Thrive Week 2025 at Lakehead Orillia
Conversations about mental health will be prospering in the Lakehead community in Orillia from January 20th to 24th, where free, fun and interactive events and activities will be taking place all week to create a campus devoid of stigmatization, enhance mental health literacy, serve as de-stressors and much-needed study breaks, and supply students and staff with sufficient information and strategies on how they can boost their well-being and a healthy, balanced life.
What is Thrive?
Thrive is an initiative that has converted into a national movement that takes place at campuses yearly to help their school community initiate conversations on mental health. Their goals include supplying helpful tools to combat mental health challenges, supporting and improving the mental health of children and young adults, establishing proper and ideal mental health conversation lingo, helping users create goals, and getting connected to support systems.
Monday, January 20th
Coffee And Kickoff: On Monday, January 20th the lakehead wellness team will be hosting three free events. Thrive week will be commencing with a Coffee and Kickoff at the Orsi Family Learning Commons from 9 am to 12 pm. You will be provided coffee, snacks, and information about what will unfold throughout the week. Moreover, all students will get thrive kits to accompany them throughout their experience. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff; however, thrive kits are for students ONLY.
Beat the Blues With LUI: Feeling the Monday blues? The next event is curated to combat those burdensome feelings. Beat the Blues With LUI will be held in the Alumni Commons from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. This radiating and buoyant event will be tropical-themed and contain events like tropical meditation, pina coladas, and game challenges. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Puppy Social: The final event of Monday is a puppy social from 1:15 pm to 2 pm (location is to be determined). Do not miss your chance for a free serotonin boost and stress eradication with furry friends! This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Tuesday, January 21st
Stud-Tea: The first event of the day will be a social gathering with a side of tea from 9 am to 12 pm (location is to be determined). This is an informative opportunity to get connected to peer tutors and learn about the study clubs offered at Lakehead. Please note that this event is ONLY for students.
Coffee and Kickoff @ Heritage Place: Furthermore, another Coffee and Kickoff will be hosted at Heritage Place from 10 am to 1 pm, which is a separate campus location based in downtown Orillia on Colborne St and West St. Students will be provided with coffee, snacks, details on what events will be occurring throughout the week, and their thrive kits. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff; however, thrive kits are for students ONLY.
Greenshield Benefit Presentation: The next event will be an educational opportunity to learn about the Greenshield website app. The Green Shield Benefit Presentation will be occurring via online Zoom from 12 pm to 1 pm. Please note that this event is ONLY open to faculty and staff.
Rock Painting: Next, rock painting will be held at the Orsi Family Learning Commons from 1 pm to 3 pm. Hosts will provide all essential supplies; therefore, just bring yourself, your creativity, and your friends! This event is for all students, faculty, and staff.
Fresh Market: Finally, a fresh market will be held at the Orsi Family Learning Commons and Heritage Place from 12 pm to 3 pm. Take the initiative to collect some fresh and free produce from LUSU to amplify your healthy snack options and educate yourself on the food resources offered near you. This event is open to students ONLY.
Wednesday, January 22nd
Thunderwolves Thrive: The third day of the week will be kicking off with Thunderwolves Thrive at Simcoe Hall and Heritage Place from 10 am to 2 pm. Thunderwolves Thrive’s program is representing the well-known Bell Let’s Talk Day. You can contribute to this purposeful event at Lakehead by sharing your mental health message and being present in the conversation. Moreover, covertly or overtly advocate for the cause by acquiring some Bell Let’s Talk swag. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
To learn about Bell Let's Talk Day and how you can play a part in it: Bell Let’s Talk is an annual campaign based on mental health awareness in Canada. Bell Let’s Talk promotes the notion of taking the initiative to speak openly about all things mental health to annihilate stigma and raise money that will be distributed across mental health organizations across Canada. To participate, text YOUTH to 45678 to donate five dollars that will be added to your phone bill (To learn more about their plan and how you can be involved: https://letstalk.bell.ca/ ).
Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs are a perfect form of self-care with their multi-dimensional benefits. Visit Simcoe Hall anytime between 12 pm and 1 pm to find the much-needed solace in dogs who are particularly trained to provide just that! This is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
SHW Faculty Open House: This event is an opportunity for faculty and staff to be educated on the supports and services available to students at Lakehead and how they can implement mental health strategies and awareness in their classrooms to prioritize student wellness. The SHW Faculty Open House will be taking place at the Wellness Centre in room OR1012 from 3 pm to 4 pm. This event is ONLY open to Faculty and Staff.
Thursday, January 23rd
Nourish and Flourish: Nourish and Flourish will be held at the Orsi Family Learning Commons and Heritage Place from 9 am to 11 am. Do not miss this deliciously crafted occasion to make your own yogurt parfait and learn to adopt cost-friendly, healthy eating strategies to fuel your body and brain. This event is ONLY for students.
Employee Assistance Program 101: Telus Health: This program is steered towards faculty and staff to help them access Telus Health's EAP resources, benefits, and variety of support systems, such as phone support and connections through the mobile app to enrich their well-being. This presentation will be occurring from 11:00 to 11:30 am via online Zoom (Zoom link and event details remain pending). This event is for faculty and staff ONLY.
Crochet With Kim @ Heritage Place: Crochet With Kim will be transpiring at Heritage Place in the Education Library from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Kim will be teaching students how to crochet a coaster! Novices are absolutely welcome, and essential materials, such as yarns and hooks, will be provided. If you are more experienced and prefer to work on your own evolving project, you are equally welcome to spend quality time. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Winter Open House and Lunch With Indigenous Initiatives: This is an informative and interactive space to participate in Indigenous initiatives with a lunch of Turtle Island Tacos and learn about the indigenous supports and services offered in your community. It is taking place from 12 pm to 2 pm at Maawnjigamig 'Where We Gather' in room OR1013. To register, please visit this link: https://forms.gle/CwHHqK9vzu7pNEjm9. This event is open to INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ONLY.
Pathways to Purpose: Vision Boarding & Career Resilience Workshop: Career Services and Co-op will be hosting a workshop to enlighten the conversation on your future. This session will help you decipher your goals and develop skills to thoroughly explore your potential career path through interactive activities, vision boarding, investigating and embodying your self-actualization, and establishing resilience to combat relevant adversities. This event will be taking place in room OA3041 from 1 pm to 4:30 pm. Furthermore, if you attend the workshop, your name will be added to a draw to win Lakehead swag! Please note that this event is for students ONLY.
Friday, January 24th
safeTALK: SafeTalk is a 4-hour workshop from 9 am to 12 pm (location is to be determined) that helps participants become proficient and knowledgeable in suicide prevention. This workshop will provide participants with the capacity to recognize and communicate with someone who is thinking about suicide, strategically intervene in the situation to prevail over impediments that may prevent them from taking action, contribute to suicide awareness, and become educated on available external resources. Moreover, when you have completed the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. This is open to all students, faculty, and staff. However, registration is required; therefore, please visit the link to register: Register Here. Please note that space is limited!
Pause for Positivity @ Heritage Place: Pause for Positivity will be held at Heritage Place in the library from 12 pm to 1:30 pm. The whole package will be attending! There will be therapy dogs, pizza, and a happiness jar where you can insert a note of gratitude illustrating the little things that bring you joy. Please note that therapy dogs will be there from 12 pm to 1 pm, and pizza will arrive at around 12:30 pm; therefore, figure out your priorities! This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff; however, pizza is for students ONLY. Finally, take into recognition that pizza will be available while it lasts, so attempt to arrive there on time.
Therapy Dogs @ Heritage Place: Therapy dogs will be making a comeback and this time at Heritage Place from 12 pm to 1 pm. Therapy dogs are a perfect form of self-care with their multi-dimensional benefits; therefore, find much-needed solace in dogs who are particularly trained to provide just that! This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Zumba: The last event of Thrive Week 2025 will be Zumba from 12:30 pm to 1 pm. Finish the week off strong with an amusingly active and liberating Zumba class led by the Thunderwolves Dance Pac. It is perfect for releasing your endorphins to reduce stress and improve mood! No experience is required, and space is limited; therefore, guarantee your spot by signing up here. This event is free to join, but donations to the Thunderwolves Dance Pac are appreciated! Finally, this event is open to all students, faculty, and staff.