“When we take care of those who care for others, the ripple effect is powerful”

Second P11 Adult Wellness Development Day supports those working with youth

Promoting awareness around mental health and providing tools to take on life’s challenges is vital in supporting students from kindergarten to high school. However, implementing these supports isn’t possible without the leadership and care of adults in young people’s lives, whether it be an educator, caregiver, or professional, and it can become difficult for adults to give support and guidance when they don’t have the time or resources to prioritize their own wellness. This is where the idea for the Project 11 Adult Wellness Development Day came from.

“Over the years, we’ve seen how much educators, school staff, and other adults who work with youth, pour into supporting students’ mental wellness. We realized there was a gap in accessible, practical wellness programming for those on the frontlines,” said Suzi Friesen, Director of Educational Programs for the True North Youth Foundation (TNYF). “The Adult Wellness Development Day was born out of a desire to not only thank and uplift them but to equip them with tools they can use both personally and professionally.”

Project 11 hosted their second annual Adult Wellness Development Day at Camp Manitou this past April. Around 130 educators, caregivers, professionals, and leaders from all walks of life attended and participated in 20 breakout workshops led by specialists in stress and energy management, finance, mental health, Indigenous healing, fitness and nutrition. Specialists discussed wellness on a panel led by broadcaster Sara Orlesky, and participants reflected on their experience at the end of the day with local radio personality Ace Burpee.

One of those participants was Karyn Gagnon, a student support services teacher for the Winnipeg School Division who had the opportunity to sit back and listen to others while learning ways to implement wellness into her life – something she is not able to do while teaching her students every day.

“Since I’m a teacher, I’m expected to use my voice every day and bring something to the table and into the classroom. Today was a beautiful invitation to silence my voice and just take it in,” said Gagnon, who shared her Wellness Day takeaways with her colleagues. “As educators, we encourage our students to utilize aspects of mindfulness, practice wellness, reset and re-focus – we should be accessing those same strategies.”

Project 11 was created to address gaps in mental health programming for students in elementary, middle, and high school. Since Project 11 was founded in 2012 in honour of mental health advocate and Manitoba Moose and Winnipeg Jets player Rick Rypien, the program has also held events and workshops for adults and seniors, such as Wellness Day.

“Adult Wellness Development Day complements our youth lessons by reinforcing the same themes – resilience, emotional awareness, coping strategies – but from an adult lens,” said Friesen. “When adults experience the value of self-care, mindfulness, and connection firsthand, they’re in a stronger position to model and reinforce those same concepts with youth.”

Attendees and specialists were able to connect and learn from each other during meals and interactive sessions while enjoying Camp Manitou’s many outdoor spaces. One of the highlights of the day for Gagnon was a storytelling session around a campfire.

“Throughout the day, it was clear how connected our stories are to one another. It wasn’t the polished stories that we usually share, but the real ones – the slightly messy, unfinished, and worth hearing stories,” said Gagnon. “Everyone’s voice was welcomed, along with everyone’s silence and moments to reflect and listen.”

Christian Tardi was a returning attendee of the event. Tardi is president of the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg, an organization that raises and donates funds to projects and organizations that serve Winnipeg’s most vulnerable populations, which sponsored this year’s programing.

“The day offers a rare chance to pause, reflect, and invest in personal wellness—something that’s often overlooked when you’re constantly focused on helping others,” said Tardi, who plans to implement what he learned during his breathing and storytelling sessions into his daily habits. “When I prioritize my own wellness, I can show up more fully and effectively for the youth I work with and demonstrate what healthy living looks like in real time. These tools from Wellness Day help me stay grounded and intentional—not just as a professional or community leader, but as a parent and mentor.”

With the positive feedback Project 11 has received from event participants, plans are being made to expand adult programming.

“We’re exploring regional versions of the retreat, deeper dive workshops, and integrating wellness moments into existing educational conferences,” said Friesen. “We see potential in creating year-round touchpoints—because wellness shouldn’t just be a once-a-year event.”

To learn more about future Project 11 events, visit projecteleven.ca.