as<br />

violence or child abuse, and also from everyday events like<br />

medical procedures and accidents. Changes in family structure<br />

can cause children to develop negative feelings, withdraw, and<br />

develop anxiety or behavioural problems such as aggression.<br />

The way trauma is responded to is either by building increased<br />

capacity and resilience or being traumatized and displaying<br />

negative psychological, emotional and physical behaviours. By<br />

the nature of trauma, it tends to be an intense experience which<br />

overwhelms the child, often coming out of nowhere, leaving<br />

them altered and disconnected, perhaps from their body, mind<br />

and spirit. Trauma can also be the result of ongoing fear, tension,<br />

and anxiety.<br />

It is the opposite of empowerment. Vulnerability to trauma<br />

differs from child to child depending on a variety of factors,<br />

including age, quality of early bonding and attachment, trauma<br />

history, and genetic pre-disposition. Often, the younger the<br />

child, the more likely they will be overwhelmed by an experience<br />

that might not overwhelm an older child.<br />

The child’s capacity for resilience is a paramount factor in<br />

determining severity symptoms.<br />

TRAUMA AND THE BODY<br />

The physiological connection to trauma – rather than<br />

psychological – is grounded in the fact that, at the base of our<br />

brains, the limbic system is hard-wired for survival. The limbic<br />

system controls our basic survival instincts, which means our<br />

primary responses are instinctual.<br />

When faced with something fearful, there is redirection of blood<br />

flow away from the digestive and skin organs and into the large<br />

motor muscles for flight. There is fast and shallow respiration<br />

and a decrease in the normal output of saliva. Pupils dilate to<br />

increase the ability of the eyes to take in more information.<br />

Blood clotting increases, while verbal ability decreases. Muscles<br />

often become excited, causing the child trouble.<br />

Alternatively, when faced with mortal threat or prolonged stress,<br />

certain muscles may collapse in fear as the body shuts down<br />

in an overwhelmed state. In fact, as trauma also diverts muscle<br />

responsiveness away from certain areas (such as the bladder) to<br />

more necessary areas (legs), this is the reason we pee our pants if<br />

faced with sudden fear.<br />

It’s important to remember we’re all animals. Pay attention to<br />

self-care. Respond to your body through trauma first aid – pay<br />

attention to eating high-quality whole foods and drinking lots of<br />

water. Rest. Sleep. Go outside and breathe in the air. Lie on your<br />

back and look at the stars. Walk. Run. Scream. Connect with<br />

nature and animals.<br />

TRAUMA AND REGRESSION<br />

When traumatized, children are in a state of alarm, or – and<br />

this important to remember – even if they are reminded of the<br />

trauma, they will be less capable of concentrating, will be more<br />

anxious, and will pay more attention to non-verbal cues such as<br />

tone of voice, body posture and facial expressions.<br />

Trauma can cause regression and a loss of learned skills and<br />

information. During COVID-19, children have not had access<br />

to learning on an even scale. The fluctuation between online and<br />

in-person learning, as well as differing levels of parental oversight<br />

for home-schooling, has created an uneven landscape of learning<br />

and social skills.<br />

Teachers and schools need to be mindful of the fact that<br />

the content is of far less importance than the return to a<br />

safe, socialized environment. Children are experiencing<br />

unprecedented amounts of anxiety, and the school environment<br />

needs to help children acclimate by establishing safety and<br />

positive non-anxiety provoking environments and routines.<br />

Children will need more coaching on how to resolve<br />

interpersonal issues and cope with separation anxiety.<br />

Children at school would benefit from increased physical<br />

education, yoga, and exercises involving self-awareness,<br />

emotional intelligence and healthy social relationship activities,<br />

including role-playing.<br />

TRAUMA AND KIDS’ BRAINS<br />

It is crucial to understand that a child’s brain is different from<br />

that of an adult because it is still developing. Children gradually<br />

greybrucekids.com • 23


develop a sense of time. When discussing time they usually link it<br />

to an event. Children also do not understand language as well as<br />

adults, so they don’t process information in the same manner as<br />

adults as their brains are still growing. They need more time and<br />

space. They also have shorter attention spans and more concrete<br />

thinking caused by not being able to think abstractly until about<br />

age 12.<br />

Research has shown that toxic stress and trauma can alter a<br />

child’s brain chemistry. Chronic stress and trauma may shrink<br />

the hippocampus, and actually kill neurons, as well as drastically<br />

slow down the growth of new neurons. In addition to this, the<br />

wiring of the brains neurochemical systems becomes oversensitized,<br />

and this results in the symptoms commonly seen as<br />

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The complex chemical<br />

neurological reactivity affects parts of the brain that are all<br />

about learning, memory, and fear conditioning. This is why<br />

traumatized children may have difficulty with learning.<br />

On a positive note, a child’s brain is far more elastic than<br />

an adult, which has positive implications for both trauma<br />

resolution and resiliency.<br />

If the essence of trauma is the loss of the self then this is the<br />

time to begin self-esteem and self-awareness activities, including<br />

beginning a new hobby.<br />

Parents should also avoid declaring things as ‘over.’ This leaves<br />

nowhere for residual feelings to live or be expressed. We are<br />

creating flexible thinking about this ever evolving new global<br />

world.<br />

GROUNDING EXERCISES<br />

Children will benefit from getting offline and slowing their<br />

world down by completing grounding exercises on a regular<br />

basis. Some ideas include:<br />

• Tense and release. Focus on a certain part of the body, such<br />

as the fists, and clench them as hard as you can. Count to<br />

10 and release.<br />

• Socks and shoes off, and place your bare feet on the<br />

ground. Feel the connection to the physical earth.<br />

• Mountain, tree and child’s poses in yoga.<br />

Anti-anxiety techniques such as blowing bubbles with a wand,<br />

which helps to replicate that beautiful deep inwards breath and<br />

concentrated outwards breath from the diaphragm and out<br />

through the mouth. This is an anti-anxiety breathing technique.<br />

Plus, it’s fun to have bubbles blowing around you. Keep one in<br />

your glovebox for driving stress.<br />

Breathe deeply and slowly from the diaphragm. Sit in a chair<br />

with one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach<br />

and listen to your breathing. Slowly breathing in and out your<br />

nose 10 times creates calm.<br />

MINDFULNESS EXERCISES<br />

Participate in ceremony and personal cultural events and<br />

activities. Mindful, earth-focused activities such as collecting<br />

stones, including a cool activity such as leaving the stone behind<br />

that represents a certain pain or suffering. Build a bonfire.<br />

Primal basic earth response to fire is deeply grounding.<br />

Run warm water across your hands. Swim. Go in the bush.<br />

Express gratitude. There are many online resources for daily<br />

affirmations, and apps for meditation, yoga and mindfulness.<br />

Collage to help articulate feelings or images. Draw in the sand.<br />

Smell pleasant things that have pleasant associations. Make<br />

sure there are several wonderful smelling things in your child’s<br />

backpack when they return to school, including the T-shirt of a<br />

parent, or a marker that smells like tangerine or sage.<br />

Keep a dream journal. Anxious thinkers should keep paper and<br />

a pen beside the bed to make a list of anxious feelings so they<br />

can catalogue their thoughts for the next day.<br />

Garden. Get your hands dirty and grow something in a pot.<br />

Communicate with family and community elders. Meditate.<br />

Seek activities in which the child can use his voice. Singing and<br />

screaming are both affective at dispensing both positive and<br />

negative feelings and encourage the child to vocalize.<br />

TURN OFF THE NOISE<br />

Look at the influence of media and turn off the news.<br />

<strong>Kids</strong> have had unprecedented amounts of online time and<br />

have likely experienced some frightening messages on social<br />

media platforms. Parents must be informed about the media<br />

availability to your child and ‘leaked’ to your child via other<br />

children during online platforms.<br />

Remember what was good from the early days of the pandemic<br />

and foster creativity. Puzzle, play board and card games, and get<br />

out the paint and the paper maché, blank paper and pencils,<br />

metal and wood and remind them of the no-limitations, handson,<br />

messy creativity of the pandemic’s early days when families<br />

were forced to reconnect when on lockdown.<br />

Go outside! <strong>Kids</strong> have been sitting sedentary for abnormal<br />

amounts. Get out and run, or jump rope, or walk in the bush.<br />

Seek fun ways to reconnect in a non-structured way. Free<br />

your brain of schedules if you can, even for small amounts of<br />

unplanned time.<br />

Above all talk and communicate. Listen to what they’re<br />

saying. Children are more informed than ever and often have<br />

information they do not understand. Their fears mirror the<br />

climate in which our media reflects negativity.<br />

Your kids might have very strong opinions and these need<br />

to be respected. Do not dismiss their fears even if they seem<br />

unrealistic to you. Find out where these fears have originated<br />

and help them develop plans to ensure their safety and wellbeing.<br />

Give them facts. Use simple and clear language to explain<br />

things like vaccination and herd immunity. Use language that<br />

speaks about the trauma. Create a clear system that works for<br />

24 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


your family, and explain why this might not be the same for all<br />

families.<br />

Model your behaviour. Watch your own fear-based behaviours<br />

and intolerances. Respect others even in today’s climate of<br />

negativity. Model the routines and procedures that you want<br />

your child to adopt. All kids learn by copying.<br />

START SMILING<br />

Practice socialization. The lockdown caused a stunting of our<br />

basic human social skills. We haven’t seen people’s mouths<br />

in public in a very long time. Practice smiling and be aware<br />

of how we can use body language and eye contact to help<br />

communicate positivity and to express ourselves. In fact there<br />

is an Instagram page dedicated to posting photos of smiles (@<br />

smileyouhappy)!<br />

Try role-playing to address social fears. Say hello to random<br />

people on purpose. Reconnect with family and elders. We all<br />

may have degrees of separation anxiety after lockdown.<br />

Expect a fear of germs and of getting sick. These anxious and<br />

catastrophic thinking patterns could be socially restricting,<br />

so face them head on! Focus on hope, looking forward and<br />

filling your environment with positivity. Establish new<br />

routines that deliberately seek joy. Ensure humour is part of<br />

your day-to-day life.<br />

We can create resiliency by practicing many fun and useful<br />

skills that simply keep us well as people and give us strength to<br />

face any traumatic event. Most importantly, be aware of feelings<br />

of negativity that don’t lift or change, and seek help if required.<br />

The importance of good mental health is and there is no longer<br />

a place for shame or silence. Ask for help and never stop asking<br />

until you get the help and support you need.<br />

SAFETY FOR TRAUMATIZED KIDS<br />

Do not be afraid to talk about the traumatic event. Provide<br />

a consistent, predictable pattern for the day. Be nurturing,<br />

comforting and affectionate, but be sure this is in an<br />

appropriate context. Discuss your expectations for behaviour.<br />

Talk with the child. Watch closely for signs of reenactment,<br />

and protect the child. Give them tools to talk and express<br />

themselves. And don’t be afraid to ask others for help. GBK<br />

REBEKKAH WILLIAMS, RP, Ex.A.T, TIR, is a Registered Psychotherapist<br />

and Expressive Arts Therapist specializing in the treatment of trauma<br />

for over thirty four years. Currently in private practice, she is the<br />

co-founder and Director of Nemesis Group. Rebekkah contracts with<br />

Health Canada Indigenous Services, NIHB/IDS, Indian Residential<br />

Schools Resolution HSP, MMIWG, Internet Child Exploitation and<br />

Canadian Armed Forces/Veteran’s Affairs. Rebekkah specializes in<br />

training on trauma and is registered with the College of Registered<br />

Psychotherapists of Ontario, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy<br />

Association, and has recently trained in Trauma Informed Yoga. In<br />

addition to her psychotherapy practice, Rebekkah is the author of<br />

several fiction and non fiction books, curriculum, and numerous articles.<br />

Live the<br />

skilled life.<br />

OYAP is a School to Work program that opens the door<br />

for students to explore and work in apprenticeship<br />

occupations starting in Grade 11 or Grade 12 through the<br />

Cooperative Education program.<br />

The goals of OYAP are:<br />

• To provide students with the opportunity to<br />

start training in a skilled trade while completing<br />

the requirements for an Ontario Secondary<br />

School Diploma.<br />

• To enable students to make the school to work<br />

transition by direct entry into apprenticeship<br />

training.<br />

• To provide employers with the opportunity to<br />

train the skilled workers they require.<br />

• To provide a viable solution to address the<br />

problem of skilled tradespeople shortages in<br />

general, and specifically the lack of young people<br />

joining the trades.<br />

Contact Dave Barrett at Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program<br />

Bluewater District School Board and <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Catholic District School Board<br />

351 1 st Avenue North Chesley, Ontario N0G 1L0<br />

519-363-2014 | 1-800-661-7509<br />

The program is funded by the Government of Ontario<br />

oyap.com<br />

greybrucekids.com • 25


RESOURCES<br />

ABUSE<br />

Assaulted Women’s Helpline<br />

Crisis line: 1-866-863-0511<br />

www.awhl.org<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Child and Family Services<br />

(<strong>Bruce</strong> and <strong>Grey</strong> Children’s Aid Societies<br />

amalgamated April 1, 2012)<br />

1-855-322-4453<br />

Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services<br />

1-800-567-2384; 519-371-4773<br />

kcyfs@bmts.com or keystonebrucegrey.org<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Saugeen First Nation - Kabaeshiwim<br />

Respite Women’s Shelter<br />

519-797-2521<br />

cgeorge@saugeenfirstnation.ca<br />

www.saugeenfirstnation.ca<br />

Sexual Assault and Partner<br />

Abuse Care Centre<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Services<br />

1-888-525-0552 or www.gbhs.on.ca<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Victim Services <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong><br />

Perth<br />

Crisis: 1-866-376-9852<br />

Administration: 1-888-577-3111<br />

info@victim-services.com<br />

www.victim-services.com<br />

Victim/Witness Assistance Program<br />

Owen Sound - 1-866-259-4823<br />

Walkerton - 1-866-994-9904<br />

attorneygeneral@ontario.ca<br />

http://bit.ly/ujKyeE<br />

Women’s Centre (<strong>Grey</strong> and <strong>Bruce</strong>)<br />

Administration: 519-376-0755<br />

Crisis: 1-800-265-3722<br />

womenscentre@bmts.com<br />

www.bmts.com/~womenscentre<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Women’s House Serving <strong>Bruce</strong> and <strong>Grey</strong><br />

Sexual assault crisis: 1-866-578-5566<br />

Crisis line: 1-800-265-3026<br />

Administration: (519) 396-9814<br />

crisis@whsbg.on.ca<br />

www.whsbg.on.ca<br />

Kincardine<br />

BREASTFEEDING<br />

Brockton and Area Family Health Team<br />

1-866-507-<strong>2021</strong> or 519-881-1920<br />

RN/certified Lactation Consultant available<br />

www.bafht.com<br />

Walkerton<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit<br />

1-800-263-3456<br />

publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Hanover Family Health Team<br />

RN/Certified Lactation Consultant<br />

519-506-4348<br />

www.hanoverfht.ca<br />

La Leche League Canada<br />

Owen Sound; 519-376-5916; www.lllc.ca<br />

Moms Walkerton<br />

New Mom support<br />

320 Durham St.., Walkerton; 519-379-6769<br />

Support groups<br />

Southampton, Port Elgin, Paisley, and Tara -<br />

519-797-2010<br />

Kincardine, Ripley, Tiverton, and Lucknow -<br />

519-368-4847<br />

South-<strong>Bruce</strong> Breastfeeding Buddies -<br />

519-881-1920<br />

Wiarton and <strong>Bruce</strong> Peninsula - 519-534-0912<br />

Markdale - 519-369-3381<br />

Owen Sound - 519-372-1330<br />

The Mama Nurse<br />

www.themamanurse.com<br />

CHILDBIRTH<br />

Glamma Doula<br />

Christine Piotrowski, Postpartum Doula<br />

www.glammadoula.com; 519-477-9985<br />

Hanover and District Hospital Obstetrics/<br />

Family Centred Care Birthing Centre<br />

519-364-2340<br />

admin@hanoverhospital.on.ca<br />

www.hanoverhospital.on.ca<br />

Midwives <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong><br />

519-371-2886<br />

www.midwivesgreybruce.com<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Owen Sound Hospital Labour and Delivery<br />

519-376-2121<br />

www.gbhs.on.ca/owensound.php<br />

Walkerton Hospital Family Birthing Centre<br />

519-881-1220<br />

www.sbghc.on.ca<br />

CHILD CARE<br />

Acorn Montessori<br />

705-606-1642<br />

Thornbury<br />

Amabel-Sauble Child Care Centre<br />

519-422-3611<br />

Sauble Beach<br />

Beaver Valley Outreach<br />

519-599-2577<br />

Bobi’s Playschool<br />

519-538-5483<br />

Meaford<br />

Brockton Child Care Centre<br />

sbross@brockton.ca<br />

Brooke Montessori Toddler Program<br />

519-376-3447<br />

Owen Sound<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Childcare Services<br />

519-881-0431 or www.brucecounty.on.ca<br />

Walkerton<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> Peninsula Family Centre<br />

519-793-4100<br />

Lion’s Head<br />

Chesley Nursery School<br />

519-363-9544<br />

Durham Nursery School<br />

519-369-6973<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> County Childcare Services<br />

519-376-7324<br />

www.greycounty.ca/childcare<br />

Hanover Montessori Children's House<br />

1-800-906-7036 or 519-364-6455<br />

Happy Hearts Day Care Centre<br />

519-376-1284<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Inglenook Creche Day Care<br />

519-371-9471; Owen Sound<br />

<strong>Kids</strong> & Us Community Childcare<br />

and Family Education Centres<br />

Ayton - 519-665-2022<br />

Dundalk - 519-923-2182<br />

Durham - 519-369-9911<br />

Holstein - 519-334-3132<br />

Markdale - 519-986-3692<br />

Osprey - 519-922-2333<br />

Paisley - 519-353-7220<br />

www.kidsandus.ca<br />

<strong>Kids</strong> Street Nursery School - Port Elgin<br />

519-389-9050<br />

Kinhuron Integrated Day Nursery School<br />

Co-op<br />

519-396-4532<br />

Kincardine<br />

Le Jardin des decouvertes - Owen Sound<br />

519-371-4411<br />

Military Family Resource Centre - Meaford<br />

519-538-1371 x6753<br />

mfrc.meaford@sympatico.ca<br />

www.mfrcmeaford.com<br />

Meaford Co-operative Nursery School<br />

519-538-3854<br />

Nawash N'Shiime Day Care Centre<br />

519-534-3909<br />

Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker)<br />

OneList – Find and apply for child care<br />

brucecountychildcare.ca<br />

greycountychildcare.ca<br />

Queen of Hearts Nursery School<br />

109 Balmy Beach Rd., Owen Sound<br />

www.queenofheartsnurseryschool.com<br />

Sandbox Daycare - Hanover<br />

519-506-7263<br />

Saugeen First Nation G’Shaw-da-Gawin<br />

Day Care Centre<br />

519-797-2419<br />

gshawdagawin@bmts.com<br />

www.saugeenfirstnation.ca<br />

Tobermory Primary Place<br />

519-596-2606<br />

Unity House - Owen Sound<br />

519-371-8686<br />

Viola Jean’s Garden Daycare - Owen Sound<br />

519-416-5633 or 519-371-2362<br />

26 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


Wiarton <strong>Kids</strong> Den Day Care/<strong>Kids</strong> Club<br />

School age Program<br />

519-534-4434<br />

Wiarton Nursery School<br />

519-534-2121<br />

Wooden Hill Child Care Centre (La Colline<br />

De Bois) at Notre Dame School<br />

519-376-6952<br />

Owen Sound<br />

YMCA Childcare<br />

Arran Tara - 519-376-0484<br />

Hanover - 519-364-4938<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-9622<br />

Owen Sound - 519-376-0484<br />

Port Elgin - 519-832-6225<br />

Ripley - 519-395-5570<br />

ymcaowensound.on.ca<br />

DIET/NUTRITION<br />

EatRight Ontario<br />

Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport<br />

1-877-510-5102; www.eatrightontario.ca<br />

Foodlink <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong><br />

Find locally grown meat, fruit and produce<br />

www.foodlinkgreybruce.com<br />

Good Food Box<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit<br />

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456<br />

publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit<br />

1-800-263-3456<br />

publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Hanover Family Health Team<br />

519-506-4348; www.hanoverfht.ca<br />

Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services<br />

1-800-567-2384, 519-371-4773<br />

kcyfs@bmts.com or keystonebrucegrey.org<br />

Ontario Student Nutrition Program <strong>Grey</strong><br />

<strong>Bruce</strong><br />

www.osnp.ca<br />

EDUCATION<br />

Academy of Learning - Owen Sound<br />

1077 2nd Ave. E., Suite B (2nd floor)<br />

519-371-6188 or www.academytraining.ca<br />

Adult Learning Centres<br />

Collingwood, Port Elgin, Markdale, Owen<br />

Sound, Walkerton, Wiarton<br />

www.adultlearningcentres.com<br />

Bluewater District School Board<br />

1-800-661-7509 or www.bwdsb.on.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong>-<strong>Grey</strong> Catholic District School Board<br />

519-364-5820 or www.bgcdsb.org<br />

Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence<br />

(French Catholic School Board)<br />

1-888-768-2219; www.cscprovidence.ca<br />

Edgehill Country School, Durham<br />

www.edgehillschool.org<br />

Georgian Tutors<br />

www.georgiantutors.com<br />

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES<br />

JobsWork<br />

Aimee Kim, Job Developer, akim@clkd.ca<br />

519-396-9434 x223<br />

Leads Employment Services<br />

1051 2nd Ave. E Owen Sound<br />

1-866-955-3237<br />

www.leadsservices.com<br />

Live<strong>Grey</strong><strong>Bruce</strong><br />

www.livegreybruce.ca<br />

VPI Employment Strategies (Walkerton)<br />

519-881-4900 or 1-855-260-4900<br />

jobswalkerton@vpi-inc.com<br />

www.vpi-inc.com<br />

YMCA Employment Services<br />

1450 1st Ave. W., Suite 4A, Owen Sound<br />

519-371-9222<br />

employmentservices@ymcaowensound.on.ca<br />

FAMILY SUPPORT<br />

211 Ontario<br />

Online database of services in your area<br />

www.211ontario.ca<br />

Aspire Youth Services Inc.<br />

Ryan McLeod, CPT, RSW, MSW, CYC (BA)<br />

ryanmcleodplaytherapy@gmail.com<br />

aspireyouth.ca; 416-417-7098<br />

Big Brothers Big Sisters<br />

Owen Sound - 519-376-4449<br />

www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/bbowensound<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-3565<br />

www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/kincardine<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Child and Family Services<br />

1-855-322-4453<br />

www.bgcfs.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Mentorship<br />

504 10th St., Suite 2, Hanover<br />

519-506-5065<br />

www.brucegreymentorship.ca<br />

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation<br />

- Native Child Welfare - Cape Croker<br />

519-534-3818<br />

supervisor.ncw@gbtel.ca<br />

www.nawash.ca<br />

EarlyON Child and Family Centres<br />

Chesley, Hanover, Kincardine, Markdale,<br />

Meaford, M’Wikwedong (Owen Sound), Owen<br />

Sound (East Ridge), Port Elgin, Thornbury,<br />

Wiarton<br />

1-800-616-8116<br />

Family Support Initiative<br />

Peer support for family of those with mental<br />

health issues<br />

519-371-4802; fsi@hopegb.org<br />

mhagb.ca<br />

Grandparent Network<br />

For grandparents raising grandchildren<br />

Meets first Monday of month at 9:30 a.m.<br />

Owen Sound<br />

Call Mary Nuckowski at 519-371-2498<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Supervised Access Program<br />

519-371-5991; pc-superacc@bmts.com<br />

www.supervisedaccess.ca<br />

Owen Sound<br />

<strong>Kids</strong> Help Phone<br />

1-800-668-6868 (24 hours)<br />

www.kidshelpphone.ca<br />

Multiples in <strong>Bruce</strong><br />

For families with or expecting multiples<br />

http://multiplesinbrucecounty.webs.com<br />

Nemesis Group Services<br />

Owen Sound; 519-372-2425<br />

www.nemesisgroupservices.com<br />

Parent Help Line<br />

1-888-603-9100<br />

Penetangore Wellness<br />

Art and family therapy<br />

www.penetangorewellness.com<br />

Salvation Army<br />

Hanover - 519-364-3450<br />

Owen Sound - 519-371-0957<br />

Port Elgin - 519-389-3942<br />

Wiarton - 519-534-0353<br />

Victim Services <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong><br />

Perth<br />

Crisis: 1-866-376-9852; Admin: 1-888-577-3111<br />

info@victim-services.com;<br />

www.victim-services.com<br />

Victim/Witness Assistance Program<br />

1-866-259-4823 - Owen Sound<br />

1-866-994-9904 - Walkerton<br />

attorneygeneral@ontario.ca<br />

http://bit.ly/ujKyeE<br />

FINANCIAL SUPPORT<br />

Beaver Valley Outreach (Thornbury)<br />

519-599-2577; info@bvo.ca; www.bvo.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> Children are Special Foundation<br />

Directs donations to the children programs<br />

provided by <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Child and Family<br />

Services (formerly Children’s Aid)<br />

1-855-322-4453 ext 4133<br />

Social Services<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> County - 1-800-265-3119<br />

www.grey.ca/health-social-services/<br />

Owen Sound<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County - 1-800-265-3005<br />

www.brucecounty.on.ca/ontworks.php<br />

Walkerton<br />

United Way of <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong><br />

519-376-1560 or manager@unitedwaybg.com<br />

www.unitedwayofbrucegrey.com<br />

YMCA of Owen Sound and <strong>Grey</strong>/<strong>Bruce</strong><br />

519-376-0484 or ymcaowensound.on.ca<br />

FOOD BANKS/HOUSING<br />

Beaver Valley Outreach - Thornbury<br />

519-599-2577<br />

info@bvo.ca or www.bvo.ca<br />

Durham District Food Bank<br />

Monday and Friday, 9 a.m.-noon<br />

greybrucekids.com • 27


RESOURCES<br />

Flesherton and Area Food Bank<br />

Marian Doyle, 519-599-3576<br />

Kincardine Ministerial Food Bank<br />

519-396-2185 or circlek@bmts.com<br />

Lion’s Head and District Food Bank<br />

519-793-3860 or helen.rick@amtelecom.net<br />

Markdale and District Food Bank<br />

519-986-3094<br />

Meaford Food Bank<br />

519-538-4550<br />

Paisley Food Bank<br />

Immanuel Evangelical Mission Church<br />

307 Balaclava St.; 519-353-5270 (Carol)<br />

Salvation Army<br />

Hanover - 519-364-3450<br />

Owen Sound - 519-371-0957<br />

Port Elgin - 519-389-3942<br />

Tobermory Food Bank<br />

519-596-1501<br />

Walkerton and District Food Bank<br />

519-881-0168<br />

Wiarton Food Bank<br />

519-534-0353<br />

Habitat for Humanity <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong><br />

1-866-771-6776 or habitatos@bmts.com<br />

www.habitatgreybruce.com<br />

Ontario Tenants Rights<br />

ontariotenants@hotmail.com<br />

www.ontariotenants.ca<br />

Safe ‘n Sound Homelessness Initiative<br />

519-470-7233; www.safensoundgreybruce.com<br />

Subsidized housing<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County - 1-800-265-3022<br />

www.brucecounty.on.ca/socialhousing.php<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> County - 376-5744<br />

Online: http://bit.ly/vVG1k0<br />

HEALTH CARE<br />

Auditory Health Care<br />

202 Cayley St., Walkerton<br />

519-881-4994 or info@auditoryhealthcare.com<br />

Brockton and Area Family Health Team<br />

1-866-507-<strong>2021</strong> or www.bafht.com<br />

Walkerton<br />

Canadian Mental Health Association<br />

<strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> Branch<br />

Administration - 519-371-3642<br />

Crisis: 1-877-470-5200<br />

jralph@cmhagb.org; www.cmhagb.org<br />

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital<br />

705-445-2550<br />

www.cgmh.on.ca<br />

Connect Rehabilitation, Yoga and Fitness<br />

1100 16th Ave. E., Owen Sound<br />

admin@connectrehab.com; 519-372-2121<br />

www.connectrehab.com<br />

ConnexOntario Help Lines<br />

Drug and alcohol - 1-800-565-8603<br />

Gambling - 1-888-230-3505<br />

Mental health - 1-866-531-2600<br />

www.connexontario.ca<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Services (hospitals)<br />

Lion’s Head - 519-793-3424<br />

Markdale - 519-986-3040<br />

Meaford - 519-538-1311<br />

Owen Sound - 519-376-2121<br />

Southampton - 797-3230<br />

Wiarton - 534-1260<br />

www.gbhs.on.ca<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit - Owen Sound<br />

1-800-263-3456<br />

publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

Hanover and District Hospital<br />

519-364-2340/info@hdhospital.ca<br />

www.hdhospital.ca<br />

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit<br />

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456<br />

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

Hanover Family Health Team<br />

519-506-4348 or dford@hanoverfht.ca<br />

www.hanoverfht.ca<br />

Healthy Smiles Ontario<br />

Dental for families making under $20,000/yr<br />

Register through the health unit<br />

Online: http://bit.ly/JAqJbY<br />

Honouring Life Network<br />

Indigenous youth suicide prevention<br />

www.honouringlife.ca<br />

Hope<strong>Grey</strong><strong>Bruce</strong> - Owen Sound<br />

Mental Health and Addiction Services<br />

519-371-4120 or www.mhagb.ca/gbchc/<br />

Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services<br />

1-800-567-2384 or 519-371-4773<br />

kcyfs@bmts.com or keystonebrucegrey.org<br />

<strong>Kids</strong> Help Phone (24 hours)<br />

1-800-668-6868 or www.kidshelpphone.ca<br />

Kincardine Family Health Team<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-2700<br />

Ripley - 519-395-2601<br />

www.kincardinefht.ca<br />

Mino Bimadsawin Health Centre<br />

57 Mason Dr., Saugeen First Nation<br />

519-797-3336<br />

M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Resource<br />

Centre - Owen Sound<br />

1-866-202-2068 or admin@mwikwedong.com<br />

www.mwikwedong.com<br />

Owen Sound Crisis Pregnancy Centre<br />

1-888-371-2004<br />

oscpc@wightman.ca<br />

Pediatric clinics<br />

Hanover - 519-364-2340<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-3331<br />

Markdale - 519-986-3040<br />

Owen Sound - 519-376-2121<br />

Walkerton - 519-881-1220<br />

Penetangore Wellness<br />

Art and family therapy<br />

www.penetangorewellness.com<br />

Poison Control Centre<br />

1-800-268-9017<br />

Postpartum depression<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit - 1-800-263-3456<br />

Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services -<br />

1-800-567-2384<br />

Sandra Hall Physiotherapy<br />

519-270-6528; shallphysio12@gmail.com<br />

www.sandrahallphysiotherapy.com<br />

South <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong> Health Centre (hospitals)<br />

Chesley - 519-363-2340<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-3331<br />

Durham - 519-369-2340<br />

Walkerton - 519-881-1220<br />

www.sbghc.on.ca<br />

South East <strong>Grey</strong> Community Health Centre<br />

55 Victoria St., Markdale<br />

519-986-2222 or 1-855-519-2220<br />

info@segchc.ca or www.segchc.ca<br />

St. John Ambulance First Aid training<br />

519-364-7004 or grey.bruce@on.sja.ca<br />

Online: http://bit.ly/t3Ye8g<br />

TeleHealth Ontario<br />

1-866-797-0007<br />

Thames Valley Children’s Centre<br />

519-396-3360 or 1-866-590-8822<br />

www.tvcc.on.ca<br />

LIBRARIES<br />

Blue Mountains Public Library/<br />

L.E. Shore Memorial Library<br />

Thornbury<br />

519-599-3681 or thebluemountainslibrary.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Public Library<br />

opac.brucecounty.on.ca; 519-832-6935;<br />

libraryinfo@brucecounty.on.ca<br />

Cargill - 519-366-9990<br />

Chesley - 519-363-2239<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-3289<br />

Lion’s Head - 519-793-3844<br />

Lucknow - 519-528-3011<br />

Mildmay - 519-367-2814<br />

Paisley - 519-353-7225<br />

Port Elgin - 519-832-2201<br />

Ripley - 519-395-5919<br />

Sauble Beach - 519-422-1283<br />

Southampton - 519-797-3586<br />

Tara - 519-934-2626<br />

Teeswater - 519-392-6801<br />

Tiverton - 519-368-5655<br />

Tobermory - 519-596-2446<br />

Walkerton - 519-881-3240<br />

Wiarton - 519-534-2602<br />

Collingwood Public Library<br />

519-445-1571; www.collingwoodpubliclibrary.ca<br />

Dundalk/Southgate Public Library<br />

519-923-3248; http://southgate-library.com/<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> Highlands Public Library<br />

Flesherton - 519-924-2241<br />

Kimberley - 519-599-6990<br />

Walter Harris Memorial Library (Markdale) -<br />

519-986-3436; greyhighlandspubliclibrary.com<br />

28 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


Hanover Public Library<br />

519-364-1420 or www.hanoverlibrary.ca<br />

Meaford Public Library<br />

519-538-1060<br />

www.meaford.ca/meaford-library-home.html<br />

Owen Sound and North <strong>Grey</strong><br />

Union Public Library<br />

519-376-6623; www.owensound.library.on.ca<br />

West <strong>Grey</strong> Public Library system<br />

www.westgreylibrary.com<br />

Durham (main) branch - 519-369-2107<br />

Elmwood and area - 519-363-3321<br />

Neustadt - 519-799-5830<br />

Ayton/Normanby - 519-799-3242<br />

MUSEUMS<br />

Billy Bishop Heritage Museum - Owen Sound<br />

519-371-0031 or www.billybishop.org<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Lighthouse Museums<br />

Cabot (Lion’s) Head - 519-795-7780<br />

Chantry Island (Southampton) - 866-318-8889<br />

Kincardine - 519-396-3468<br />

Point Clark - 519-395-2494<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Museum, Cultural Centre &<br />

Archives - Southampton<br />

519-797-2080 or www.brucemuseum.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> Peninsula Visitors Centre<br />

519-596-2233 or http://bit.ly/rQQFf6<br />

Tobermory<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> Power Visitors’ Centre<br />

519-361-7777; www.brucepower.com<br />

Chesley Heritage & Woodworking Museum<br />

519-363-9837<br />

Craigleith Heritage Depot - Thornbury<br />

519-599-3131<br />

www.thebluemountains.ca/Craigleith-<br />

Heritage-Depot.cfm<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> Roots Museum & Archives<br />

Includes county’s archives<br />

1-877-GREY ROOTS; www.greyroots.com<br />

RR4 Owen Sound<br />

Meaford Museum<br />

519-538-5974<br />

www.visitmeaford.com/meaford-museum.html<br />

Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum<br />

519-371-3333<br />

www.marinerail.com<br />

Paddy Walker Heritage Society - Kincardine<br />

519-396-1850<br />

www.walkerhousekincardine.com<br />

South <strong>Grey</strong> Museum - Flesherton<br />

519-924-2843 or museum@greyhighlands.ca<br />

www.southgreymuseum.ca<br />

St. Edmunds Township Museum - Tobermory<br />

519-596-2479 or online http://bit.ly/vEdicK<br />

Tobermory Maritime Association<br />

519-596-2700; www.tobermorymaritime.ca<br />

Treasure Chest Museum - Paisley<br />

519-353-7176 or http://bit.ly/1PjTS1D<br />

ONLINE SUPPORT<br />

www.211.ca<br />

www.pathwaysawareness.org<br />

www.mentallyfit.ca<br />

www.shelternet.ca<br />

www.targetyouth.ca<br />

www.thehealthline.ca<br />

www.wesforyouthonline.ca<br />

PLAYGROUPS<br />

Kincardine Toy Library and Playgroup<br />

249 <strong>Bruce</strong> Ave.; Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.<br />

Pine River Moms<br />

519-389-7136; jill.ricica@gmail.com.<br />

Thursdays during school year, info on FB<br />

EarlyON Child and Family Centres<br />

Chesley, Hanover, Kincardine, Markdale,<br />

Meaford, M’Wikwedong (Owen Sound), Owen<br />

Sound (East Ridge), Port Elgin, Thornbury,<br />

Wiarton; 1-800-616-8116<br />

SPECIAL NEEDS<br />

Autism Ontario <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Chapter<br />

226-787-0333 or marti@autismontario.com<br />

http://bit.ly/tO6kam; Owen Sound<br />

Autism Parent Support Group<br />

Community Living Kincardine & District<br />

519-396-9434 or www.clkd.ca<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Childcare Services<br />

1-800-265-3005 or www.brucecounty.on.ca<br />

Walkerton<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> Peninsula (Wiarton) Association<br />

for Community Living<br />

519-534-0553<br />

Community Living Kincardine & District<br />

519-396-9434; www.clkd.ca<br />

Community Living Meaford<br />

519-538-4165<br />

Community Living Owen Sound<br />

and District<br />

519-371-9251 or communitylivingowensound.ca<br />

Community Living Walkerton & District<br />

519-881-3713 or www.clwalkerton.org<br />

Georgian Riding Association<br />

for Challenged Equestrians<br />

519-372-2721; grace@log.on.ca<br />

Wicklen Stables, RR5 Owen Sound<br />

Hope Haven Therapeutic Riding Centre<br />

519-986-1247<br />

www.hopehavencentre.org<br />

Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services<br />

Owen Sound; 1-800-567-2384<br />

kcyfs@bmts.com or keystonebrucegrey.org<br />

PRANCE Therapeutic Riding Centre<br />

519-832-2522 or prance@bmts.com<br />

Miramichi Farms, Hwy. 21 Port Elgin<br />

Reading Rescue Ontario<br />

519-794-4745 or soehner@bmts.com<br />

www.readingrescueontario.ca<br />

Holland Centre<br />

South <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Youth Literacy Council<br />

519-364-0008 or info@sgbyouthliteracy.org<br />

www.sgbyouthliteracy.org<br />

Hanover<br />

Special Therapy and Education<br />

Program of Saugeen (STEPS)<br />

519-797-1935<br />

info@stepsahead.ca; www.stepsahead.ca<br />

Southampton<br />

Thames Valley Children’s Centre<br />

519-396-3360, 1-866-590-8822<br />

Paula.Holla@tvcc.on.ca or<br />

Clare.Matthews@tvcc.on.ca<br />

www.tvcc.on.ca<br />

United Way of <strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Grey</strong><br />

519-376-1560; unitedwaybg@bmts.com<br />

www.unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/<br />

Owen Sound<br />

SPEECH/LANGUAGE<br />

<strong>Bruce</strong> County Childcare Services<br />

1-800-265-3005; www.brucecounty.on.ca<br />

Walkerton<br />

Closing the Gap Healthcare Group<br />

Rehab Express <strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong><br />

1-866-990-9901 or www.closingthegap.ca<br />

Owen Sound<br />

<strong>Grey</strong> <strong>Bruce</strong> Health Unit - Owen Sound<br />

1-800-263-3456<br />

publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca<br />

South West Community Care Access Centre<br />

In-Home Services<br />

Owen Sound - 519-371-2112<br />

Walkerton - 519-881-1181<br />

www.sw.ccac-ont.ca<br />

VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children<br />

Support, speech and language therapy<br />

<strong>Grey</strong>/<strong>Bruce</strong> chapter is free to families<br />

www.voicefordeafkids.com<br />

WISH PROGRAMS<br />

Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada<br />

1-800-267-9474<br />

on@childrenswish.ca or www.childrenswish.ca<br />

Ajax, ON<br />

Make-A-Wish - Southwestern Ontario Chapter<br />

519-471-4900 or www.makeawishswo.org<br />

London, ON GBK<br />

greybrucekids.com • 29


RECIPES<br />

Start your day<br />

the delicious way<br />

OVERNIGHT OATS<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

½ cup old fashioned oats<br />

½ cup milk<br />

¼ cup Greek yogurt<br />

1 tbsp chia seeds<br />

1 tbsp maple syrup<br />

INSTRUCTIONS:<br />

Add all ingredients into individual bowl or Mason jar.<br />

Stir to combine.<br />

Place in a container and refrigerate for eight hours.<br />

Add preferred toppings in the morning.<br />

TOPPING IDEAS:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Chopped banana, chopped walnuts, ½ tsp vanilla and ½<br />

tsp cinnamon.<br />

Sliced pear or apple, chopped pecans, ½ tsp cinnamon<br />

and a pinch of nutmeg.<br />

Diced pineapple, shredded coconut, ¼ tsp vanilla – you<br />

can replace cow’s milk with coconut milk in the base<br />

recipe.<br />

Add your own ideas/favourite nuts, seeds or nut butters,<br />

favourite fruit and spices.<br />

In a large bowl, combine:<br />

½ cup yogurt (vanilla goes well)<br />

1 cup apple sauce (unsweetened)<br />

1 tsp vanilla extract<br />

½ cup honey<br />

1 egg<br />

½ cup skim milk<br />

BREAKFAST COOKIES<br />

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two large baking sheets with<br />

parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine:<br />

3 cups bran flakes – crushed (less than 2 cups crushed)<br />

2 cups oatmeal<br />

2 tbsp wheat germ<br />

2 tsp cinnamon (can use a little less)<br />

Mix well and set aside.<br />

Mix well and then add:<br />

1 tsp baking soda<br />

1 tsp baking powder<br />

Mix well. Gradually add the cereal/oatmeal mixture and stir<br />

after each addition. Add ¾ cup raisins if preferred and stir in.<br />

Roll heaping tablespoons into balls with your hands and set<br />

on parchment lined baking sheets. Lightly flatten the top of<br />

each cookie with your fingers. Bake 15-18 mins in preheated<br />

oven.<br />

Makes ~36 cookies. Can modify by adding mashed bananas or<br />

shredded carrots.<br />

Recipes courtesy of Brockton & Area Family Health Team<br />

30 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL <strong>2021</strong>


SCHOOL STARTS<br />

SEPTEMBER 7 TH<br />

ÉCOLE CATHOLIQUE<br />

SAINT-DOMINIQUE-SAVIO<br />

800 23 rd Street East, Owen Sound<br />

519-371-0627<br />

REGISTER ONLINE AT ALL TIMES<br />

MyFrenchSchool.ca<br />

BY PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE IN<br />

CANADA’S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.<br />

brucepower.com<br />

greybrucekids.com • 31


Thank you!<br />

Every issue of <strong>Grey</strong>-<strong>Bruce</strong> <strong>Kids</strong> is<br />

always available online at<br />

www.greybrucekids.com<br />

Your support during these difficult times<br />

has meant the world to us and other<br />

businesses in <strong>Grey</strong>/<strong>Bruce</strong>.<br />

To advertise or write for our Winter <strong>2021</strong>/22 issue, contact<br />

Amy at 519-524-0101 or amy@greybrucekids.com<br />

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