SHINE Days: Mental Well-Being Month
The Mental Well-Being Educational Programming Committee is proud to present SHINE Days: Mental Well-Being Month this March 2023. Students and staff at the University of Guelph developed this initiative to promote mental wellness and provide students with resources to help support their mental well-being. Do you want your event featured? Submit your Shine Event by contacting Rebecca Skelhorn, skelhorn@uoguelph.ca
Jump to week → WK 1: March 6 - 12 / WK 2: March 13 - 19 / WK 3: March 20 - 26 / WK 4: March 27 - Feb 2
WEEK 1: March 6 - 12, 2023
Cultural Diversity Study Sessions [1]
- Date/time: Monday, Mar. 6, 2023 from 2:00-5:00pm
- Location: University Centre (UC) [2], UC332 (3rd floor)
Join us for a study session with Cultural Diversity! This is an opportunity to work in a quiet space with fellow students while enjoying some snacks. We hope to see you there!
"Feeling Better Now" Information Session
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023 from 10:00am-3:00pm
- Location: University Centre (UC) [2] Courtyard
Bringing awareness to students regarding their Student Benefits Plan, including Feeling Better Now. Prioritize your mental health with Feeling Better Now, a mental health and wellness program for students on campus. Through the online hub, you can find support resources, online counselling, a toolbox of helpful solutions, and a free and anonymous mental health assessment. Brought to you by the CSA & GSA Student Benefits Office
SpiritualiTEA [3]
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023 from 2:00-3:00pm
- Location: Raithby House [4], Room 100
SpiritualiTEA is a weekly space open to all students of all backgrounds to enjoy tea, coffee, snacks and great conversation. Hosted by Multi-Faith Programs and the Multi-Faith Peer Helper Team, SpiritualiTEA welcomes all who are interested in building community and understanding by sharing our various perspectives. Each week we'll have a different activity, speaker, or conversation topic.
Self-Care Workshop [5]
- Date/time: Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023 from 6:00-7:30pm
- Location: MACK 103
Join our Wellness Education Peer Helpers to learn about self-care! We all know that self-care is important to us as humans and as students, but actually taking care of ourselves is where we can struggle. This workshop will teach you the basic principles of self-care and how to include them in your everyday life without needing to make huge changes! Hosted by Student Wellness' Wellness Education & Promotion Centre
Guelph Climate Cafe
- Date/time: Saturday, Mar. 11, 2023 from 10:30am-12:00pm
- Location: University Centre (UC) [2] - TBD (Check back closer to the event date for details!)
Join Sustainability for our Guelph Climate Cafe! Our facilitator is Dr. Natalie Thomas, who is a UofG Professor in Philosophy and a Psychotherapist who has completed climate cafe facilitation training through the Climate Psychology Alliance.
Never attended a Climate Cafe before? Climate cafes are meeting spaces that allow community members to come together to chat about their emotions and what the climate crisis means to them, their families, their work, and the world. Climate cafes allow people to openly discuss their fears and frustrations in a safe and supportive space. Brought to you by Sustainability
Week 2: March 13 - 19, 2023
Quad Nights with Cultural Diversity [6]
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023 at 5:00pm
- Location: Peter Clark Hall [7]
The Cultural Diversity team is bringing biweekly Quad Nights to campus! BYOS (bring your own skates) and join us in Peter Clark Hall for some rhythm and spins. Roller skate nights will include themed music to take us through the decades each session! Limited roller skate rentals are available for select nights. Brought to you by Student Experience
OUTline Movie Night: Neurodivergent Celebration Week [8]
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023 from 6:00-9:00pm
- Location: Raithby House [4], Room 100
The Sexual and Gender Diversity Team will be hosting an on-campus movie social to recognize Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
This event will include a screening of Everything Everywhere All at Once, a film featuring characters with neurodivergent and LGBTQ2IA+ identities. Popcorn, pop, and other candies will be available. Following the film, the SDG team will lead a social for students to discuss the movie, neurodivergent and queer representation, and hang out with one another. All students are welcome to attend, however, the voices of neurodivergent and LGBTQ2IA+ students will be prioritized.
The Body Project [9]
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2023 from 5:00-7:00pm
- Location: On campus (Registrants will be sent the location in advance)
The Body Project is a workshop that aims to promote positive body image, reduce body shaming, and encourage folks to accept themselves as they are. Our peer facilitators are excited to share some empowering messages about the 'Image Ideal' and help you learn to love your body just a little bit more.
This is a 2-part workshop, with the second part taking place on March 21st at the same time. This workshop and it's content are inclusive of all genders - all are welcome! Hosted by Student Wellness' Wellness Education & Promotion Centre
Inside Out Paint Night [5]
- Date/time: Friday, Mar. 17, 2023 from 5:00-6:30pm
- Location: John T. Powell Building [10], RM 1146
This event combines two awesome activities - watching the movie Inside Out while painting! Painting is a great way to express your emotions, just like the themes in Inside Out. Be inspired by the movie, create your own masterpiece or doodle along! Hosted by Student Wellness' Wellness Education & Promotion Centre
Regular Bingo [11]
- Date/time: Friday, Mar. 17, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm
- Location: The Brass Taps [12]
Are you tired of a themed bingo event and just want to go "old school"? Join Wellness for Regular Bingo as part of your St. Patrick's Day celebrations!
Tons of prizes, including gift certificates to our favourite local businesses, to be won! No reservations needed - Tables are first come, first served! Hosted by Student Wellness' Wellness Education & Promotion Centre [13].
Week 3: March 20 - 27, 2023
Cultural Diversity Study Sessions [14]
- Date/time: Monday, Mar. 20, 2023 from 2:00-5:00pm
- Location: University Centre (UC) [2] UC332 (3rd floor)
Join us for a study session with Cultural Diversity! This is an opportunity to work in a quiet space with fellow students while enjoying some snacks. We hope to see you there! Hosted by Cultural Diversity [15]
The Body Project [16]
- Date/time: Monday, Mar. 20, 2023 from 7:00-9:00pm
- Location: Online (Registrants will be sent the link)
The Body Project is a workshop that aims to promote positive body image, reduce body shaming, and encourage folks to accept themselves as they are. Our peer facilitators are excited to share some empowering messages about the 'Image Ideal' and help you learn to love your body just a little bit more. This is a 2-part workshop, with the second part taking place on March 27th at 7:00pm. This workshop and its content are inclusive of all genders - all are welcome! Hosted by Student Wellness' Wellness Education & Promotion Centre
Art Night with Jack.org Guelph
- Date/time: Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2023 from 5:00-8:00pm
- Location: Peter Clark Hall [17]
A night for students to come together to enjoy art of all forms, learn and talk about mental health and eat some delicious pizza! We will have performances, displays of art, and a student speaker panel including some information on mental health and how to be there for others! Hosted by Jack.org Guelph
LGBTQ2IA+ Only Swim
- Date/time: Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2023 from 3:00-4:00pm
- Location: Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre, Red Pool [18]
This swim time is open to folks from the LGBTQ2IA+ community to provide a safer, braver space for folks to show up, move their bodies & build community. Any queer, trans and/or gender-diverse person who wants to attend is welcome! We have women’s, men’s and universal change rooms, each with direct access to the pools & hot tub from the back hallway. If you do not identify as LGBTQ2IA+, we welcome allies who want to attend. Hate of any kind will not be tolerated, and staff will ask you to leave. Learn more about Drop-in Rec Swimming [19]. Hosted by the Department of Athletics
LGBTQ2IA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual and any other identities that fall outside of heteronormative & cisgender paradigms.
*LGBTQ2IA+ folks are welcome to attend any open swim. This specific time exists to create space for shared lived experience*
Drop-in Soccer
- Date/time: Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023 from 12:00-2:00pm
- Location: Gryphon Fieldhouse [20]
Take a break from studying, and come play soccer with your peers! No membership or soccer experience required. Learn more about Drop-in Rec Soccer [21]. Hosted by the Department of Athletics
Tour of the Athletic Centre
- Date/time: Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023 from 6:15-6:45pm
- Location: Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre [22]
Did you know that as a UofG student you have a Student Base Membership at the Athletic Centre? Join our 30min peer-led tour to learn more about all the activities you have access to just by swiping your student card! Meet by the red stairs in the main lobby. Hosted by the Department of Athletics. Can't make it? Watch this video for a virtual tour of the Athletics Centre and programming available for students! [23]
Drop-in Skating
- Date/time: Friday, Mar. 24, 2023 from 11:00am-12:50pm
- Location: Red Rink, Gryphon Centre Arena [24]
Bring your skates and friends to the Red Rink in the Gryphon Centre Arena for drop-in skating! No membership required. Learn more about Drop-in Rec Skating [25]. Hosted by the Department of Athletics
Compassionate Casual Relationships with Eva Bloom
- Date/time: Friday, Mar. 24, 2023 from 2:00-3:30pm
- Location: The Brass Taps [12] 74 Lounge
Want to build confidence navigating dating and hooking up with care? Join us for a workshop on the ins & outs of dating and casual sex relationships with queer sex educator Eva Bloom. The workshop will include tips on communicating boundaries, creating your ideal dating profile, bringing consent culture into hook-up culture and beyond! Hosted by the S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault Free Environment) Peer Educators / Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support and Education Centre, Student Wellness Services
About the Facilitator: Eva Bloom (they/she) is a non-binary, queer sex educator and speaker. With a Masters of Science (MSc.) in the social psychology of sexuality they help people of all genders and sexual orientations bust sexual shame and cultivate joyful, authentic desire. They are the creator of the digital education platform “What’s My Body Doing” which has educated over 3 million people across the globe and the recipient of Planned Parenthood Toronto's award for Excellence in Sexuality Education.
Week 4: March 27 - Feb. 2, 2023
Student Leader House Calls
- Date/time: Monday, Mar. 27, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm
- Location: Residence Halls
Residence Life staff, along with campus U of G student leaders, will be going door to door on March 27th. Residents will have an opportunity to chat about the transition into upper year, ways to stay involved on campus and how students are feeling going into exams. Hosted by Student Housing Services.
International Students Swim
- Date/time: Wednesday, Mar. 29, 2023 from 3:00-4:00pm
- Location: Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre, Red Pool [18]
This drop-in rec swim is meant for international students to meet other international students through the activity. Bathing suits and equipment are not provided, and students are asked to come with clean bathing attire for pool use only. Free swim lessons will be offered once a month for any non-swimmers looking to gain confidence in the water. Learn more about Drop-in Rec Swimming [19].
Not sure how to swim? We have free Swim to Survive lessons happening at the same time!
No NRG membership is required. Pool access from the back of the changerooms. Hosted by the Department of Athletics
Consent & Healthy Relationships
- Date/time: Thursday, Mar. 30, 2023 from 12:00-1:00pm
- Location: TBC (Check back closer to the event date for details!)
Join International Student Experience and Jensen Williams, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Educator from the UofG Student Wellness Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Centre [26] for an interactive workshop on consent and healthy relationships! We will be focusing on how you can practice and promote consent, as well as what healthy relationships can look like and how to prioritize your mental health in a relationship.
Sexy Bingo Part 5
- Date/time: Thursday, Mar. 30, 2023 from 8:00-10:00pm
- Location: The Brass Taps [12]
FREE! Help smash the stigma around sex and sex positivity! Encourage healthy conversations around sex and come out to the Central Student Association [27]'s (CSA) Sexy Bingo! Please reserve your spot at Brass Taps ahead of time. Chance to win prizes around sex positivity and sexual health, including sex toys! Four rounds, two prizes per round, with plenty of chances to win! Hosted by the CSA.
Drop-In Ultimate Frisbee
- Date/time: Friday, Mar. 31, 2023 from 12:00-2:00pm
- Location: Gryphon Fieldhouse [20]
Come play ultimate frisbee with your peers in the Fieldhouse! No membership or previous experience is required. Learn more about Drop-in Rec Frisbee [21]. Hosted by the Department of Athletics