During the month of February, Niagara College’s Health, Wellness & Accessibility Services (HWAS) team was busy engaging with students at both the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake to promote thankfulness during its first Gratitude Wednesday’s campaign.
The campaign launched after Bell Let’s Talk Day (Jan.25) as a way to increase gratitude and promote positive mental health for students.
On every Wednesday during the month, HWAS staffed a ‘gratitude booth’ where they handed out hot chocolate and collected notes of gratitude from students at both the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. At DJP, students were asked to write what they are grateful for on a paper flower that was then added to the ‘Garden of Gratitude,’ located in the reception area of HWAS in W102.
“Promoting positive mental health for students is so important,” said Michelle MacIntosh, Counsellor, Health, Wellness & Accessibility Services. “Bell Let’s Talk Day was the perfect catalyst for launching this initiative and the response from students has been fantastic. Taking a moment to reflect on what they are grateful for has helped to lift spirits and reenergize NC students.”
“In follow-up to Bell Let’s Talk Day’ theme of gratitude, Michelle MacIntosh was inspired to continue gratitude and thankfulness throughout the month of February at both NC campuses,” said Jennifer Babin, Director, Health, Wellness & Accessibility Services, Daniel J. Patterson Campus. “Thank you to Isabel Silveira for her vision and innovative ideas regarding the “Garden of Gratitude and to Emily Appleyard for cutting all of the flowers using her Cricut – now we have a beautiful bulletin board full of positivity on display.”
HWAS encourages all NC faculty, staff and students to stop by the waiting area at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus to view the flowers and to read the messages from students.
Sabrina Gigante, Triage Coordinator, Jennifer Babin, Interim Director Health Wellness and Accessibility Services (DJP), an NC student and Isabel Silveira Accessibility Consultant, stand beside the Garden of Gratitude.
