With more than 60 exhibitors participating in the third-annual Women’s Health Symposium coming up this Saturday (May 10), you can bet there will be a wide variety of information, displays, and interactive activities for women of all ages to enjoy.
The event is slated to take run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Fort Frances High School and Townshend Theatre, and the organizing committee is suggesting a “toonie” donation as admission to help with a student bursary it provides.
“We have many returning organizations and several new exhibitors,” enthused committee member Patti Johnson. “So if people came other years, they should come again because there are lots of new things to see.”
There also will be plenty of information about being more environmentally-friendly as exhibitors and speakers alike have been encouraged to embrace this year’s theme of “Go Green.”
Johnson noted some of the more interactive booths will include Energy Fitness and Bombshell, which will be offering up demonstrations.
There also will be a booth dedicated to jewellery-making, as well as few exhibitors providing massage and physiotherapy.
“There’s lots of booths providing support for women and there’s a lot of recreational things like art displays, scrapbooking, and quilting displays,” Johnson said.
While some of the women’s support booths are focused on health, such as Lidkea, Elliott and Lidkea Optometry and the Northwestern Health Unit, there also are exhibitors that don’t necessarily relate to health, like Investor’s Group and Service Canada.
In addition, several exhibitors will be promoting wellness at this year’s Women’s Health Symposium. Booths such as Usana Health Sciences, Winhealth, and Northshore Wellness will be on hand.
High school students participating in the Young Women’s Conference also will have a booth set up and be offering assistance throughout the symposium.
Members of Beta Sigma Phi also have volunteered to help out over the course of the day.
“There are so many exhibitors, it’s difficult to mention them all and not leave anyone out,” Johnson remarked, noting she’s only providing an example of what will be available here Saturday.
“There is such a range,” she stressed. “Hopefully people will come and check it out for themselves.”
< *c>Guest speakers
But there are more than just exhibitors at the Women’s Health Symposium. Several speakers will take to the Townshend Theatre stage throughout the day to talk on different subjects.
“We’ve got a great lineup of speakers,” said committee member Jenni Condon. “You won’t want to miss any of them.”
To start the morning, Jackie Lampi-Hughes of Energy Fitness will offer a session about Pilates at 9:15 a.m., followed by Diane Clifford at 10 a.m., whose topic centres around “Spirituality—Discover the Connections.”
“Diane believes that we are more than just a body. We also have a mind, emotions, belief systems, and a unique spirituality,” her biography states.
“With so many environmentally-induced health problems and a growing belief that the Earth and all it contains is endangered, we are discovering a strong need to reconnect with our own spirituality.”
Margaret Anderson, currently employed with the Lake of the Woods District Hospital through the methadone program, will take to the stage at 11 a.m. with her presentation on addictions.
Renate Winkler, a doctor of natural medicine and certified pharmacist, then will offer up her session called “Going Green A-Z” at 1 p.m. It will focus on making your home more environmentally-friendly.
By going from basement to attic, Winkler will show what you can do to improve each room of your house and make it more “green.”
And finally at 2 p.m., Thunder Bay-based actor, singer, and playwright Jo-Ann Waytowich will present “Ivanka Goes Green.”
Waytowich has been entertaining audiences from coast to coast for the past 10 years with her unique brand of humour and, in fact, took part in last year’s Women’s Health Symposium with “Ivanka Chews the Fat.”
“Ivanka” is a character she created herself and due to its success, Waytowich has written five full musicals featuring her.
“She is great, really funny,” enthused Condon. “It’s great to wrap up the day on a humorous note. Everyone will just love it.”
Lunch of chili and a bun will be provided from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., as well as fair trade coffee and water throughout the day.
There also will be plenty of prizes given away by the committee and exhibitors. Some even will feature the “Go Green” theme.
“It’s definitely worth coming out to,” stressed Condon. “Bring your mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, or friend and enjoy the day.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
