YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY: MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS BY GREG JANSSEN
With September just around the corner, we at the Niagara Falls Public Library are excited to once again offer a full slate of Mental Health and Wellness programming to connect you with others and help you feel your best as summer fades away and the days start to get shorter, darker, colder. First off, St. Catharines-based author and mental health speaker Darcy Patrick
(darcypatrick.com) is back with a free foursession course based on his book Creative Writing for the Mind, Body and Soul as well as his just-released My Guided Meditation: Using Meditation as a Therapeutic Tool to Focus Your Overactive Mind. Running Tuesdays, September 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 6pm at the Victoria Avenue Library, Darcy will walk you through some tried-and-true strategies on how to change your negative thinking by using writing as a therapeutic tool in your everyday life. Copies of the books will be on sale for $20, but all you really need to bring is a pad of paper, something to write with and an open mind. Darcy, who is also a Facilitator with Family Support Niagara and a seasoned presenter who has spoken throughout Southern Ontario, ran the course here at NFPL back in the spring and customer feedback was very positive. If you missed it the first time around, here’s your second chance. You can register in advance at my.nflibrary.ca or by calling 905-356-8080 or by visiting your local library. For more on meditation specifically, consider checking out the five-session course Certified Meditation Instructor Carey Baglieri (centremeditation.ca) is leading Wednesdays, September 4, 11, 18, 25 and October 2 at 6:30pm at Victoria. The course, which explores a variety of different meditation techniques, also ran back in the spring and, like Darcy’s, received strongly positive customer feedback. Whether you’re an experienced meditator or a curious novice, take an hour out of your week and work
on your meditation skills in a supportive group environment. Register in advance at my.nflibrary.ca or by calling 905-356-8080 or visiting your local library. Finally, sleep. We all know how important a good night’s sleep is, but as the days get shorter and darker it can be difficult to stay on a healthy sleeping schedule. If you’re struggling to get to sleep, stay awake and join us for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Sleep on Friday, November 1 at 7pm at Victoria. Niagara-based Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jen Rouse will share some evidence-based strategies for developing and maintaining healthy sleep habits. This program is part of a new weekly series of Friday night afterhours programs at the library, so keep an eye out for other Friday night happenings here throughout the fall. That’s all for our fall Mental Health and Wellness programs, but the Niagara Falls Public Library also offers a number of adult programs that offer you great opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people and destress. These include book clubs, painting classes, Crafternoons, concerts, film screenings and more. Check out my.nflibrary. ca for details, or visit one of our four locations throughout Niagara Falls. For now, stay well. Greg Janssen is a Community Development & Programming Librarian with the Niagara Falls Public Library. Reach him at gjanssen@nflibrary.ca
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SEX/DEATH IN CANADA: LAND OF NO MIDDLE GROUND RELEASE Local
poet Mori McCrae's poetry book Sex/Death in Canada: Land Of No Middle Ground is released through Grey Border Books.
• GREYBORDERBOOKS.COM (Sept. 1) WITCH POEMS BOOK LAUNCH
Barbara Bucknall releases her long-anticipated Witch Poems book in the Mahtay Community room. Come meet the author and discuss her witching history.
• MAHTAY CAFE (Sept. 8, 2-5pm) A VICTORY GARDEN FOR TRYING TIMES LAUNCH Join Debi Goodwin for the
launch of her memoir on grief and gardening. A Victory Garden for Trying Times is a personal journey of love, loss, and healing through the natural cycles of the earth.
• MAHTAY CAFE (Sept. 17, 6-8pm) MAKE A MICRO POEM AND POETRY ZINE Presented by St. Catharines Poetry Slam as part of this year's Culture Days programming. Join members of the St. Catharines Poetry Slam collective in one of two fun-filled microworkshops. Learn how to make your very own mini-zine from one sheet of paper. Spend up to 30 mins. creating. Drop-in for all ages.
• RBC INNOVATION STUDIO, FIRSTONTARIO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (Sept 29, 2-4pm)
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