With a full slate of six dynamic speakers and over 15 exhibitors, the annual event promises to offer health tips for all.

The 5th Annual Rocky Mountain Health, Wellness and Active Adult Living Expo will be held Saturday, January 28th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prestige Inn in Cranbrook.  And best of all admission is absolutely free.

Again this year at the Wellness Expo is the senior showcase designed to encourage and promote active adult living. A number of exhibitors will be displaying services and products especially designed for active adults and retirees.

“This theme is especially appropriate as our Kootenay population ages. Our exhibitors are there to offer helpful suggestions so we can all stay healthy and active,” said Maureen Gordon, a representative of Kootenay Business, and an organizer of the event.

The 2012 Health, Wellness and Active Adult Living Expo will focus on active, healthy living.  For example, you won’t want to miss the inspiring and interactive presentation by CanFitPro Certified Personal Trainers John and Debbie Mandryk at 11:30 to 12 noon.

The Mandryks specialize in working with older adults. Both have a competitive sport background. Their focus is on healthy aging and developing fun programs to promote functionality. As well as working with clients on strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and balance, they explore other factors that influence our state of health and wellness, including nutrition and positive social relationships.

Join Debbie and John for an enjoyable interactive discussion about the components of health aging.

Also in attendance and speaking at the event will be Adele Engel of Panorama. She is the owner of Evolution Wellness in Panorama and the developer of the internationally acclaimed Essential Nutrition Mix.

As a holistic health and wellness coach Adele has much to share with those looking to feel and look better.

The Expo offers attendees a valuable opportunity to meet face-to-face with many health and wellness experts. These professional are ready to assist people to reach their wellness goals in 2012.

Make sure to start 2012 out on the right foot by talking one-to-one with over 15 wellness exhibitors who will be on hand to answer your questions. They will provide you with suggestions to ensure that your personal well-being and active lifestyle choices are achievable.

Rocky Mountain Health, Wellness and Active Adult Living Expo speakers schedule:

Hospice Brings Dignity
Don Davidson (Cranbrook Hospice Society)
Time: 10:10 - 10:30 a.m.

Aspire 2B Fit Program
Laurie Dickson
Personal Trainer
10:30 - 11 a.m.

Let's Get Moving...The Benefits of Older Adults Staying Active
John and Debbie Mandryk
11:30 a.m. -12 noon
CanFitPro Certified Trainers present an interactive session.

Better Breast Health & Cold Laser Pain Treatment
Dr. Trent Brereton, Naturopathic Physician
1 - 1:30 p.m.
Kootenay Health Centre

Live, Feel and Look Better...Naturally!
From the developer of the Internationally Acclaimed Essential Nutrition Mix
Adele Engel, Evolution Wellness, Panorama, B.C.
1:30 - 2 p.m.

Good Health Starts With Your Feet?
Dr. Kevin Roberge (Archway Foot Orthotics)
2 to 2:30 p.m.

Secure and Protect Your Personal Identity
Gerry Mackinnon
Legal Shield
2:30 to 3 p.m.

Participants:

Abundant Energy
Archway Orthotics
Aspire 2B Fit
Dr. Trent Brereton, Kootenay Health Centre
Cranbrook Hospice Society
Curves – Cranbrook
Evolution Wellness
Kootenay Business
Kootenay Seniors Care Network
Legal Shield
John and Debbie Mandryk – CanFitPro Certified Personal Trainers
Millennium Health and Wellness Centre
Neighbourhood Nursing
Nikken Independent Wellness Consultant
Philips Home Health Care Solutions
Peoples Pharmacy

Freshly hired stylist, Helen Brum, spoke with enthusiasm about her new placement. She moved west from Toronto, bringing along with her truckloads of experience in hair styling and makeup artistry.

“I’ve been doing this for about 30 years, and in Toronto I actually was working in the film and television industry as a hairstylist.” She is excited about getting back into hairstyling. “It’s a passion of mine. I love meeting new people.”

Salon Safari & Academy boasts a wide range of hair and esthetic services, and offers courses on advanced hair cutting, texturizing and colour techniques. Call owner Cathie Moore at 250-837-2830 to book your experience; be sure to visit the salon’s website for a full menu.

Effective January 1, Horswill will work half-time as senior vice-president with responsibility for the further development of the company’s zinc and health program, its sustainability programs related to water and other international initiatives.

Mike Agg, who is senior vice-president of zinc, will retire next summer after 32 years with the company. When Agg’s successor is named on March 1, and until his retirement, Agg will focus on key operational issues within the company and will be involved in a number of other activities, including Teck’s material stewardship initiatives.

After 20 years with Teck, Jim Utley has also decided to step down. He will leave the post of vice-president of human resources effective December 1.

New senior management appointments include:

•Marcia Smith, vice-president of corporate affairs, will become senior vice-president of sustainability and external affairs, effective January 1;
•Rob Scott, vice-president of operational excellence, will become senior vice-president of zinc, effective March 1;
•Graham Foyle-Twining will join Teck on December 1 as vice-president of human resources; and
•Ray Reipas, vice-president of energy, will become senior vice-president of energy, effective immediately.

The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is thrilled with the opening of the Young Parents Education Program daycare. CBAL and College of the Rockies partner to offer parents, who have not completed high school, a supportive learning environment in which to achieve their Grade 12 diploma.

YPEP is also supported by Paq’mi Nuq’yuk Early Learning Years, the Infant Development Program, the Community Action Program for Children, Community Connections Society of SE BC and School District #5. In its third year of operation YPEP provides academic support as well as life, parenting and work skills for the adult learners. The program has a continuous intake (with a maximum of 12 learners) and welcomes both moms and dads. This program is free for the learners. For more information about YPEP contact Jody at 250-421-0475.

The daycare, a new adventure for CBAL, provides 12 infant toddler spaces for the children of the YPEP learners. CBAL is exploring the feasibility of opening the YPEP daycare in the afternoon to the children of college students and staff as one way to help support the cost of the program into the future. This would also help to address the current two-year waiting list for infant-toddler daycare spaces in Cranbrook.

CBAL provides free literacy programs throughout the Kootenays and in Cranbrook manages the Strong Start programs, provides adult literacy tutoring, classes and one-to-one tutoring for adult ESL learners, family literacy programming and computer classes for seniors. For more information please contact Katherine Hough, Community Literacy Co-ordinator at 250-417-2896 or visit www.cbal.org.

Launched in fall 2010, Operation Street Angel assists Cranbrook's street-involved people by providing outreach and guidance services. Between 80 and 100 people access it each day—and about 30 per cent of these are youth.

"The Youth Engagement Collaboration project will see the Ktunaxa Nation Council and 25 other partners representing a large cross-section of services and opportunities come together to develop effective programming to promote the mental health and well-being of youth at risk, including emergency housing," said Carrie Schafer, CBT community liaison. "The goal is to increase the capacity of Operation Street Angel to respond to the needs of youth accessing its services."

"Operation Street Angel did not anticipate such a high number of youth living on the street or at very high risk of joining street-involved culture," said Shannon Girling-Hebert, manager of Health Services & Strategic Initiatives, Ktunaxa Nation Council. "It has been determined that youth-focused interventions are urgently needed to meet the needs of our young street-involved population. The Youth Engagement Collaboration project will help us identify what these interventions should be."

The plan will focus on both Cranbrook and the East Kootenay region as a whole, as many homeless youth from other communities gravitate to Cranbrook as the closest urban centre. Among others, it will identify opportunities that: empower youth and help them develop self-esteem and self-confidence; teach skills by which youth can find their purposes in life and identify goals; and open possibilities of self-expression, personal development and capacity building.

Goals include reducing anti-social behaviour, helping youth and their families access services and increasing family cohesion.

For further information on this project, please contact Debbie Whitehead, director, Social Investment Sector, Ktunaxa Nation, at 250-489-2464 or dwhitehead@ktunaxa.org.