Primary Health Care, in partnership with IWK Health, is offering a number of FREE wellness programs online. These sessions are delivered through Zoom for Healthcare by wellness teams across the province. Learn more in this video.
View, print, and post the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 Health & Wellness Programs poster below:
Despite the many advantages to virtual care, many patients are unable to connect with their providers or attend virtual wellness sessions due to barriers related to internet connectivity and/or a lack of access to devices.
Our project aims to decrease barriers to participating in virtual care by making iPads available for patients to access health or wellness services.
| The iPads CAN be used for… | The iPads CANNOT be used for… |
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- Zoom for Health Care
- Websites under the “favourite” section of the “Safari” web browser (health and wellness websites)
- Certain links present on the “favourited” websites
- YouTube (coming soon)
o Please note that internet access on the iPad has been restricted. Only permitted websites are unlocked. Permitted websites are gradually being added and unlocked. Please bear with us while we work on this.
- Regular iOS updates are completed to keep the iPads updated.
- iPads are digitally wiped and reactivated between users.
- Internet access is restricted to limit the number of sites that someone can access and input sensitive information (i.e. banking, online shopping, paid streaming platforms, etc.).
Talk to your Primary Health Care Team or contact us at:
✉ iPadBorrowingProgram@nshealth.ca
Availability of iPads may vary.
Refer to this handout for an introduction to using an iPad, and information on joining a Zoom session/appointment.
Register to attend one or more of the upcoming classes.
Courses fill up quickly! Click the Register Online button for each course to check availability.
Health Goal Coaching NEW
Meet one-on-one with a health care provider (your Health Goal Coach) to fine-tune the health goals you are working on.
Are you interested in preparing yourself and your loved ones for the future? Do you have life insurance? A will or power of attorney? There is another kind of insurance you can have, that costs nothing and helps ensure that your medical and personal care wishes are respected.
The goal of this session is to explore what advance care planning is and what to include when creating a personal directive.
To register for one of the sessions below, please contact Andrew Comstock at 902-483-8943.
Do you wonder how you could get a better night's sleep? Sleep is vital to our physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. Join us for a discussion about why we sleep, what impacts our sleep, and discover other tips to get a better sleep.
Having difficulty reaching your health goals? Join us to learn the process of creating realistic and achievable goals to live your healthiest life.
Don't have time to register for a live workshop? Click on the button below to view an interactive recording of this session.
Have you been working on your health goals and are having trouble keeping them going? Staying on track with health goals is not easy. There can be many bumps, twists and turns along the way.
You must attend the session Ideas into Action. Small Steps, Big Success before registering for this session.
Don't have time for a live session? Click on the button below to view an interactive recording of this session after you have attended or viewed the session Ideas into Action. Small Steps. Big Success!
Prediabetes (when blood sugars are above the normal range) offers a warning that you are at risk of developing diabetes. Learn how lifestyle choices can give you a chance to change your future.
This series will explain how the pain system works. You will learn how the body changes with chronic pain. You will also learn about the factors affecting pain, and real ways to manage your pain.
Attendance the first week of the series is required.
Register to attend one or more of the upcoming classes.
Courses fill up quickly! Click the Register Online button for each course to check availability.
Beginners Guide to Plant-Based Eating
Are you interested in making plant-based meals but you are unsure where to start? In this session we define plant-based eating as a pattern that emphasizes mostly plant foods: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. In this session, we will explore the benefits of plant-based eating and how to incorporate plant foods in your diet in a simple and cost-effective way.
Consider, how would you know you were on track with your health and wellness goals if there was no such thing as a scale? What does it mean to find a healthier you? If you are interested in shifting your focus away from weight and towards improvements to your health and quality of life, join us for this 11-week series. Under the guidance of health care professionals, you will take part in group-based learnings that aim to help you make sustainable lifestyle changes. We will discuss nutrition, physical activity, emotions, genetics, our environments, and the many factors that influence health and weight.
Please call 1-844-460-4555 for more information and to complete a screen to see if this program is right for you.
Please call at least 10 business days prior to the start date of the program.
Classes will be held on:
Interested in lowering your risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes? Learn how you can improve your health by following the Mediterranean way of eating. Attendance the first week of the series is required.
Have you ever thought about the connection between what you eat and how you feel? Food choices and eating habits can affect your mood, but how you feel can also influence what you eat. What’s good for your body is good for your mood! Join us to learn more.
Have you ever been told what your weight should be? The truth is, your weight is a lot more complex than a number on a scale. In this series we will explore the many factors that influence weight, expectations for weight loss, and strategies to support your health and wellness through the pandemic and beyond.
Attendance the first week of the series is required
Learn how to get more value and nutrition from your food dollar. You will receive recipes and resources to help you organize, plan, and prepare healthy, low-cost dishes at home.
Meal Planning and Recipe Inspiration
Meal planning can seem intimidating, and it can be hard to know where to start. Learn about the foundations for successful meal planning and participate with us in this interactive session. The goal of this program is that you leave with a plan that is flexible and realistic for you. You will receive a worksheet to help make a meal plan and a recipe booklet to start you on your journey.
Register to attend one or more of the upcoming classes.
Courses fill up quickly! Click the Register Online button for each course to check availability.
Ever wonder how much movement you should be getting in a day? Come find out how to make your whole day matter and learn the Canadian 24 Hour Movement Guidelines. This session will cover three parts of your day: physical activity, sitting time and sleep.
Learn the Canadian Guidelines for how much exercise you need to realise health benefits. We will discuss simple techniques on how to safely increase your intensity with no equipment.
Pregnancy and Exercise NEW
Physical activity throughout pregnancy promotes maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. Click on the button below to watch a video from Nova Scotia Health's Community Health Teams who will guide you through a self-directed exercise routine.
Is your “new normal” causing you to sit more? Our bodies were designed to move and that can be challenging at the best of times. Join us as we learn about the impact too much sitting can have on our health, and share ways to move more in our homes, neighborhoods and communities.
Do you want to improve your strength but are not sure where to start? This session will teach you safe ways to do strengthening exercises, use different types of equipment, and how to progress with these exercises on your own.
In this two part series you will learn the facts about weight loss and exercise. We will discuss different types of exercise and their role in your health, in weight loss, and in maintaining good health. Learn tips to be active at any size. You will NOT exercise in this program.
Attendance in the first week of the series is required.
Register to attend one or more of the upcoming classes.
Courses fill up quickly! Click the Register Online button for each course to check availability.
We all have the same 24 character strengths that we express in different ways. Together, we will discuss character strengths, how to recognize them in ourselves and others, and learn the benefits of using them in life.
Exploring Emotions - 4 Week Program
Are you curious about your emotions? In this series, you will learn how to identify emotions and develop skills to respond effectively to a range of emotions. Attendance the first week of the series is required.
Leisure and recreation can have a big impact on our health and well being. Whether you have too little or too much free time, there are ways you can connect with things that interest you and that you enjoy. Join us to explore strategies and resources to make the most of your free time!.
How to Speak Assertively - 4 Week Program
Expressing our needs can be difficult. In this program you will learn about communication and practice assertiveness skills (such as, active listening, saying no, and making requests).
Being self-compassionate can help provide us comfort, improved health, and increase our sense of satisfaction in our roles. Join us to practice ways to promote self-compassion when we experience difficulties in our everyday lives.
In this program you will learn about stress, explore how you experience stress, and practice skills you can use to reduce stress symptoms.
Being self-compassionate can help provide us comfort, improved health, and increase our sense of satisfaction in our roles. Join us to delve deeper and practice ways to promote self-compassion when we experience difficulties in our everyday lives. This program builds in concepts and practice over time. Attendance the first week of the series is required.
Please note: the class Introduction to Self-Compassion is NOT a pre-requisite to attend this program
Take Charge of Your Stress - 4 Week Program
Stress can have significant impacts on our health and well-being. Together we will learn about stress, explore how we experience stress, and practice a variety of skills you can use to reduce stress symptoms. Attendance the first week of the series is required.
Please note: the class Introduction to Take Charge of Your Stress is NOT a pre-requisite to attend this program.
Not enough time in your day? Too much time? Learning how to manage your time may help. Join us to discover time management skills that you can use in your life.
Register to attend one or more of the upcoming classes.
Courses fill up quickly! Click the Register Online button for each course to check availability.
PARENTS: Please have your child's health card number on hand when you are registering for parenting programs.
Incredible Years - Preschool - 14 Week Program
This program focuses on improving your child's social and emotional skills and reducing behaviour problems. It is for parents of children who are 3-6 years old.
This program focuses on improving your child's social and emotional skills and reducing behaviour problems. The program is for parents of children who are 6-12 years old.
Learn how to identify early signs of anxious feelings in your children, and develop skills to help them manage everyday anxiety. For parents and caregivers of children up to 12 years old.
Register for one or all three sessions. To register, please send an email to Angela Samson at angela.samson@iwk.nshealth.ca
Learn the basics of unwanted behaviours - why they happen and how to implement simple positive behaviour support strategies to help prevent them.
Learn healthy mealtime habits, how to introduce new foods, plus lots of tips and tricks to keep your child smiling at the table.
Discuss considerations and supports to help set your child up for toilet training success.
Self-Compassion for Parents
Parenting is a difficult job. Being self-compassionate can help provide us comfort, improved health and increase our sense of satisfaction in our roles as parents. Join us to practice ways to promote self-compassion when we experience difficulties in our everyday lives.
You're in Charge - 2 Week Workshop NEW
This peer-based workshop is designed for youth ages 13 to 15 and their parents or caregivers to build self-management skills and confidence. Through small group discussions and activities, youth will learn knowledge and skills to independently manage their chronic health conditions and prepare to navigate the adult health care system. The workshop also provides information on the transition process from the pediatric to adult health care system. The workshop will run on:
Are you a youth over 15 years old with a chronic condition? We have a workshop for you too!
For more information please send an email to the 'You're In Charge' Project Coordinator, Lindsay MacKinnon, at You'reInCharge@iwk.nshealth.ca.
Before you watch this self-directed exercise video, read the Pregnancy and Exercise Handout below for further information about the benefits and risks associated with exercising while pregnant. You will also learn how to set exercise goals for yourself and find links to other exercise resources.
Thank you for watching this video and reading the accompanying handout. We want to hear about your experience so we can improve. Please take a few moments to complete our survey. The information collected in this survey is anonymous (does not identify you) and confidential.