Welcoming the New Year
As the snow began to fall, we said farewell to our backyard group work, outdoor lunches and afternoon walks in the sun and heat. While adapting to Winnipeg's winter is hard for some, we have been doing our best here at G.R.O.W. to welcome winter and all it has to offer.
Dates to Remember
G.R.O.W. will be CLOSED on:
- February 20th, 2023 - Family Day
- April 7th, 2023 - Good Friday
- April 10th, 2023 - Easter Monday
- May 22nd, 2023 - Victoria Day
Day Program
Staff/Participant Updates
In September of 2022, G.R.O.W. welcomed a new Occupational Therapist to the team. Arielle Keith has been a wonderful addition. We are lucky to have her!
This month, we sent our good wishes to Micky Mandelbaum as she heads on to new adventures in the pediatric field. Good luck on your new job and we wish you all the best. We hope to see you again soon... maybe as a special uest?
There has also been some changes with our Day Program facilitators. Emmanuel has gone back to school full time. However, Emmanuel continues to work as a S.I.L facilitator for G.R.O.W. and comes in to hang out and help during school breaks. It is always great having you here.
At the end of September, we welcomed Anna Vaslavskiy as a new program facilitator. She has had the opportunity to facilitate in both houses. Welcome to the team!
This month, Chris Marchand joined our team as our Vocation Coordinator. We are very happy to have him here and we look forward to what he has to offer.
In September of 2022, 91 Willow welcomed Leo. Leo has been a wonderful addition to the program and is fitting in great. Around the same time, 93 Willow welcomed Graham. Graham loves to keep us up to date with the upcoming weather forecast and always has a story to tell. We are happy to have you both here!
Friday Outings
"Friyays" here at G.R.O.W. are something we all look forward to. From coming up with ideas and voting on which activity to do, to planning how we get there and what we need to bring, participants have the opportunity to work together to plan our outings.
Some of our most recent Friday Community Outings have included:
- Across The Board (Games, Games, and more games!)
- Fort Whyte Alive (Tobogganing, Snowshoeing, Roasting hotdogs & s'mores on the fire!)
- The Leaf
- Uptown Alley (Bowling, Laser Tag & Arcade!)
Day Program Activities
There have been some exciting changes to our Day Program schedule within the Willow houses. In response to the colder weather and lack of consistent Vitamin D, meditation, movement breaks and games have been a great way to keep our minds and bodies engaged.
At the end of 2022, we started a few new activities here at G.R.O.W.
ART HIVE
Every Thursday afternoon, Michaela (Art Therapist) leads group sessions as well as individual sessions during "Art Hive". Participants have the opportunity to explore their creativity and express their emotions through art. Art Hive has been a great, safe, space for participants to learn more about themselves and practice healthy emotional outlets.
PET THERAPY
Around the same time, we started Pet therapy with Ben (Dog Trainer). During Pet therapy, Shuggy (American bull dog) and Cooper (Black Labrador) take turns visiting the G.R.O.W. houses. Participants have the opportunity to pet the dogs and watch them perform tricks.
After returning from the holidays, we switched from our weekly Lyric Club to Book Club. We are currently reading the book "James and the Giant Peach". Participants each have the opportunity to read to the group and answer comprehension questions after each chapter. Once we finish the book, we will be watching the movie here at G.R.O.W.
OUTREACH
Winter Outreach dates:
- Saturday, February 4- Snowman Building contest and Potluck from 4:00-7:00
- Saturday, February 18- Escape Room and Applebee's for Dessert from 6:00-9:00
- Saturday, March 4- Magical Science Experiments and Appetizers from 6:00-9:00
- Saturday, March 25- Space Girl at Prairie Theatre Exchange from 7:00-TBA
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please ensure transportation arrangements to and from Outreach activities are planned beforehand!
G.R.O.W. in Gimli 2023
Even though the snow is here to stay for a while, it is time to start thinking of the summer ahead. That includes G.R.O.W. in Gimli!
Each participant and their family self-identify three to four life skills goals to work towards during the two-week session. Learning modules include:
Life Management
Activities of daily living such as grooming & hygiene, cleaning, laundry, cooking, money skills, home health and safety.
Healthy Eating
Understanding nutritional information and making food choices, e.g., Grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation.
Recreation
Leisure skills development, physical activity, sense of sportsmanship, sense of fairness and accessing community spaces including pedestrian safety.
Socialization
Making friends, conversation, social problem solving, relationships and boundaries.
Session dates:
- Sunday, July 2 –Saturday, July 15
- Sunday, July 23- Saturday August 5th
- Sunday, August 13- Saturday, August 26
Application due date:
March 20th, 2023
Check out our website for more information on G.R.O.W. in Gimli 2023 including fees and application process.
Supported Independent Living (S.I.L.)
We are currently hiring Supported Independent Living Facilitators!
If you or someone you know is interested in getting more information on S.I.L. opportunities, please contact Camille Ushy at cushy@growourway.ca