days until our Collective Agreement expires, we are preparing, we are united and we will make change.

Online Mindfulness Sessions

We are pleased to offer to our members online sessions on mindfulness, as a way of supporting you through these challenging times with the COVID-19 pandemic.  The next session will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, with other dates to follow.

To register, please email Mary Keough at mindfulness@accomponent.ca. In your email please include your full name and employee number and indicate whether you are registering for the English session OR the French session.  If you do not indicate a language, you will be registered for the English session by default.

Due to the high volume of requests, you must register for each session individually at the time of receiving this email.  We have a limit of 100 participants for each session on a first-come, first served basis. You will receive login information for the online session once you are registered.

Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention, on time, in the present moment, without judgment. This practice has many potential benefits, including reduced stress, greater sense of wellbeing, increased focus, and more harmonious relationships. One way to hone this skill is through meditation.

On Wednesday, May 13th, Brian Dean Williams and Roxanne Dault will be leading us in some mindfulness meditation practices, and you are warmly invited to join us.
12pm – 12:30pm (EDT) in English
12:45pm – 1:15pm (EDT) in French

The session will consist of a 15-20-minute practice together as well as 10-15 minutes of questions, inquiry, and resources. You will need to download and install ZOOM software if you haven’t yet. There is no need to have previous experience, just grab a cushion and chair, find a quiet space, and feel free to shut off your cell phone. If possible, please arrive a few minutes early, to allow us to start on time. We would love to see you there via video, if you prefer, you’re welcome to turn your video off for the session.

Brian is a registered clinical counsellor and mindfulness meditation teacher from Vancouver, BC. He has an active private practice and teaches retreats internationally. He has done in-person mindfulness training with our members on the west coast. www.briandeanwilliams.com.

Roxanne is a mindfulness meditation teacher from Montréal, QC, and is also trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-mind approach to resolve stress and trauma. She has spent years in silence both in Asia and in the West. She teaches meditation locally and internationally in diverse settings. www.roxannedault.com.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary Keough
Chair, Component EAP Committee

Homewood Health FREE Webinar: Supporting Yourself and Others Through COVID-19

COVID-19 poses unique challenges for all individuals. For those who experience common mental health challenges including anxiety and depression, the pandemic may exacerbate these issues. The uncertainty, social isolation and sometimes sudden and unexpected changes to normal routines, changes in relationships, work and home environments, can be additional triggers and especially difficult to manage. In the face of a pandemic like COVID-19, it is more important than ever to exercise vigilance around our mental well-being and the mental health of those around us.

On Wednesday May 6th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm (EDT), Homewood Health will be hosting a free webinar to help understand how to support yourself and those experiencing fear, grief, anxiety and/or depression.

Presented by Homewood’s Dr. Sandra Primiano, this session will help participants understand typical reactions and equip them with strategies for regulating their emotions, as well as providing tips to support others who may be experiencing difficulties given the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details surrounding the webinar can be found below. Please join us for this special event during Mental Health week. Space is limited, register now!

Presentation Title: Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on your mental health
Date: Wednesday May 6, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm EDT
Presenter: Dr. Sandra Primiano, Ph.D., Psy.D., Senior Director of Homewood Clinics and Homewood du Plateau.

Click here to register

Dr. Sandra Primiano
Dr. Primiano provides leadership to the Homewood Outpatient Clinics and Homewood du Plateau, where she leads collaborative efforts with clinical leaders to implement clinical processes, ensuring service quality and clinical effectiveness of our facilities and services. Dr. Primiano also acts as Health Psychology Discipline Lead, working closely with Homewood’s Human Resources in consulting on psychologists’ roles and responsibilities, including training and professional development needs, and provides leadership of the discipline. Sandra graduated from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM) with a Ph.D. and Psy.D. in Clinical and Experimental Psychology and came to Homewood from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), where she was a Psychology Consultant for the Directorate of Mental Health.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary Keough
Chair, Component EAP Committee

EAP Online Mindfulness Sessions

We are pleased to offer to our members online sessions on mindfulness, as a way of supporting you through these challenging times with the COVID-19 pandemic.  The next session will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, with other dates to follow.

Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention, on time, in the present moment, without judgment. This practice has many potential benefits, including reduced stress, greater sense of wellbeing, increased focus, and more harmonious relationships. One way to hone this skill is through meditation.

On Wednesday, May 6th, Brian Dean Williams and Roxanne Dault will be leading us in some mindfulness meditation practices, and you are warmly invited to join us.
12pm – 12:30pm (EDT) in English
12:45pm – 1:15pm (EDT) in French

The session will consist of a 15-20-minute practice together as well as 10-15 minutes of questions, inquiry, and resources. You will need to download and install ZOOM software if you haven’t yet. There is no need to have previous experience, just grab a cushion and chair, find a quiet space, and feel free to shut off your cell phone. If possible, please arrive a few minutes early, to allow us to start on time. We would love to see you there via video, if you prefer, you’re welcome to turn your video off for the session.

Brian is a registered clinical counsellor and mindfulness meditation teacher from Vancouver, BC. He has an active private practice and teaches retreats internationally. He has done in-person mindfulness training with our members on the west coast. www.briandeanwilliams.com.

Roxanne is a mindfulness meditation teacher from Montréal, QC, and is also trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-mind approach to resolve stress and trauma. She has spent years in silence both in Asia and in the West. She teaches meditation locally and internationally in diverse settings. www.roxannedault.com.

To register, please email Mary Keough at mindfulness@accomponent.ca. In your email please indicate whether you are registering for the English session OR the French session.  If you do not indicate a language, you will be registered for the English session by default.

We have a limit of 100 participants for each session on a first-come, first serve basis. You will receive login information for the online session once you are registered.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary Keough
Chair, Component EAP Committee

Online Mindfulness Session – April 29th

We are pleased to offer to our members an online session on mindfulness, as a way of supporting you through these challenging times with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention, on time, in the present moment, without judgment. This practice has many potential benefits, including reduced stress, greater sense of wellbeing, increased focus, and more harmonious relationships. One way to hone this skill is through meditation.

On Wednesday, April 29th, Brian Dean Williams and Roxanne Dault will be leading us in some mindfulness meditation practices, and you are warmly invited to join us.
12pm – 12:30pm (EDT) in English
12:45pm – 1:15pm (EDT) in French

The session will consist of a 15-20-minute practice together as well as 10-15 minutes of questions, inquiry, and resources. You will need to download and install ZOOM software if you haven’t yet. There is no need to have previous experience, just grab a cushion and chair, find a quiet space, and feel free to shut off your cell phone. If possible, please arrive a few minutes early, to allow us to start on time. We would love to see you there via video, if you prefer, you’re welcome to turn your video off for the session.

Brian is a registered clinical counsellor and mindfulness meditation teacher from Vancouver, BC. He has an active private practice and teaches retreats internationally. He has done in-person mindfulness training with our members on the west coast. www.briandeanwilliams.com.

Roxanne is a mindfulness meditation teacher from Montréal, QC, and is also trained in Somatic Experiencing®, a body-mind approach to resolve stress and trauma. She has spent years in silence both in Asia and in the West. She teaches meditation locally and internationally in diverse settings. www.roxannedault.com.

To register, please email Mary Keough at mindfulness@accomponent.ca. In your email please include your employee number and indicate whether you are registering for the English session OR the French session.  If you do not indicate a language, you will be registered for the English session by default.  If you have already registered please email mindfulness@accomponent.ca and confirm that you are still planning to attend.

We have a limit of 100 participants on a first-come, first serve basis. You will receive login information for the online session once you are registered.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary Keough
Chair, Component EAP Committee