Silver Linings - before, during & after cancer. A Health & Wellness Information and Support Day

Silver Linings - Before, During, & After Cancer Fair: Health & Wellness Information and Support Day

When: Saturday, October 19th, 10am till 4pm
Where: Callander Community Centre
Who: the general public, patients, families, allied health & doctors

Silver Linings is a fair that was put together because of the difficulty that cancer patients have finding local specialists and products to help them during and after their cancer journey. The booths comprize of businesses, organizations and products that we have in the greater north bay region that have something to offer people who have or have had cancer and for general health. It has allowed people to network, discover resources, build new resources and find places to volunteer. AND there are interesting talks throughout the day by survivors and specialists.
Everyone has a story. According to the Ontario Cancer Statistics 2018, 1 out of 2 people will be diagnosed with Cancer. This in-turn will affect each one of us in one form or another. Either through our own personal journey or through someone we love.
Not knowing about what lays ahead and what services are available can bring a lot of fear into one’s life that can take away the power and energy from us when we need it the most.
It’s also important to know that we are not alone, and that there are resources in our community and area that can help; before, during and after cancer.
This is our third year of hosting a Health & Wellness Information and Support Day with hopes to reduce the feelings of social isolation and bring a clearer path to recovery or to end of the journey. Our volunteers gather together along with community stakeholders, resources, services, peer groups so they can share with others.
Each cancer journey is unique and individual, however if we know what services are available, if we learn from each others’ experiences, we have more opportunity to decrease our fears and have more energy to focus on getting through the diagnosis. All are welcome to join us at the fair, even if you have not had cancer.
The Wellness Day generates an attendance of about 350 people and offers, Subject Matter Experts, Peer Speakers, Booths, Service Groups and more!
Booths: You will find a variety of services and information that is cancer related, but almost all of it applies to general health too. There will be peers, patients, allied health services, physicians all willing to take time out and talk about their stories, their services and more. There is also our “The Doctor is in Booth”, where you can sit one on one and ask questions, listen to stories the list goes on and on.
Talks: Talks from specialists and survivors will run throughout the day. Hear a music set from a throat cancer survivor, find out about sexuality and a changing body or key into one of the other excellent talks. See silverliningsnb.ca for times and a full list.
Networking: Wear a nametag! – this opens an opportunity to share your story or a story of a loved one. It also gives others an opportunity to reach out to you and ask questions. On the name tag would be your first name, type of cancer or name, person your honouring type of cancer. But if you choose not to, it is all good as we sometimes want to keep it to ourselves.
Food and Fundraising: There will be both! So bring cash to spend and support our efforts.
Entry fee: is by donation. The proceeds of the day will go towards building a NEW website that lists the regional businesses, services and groups that have something specific to offer during the cancer journey. Hopefully, this will help reduce some of the stress and isolation of the journey so that the patient does not feel alone and can call upon community support stakeholder and support systems.

Making a website of local Cancer resources: cancercommunitynipissing.ca
The website we envision would have local cancer specific support services, resources and products on it. It is not meant as an educational site as there are