As part of our commitment to improve the delivery of your healthcare, we are excited to announce that online appointment booking at Chigamik is now available.
This service is available 24/7 to Chigamik clients through a secure and confidential portal integrated into our electronic medical records (EMR). This service is currently available for booking ‘regular’ primary care appointments such as new medical issues, follow-up appointments, routine cervical screening (Pap tests) etc., dietitian services, physiotherapy services, mental health counselling and traditional healing.
If you are a rostered client of Chigamik, or have used Chigamik's Traditional Healing services in the past, you may book your appointment by simply following the Online Booking link on our website, where you can create an account, get email reminders and manage your appointments from any internet capable device. Please have your health card ready.
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Chigamik is Accepting New Clients
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We are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting new clients. If you are interested in becoming a client, please fill out the Client Intake Form.
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Our intake status is reviewed monthly and changes from time to time. Please check our website periodically for new updates.
As always, our programs continue to be available to all members of the community at no cost.
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North Simcoe Youth Wellness Hub
Nurse Practitioner, Chantal Newburn offers youth health services
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Chantal Newburn is the new bilingual Nurse Practitioner at the North Simcoe Youth Wellness Hub. She is available to help youth between the ages 12 and 25 with their healthcare needs. A Nurse Practitioner can help with a wide range of health conditions including conducting physical assessments, ordering diagnostic tests such as blood work, prescribing medication, referring to other specialists and providing healthcare education. To book an appointment with Chantal, please call the Youth Hub at 705-427-5639 or email nsywh@waypointcentre.ca. Appointments can be made in-person, virtually or by telephone.
Walk-In Appointments
Chantal is available every Monday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm for in-person, walk-in appointments located at the North Simcoe Youth Wellness Hub - 287 Bayshore Drive in Midland. Services are offered in French and English.
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Register for Chigamik's
Summer Programs!
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With the goal of meeting the health care needs of our diverse community, Chigamik is pleased to offer new English, French and Cultural programs this summer - free and open to everyone in the community!
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Please visit www.chigamik.ca to register for one of our programs online.
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Mental Health Week in Canada
This year's theme was all about #empathy
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Every May, Canadians in communities, schools, and workplaces have rallied around the Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) Mental Health Week.
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This year’s theme was all about empathy and ran from May 2-8, 2022.
Empathy: A Skill You Can Learn
Having empathy means you understand others’ emotions, share their feelings, and respond with compassion and care. Being able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes is a core part of what makes us human. Empathy strengthens our relationships at home, in the workplace, and in our broader community and helps us connect with people.
After two years, the pandemic has weighed us down in so many ways. It’s been stressful, isolating, and emotionally exhausting. Practicing empathy is one way to support each another through these trying times and come out more resilient on the other side.
If you struggle to notice and relate to other people’s feelings, there is some good news. Contrary to popular belief, research shows that empathy is a skill that can be learned and developed over time.
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Mental Health Resources in Our Community
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As we continue to navigate through the pandemic and recovery period, Chigamik clients and community members can access a variety of resources and information to help maintain and improve mental health and overall personal wellbeing. Remember, you’re not alone.
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Traditional Knowledge
By Brian George, Traditional Practitioner
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The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states the following: Indigenous people have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices including the conservation
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of vital medicines plants, animals and minerals. At Chigamik, we share traditional knowledge through various programming opportunities and discuss a wide variety of topics including ceremony, meditation, healing plants, preparation of healing teas & poultices and many interesting stories and viewpoints.
The use of Indigenous peoples’ medicinal healing plants has been a part of healing traditions worldwide, probably stemming from earliest times in human history. Among Indigenous people in Canada, the origins of some medicinal applications is chronicled in stories, such as in the Siksika (Blackfoot) narrative about a woman named Last Calf, who had tuberculosis. Many teachings have been woven into stories over time. Last Calf gave food to a beaver that was in distress who in turn gifted her with a vision of a cure for her ailment. Last Calf was told to boil the pitch of the Lodgepole Pine (pinus contorta) in water and drink the infusion while singing a special medicine song. After following the instructions Last Calf was cured.
Indigenous traditional healing is a holistic practice that aims to treat imbalances in a person’s body, mind, spirit and emotions. Ceremony, as part of the healing process, seeks to strengthen a person’s connection to the physical and spiritual worlds, providing healing and clarity, therefore marking significant life moments, offering remembrance and instilling gratitude. Each ceremony holds a specific purpose in someone’s life and ceremonies for the community have been known to uplift family and social life in positive ways.
History shows us that disease (dis-ease) is capable of evolving and running rampant. Hence, healing and traditional healing has had to evolve to assist people, especially in contemporary times. In fact, many of those who use the medicines and ceremonies do not refer to themselves as a Healer. Many are viewed as Helpers or Helpers to the Creator.
Stay tuned for my next article that will provide descriptions and definitions of what healing is.
Walk in Balance. Walk in the true beauty of wisdom.
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Welcome New Staff to Chigamik!
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Nathalie Desjardins
Registered Nurse
Nathalie recently joined the Chigamik team as a full-time, bilingual registered nurse.
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Nathalie will be supporting primary care clients as well as other members of the primary care team. Her role will involve conducting client assessments, treatments and procedures, completing cervical screenings, “well-baby” visits and routine immunizations. She will also be co-facilitating our popular Mama Tribe peer support group and supporting other collaborative partnerships such as community Covid-19 vaccination clinics.
Nathalie spent the last six years working at the Georgian Bay General Hospital in the ICU and Emergency departments. Welcome to the Chigamik team Nathalie!
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