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Author: Susan Huebert

  • How the climate crisis has resulted in extreme weather in BC and why urgent action is necessary

    How the climate crisis has resulted in extreme weather in BC and why urgent action is necessary

    In 2021, British Columbia experienced some of its worst weather ever. The town of Lytton burned down, while fires burned in the province, and other areas experienced extreme heat that killed many people. Next were floods that destroyed even more of the province.  For anyone who has been watching the news, the past year has shown that British Columbia is in a climate crisis. Urgent action is necessary to help avoid complete disaster from this kind of extreme weather.

    The weather varies from year to year, but 2021 was worse than anything people have ever seen. The World Weather Attribution organization, which studies trends in weather, reported that BC’s heat wave was a highly unexpected event in current climate conditions, likely to happen only once in a thousand years. If global temperatures rise by two degrees, however, this kind of heat wave could happen every five or ten years.

    Heat can badly affect people, animals, and plants. In this case, berries dried up, animals died in overheated seawater, and birds left their nests, trying to find cooler spots. As the land dried up, fires started around the province. One of the worst cases was in the town of Lytton, which burned to the ground, but many other fires forced people from their homes.

    People might have thought that the weather had finally returned to normal once the fires were under control, but they were wrong. In mid-November, a storm brought torrential rains to the province. The water caused landslides that tore up highways and trapped people in their cars. People had to use ferries to take supplies to farms and homes because the streets were covered with water.

    These weather disasters helped people realize that they needed to take action. The British Columbia government held public consultations to find strategies for dealing with floods. For example, research organizations will improve early warning systems and expand research into the climate. Vancouver will invest in better infrastructure such as sewers, while getting the public involved in tasks like clearing leaves away from storm drains. Planting more gardens and building permeable sidewalks that let the water through could also help.

    Governments can change systems and infrastructures, but ordinary people can also make a difference. Growing gardens, taking the bus instead of a car, and helping to clean up garbage are simple actions that people can take. You can urge your family or school to adopt better practices to help save energy. For example, installing better insulation into buildings can help reduce the use of heaters that create greenhouse gases. Energy-efficient lightbulbs can also benefit the environment. Urging city governments to improve transit systems can also reduce the use of personal cars that can use large amounts of fuel.

    Urgent action is necessary to deal with the effects of climate change. You might not feel that you have much power or that your small actions make a difference. However, a hundred or a thousand people making small changes can make a big difference. The summer and fall of 2021 have shown that people cannot wait to respond to climate change. We all need to act quickly to avoid another year like the past disastrous one.

     

    Bibliography:

    Carman, Tara. “Climate Change in BC: Here’s How 2050 Could Look.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/climate-change-in-b-c-here-s-how-2050-could-look-1.4146580.

    Cruikshank, Ainslee. “After a Year of Climate Disaster, BC Grapples with the Urgent Need to Adapt to Its Dangerous Future.” https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-climate-disasters-2021/.

    Duncan, Scott. “British Columbia at the Epicentre of Climate Change-Fuelled Weather Extremes.” https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/11/19/british-columbia-at-the-epicenter-of-climate-change-fuelled-weather-extremes.

    Moon, Jenna. “Urgent Climate Change Action is Needed or Else Canada’s Extreme Heat and Severe Weather Will Worsen.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/08/09/urgent-climate-change-action-is-needed-or-else-canadas-extreme-heat-and-severe-weather-will-worsen.html.

    Province of British Columbia. “Climate Change.” https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change.

  • Investing in Ontario’s Trades Future: $90 Million in Three Years to Promote OYAP to Ontario Youths

    Investing in Ontario’s Trades Future: $90 Million in Three Years to Promote OYAP to Ontario Youths

    The trades have been one of the fastest growing employment segments for many years, and by 2025 as many as 1 in 5 Ontario jobs are anticipated to be in the skilled trades.  But the trades are also experiencing a growing employment gap: nearly a third of currently employed tradespeople are nearing the age of retirement, which is expected to lead to significant shortfalls across many of Ontario’s 144 skilled trades in multiple industries.  The natural resources and construction industries are expected to see particularly significant growth over the next 5 to 10 years.

    The key to mitigating this impending employment gap relies on bringing greater numbers of young workers into the trades.  To this end, in late 2021 the Ontario government announced new investments in the skilled trades, specifically with an additional $90 million over three years intended to promote the skilled trades to students and youth.

    The investments come in response to the Apprenticeship Youth Advisors Report released by the province, which includes recommendations for how the province can address the employment gap, including:

    • Improving the transition of students in high school and college into trades and apprenticeships.
    • Addressing the lack of diversity in the apprenticeship system by encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue the trades, including women, BIPOC people, newcomers to Canada, Francophone Canadians, and people with disabilities.
    • Modernizing the skilled trades education and apprenticeship system.
    • Improving methods and systems to connect trades employers, trades workers, and active job seekers.

    Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, emphasized the importance of the trades for both individuals and the province during the announcement.  “When you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life.  Ontario’s trades are the backbone of our economy. More young people need to know that a job in the trades opens doors to bigger paycheques, with a pension and benefits. The trades can be their ticket to building a better life, strong family, and a stronger community for us all.”

    The announcement also included news of an additional $2.9 million investment (bringing the annual total to $20 million) toward expanding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

    OYAP is a program targeted toward students and young adults in high school that helps introduce students to a variety of skilled trade and apprenticeship-based careers through Cooperative Education opportunities.  Cooperative Education programs are an ideal way to bring students into the trades, because the hands-on nature of the experience lets students get a true feel for the job.  Hands-on learning is also known to increase retention, build skills faster, and to help students find the career that suits them best.

    The news of these new investments follows an announcement earlier in 2021 regarding the establishment of Skilled Trades Ontario, set to replace the previous Ontario College of Trades, and intended to modernize and streamline the apprenticeship and training process.  Skilled Trades Ontario will become a central authority for the promotion and development of apprenticeship training and curricula, as well as the apprenticeship process from registration, education, certification, and assessments.

     

    Sources

    Bright, Logan. “Ontario Investing $90 Million for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships.” SchoolFinder. https://www.schoolfinder.com/Discover/Article/1/5677/Ontario-Investing-$90-Million-for-Skilled-Trades-and-Apprenticeships

    Ontario.ca. “Ontario Making Additional Investment to Attract Young People to Skilled Trades Careers.” https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001214/ontario-making-additional-investment-to-attract-young-people-to-skilled-trades-careers

    Ontario.ca. “Supporting an accessible and inclusive skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario.” https://www.ontario.ca/document/supporting-accessible-and-inclusive-skilled-trades-and-apprenticeship-system-ontario

    Ontario.ca. “Ontario to Modernize and Streamline Apprenticeship Training.” https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000078/ontario-to-modernize-and-streamline-apprenticeship-training

    Ontario.ca. “Skilled trades.” https://www.ontario.ca/page/skilled-trades

    Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. https://oyap.com/

     

  • Career Profile: Actor

    Career Profile: Actor

    By Selina

    What They Do

    Actors express ideas, portray characters, and play parts in theatre stage, film, television, radio, video, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience. They may interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. Some may dance and sing.

    Voice acting is a sub-specialty of acting, where they use only voice to depict and play out characters (usually in animated films or for voice-over narration).

    Other terms and specialties include: Actor, Actress, Comedian, Comic, Community Theatre Actor, Ensemble Member, Narrator, Performer, Tour Actor, and Voice-Over Artist.

    Duties

    Actors typically do the following:

    • Read scripts and meet with agents and other professionals before accepting a role.
    • Audition in front of directors, producers, and casting directors.
    • Research their character’s personal traits and circumstances to portray the characters more authentically to an audience.
    • Memorize their lines.
    • Rehearse their lines and performance, including on stage or in front of the camera, with other actors.
    • Discuss their role with the director, producer, and other actors to improve the overall performance of the show.
    • Perform the role, following the director’s directions.
    • In some stage or film productions, actors sing, dance, or play a musical instrument.
    • For some roles, an actor must learn a new skill, such as horseback riding or stage fighting.

    Work Conditions

    Actors perform work in a variety of settings, both indoor and outdoor (depending on the production and characters being played out). It is uncommon for work hours to be very long at times, especially when filming for feature length films and larger productions. Actors may perform in unpleasant conditions, such as outdoors in bad weather, under hot stage lights, or while wearing an uncomfortable costume or makeup. Those playing parts in action movies or TV shows might encounter risky and dangerous work conditions. Sometimes stunt doubles are used to perform highly risky action sequences.

    Work assignments are usually short, ranging from 1 day to a few months, and actors often hold another job in order to make a living. Some actors in touring companies may be employed for several years.

    Some actors have long periods of unemployment between roles and often hold other jobs in order to make a living. Some actors teach acting classes as a second job.

    Statistics

    Most actors are self-employed and work in various different productions / work with different employers on a contract basis. An actor in Canada can expect to make an average hourly rate of $21.36. This can range from $24,000 to over $200,000 depending on the work and level of experience. As of 2018, the largest employers of actors in North America were as follows:

    Self-employed workers = 25%

    Theatre companies and dinner theatres = 12%

    Colleges, universities, and professional schools (state, local, and private) = 5%

    Professional, scientific, and technical services = 5%

    Work Schedules

    Work hours for actors are extensive and irregular. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common. Some actors work part time. Few actors work full time, and many have variable schedules. Those who work in theater may travel with a touring show across the country. Film and television actors may also travel to work on location.

    Education and Training

    Many actors enhance their skills through formal dramatic education or acting school. Many who specialize in theatre have Bachelor’s degrees, but a degree is not required. Although some people succeed in acting without getting a formal education, most actors acquire some formal preparation through an acting school, theatre company’s acting conservatory, or a university drama or theater arts program. Students can take college classes in drama or filmmaking to prepare for a career as an actor. Classes in dance or music may help as well.

    Actors who do not have a college degree may take acting or film classes to learn their craft. Community colleges, acting conservatories, and private film schools typically offer these classes.

    Every role is different, and an actor may need to learn something new for each role. For example, a role may require learning how to sing or dance, or an actor may have to learn to speak with an accent or to play a musical instrument or sport. Some roles require a certain body physique. Accent, fitness, and nutrition coaches are available to help actors prepare for their roles.

    Programs that can prepare you:

    • Acting
    • Comedy Writing and Performance
    • Directing and Theatrical Production
    • Drama and Dramatics / Theatre Arts, General
    • Dramatic / Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other

    Skills and Abilities

    The important skills and abilities that actors should possess include, but are not limited to:

    • Reading Skills – Actors must be able to read scripts and interpret how a writer has described their character.
    • Speaking Skills – Actors must be able to say their lines clearly, project their voice, and pronounce words so that audiences understand them.
    • Memorization Skills – Actors memorize many lines before filming begins or a show opens. Television actors often appear on camera with little time to memorize scripts, and scripts frequently may be revised or written moments before filming.
    • Creativity – Actors interpret their characters’ feelings and motives in order to portray the characters in the most compelling way.
    • Physical stamina – Actors should be in good enough physical condition to endure heat from stage or studio lights and the weight of heavy costumes. They may work long hours, including acting in more than one performance a day, and they must do so without getting overly tired.
    • Persistence – Actors may audition for many roles before getting a job. They must be able to handle rejection and keep going.

    Job Prospects

    Actors face intense competition for jobs. Most roles, no matter how minor, have many actors auditioning for them. For stage roles, actors with a Bachelor’s degree in theatre may have a better chance of landing a part than those without one. Having a well-polished and up-to-date CV and demo reels can help in getting auditions and callbacks.

     

    Sources

    Career One Stop. (2021). Actors. Occupational Profiles. https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Actors&onetcode=27201100&location=US&lang=en

    PayScale. (2021). Average Actor / Actress Hourly Pay in Canada. https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Actor_%2F_Actress/Hourly_Rate

    Truity. (2021). Actor. Career Profile. https://www.truity.com/career-profile/actor

  • Un aperçu sur les carrières de plâtrier et de stucateur

    Dans un édifice, des murs non finis semblent étranges, mais le problème est plus qu’esthétique. Des murs sans le bon revêtement laissent aussi passer l’air, l’humidité et la glace. Les plâtriers et stucateurs contribuent à maintenir les bâtiments sécuritaires en y appliquant du bon matériau pour construire ou réparer des maisons et autres édifices ou parfois des structures comme les autoroutes ou les routes de ville. Si vous aimez travailler avec vos mains et participer à la construction, le métier de plâtrier ou stucateur pourrait être un bon choix.

    Les plâtriers et stucateurs ont de nombreuses appellations, y compris artisan-plâtrier, ouvrier plâtrier, applicateur de plâtre et entrepreneur en plâtrage. Le travail consiste à appliquer du plâtre et du stuc sur des surfaces comme les murs et les plafonds et s’assurer que c’est appliqué partout où il y en a besoin. Les personnes de ces métiers doivent connaître les méthodes et les outils de construction de façon à comprendre quels éléments peuvent porter atteinte au plâtre et au stuc. Par exemple, elles doivent connaître le poids d’un mur ou les effets de la météo hivernale sur la durabilité du plâtre et du stuc.

    Les plâtriers et stucateurs ont besoin de connaître les styles actuels dans les édifices parce que les modes sont passagères. Dans ce domaine, les personnes doivent être capables de voir les détails de près et avoir une main sûre. Elles doivent avoir la dextérité pour manipuler les outils de la bonne manière et la flexibilité de se baisser et s’étirer assez pour atteindre des endroits exigus où elles ont besoin d’appliquer le plâtre. Bien que la force des bras ne soit pas forcément importante, les personnes de ces métiers doivent avoir de bons muscles abdominaux et dorsaux pour pouvoir se tenir debout pendant de longues périodes.

    En plus de ces particularités physiques, dans ces métiers, les gens doivent avoir d’autres capacités. Elles ont besoin de pouvoir parler aux autres, surtout les clients, et pouvoir expliquer leur travail. Les compétences de gestion du temps et d’esprit critique sont importantes pour effectuer les projets aussi efficacement que possible. C’est également essentiel de comprendre les principes du contrôle de la qualité et la surveillance des progrès. Les plâtriers et stucateurs doivent parfois superviser d’autres ouvriers et doivent aussi avoir une bonne idée de ce qu’il y a à faire et comment toutes les parties s’imbriquent entre elles.

    La plupart des plâtriers et stucateurs apprennent leur métier sur place et avec l’aide des autres travailleurs dans leur domaine. Les employeurs demandent souvent un diplôme d’études secondaires et ils peuvent exiger un certificat de compétences ou d’autres apprentissages sur des sujets comme l’isolation. Les plâtriers et stucateurs peuvent souvent trouver du travail dans les entreprises de construction, mais ils peuvent aussi lancer leur propre entreprise et travailler pour les personnes qui rénovent ou construisent leur maison.

    Les heures de travail dans ce métier peuvent être longues et irrégulières, surtout lorsqu’un projet est retardé. Dans les grands projets de construction, il faut parfois faire le travail rapidement si d’autres parties du travail prennent plus de temps et les constructeurs doivent respecter les dates limites. Ces personnes de métier doivent souvent attendre que d’autres parties de la construction soient effectuées avant de commencer leur travail. Comme le plâtre et le stuc doivent sécher d’un bloc, si c’est possible, ces ouvriers peuvent travailler jusqu’à tard en soirée pour finir un travail.

    Le salaire des plâtriers et stucateurs commence autour de vingt dollars l’heure et peut augmenter jusqu’à presque trente-trois dollars l’heure. Bien que les personnes puissent rester dans ce domaine pendant toute leur vie professionnelle, les effets du vieillissement peuvent rendre ce métier trop difficile pour beaucoup. Si ce métier semble bien pour vous, pourquoi ne pas envisager de devenir plâtrier ou stucateur ?

     

    Bibliographie :

    Canada Building Trades Union. “Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Association of the United States and Canada (OPCIMA).” https://buildingtrades.ca/affiliates/operative-plasterers-and-cement-masons-international-association-of-the-united-states-and-canada-opcmia/.

    Career One Stop. “Plasterers and Stucco Masons.” https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Plasterers%20and%20Stucco%20Masons&onetcode=47216100&location=US&lang=en.

    Owl Guru. “How to Become a Plasterer and Stucco Mason.” https://www.owlguru.com/career/plasterers-and-stucco-masons/requirements/.

    Payscale Canada. “Plasterer and Stucco Mason Hourly Rate.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Plasterer_or_Stucco_Mason/Hourly_Rate.

  • How to Boost Your Self-Esteem and See Yourself in a Better Light

    How to Boost Your Self-Esteem and See Yourself in a Better Light

    Self-esteem is the opinion you have about yourself and your abilities. Your self-esteem can be high, low, or in the middle and it can change very often. Having low self-esteem can affect you negatively. It is important to find ways to help boost your self-esteem. If you are ever struggling with low self-esteem, the following are some ways to help you boost it!

    Be Kind

    Being kind to others is something that will help boost your self-esteem. It will benefit both you and the other person. Your kindness will make others grateful and happy, which will make you feel happy as well. There are many kind gestures you could do. You could do something as simple as holding the door for someone or even just complimenting them. Afterwards, you will find that it is a very rewarding experience.

    Swap Negativity for Positivity

    It is very easy for negative thoughts to fill our minds. They could often take over and affect your self-esteem. It is important to surround yourself with positive things. If you use social media, unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. If you can, try to distance yourself from people that contribute to your negative thoughts. When you start thinking negatively, try to swap those negative thoughts for positive ones. Eventually, you will condition your brain to think much more positively.

    Do What Makes You Happy

    There could be some things you enjoy doing but don’t do. This could be because you are afraid of what other people will think of you. Caring too much about what other people think can negatively affect your self-esteem. Doing what makes you happy will help make you feel better about yourself. It will help you think positively, which can boost your self-esteem. Try to schedule some time every day to do what you enjoy.

    Practice Self-Care

    Practicing self-care is something everyone should do. It is a good way to feel relaxed and happy with yourself. You could read a book, go on a walk, or even watch your favourite movie. Self-care also involves taking care of your physical health. Some things you could do are cook healthy meals, catch up on sleep, and engage in daily hygiene. Even if you are very busy, you should try your best to take a few minutes out of your day to practice self-care.

    Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

    Comparing yourself to others is something that everyone does at some point. This can be very harmful to your mind. Social media plays a very big role in this. Try to always remind yourself that nobody is perfect. We all have flaws. Learning to accept yourself for who you are is a very important part in boosting your self-esteem.

    Accept and Appreciate Who You Are

    Accepting and appreciating who you are plays a big role in having good self-esteem. As humans, we have many imperfections and weaknesses. We often think too much about what we would change and forget to appreciate the things we do like about ourselves. Every day, try to think about at least three things you like about yourself and another three good things that happened to you that day. It could be helpful if you write them down in a journal. Doing these things can help you accept and appreciate the good things about you and in your life.

    Boosting your self-esteem takes time and dedication. It should be something that should be practiced in your daily life. Once you start appreciating yourself for who you are, you will begin seeing yourself in a better light.

     

    Resources

    Artmann, Kate. “6 Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem.” The Hoyt Organization. https://www.hoytorg.com/6-ways-to-boost-your-self-esteem/

    Cafmeyer, Stephen. “Seeing Yourself in Higher Light.” Medium. https://medium.com/change-your-mind/seeing-yourself-in-higher-light-7cd86ae86f27#:~:text=The%20components%20of%20seeing%20yourself,allow%20you%20to%20maintain%20vision

    Daskal, Lolly. “19 Simple Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem Quickly.” Inc.com. https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/19-simple-ways-to-boost-your-self-esteem-quickly.html

    LovePanky. “Low Self Worth – 5 Steps to See Yourself in Better Light.” https://www.lovepanky.com/my-life/reflections/low-self-worth-and-5-steps-to-see-yourself-in-better-light

    ReachOut. “10 tips for improving your self-esteem.” https://au.reachout.com/articles/10-tips-for-improving-your-self-esteem

  • C’est tout, les amis : conseils pour ceux qui effectuent leur dernier semestre au collège ou à l’université

    De Tiffany Chang

    Félicitations ! Vous y êtes presque arrivé. Pour certains étudiants, ce sont les quelques derniers mois de formation et après la remise des diplômes, c’est l’entrée dans la vie active.

    En tant que personne qui a récemment obtenu son diplôme, mon dernier semestre s’est passé très rapidement. Pour finir ce parcours sur une bonne note, voici quelques conseils pour en tirer le meilleur :

    Assurez-vous que c’est bien votre dernier semestre

    Même si vous êtes absolument sûr que vous avez bien calculé, ça ne fait pas de mal de vérifier une nouvelle fois auprès de votre conseiller d’orientation ou votre conseiller pédagogique que c’est bien effectivement votre dernier semestre. Vous disposez d’une autre paire d’yeux dont le travail est d’aider les étudiants dans ce domaine, alors les finissants peuvent tout aussi bien confirmer le nombre actuel des crédits terminés ainsi que ceux en cours, comme garantie.

    En fait, demander pourrait fournir une assurance supplémentaire.

    Prenez contact avec d’anciens étudiants qui ont suivi le même programme que vous

    Si vous ne l’avez pas déjà fait, beaucoup de collèges et d’universités permettent aux étudiants de rencontrer des personnes qui ont obtenu un diplôme du même programme que vous et ont maintenant des carrières établies. Elles contribuent souvent à avoir une meilleure idée des professions qui sont actuellement de bonnes occasions dans votre domaine.

    Pendant ces rencontres, les étudiants peuvent probablement tirer profit d’information actualisée qui pourrait leur donner les bons outils pour se préparer à leur recherche d’emploi futur. C’est principalement du réseautage pour mettre en place des relations professionnelles avec d’anciens élèves, également.

    Prenez le temps de profiter du reste de votre parcours académique

    Faites des activités que l’établissement offre et qui vous plaisent, que ce soit vous joindre à un club, une occasion de travail ou de bénévolat, vous associer ou être impliqué à divers évènements. Pendant la COVID-19, ça peut être compliqué, mais je vous invite à essayer fort pour trouver quelques activités qui vous plaisent tout en vous protégeant, bien sûr et en suivant les protocoles de sécurité.

    Une autre possibilité pourrait être de suivre un cours qui vous intéresse. Par exemple, ceux qui sont sur le point d’obtenir leur baccalauréat en ayant déjà acquis les exigences particulières de leur programme peuvent s’inscrire dans un cours qui n’est pas nécessairement lié à leur spécialité. Ils y acquerront des connaissances qu’ils leur plairont tout en obtenant les crédits qu’il leur reste à rassembler.

    Ce sont tous de bonnes façons de créer des souvenirs sur lesquels vous pourrez revenir avec émotion longtemps après l’obtention de votre diplôme.

    Enfin, donnez-vous une tape dans le dos !

    Suivre un programme collégial ou universitaire est difficile et comprend de nombreux moments de stress. Les personnes sont souvent si concentrées sur leurs charges de travail importantes qu’elles pensent qu’elles n’ont pas le temps de regarder en arrière et de voir tout ce qu’elles ont réalisé pendant tout ce temps.

    Arrêtez-vous juste un moment pour réfléchir et vous dire : « je peux voir la ligne d’arrivée et je suis fier de moi jusqu’ici ».

    Profitez, en somme, du temps qu’il vous reste comme étudiant et essayez de suivre certains de ces conseils pendant que vous le pouvez. Vous avez travaillé très dur pour terminer votre formation. Continuez d’être efficace et recherchez les occasions de divertissements pendant que vous effectuez votre dernier semestre.

  • Maintenir sa motivation pendant l’hiver en temps de pandémie

    Avec le ciel gris et le temps froid, l’hiver peut devenir une période morose pour beaucoup d’entre nous. L’hiver arrive à un moment spécial de l’année ; si vous êtes à l’école, vous venez probablement de finir vos semaines de relâche et vous essayez de reprendre le cours des choses. Cependant, avec la pandémie qui perdure, c’est devenu plus laborieux. Cette pandémie dure depuis 2 ans maintenant et beaucoup d’entre nous travaillent encore en ligne. Par conséquent, le temps entre le travail et la détente se rétrécit et nos journées sont pleines de rencontres en ligne qui semblent sans fin. Le sentiment d’épuisement se répand bien plus. Ainsi, il devient très dur de trouver la motivation. Ces nombreux confinements et restrictions nous sont devenus familiers, mais cela ne les rend pas moins solitaires. Pendant ce temps inquiétant et stressant, c’est facile de se sentir indifférent. Parfois, lorsque nous sommes confinés, restreints entre les quatre murs de notre maison, il nous semble que la vie s’est arrêtée. Mais, non. Nous devons continuer et trouver en nous la force de rester motivés.

    Quand la pandémie a commencé, j’étais en 11e année ; maintenant, je suis en 1ere année d’université. À l’école secondaire, je me rappelle particulièrement pouvoir aller à l’école, être avec mes amis, rentrer à la maison, faire mes devoirs et me détendre un petit peu. En d’autres termes, il y avait une nette séparation entre ma vie d’adolescente ordinaire et ma vie d’étudiante. La pandémie a changé tout ça. À cause d’elle, je me suis retrouvé à travailler jusqu’à dix heures par jour, avec très peu de temps pour me détendre et contacter mes amis. Au début, cela ne semblait pas si grave. Mais après l’avoir fait aussi longtemps, je n’avais pas réalisé à quel point je m’épuisais. Pendant longtemps, j’ai trouvé difficile de m’asseoir devant mon ordinateur et travailler. Je n’avais évidemment pas d’autre choix que de continuer. J’ai donc commencé à effectuer quelques modifications et pris des mesures pour me motiver et rendre mes journées un petit peu plus simples.  Voici trois de mes principaux conseils pour maintenir votre motivation pendant l’hiver COVID-19.

    Gardez le contact : personnellement, l’un des principaux obstacles qui me font sentir isolée et sans motivation est de n’être pas capable de voir mes amis ou ma famille – mon système de soutien. Une chose qui me permet de demeurer motivée pendant ces temps difficiles est de garder le contact avec eux, pour que les choses ne soient pas aussi inhabituelles. Beaucoup de plateformes comme Netflix et Disney+ ont des configurations pour créer des visionnements en groupe ; organisez une soirée cinéma ! Mettez en place des groupes d’appels et prenez ces cinq minutes pour envoyer un message texte et prendre des nouvelles. Je sais qu’il peut sembler qu’il n’y a pas grand-chose à raconter de nos vies isolées et qui ne bougent pas, mais c’est malgré tout très important de maintenir le contact et entretenir vos relations.

    Mettez en place des habitudes efficaces et équilibrées : la pandémie a ajouté une quantité significative de stress et d’anxiété. En ces temps difficiles, c’est facile de délaisser des soins personnels et de devenir impulsif. C’est facile de remettre à plus tard ou de se soustraire à des tâches, qui provoquent du stress ; après tout, c’est assez naturel. C’est pourquoi il est important d’essayer d’établir quelques habitudes qui vous aideront à vous éloigner de ce schéma. Ces habitudes peuvent être n’importe quoi, comme de créer une liste de choses à faire ou de s’assurer de prendre des pauses. En fait, des recherches démontrent que prendre le temps de se détendre est essentiel pour le cerveau, car cela augmente l’attention et la concentration. Cela aide aussi énormément à réduire le stress. Pour ma part, l’habitude équilibrée que j’ai adoptée, à la fin de la journée, est d’écrire trois bonnes choses qui sont arrivées dans la journée, même si celle-ci ne semble pas avoir été si bonne que ça. Cela me rappelle que même pendant ces temps difficiles, il reste beaucoup de choses que j’affectionne et dont je suis reconnaissante.

    Demeurez organisé : parfois, lorsque vous vous sentez désorienté, il peut sembler qu’il y a plus de travail à faire qu’il y en a en réalité. Alors, c’est très important de trouver des façons de rester structuré. Pour ma part, j’ai découvert que d’établir un horaire et d’avoir une ébauche que ce que je veux faire pendant la journée m’a aidé à rester concentrée pour mieux travailler et pouvoir ensuite trouver du temps pour me détendre.

     

    Sources:

    Khidekel, Marina. “Wondering How You’ll Get Through a Pandemic Winter? Try These 9 Tips to Stay Connected and Motivated.” The Muse, Daily Muse Inc, 2022, https://www.themuse.com/advice/microsteps-self-care-success-coronavirus-pandemic-winter.

    Meilleur, Catherine. “Motivation: a Driving Force for Learning Engagement.” Knowledge One, Knowledge One, 3 Oct. 2019, https://knowledgeone.ca/motivation-a-driving-force-for-learning-engagement/.

    Terada, Youki. “Research-Tested Benefits of Breaks.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 9 Mar. 2018, https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-tested-benefits-breaks.

  • Tips to Avoid Over-Snacking While at Home

    Tips to Avoid Over-Snacking While at Home

    By Mara Hurst

    While we are sitting around at home, with nothing to do, boredom strikes. And sometimes with that boredom, we resort to grabbing a snack to eat away this feeling. Most of us aren’t aware we’re doing it until the day is over. The question is, how do we stop over-snacking? In order to stop, it’s important to understand why we are doing it in the first place.

    Reasons for Over-Snacking

    • Boredom: One potential reason for over-snacking is boredom. When we are bored, our brain searches for a quick fix of dopamine, the happiness chemical. Eating a snack you really enjoy, even though you aren’t actually hungry, gives you that rush of dopamine which temporarily ends the boredom.
    • Nutrition: Another reason someone may be snacking too much is that they are not eating enough or the right balance of nutrients during meal time. If you are eating your three meals a day and are still over-snacking, it’s time to take a look at what you’re actually eating. If you aren’t getting enough protein, carbohydrates, or vitamins during your meals, you may turn to snacking to get those nutrients or fill the space with sugars and salts.
    • Thirst: Also, sometimes we confuse hunger with thirst. Hunger and thirst feel very similar in our bodies, so it is extremely easy to confuse the two.
    • Stress: Finally, a reason you may be over snacking is because you are stressed. Stress helps to produce a hormone called cortisol, which increases hunger. Stress is a feeling that triggers your fight or flight response. Your body makes you hungry to fuel up for a fight, when in reality you may just be nervous for your test. Now that we know all of the reasons for over-snacking, how do we stop it?

    Tips to Stop Over-Snacking

    • Are you thirsty? The first, and easiest step to stop over-snacking is to see if you’re just thirsty. If you start to feel hungry, grab a glass of water first and drink that. If you feel good afterwards, then you are just thirsty. However, if you are still feeling unsatisfied, then you are hungry.
    • Are you bored? If you think you are just bored, distract yourself. Go for a small walk, or read a book. Try to fix your boredom and see if that stops the hunger.
    • Are you eating poorly? Another fix for over-snacking is to choose healthy, satisfying foods for your meals. If you dislike what you are eating, odds are you will grab a snack to give you that little bit of dopamine. Meals should be enjoyable! Not only should your stomach enjoy them, but your other senses too. Choose foods that are appealing to your smell and sight, and then you’ll be more likely to eat a fulfilling amount.
    • Are you stressed? If you’re eating purely because of stress, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate the situation. Ask yourself important questions like: “What is making me stressed?” “How can I soothe myself?” “What is standing in my way from being relaxed?” It is just as important to take care of ourselves mentally as it is to take care of ourselves physically.

    There are a multitude of different tactics out there to stop over-snacking, but it is important to only use the ones that work for you. Some of the tactics can be very triggering for those who have experienced, or are experiencing, a negative relationship with food. So keep in mind that it is good to stop snacking, but it is better to keep your body nourished. Food is fuel – just make sure you’re choosing the right fuel for your body.

     

    Sources

    Fose, Courtney. How to Stop Snacking.” wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.health/Stop-Snacking

    myfitnesspal. “8 Surprising Reasons You Can’t Stop Snacking.” https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/8-sneaky-reasons-you-want-to-eat-nonstop/

  • Conseils pour éviter de consommer trop de collations lorsque vous êtes chez vous

    De Mara Hurst

    Lorsque nous sommes chez nous sans rien à faire, l’ennui s’installe. Et parfois, pour contrer cet ennui, nous avons recours aux collations. La plupart d’entre nous ne se rendent pas compte de ce qu’ils font jusqu’à ce qu’il soit trop tard. La question est : comment arrêter ? Pour le faire, c’est important de comprendre tout d’abord pourquoi nous le faisons.

    Les raisons qui nous mènent à consommer trop de collations

    • L’ennui : l’une des raisons peut être l’ennui. Lorsque nous nous ennuyons, notre cerveau cherche une solution miracle pour produire rapidement de la dopamine, la substance chimique du bonheur. En mangeant une collation que vous aimez vraiment, même si vous n’avez pas faim, cela vous donne une dose de dopamine qui termine temporairement l’ennui.
    • L’alimentation : une autre raison qui nous pousse à consommer trop de collations est qu’on ne mange pas assez le bon équilibre de nutriments pendant les repas. Si vous mangez trois repas par jour et consommez trop de collations, c’est le moment de vérifier ces repas. Si vous ne consommez pas assez de protéines, de glucides ou de vitamines pendant vos repas, vous vous tournez peut-être vers les collations pour obtenir ces nutriments ou pour satisfaire votre envie de sucre et de sel.
    • Soif: Parfois, nous confondons la faim avec la soif. Ces deux sens sont très comparables dans notre corps, alors il est très facile de les confondre.
    • Stress: Enfin, une dernière raison qui nous fait consommer trop de collations est le stress. Il contribue à produire une hormone appelée cortisol, qui accroit la faim. Le stress est une émotion qui déclenche le réflexe de fuite ou de combat. Votre corps vous fait ressentir de la faim pour fournir de l’énergie pour un combat, quand, en réalité, il se peut que vous soyez stressé à cause d’un examen. Maintenant que nous connaissons toutes les raisons qui nous font consommer trop des collations, comment fait-on pour y mettre fin?

    Conseils pour arrêter de consommer trop de collations

    • Avez-vous soif ? La première étape, la plus facile à mettre en place est de vérifier si vous avez juste soif. Lorsque vous commencez à ressentir la faim, buvez un verre d’eau. Si vous vous sentez bien ensuite, vous aviez juste soif. Cependant, si vous ne vous sentez pas rassasié, alors vous avez faim.
    • Vous ennuyez-vous ? Si vous croyez que vous vous ennuyez, trouvez une distraction. Sortez pour une promenade ou lisez un livre et vérifiez si cela arrête la faim.
    • Mangez-vous correctement ? Un autre remède pour éviter de consommer trop de collations est de choisir des aliments sains pour vos repas. Si vous n’aimez pas ce que vous mangez, il est probable que vous prendrez une collation pour vous donner un peu de dopamine. Les repas devraient être agréables ! Non seulement votre estomac les aimera, mais vos autres sens aussi. Choisissez des aliments que vous aimez sentir et voir et il est vraisemblable que vous en mangerez jusqu’à satiété.
    • Êtes-vous inquiet ? Si vous mangez juste à cause du stress, c’est le moment de prendre un peu de recul et d’évaluer la situation. Posez-vous d’importantes questions comme : « qu’est-ce qui m’inquiète ? », « comment est-ce que je peux me détendre ? », « quels sont les obstacles qui m’empêchent de me détendre ? ». C’est tout aussi important de prendre soin de nous mentalement que physiquement.

    Il existe de nombreuses stratégies pour éviter de consommer trop de collations, mais c’est important de n’utiliser que celles qui vous conviennent. Certaines d’entre elles peuvent être des éléments déclencheurs pour ceux qui ont vécu ou vivent une relation négative avec la nourriture. Alors, souvenez-vous que c’est bon d’arrêter de prendre trop de collations, mais c’est encore meilleur de maintenir votre corps bien nourri. La nourriture est l’énergie dont vous avez besoin – assurez-vous de choisir la bonne pour votre corps.

     

    Sources

    Fose, Courtney. How to Stop Snacking.” wikiHow. https://www.wikihow.health/Stop-Snacking

    myfitnesspal. “8 Surprising Reasons You Can’t Stop Snacking.” https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/8-sneaky-reasons-you-want-to-eat-nonstop/

  • What Is British Columbia’s Upcoming “Family Connections Hubs” System?

    What Is British Columbia’s Upcoming “Family Connections Hubs” System?

    The Current Issues for Children with Disabilities in B.C.

    Approximately 30,000 children with disabilities across British Columbia are accessing aids. However, this number does not reflect the flaws of the current system and who is being left out. Currently, families of children with disabilities need a diagnosis to access funding.

    Getting a diagnosis can take a few years, leaving families waiting while they should be getting help. Waiting years can be brutal for a child’s development, considering how many milestones they could be missing in the process. Even when a diagnosis is given, this does not guarantee that the services offered are accessible in all areas.

    In short, the current system does not adequately provide for the needs of children with disabilities and their families.

    Mitzi Dean, the Minister of British Columbia’s Ministry of Childhood and Family and Development, is aware of such issues. Since 2019, she and the Ministry of Childhood and Family Development have worked towards what is now known as British Columbia’s upcoming “family connections hub” model.

    Under the proposed family connections hub system, families of children with disabilities will have access to various supports in their local communities, with no diagnosis required. The implementation of this new system will be able to accommodate 8,300 more children and their families.

    What are Family Connection Hubs?

    British Columbia will have its upcoming family connection hubs program province-wide by 2025. These hubs are meant to support children with special needs (up to age 19) and their families. These hubs are places people can access locally throughout the province, with the first set to open by winter 2022 or 2023 for individuals in the Northwest and Central Okanagan Regions.

    What Services are Offered?

    Through family connection hubs, families can access a variety of services offered by professional therapists and consultants. They provide developmental, goal-focused, and disability services.

    • Developmental services will help with referrals and services, as well as assessing children’s abilities and needs within the context of their family, school, and community. It will also provide education and guidance to families through multiple formats and by translators if needed.
    • Goal-focused services will help families in identifying and removing barriers, help identify and explain certain behaviours, and make plans to meet their goals. This includes offering therapies such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech language therapy.
    • Disability services will help families by providing necessary assistive equipment, respite and in-home supports, counselling, and transition planning for children who are reaching adulthood.

    When Will Changes Happen?

    Families can still access existing programs until 2025, so those programs will not be replaced quickly. Existing programs will close in the future but are still open for intake until the transition happens. For example, The Autism Funding Program will remain open for new intake until September 2024, but autism services will be transitioning to the family connections hub program by 2025.

    Consultation will continue until spring 2022 to gather input on what families want through this transition. After consultation is completed, the ministry will move forward by increasing medical benefits that will cover full costs of necessary medical equipment like wheelchairs.

    More than 40 family connections hubs are planned for the province, with the first few set to open in winter 2022 or 2023. The first family connections hubs will open in the Northwest and Central Okanagan regions, with three locations for the latter and one location for the former.

    The period between fall 2024 and spring 2025 will be the full transition period across British Columbia.

     

    Sources:

    Dean, Mitzi. “DEAN: Hub Model Will Provide Care for Thousands of B.C. Families Left without Support.” Abbotsford News, 3 Nov. 2021, https://www.abbynews.com/opinion/dean-hub-model-will-provide-care-for-thousands-of-b-c-families-left-without-support/. Accessed 12 January 2022.

    Holliday, Ian. “B.C. Announces Transition to Community ‘hub’ Model for Supporting Children with Special Needs.” CTV News, 27 Oct. 2021, https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-announces-transition-to-community-hub-model-for-supporting-children-with-special-needs-1.5641178. Accessed 8 January 2022.

    Ministry of Child and Family Development. “Frequently Asked Questions – Family Connections Hubs.” Province of British Columbia, 21 Dec. 2021, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/child-behaviour-development/support-needs/family-connections-hubs/faq. Accessed 12 January 2022.

    Ministry of Children and Family Development. “Improved System Coming for Children and Youth with Support Needs.” BC Gov News, 27 Oct. 2021, https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021CFD0067-002047. Accessed 10 Jan. 2022.

    Ministry of Child and Family Development. “What to Expect During the Change to Family Connections Hubs.” Province of British Columbia, 1 Dec. 2021, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/child-behaviour-development/support-needs/what-to-expect. Accessed 8 Jan. 2022.

    Sheppard, Brock. “MCFD’s Autism Funding Changes and Family Hubs: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do — Blog.” AutismBC, 6 Nov. 2021, https://www.autismbc.ca/blog/mcfd-changes/. Accessed 8 January 2022.