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Pride Month

June is Pride month in Canada.

This is an opportunity for us to commit to learning and unlearning certain biases, and honor the stories of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and other sexual and gender diverse (2SLGBTQQIA+) people, and ask how we can work together to build a more equitable future.

To learn more about events happening throughout Manitoba, visit:

2SLGBTQQIA+ Community – Shared Health

Rainbow Resource Centre

SERC Winnipeg – SERC

World Environment Day | 2025

Beat plastic pollution

Calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution on June 5, this day established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. Over the past five decades, the Day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. Tens of millions of people participate online and through in-person activities, events and actions around the world.

By drawing inspiration from nature and showcasing real-world solutions, the campaign asks all of us to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change. From schools and community groups to businesses, cities, and governments, everyone is encouraged to host an event focused on #BeatPlasticPollution or environmental action.

This year’s World Environment Day comes exactly two months before countries meet again to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

Join the #BeatPlasticPollution movement—because together we can create a healthier future. Learn how everyone can prevent plastic pollution.

Add your event on the 2025 World Environment Day map and share it with the world!

Intergenerational Day

Now more than ever we are seeing an increasing gap between older adults and youth, and to reduce and close the gap, Intergenerational Day on June 1 was created.  

How to Observe Intergenerational Day

Visit a care home

Pay a visit to a care home to spend some time over there. You do not have to have a solid plan of activities that you would do with elders over there. Offer your company and talk to them about their interests and life experiences. You could even make this a regular thing by paying a visit to them throughout the year.

Spend time with elders in the family

Call up the elders in your life to spend the day with them. Make the most of the day by taking them out for dinner, playing board games, and/or socializing over a tray of favorite snacks. Tell them you appreciate them for all that they have achieved in life and how you would like to have their guidance and love throughout your life.

Educate the youngsters

Talk to the young people around you about the importance of respecting the elders in society. Tell people about the importance of being there for older generations and vice versa. Each generation can bring something important to the table, and we should never forget this.

Source: INTERGENERATIONAL DAY – June 1, 2025 – National Today

Communities Making a Difference: Learning from Each Other

Register now!

May 8, 2025 – 9 am to 12 pm

Free Virtual Conference

AGENDA

  • Greetings from Southern Health-Santé Sud
  • Opening prayer from Elder Linda St. Cyr-Saric
  • Keynote: Yas Hassen from the Tamarack Institute
  • Five community stories:
    • Human Library – Pilot Mound
    • Community Youth Festival and Events group – Ste. Anne
    • Families and Nature Adventure Nights: Together We Grow – Sprague
    • Art in the Woods with Friends: An Inter-Generational Experience of Nature, Art and Community – Grunthal
    • Story Telling and Traditional Foods – St. Eustache
  • Closing Prayer from Elder Linda St. Cyr-Saric

Learn more here.

Free access to Provincial Parks 2025

For the next year, the Manitoba government is encouraging Manitobans to head out into the great outdoors and visit Provincial parks for free. “Whether you love to hike, canoe or just want to relax surrounded by nature, we encourage all Manitobans to visit our provincial parks, as no vehicle permit is required.” (Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes).

Research shows that people who are more connected with nature are happier in life and experience better mental health outcomes. This may be because nature generates positive emotions such as joy, calmness and creativity. Nature is vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy. While park vehicle passes will not be required for the 2025 season, Provincial camping reservation fees continue to apply. For more information, visit www.manitobaparks.com.

World No Tobacco Day

teenagers: unmasking the appeal-exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products

World No Tobacco Day is May 31, 2025. This year’s theme, ‘Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products’ empowers people by raising awareness on how the tobacco industry tries to make harmful products appealing and attractive to engage new users, including youth. Visit the WHO website campaign page to learn more.

Looking for resources to help prevent youth from smoking and vaping – visit Health Canada for more information.

Support is available for anyone wanting to take steps to reduce or quit commercial tobacco – click here (see email for link to the Smoking and Vaping Cessation Resources – Clients handout, available in English and French- not sure if this is available on our public website?) to learn more.

Red Dress Day

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples, also known as Red Dress Day.

It is a day to remember and honour the many lives that have been lost, the Survivors, and the Families who have been impacted. We are all part of the path forward to ensure Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples have the same rights for safety and security.

Take time to read the Calls for Justice and see how you can make a difference. Listen to the Survivors and Family members to learn more, visit the National Family and Survivors Circle.

Poster

Mental Health Bingo

We all have mental health!

Just like we know that taking care of our physical health is important, it is also important to take care of our mental health. Mental Health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.  It also helps determine how we handle stress in our lives, relate to others, and what choices we make.

mental health bingo card

The Healthy Community Partnership Grant

Offered by Victoria Lifeline and its partner, Victoria Hospital Foundation was established to support the creation or enhancement of opportunities for health promotion among older adults.

Grant funds are awarded to non-profit organizations serving primarily older adults to purchase equipment and/or to support activities or programs that promote health and independence.

Grant details for the 2025 intake:

Applications accepted beginning: February 28, 2025

Deadline to submit application: May 31, 2025

Applicants informed by: July 15, 2025

A total of $10,000 is available and funds will be dispersed and awarded based on the evaluation criteria established for this grant.

More information on the grant, the application link and the guidelines can be found on the Victoria Lifeline website.

Oral Health Month

April is Oral Health Month in Canada.

Oral health affects your overall health and wellness. The Government of Canada has been working to reduce the costs of dental care for Canadian residents through the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

To be eligible for the CDCP, individuals need to:

  • Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
  • Have filed their taxes for the previous year;
  • Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 per year; and,
  • Not have access to private or employer/pension sponsored dental coverage.

The government has been rolling out which groups are eligible. This currently includes those over 65, under 18 or with a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC). This program will open to all ages later in 2025. For those currently enrolled in CDCP, they are required to renew their application annually.

Renewals for Existing CDCP Clients

Starting in March 2025, the Government of Canada will begin its annual reassessment of the eligibility of individuals currently covered under the plan to confirm that they continue to meet all eligibility requirements. Canadians already covered under the CDCP will be required to renew their application for the next benefit year by submitting a renewal application.

Current clients who have filed their 2024 tax return and received their Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency will be able to renew their CDCP dental coverage through one of the following channels:

  • My Service Canada Account (MSCA) Interactive Response System (not available for applications with dependent(s))
  • By phone, with a call centre officer In Person

Applications for renewals must be submitted by June 1, 2025.

If a client fails to submit their application to renew or no longer meets the eligibility requirements, their coverage will end on June 30, 2025.