A planning meeting in Pinehouse that took place before Addictions Awareness Month. Photo submitted by Vince Natomagan
The northern village of Pinehouse has spent every November for the past few years focusing on building a healthy community.
Challenges for reading, school attendance, and walking to work are part of the Addictions Awareness Month theme “addicted to a healthy me.”
Also, Pinehouse isn’t letting a day go by this month without reminding people they can live free of addictions: whether it’s alcohol, drugs or gambling.
Mayor Mike Natomagan said November is a month to set goals, and they keep a record of success stories.
“Over the years we go back to our stats and there are a lot of people that have totally gave up cigarettes just because of the one-month challenge,” Natomagan said.
Membership to the gym is free for the month, and there are a lot of family-centred activities that come at low or no cost.
By bringing awareness and engaging the community, Natomagan said they’ve seen huge differences over the past five or so years of hosting Addictions Awareness Month events.
“Like attendance at the school, it just totally improves for the whole month. We talk to the RCMP what kind of stats they have, it’s just ridiculously low. Our health stats for the clinic, it’s just low,” he said.
Overall, the events bring a positive energy to the community, he added.
“It really is an eye-opener of how positive it is for a whole month, when a community like ours unites for a whole month, and does activities for a whole month.”
He said it’s about living positive lifestyles for their youth, and want to talk to other northern communities about the great results that are possible.