Services Update

I think it's on Wednesday's that I just miss everyone and feel like I need to blog.

Things have been very busy lately! I was away at a conference in Toronto last week with Sean Ryan for The Campus Trust to discuss health and wellness opportunities on campus, and mainly our Health and Dental plans. The Campus Trust was formed in 1998 by Acadia and Western University students' union/council who were sick and tired of the poor service and benefits they were receiving for their students' health plan. In a long story short, many student organizations from universities all over Canada are now working together in a formed legal trust that allows ownership of our own benefit plans! The Campus Trust allows us to provide the best quality of benefits at the lowest price possible. (To check out more about The Campus Trust you can go to: www.thecampustrust.ca and to check out information regarding YOUR benefits you can e-mail me any time, or check out www.studentbenefits.ca)

So while we were in Toronto, we discussed as a board, what works for our school, what works for other schools and combined on ideas on how to better our benefits offered for you! We had presentations from a nutritionist, a pharmacist, and mental health organizations that I will mention below. Toronto also provided us with great entertainment and LOTS of great food, which was a nice, fresh change of scenery compared to the lovely Antigonish! I am glad to be back though :)

We had a whole day dedicated to presentations and workshops in order to raise awareness and minimize stigma of Mental Health. We're looking to bring in some cool campaigns to campus this fall that were created by Partners for Mental Health (http://www.partnersformh.ca). Every one has days where they don't feel like themselves, and for people dealing with mental health issues, that can feel like every day for them. A neat campaign they are doing is called "Not Myself Today" so you can go online and read really inspiring stories that people have shared about their own personal mental health.

Aside from being away in Toronto, I've been doing a lot of Off Campus Housing inspection and website ads. So again, if you're still needing a place to live in September- check out www.theuhousing.ca, there are some lovely new spots added to the website and landlords waiting to hear from you!

I will leave you with a lovely picture of Mr. Sean Ryan and I at the Blue Jays game last week against the Nationals! The Jays didn't win unfortunately, but it was still a blast!

I will write again soon!!! Have a happy Wednesday,

Tessa