BONNYVILLE - The Bonnyville Wellness Coalition has installed a wellness information board at the park at Vezeau Beach, along with a couple of new picnic tables in an effort to connect the community.
The Bonnyville Wellness Coalition aims to promote wellness in the community. The idea for the board stemmed from their desire to increase connectedness in the community, offering a new gathering area that also provided information about how to further connect.
The new board and picnic tables were revealed on June 17, and members of the Bonnyville Wellness Coalition gathered to post on the board for the first time.
Danielle Larsen, Bonnyville Wellness Coalition chair, explained that the Wellness Information Board includes a list of accessible recreation opportunities. It does not showcase events but directs people to local organizations and amenities that people can enjoy.
“We are going to update the board quarterly. There’s one poster up there right now that highlights things to do in the area, as a way to draw people into town and into different wellness focused activities that are offered. Lots are free or low cost, so they are all accessible,” said Larsen.
The project was funded by a grant they received from Alberta Health Services called the Alberta Healthy Communities Initiative, and the wellness information board was created by Rob and Vanessa Tremblay at The Knotty Carver.
The additional seating hopes to not only accommodate the patrons of the park but entice groups or organizations to use the area as a way to meet outdoors.
“We’re planning on coming out here for our next meeting,” said Larsen.
Bonnyville Wellness Coalition member Heather Zink spoke fondly about the group, and how it welcomes new members who are interested in promoting wellness.
“We try and keep it fairly reachable. Folks are certainly able to participate in what we do without an overwhelming amount of demand. We all have different roles and have to find balance,” said Zink
Larsen said an ideal new member would be someone who strives to be a “wellness champion.”
“We’re finding opportunities to be community partners, whether that’s through volunteerism, or promotion of wellness events in our community, and just really being an advocate within our small community,” said Michael Procinsky, a member of the Bonnyville Wellness Coalition.
Bonnyville Wellness Coalition member Andrea Woods said that the location at Vezeau Beach is great because it is near the trail system that runs past Vezeau Beach and connects several communities.
