Open to the public from 10:00AM-4:00PM on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Hosted by carya Calgary Village Commons (2nd Floor, 610 8 Ave SE).
You’re invited to a free event for Calgarians, our mini-mental wellness festival! We present an opportunity for you to learn about brain health and how to support your mental wellness through a variety of local partners. Get to know who’s in the community and your mental health, outside of a referral or crisis situation.
Our Open House Booths feature volunteers and resources from:
Organizations have volunteers at booths to answer your questions, performances to demonstrate the work they do, science fair stations with researchers to speak to their learning, and activities to show you how they help individual mental health and wellness.
Take a chance and meet someone new at our Coffee Chats!
While in the space, sign-up for our Coffee Conversation Sessions, a 20-minute exercise that teaches about the Brain Story and facilitates discussion around it’s core concepts.
11:00AM, 12:30PM, 2:00PM, or 3:30PM sessions available for signup, when you arrive!
We’re highlighted concepts of the Brain Story, like Positive Stress, in this engaging exercise led by the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good.
Featuring the Brain Story as researched, developed, and established by the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative & Palix Foundation.
We feature an opportunity to listen to Karen Judge from Dose of Happiness as she reads from her book, “Drive Your Happiness” in the reading nook from 11:00AM-1:00PM, with discussion to follow. Stay for a lively conversation as she uses the metaphor of driving a car to shine a bright light on mental health through proactive wellness solutions.
Participate in the discussion around healthy brains.
Through years of research and studies in neuroscience, positive psychology, human development, mental health training, and life experience, Karen (A Dose of Happiness) inspires people to master skills and build tools to achieve and sustain a healthy brain and mind.
We showcase local artists, arts, and culture through various Calgary artists as well as partners like Immigrant Services Calgary and LOUD Art Society. They will showcase a variety of their art and programs through select performances and workshops offered throughout the day.
Meet artists working in the mental health ecosystem.
Like artist Tara Vahab, whose usage of newspaper and bright colours are some of the elements that have become part of her artistic brand over the years which she believes are tied to her research on metaphysical aspects of humanity, empathy and her upcoming book “Self-Therapy Through Art & Creativity”
Celebrate your inner creative, whether you think you are one, or not!
In the Reception Area, we feature a variety of visual art on display for you to view and appreciate. Some of the pieces speak directly to mental wellness, others represent the artist's practice.
We proudly present a variety of performances through our partners, Immigrant Services Calgary. You can attend their presentation of their Seniors Anthology project (with authors) at 11:00AM, Mindful Mandalas workshop at 1:00PM, or a variety of dances including Indian Semi Classical Dance, Bollywood Medley Dance, and their Seniors Chinese Dance Group at 2:30PM.
In addition to a static art show in the reception area, we feature a reel of short films and slides for discussion from THIRD ACTion Film Festival in the multipurpose room. The videos feature positive points for discussion around aging and the work they do, advocating through film for those in their “third act of life”.
Learn more about the benefits of creativity and the therapeutic arts through fun art prompts designed to tickle your brain and collaborating on a large adult-level paint-by-number piece, courtesy of the Tilted Windmills Healing Centre.
Alongside a pop-up art show of the paintings and works through their volunteers, LOUD Art Society has easels and supplies for you to try their Landscape Painting Workshop for yourself!
2022 Partners
This event is the beginning of our journey to a larger festival happening from August 19-21, 2022 with more workshops, content, and partners to choose from so that you’re able to attend a festival that celebrates healing through arts and culture.
We curate the mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness ecosystem in Calgary to facilitate awareness and communication between stakeholders. We use immersive art and culture, to improve the public's awareness of mental health, while providing a platform to access resources required. Thank you for your interest and support of our work!
© 2018-2022 Stacey Perlin
