Stonegate CHC has been providing primary health care, health promotion and a wide variety of community programs to the Stonegate - Parklawn Community since it was created by community members in 1992.
2019 Spring Newsletter
GLA:D is coming to Stonegate CHC
Good Living with Arthritis Denmark (GLA:D®). This program helps individuals to manage the symptoms of hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). The program is being made available free of charge to patients who have attended an assessment for hip and knee at Stonegate CHC or a Rapid Assessment Clinic. The GLA:D program has been shown to help people with hip and knee OA reduce pain and stiffness and become more physical activity. The GLA:D® program includes:
- 12 exercise sessions: 2 times per week for 6 weeks; GROUP exercise sessions with up to 8 people, to be completed within 8 weeks
- 2 education sessions: 1.5 hours each
When you have hip or knee OA, the muscles around the joint can become weak and cause changes to the position of the joint. This can be part of the reason you have pain and difficulty moving. The GLAD program teaches you how to control your movements to make your muscles stronger and reduce stress on the joint. Research has shown that 12 sessions over 6 weeks is needed to make lasting changes to your muscles, movement, pain and function.
We will be offering this rehabilitation program on an ongoing basis. The first session will start at the end of April.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that can affect the hip and knee joints. It can cause swelling, pain and loss of movement. Although there is no cure for OA, there are many ways that you can keep your joints healthy that will help you keep doing the activities that you want to. Since the symptoms of OA may be worse on some days and better on others, you will need to use a few different ways to manage your symptoms.
Physical activity and why it is important
Physical activity is any kind of activity where you move your body. This can include work, household chores, or leisure activities. Physical activity can challenge the muscles which will lead to improvements in general health and help to reduce the risk of other health problems including diabetes and heart problems. Normal daily physical activity WILL NOT damage the joint and CAN help reduce OA symptoms and improve your quality of life. Even when you have pain you need to stay active. Using a “Pain Scale” can help you to keep going by changing your activity levels. With the pain scale, 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you have ever felt. When you have pain with an activity that is:
0 to 5 = keep going
above 5 = change the activity that day until the pain returns to below 5
Change your activities throughout the day using this scale
Never stop all activity as your muscles will get weaker and you may have increased pain.
Helping you to be physically active
Below are some different ways that you can help yourself stay active. Sometimes advice from a health care provider can help.
Exercise
Exercise is one kind of physical activity, that helps improve or maintain fitness and/or strength. OA often results in muscle weakness so exercises to strengthen the legs and core muscles and stretching exercises for tight muscles are important. Exercises should be done regularly and become more challenging as you get stronger. Exercises in a standing position will help you use all the muscles. You may benefit from a program created by a health care provider (physiotherapist, chiropractor or kinesiologist) such as GLA:D which helps you to learn how to move so that you take the stress off your joints. If you do complete a program it is important to keep the muscles strong when you are finished either through physical activity or doing your own exercises.
If you are a client of Stonegate CHC you can get an assessment for the program here. If not, you need a referral from your primary provider to an assessment clinic. Your primary provider would need to complete this form: https://sunnybrook.ca/uploads/1/programs/holland-centre/170529-hkap-request-consultation.pdf The Assessment clinics are listed at the top of the form.
Stonegate CHC Pulmonary Rehab Program is coming soon!
What is Pulmonary Rehab? Our upcoming Pulmonary Rehabilitation program will include exercise, education, and socialization components. We will do our best to make it fun too.
This is a respiratory maintenance exercise program for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other chronic lung illnesses, designed to improve balance, strength and cardiovascular health.
Educational sessions will be open to participants’ families and caregivers and will include a wide variety of COPD related topics from medications and vaccination to nutrition and anxiety management.
Smoking cessation support, including access to free nicotine replacement therapy, will be provided as well.
This program is a result of partnership between Stonegate CHC, Four Villages CHC and West Park Health Centre. In addition, we have received support and training from the Ontario Lung Association’s Fitness for Breath program.
Consider our community based Pulmonary Rehab program if you want to gain better control of your COPD and improve your quality of life.
We are almost ready to start! We will keep you posted.
Reminder: We opened our smoking cessation services to a wider community, call our front desk, if you need help to quit.
Measles - Vaccination is the best protection
Measles is a very contagious viral infection. Measles spreads when a person infected with measles virus breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can still be on surfaces and in the air up to two hours after that person is gone from a room.
Measles has been in the news a great deal because there have been outbreaks in Canada. Outbreaks have been much more serious in parts of the world. In Europe over 82,000 cases have been recorded so far this year, with the Ukraine alone having over 30,000 cases of measles this year. Measles is rare in Canada due to high vaccination rates, but outbreaks do occur from time to time.
If you are going to be travelling to an area that has had major outbreaks, please make sure your immunization and your children’s immunizations are up to date. Listen here to a recent podcast: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/1.4672640
Symptoms of Measles
Measles symptoms begin with a fever, runny nose, cough and red eyes. After a few days, a red blotchy rash will appear on the face and spreads down the body. Most people recover fully from measles in two weeks. Symptoms are more severe in infants and adults.
Measles can also lead to ear infections, lung infections (pneumonia), swelling of the brain (encephalitis), hearing loss, seizures, permanent brain or death. Measles in pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, low birth weight and miscarriage.
Symptoms usually appear 10 days (range seven to 21 days) after contact with a person who is contagious with measles. The rash usually appears 10-14 days after exposure. An infected person can spread measles to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.
If you think you have measles, it is important to tell our staff when you make the appointment. We can take precautions to try to ensure the illness is not passed on to others.
Vaccination is the best protection.
Measles vaccine is available as MMR or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Both vaccines are made up of weakened, live viruses. One dose provides protection in about 85 per cent of people, and two doses provide over 95 per cent.
Those born before 1970 are likely immune since they likely had measles as a child. Those born between 1970 and 1996 you may need a second shot to be fully immune. Those born after 1996 should have had to measles (MMR) vaccines. If you think you may need a vaccine, please call and make an appointment with one of our nurses to be immunized.
Stonegate Farmers' Market
The Stonegate Farmers' Market will open its 14th season on Tuesday, June 18th! The Market will run Tuesdays from 4:00 - 7:00 pm (rain or shine) from June until October, featuring: local produce, meats, honey, jams & jellies, sauces, baked goods, breads, and more!
Located in the parking lot of Christ Church St. James Anglican Church at 194 Park Lawn Road (just north of the Queensway), the market showcases fresh produce direct from the farmers (conventional and organic) with local entertainment, special events, a market BBQ, and children's activities throughout the season.
During the month of July at the Market, customers will have the opportunity to purchase market bucks. For every $20 purchased, you will receive an additional $5 in market bucks free to spend (of course at the market). A maximum of $40 per market can be purchased per customer ($50 in market bucks).
Make sure to follow weekly news about market vendors, events, recipes on our Stonegate Farmers' Markets' Facebook page. For more information about the farmers' market, please contact Stonegate CHC at 416-231-7070 ext. 229.
Opportunity to Volunteer: Board of Directors We are looking for interested local residents to join the Board of Directors
Stonegate Community Health Centre is a charitable organization serving the Stonegate community. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the CHC. We are looking for committed individuals who are:
Interested in taking a leadership role in the community
Comfortable participating in group discussions at meetings
Available and willing to commit and average of 5-10 hours per month, including attending a monthly meeting and sitting on at least one committee.
The Stonegate Community Health Centre recently moved into its beautiful new building which provides us with greater opportunity for growth of our programs and services. We’re building a Board to help lead the change, identify opportunity, and extend our local leadership in the delivery of health services and promotion.
Our objective is to have Board of Etobicoke residents with a variety of skills and experience. We try to ensure that the composition of the Board reflects the diversity of our community.
The Board works together in three main areas:
Ensuring the CHC is leading the charge to create as much community impact as possible
Ensuring the CHC is complying with all its legal obligations
Ensuring the CHC’s work is getting done in all program/operational areas
Please click on the followinglink to complete your application by May 17, 2019.
If you have any questions about the Board or this position, please call 416-231-7070 ext. 224 and a Board member will return your call.
Food Fit
Stonegate CHC is now offering FoodFit!, a 12-week program for community members living on a limited budget, who are motivated to make lasting changes to their health. The program combines fun, hands-on cooking sessions with-nutrition information, group exercise, take home recipes, shared meals, and self-directed individual and group goal-setting.
To put your name on our FoodFit waiting list for the next program date, please call us at 416-231-7070 ext. 307.
Multicultural Grant
Through funding received from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Multicultural Community Capacity grant we were able to enhance our programs over the past year. The grant enabled us to employ professional, community-based artists and recreational facilitators to extend the cultural and social recreational activities for the Stonegate community. Some of the programs implemented included Tai Chi, Ukrainian Dance for all ages, Community Choir, Spanish Embroidery Program, and Ukrainian Egg Decorating.
Trillium Room
The Trillium Room is open and ready for you to join us in being active; if you come and visit you will see our new fitness studio in action. Each week we offer a variety of exercise programs for all ages, infant massage, children’s gross motor program, yoga, dance, martial arts, light cardio and falls prevention programs for seniors.
If you have ideas of physical activity programs that we can provide, please let us know, or better yet if you yourself are a fitness instructor and care to share your skills with the community, please contact us about becoming a Community Health Champion fitness provider.
Summer 2019 with Arts Etobicoke
Arts Etobicoke and Stonegate CHC invite you back for the third annual Bell Manor Park Party on Friday, September 13th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm! There will be delicious, local food, arts activities, and live music.
Leading up to the Park Party will be free outdoor film screenings presented by the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show taking place in August on Thursday August 8th, 15th & 22nd. There will be pre-show activities for the whole family. Stay tuned for more details!
Tune Your Ride in Bell Manor Park
Musicians, Actors, Authors, Comedians, Magicians, and Dancers of all types, cultures, and ages are called to share your talent at BOON (Best of Our Neighbourhood): a family-friendly community open-stage at Bell Manor Park powered completely by stationary bicycles. Let's enjoy the evening air on the grass and in the quality company of our friends and neighbours! Tuesday's July 30, August 6 and 13 from 6:30 to 8:30. Top performers will open the 10th Annual Toronto Bicycle Music Festival on August 24th at Bell Manor Park. Sign up at torontobicyclemusicfestival.com.
Hosted by Tune Your Ride Collective as part of the Toronto Arts Council's Arts in the Parks program.
Berry Road Food Co-op: Call for Event Volunteers...
Social Butterflies & Busy Bees
For the last couple of months we have been working hard ordering stock for our September opening, getting the word out about the co-op, and planning some great community events. We are really excited about the many community engagement events we have planned, but what we really need to make these events happen are community volunteers!
Would you like to help spread the word about the soon-to-open Berry Road Food Co-op at our own community events or help us represent at those we are attending? If you enjoy talking to people and meeting members of your community, we would love to have you join our Communications & Community Outreach Committee. This takes only a couple hours a month and is a great opportunity for high school students to gain volunteer hours, or to add experience to your resume, or just socialize and have fun in your community!
Volunteer roles include:
Chatting with community members at the membership table and helping people purchase a co-op membership
Making sure a kid’s colouring table is stocked with crayons and colouring sheets
If volunteering at events isn’t something you are interested in but you would still like to support the co-op, consider joining us on social media and spreading the word by sharing and liking our posts.
Smoking cessation support, including access to free nicotine replacement therapy, will be provided as well.
days from 4:00 - 7:00 pm (rain or shine) from June until October, featuring: local produce, meats, honey, jams & jellies, sauces, baked goods, breads, and more!
Through funding received from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Multicultural Community Capacity grant we were able to enhance our programs over the past year. The grant enabled us to e
mploy professional, community-based artists and recreational facilitators to extend the cultural and social recreational activities for the Stonegate community. Some of the programs implemented included Tai Chi, Ukrainian Dance for all ages, Community Choir, Spanish Embroidery Program, and Ukrainian Egg Decorating.
see our new fitness studio in action. Each week we offer a variety of exercise programs for all ages, infant massage, children’s gross motor program, yoga, dance, martial arts, light cardio and falls prevention programs for seniors. 
Musicians, Actors, Authors, Comedians, Magicians, and Dancers of all types, cultures, and ages are called to share your talent at BOON (Best of Our Neighbourhood): a family-friendly community open-stage at Bell Manor Park powered completely by stationary bicycles. Let's enjoy the evening air on the grass and in the quality company of our friends and neighbours! Tuesday's July 30, August 6 and 13 from 6:30 to 8:30. Top performers will open the 10th Annual Toronto Bicycle Music Festival on August 24th at Bell Manor Park. Sign up at 
For the last couple of months we have been working hard ordering stock for our September opening, getting the word out about the co-op, and planning some great community events. We are really excited about the many community engagement events we have planned, but what we really need to make these events happen are community volunteers!
