Organizers are celebrating the success of last week’s Community Health Fair at the Smithers Christian Reformed Church, where local health agencies and private practitioners showcased a broad array of wellness resources available to the community.
The Oct. 23 event saw strong participation, with both attendees and providers engaged in valuable networking and information sharing.
"Indeed, our community is very rich with health resources in terms of counselling, alternative health care and public health service agencies," one participant noted.
Sponsored by the Bulkley Valley Social Planning Society and SPARC BC, the fair aimed to improve collaboration among health and wellness providers in Smithers. The B.C. Community Response Network (BCCRN), known for its focus on raising awareness around elder abuse and neglect, sponsored the exhibitors in the church’s gym.
The day began with a Qigong demonstration by Valerie Laub and concluded with an insightful talk by Wendy Orienti titled “Wellness, the Big Picture for All Ages,” offering a full schedule of interactive learning for attendees.
Clara Donnelly, BCCRN’s Smithers coordinator, played a crucial role in bringing the fair back after several years, hoping to raise awareness of the many local health resources.
“I want people to understand, no matter where you are, or what age you are, you can continue to have new goals and ideas about yourself,” Donnelly said, emphasizing that the event was open to all ages. “I want people in Smithers to be aware of all the amazing services we have here.”
The fair featured an array of hands-on experiences, from yoga and qigong to physiotherapy, massage, and reflexology, allowing visitors to connect directly with practitioners and learn about their approaches.
“The idea is for people to come and interact with all the different practitioners to get a better idea of what they do, and how they do it,” Donnelly added.
Organizers extended special thanks to the Smithers Men’s Shed for their support in managing tables and chairs, which helped the event run smoothly. The fair was free to the public, with talks, demonstrations, and refreshments provided throughout the day.
