A new initiative funded by the Niagara Community Foundation and spearheaded by Club Wellness Niagara is giving students in the Recreation Therapy and Social Service Worker programs hands-on experience and a chance to help people across Niagara connect with the supports and services they need.
The Wellness Connection Tour is a project that reduces wellness barriers through travelling tradeshow-like events. At least once a week, the tour stops in one community in Niagara to give people access to free wellness programming and resources, such as housing support, employment services, medical care and substance use programs.
At least 1,000 people have already benefitted from the more than 12 wellness events that have taken place since February, said Club Wellness Niagara founder and tour coordinator Christina Milloy. The tour travels to St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls and Crystal Beach. In May and June, Thorold, Port Colborne and Fort Erie will be added.
Niagara College students are participating by having conversations with event participants, engaging them in recreational activities and connecting them to the community resources they need.
Milloy, a NC Recreation Therapy alumna, said the tour was created in response to the systemic barriers she sees people continually face for their health and wellness.
“Poverty can be a vicious cycle for people, and the tour [helps] reduce some of those barriers for people living in our community,” she said. “Everything at the event is free. We travel to various locations across Niagara so folks can attend at a place that is close and safe for them, and we connect people to free community resources so they know what services and supports are available to them.”
Milloy said she’s seen the value of recreation in the community first-hand. That’s why the events were initially intended to be a way for organizations to come together “to show people that they are loved and cared about.”
Then she saw the opportunity for the tour to double as a meaningful, real-life learning experience for Niagara College students.
“Students are so full of life, creativity and passion. They are driven to make positive impacts with people. They are learning real skills that can be applied in practical settings. The tour gives students the opportunity to use those skills in the community where they are meeting all different types of people at all different stages in life.”
School of Community Services Associate Dean Carol Phillips said the initiative is the first of its kind for students in the Recreation Therapy and Social Service Worker programs, and it exposes them to a unique learning opportunity.
“They come to understand that a desire to respond to a community need is really the catalyst in making a difference in the healthiness and well-being of individuals and communities,” Phillips said. “Students take part in all elements of this project – especially in building relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
“The ability to respond to people with empathy is an essential employability skill for students in all community service programs.”
For Josh Montgomery, a recent graduate of the Social Service Worker program, the tour has done more than just prepare him for working with different populations within the community; it’s been personally gratifying, too.
“What I’ve enjoyed [about] being a part of the Wellness Connection tour is being able to connect with so many different people from around the Niagara region, and to be able to brighten everyone’s day,” he said. “It’s given me a better understanding of what population of people I would like to work with.”
Kae Terryberry just completed her first year of the Recreation Therapy program. She said the tour has shown her the many areas that recreation therapy can be beneficial, and how much of an impact leisure education can make on a community.
“I absolutely feel inspired by the crew I’m working with, and the work being done,” she said. “Club Wellness is such a heart-based initiative that I definitely feel a sense of belonging in this work environment.”
She said being a part of the Connection Tour – which is open to children, youth, adults and seniors – has also given her a chance to see the benefits of working with different demographics.
“Another great thing that this tour taught me is that everyone I’ve met in this field along the way has brought the same excitement and can-do attitude to the table,” said Terryberry. “It’s inspiring to be around people who are so invested in what they do.”
Niagara Community Foundation, through its David S. Howes Fund, is providing funding for the tour. The Fund distributes grants to support postsecondary, facilities, research, health care services, education and humanitarian issues throughout Niagara. The grant covers the project coordinator’s salary, programming materials and supplies, mileage, and printing for one year, starting in January 2022.
Students have been working with 21 organizations, including grant partners Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) and Niagara’s Mobile Closet (NMC), all of which support the tour in various ways.
NRH communities are the target locations. The non-profit organization uses its physical spaces and resources for events, while also promoting events in their buildings. Meanwhile, NMC is meeting community needs by providing access to no cost essential items for living, including clothing and daily necessities.
“Each organization has their own focus and expertise, so it’s about coming together to fill in all the service gaps collectively,” Milloy said. “It’s been incredible seeing so many organizations work together to support the community.”
Recreation Therapy students in the Research and Evaluation course were also charged with the responsibility of creating feedback surveys, analyzing the data and writing reports.
“This was part of an assignment for students in the course,” Milloy said. “These RT students aren’t doing their placements hours for the tour; they are just another partner in the project. We use their surveys at each event.”
Funding for the tour will expire in December 2022, but Milloy would love to see the tour become a permanent community service.
“It’s been a valuable learning experience for students and a great way for organizations to outreach in the community and connect with people,” she said. “There is definitely potential to collaborate with community partners to apply for more funding and continue to grow.”
Phillips agreed, saying the project is something she’d like to keep the College involved with.
“It is a win-win for our students and the individuals that the Wellness Tour supports.”
