Congratulations to all prize winners!

Prize #1 – Shania tickets – Diane Watts
Prize #2 – Signed Bomber Jersey – Margaret Howarth
Prize #3 – Bomber Tickets – Marida Brown
Prize #4 – Travel Basket – Karen Kozera
Prize #5 – Dog Basket – Don Snider
Prize #6 – Vickar Swag Basket – Marie Bourrier
Prize #7 – Comfort Basket – Julie Maynard
Parize #8 – Bomber Gift Basket – Wayne Kochie

Thursday, October 5th
Norwood Hotel, 112 Marion Street
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

You are invited to join Sara Riel on Thursday, October 5th at our 11th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Expo!

There will be speakers on the top of every hour. Below you can check out their topics and biographies.

Together we hope to educate and bring awareness to individuals searching for a better understanding of the mental health services that our community provides.  Whether they are seeking support for counselling, employment, housing, poverty reduction or addictions, attendees can learn how to navigate through the mental health system and start their “Recovery”.

Prize #3
2 Game Tickets
2024 Regular Season
Donated by:
Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Prize #6
Vickar Swag Basket
Donated by:
Vickar Community Chevrolet

Prize #8
Bomber Gift Basket
including 2 hats signed by Adam Bighill
& 2 game tickets for the Oct 21
game vs Edmonton Elks
Donated by:
KPMG

“Reflective Listening is the Alchemy of Compassion: Motivational Interviewing in Mental Health”. 

Dr. Sonia Marrone is a Registered Psychologist. She obtained her PhD from the University of North Dakota in the Clinical Psychology graduate program. She completed her predoctoral residency in the Medical Psychology program at Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina.

She is the Senior Psychologist for the Manitoba Department of Families serving children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers. She also works in private practice and provides psychological services to children, adolescents, and adults for both assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety as well as health-related behavior change, using evidence-based treatments including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Dr. Marrone also offers training in Motivational Interviewing and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2016.

Overriding the Immigration Status to Succeed Despite Mental Health Challenges

My name is Emeline Sorel Ngayak Essembion and I am originally from Cameroon. I moved to Winnipeg from Africa in 2015. I am married and a mom of three beautiful children. Like any immigrant, I came to Winnipeg to discover new opportunities and subsequently improve my well-being and that of my family. Life has not always been easy for us; I have encountered many obstacles on my way and challenges were so many. The most obvious were the language barrier, and especially my adaptation to my new environment. All of these challenges caused me intermittent stress that put my mental health on alert.

I am a very ambitious person and I am one of those who believe that the solutions to our problems lie in our difficulties. You only need to know how to seize opportunities and fight to deserve the life you want to have. I was an accomplished mother and a perfect housewife before my studies.  I suffered from stress and depression because I was not strengthened enough to stand for myself. I took the advantage on my condition to decide to complete my education. I just graduated in Social Work and I am very happy. I have become a source of inspiration and empowerment to women in my community and to some friends who want to rewrite their story. My life has become a real pilgrimage for people who aspire to greatness.

Recovery: Taking the Path to Full Potential

David Stewart, Manager of Education and Training, has been with Sara Riel – Mental Health and Addictions for 11 years. David had facilitated Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and has developed workshops and curriculum to support the goals of Sara Riel’s participants, including the 24 session “Empowering U” program which helps a person explore and build a flexible wellness plan, as well as the new 10-day program “Building Connection: Compassionate Peer Support Specialist Training”.

In his previous role of Manager of Mental Health Services, David had been responsible for Sara Riel Intake and Admissions, Community Connections, and Peer Programming, which included two peer-led 24 hour programs – Seneca Services Respite and the Seneca Warm Line (awarded the 2022 Program of Distinction by the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada). David was also instrumental in the development the 1-2-1 Peer Volunteer Project launched in 2021– to build renewed community connection for people still battling the anxiety and fears that isolation and quarantine had instilled.

Working alongside people who have lived-experience of a mental health or addiction challenge – who are helping people currently struggling with their mental health or addiction challenges – has become his most rewarding experience.

ADHD – A Complex Disorder

Jane Meagher is a powerful speaker who uses humour and brutal honesty to educate people on how addiction and mental disorders can go hand in hand. Jane lives with complex-PTSD and acute ADHD. She is a recovering alcoholic/addict who has been clean and sober for over 20 years. Jane does not want one more person to suffer unnecessarily, as she and so many others have. Jane is committed to working with people in a position to make change happen – so future generations do not have to self-medicate to cope with mental disorders, which lead to poverty, homelessness, crime, incarceration, and suicide.

Never feel ashamed about what you did to survive.
For some, just living is an act of courage.
Jane Meagher

Living with Bipolar 1

My name is Ruta and I am a Mental Health/Peer Support Worker. I am from Vilnius, Lithuania and have two native languages: Russian and Lithuanian. Lithuania used to be a part of USSR before and people of my generation and older know Russian well. I came to Canada in 2009 as an international student and have been here ever since. It is my second immigration. Before immigrating to Canada, I spent four years in Israel.

My recovery and perseverance journey began when I was 17, when I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1. Life was divided into before and after. Now I am living with Bipolar 1 longer than without it. I would like to share with you my story. Story of struggle and coming back to light during all these years. 

Sponsors