Better Together Kindersley is getting set for a big weekend.
They will have local Better Together representatives speak between periods, a space to sell their Better Together shirts, and more people set-up around the rink to mingle and visit so fans can learn more about just what Better Together is all about.
Better Together is always looking to spread their message and do what they can to keep the community feeling strong and are taking a little more specific approach to help out the local junior team.
"What we are planning to do is just support the Klippers organization. That was the whole thing," said group leader Marge Bailey, "We want to show that people care, and want these young people to know that people care, that the community supports them, and I think they do!"
Bailey was told the team gets approximately 600-1000 fans a game. The new ag company in town Simplot, formerly G-Macs stepped up to the plate as they partnered with Better Together to get some facetime with the team.
With those two coming together, Klippers Marketing Manager Nicki Robinson stepped in to start the process of marketing the now arrived "Better Together hockey game at the West Central Events Centre", and Bailey with Better Together shared some more of their upcoming involvement.
"(Robinson) said would you guarantee the 50/50? We talked to our leaders, and we thought, "You know what we will. We will guarantee $1500. It will help sell tickets at the game too'," said Bailey. "We'll have our own shirts there, but we will also have a draw, or maybe a couple, for a shirt that the Klippers will sign and a jersey too."
Those draws will take place during the same in-game break as the guaranteed 50/50, and it's another great way to show that Better Together is proactive in wanting to connect the community. The Jr. Klippers players themselves represent people who could benefit from being more in tune with Kindersley, and putting together this game is an excellent step towards showing the public just how many different groups could be Better Together.
It was a rewarding experience for Bailey to meet with the Klippers young roster.
"Great young bunch of guys. We were really quite pleased with them," said Bailey, who was impressed with how many of them were open enough to share their experience with mental health, "The majority for sure had someone in their family who dealt mental health issues, is dealing with issues, lost someone to suicide, or just has issues with depression themselves. That's just so common nowadays, we want to de-stigmatize this stuff."
The day after the special hockey game, Bailey is expecting some players from the team to be in attendance at the "Thrive Workshop" planned for 2:00 PM Sunday at the Kindersley Composite School gymnasium. Bailey talked about the speaker Rob Parkman and why Better Together made it a point to bring him in.
"Rob Parkman has been in Kindersley before a few times, mostly with the elementary schools to start with, and then we did a Better Together thing together a Baker Park."
That summer day in Baker Park gave Parkman a chance to introduce the start of his message towards mental health, and Sunday's workshop should carry right on from that day.
"Basically, we want to shatter all these misconceptions about mental health and empower the people in attendance to thrive mentally and emotionally."
Kindersley and the West Central region in general do have some pretty good support already present, and while that interactive learning is just one way to help in a time of crisis, a presentation like Parkman's can help people instead build strategies of their own to support their mental health.
"We don't want to take their place. We want to get people comfortable to go for help before it does hit crisis. Before they feel that they can't do anything."
The main thing that Bailey wants to showcase is how important mental health is. Ones relationships will improve, self-productivity, among many other things if you just have a clear mind.
"This isn't a workshop where you have to have a mental health problem to attend, this is an educational workshop, and it's material is mainly for teenagers and up."
Teenagers, young adults, and even just anyone struggling with everyday life in the real world are welcome. Not only will you learn strategies for yourself, but some of the other focuses will be on how to be someone who can make a difference in someone's life. People that are struggling don't always know how to act, and isolation is a plague.
Bailey is a firm believer that the pandemic put a trigger button on much of depression and anxiety we are seeing here into 2023.
"(Parkman) designed it, where basically he said his goal was to 'uplift and equip people to thrive mentally and emotionally'."
Parkman's end goal is to help people in the midst of challenges and adversities facing them in their daily lives through awareness, education, and interactive learning.
Whether you decide to attend the hockey game, go to the session, or just read this article; Bailey encourages people to make that connection point with the community in whatever ways possible. People who do make it out are encouraged to wear their Better Together shirts, a product not for profit, as the symbol is what Bailey hopes can drive Better Togethers mantra to the masses.
We're better together. A connected community is a healthy community.
Bailey said their last event in the Women's Worthshop had some good attendance, and she is looking forward to getting back out in the community again, this time in the public eye.
Again, tomorrow's Kindersley Jr. Klippers hockey game is set to begin at 7:30. Better Together will have a special part to do with the game, and you won't want to miss it. Some more information on Sunday's 2:00 pm workshop is available through the poster above.
There are many ways to be Better Together, and this weekend might push more people on a similar journey as Bailey.
Tue, Apr 23, 7:00 PM
