Salus

January 29, 2010
Facilitated by Amelda Brand

Ottawa Salus Corporation offers rehabilitation services, community support services, recreology and housing to men and women, 16 years of age or older, with mental health problems. Salus services are available in English, French and ASL. Salus is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, the City of Ottawa, and private donations.

“Positive, welcoming, safe, creative, fun and healing.”

“At first it was hard to participate but as the class progressed I felt a sense of comfort, happiness and joy. Thank you, Amelda. I look forward to next week!”

For more information about SALUS, please visit:http://www.salus.on.ca

Granite Ridge

Join us for Art on Mondays!

Granite Ridge is a long-term care facility in Ottawa, Ontario. Art on Mondays, a fee for service program where artists create with the residents every Monday morning. This visual art program is open to all residents in the facility and through it residents produce wonderful artwork .

The program provides the following benefits to the residents:

  • prevents isolation and boredom
  • reduces anxiety and stress
  • improves self-esteem and confidence
  • fosters communication
  • maintains and increases level of independence
  • provides an opportunity to reminisce and interact socially with others
  • utilizes a non-pharmacological way to manage pain and discomfort
  • stimulates senses and cognitive functions

“It is amazing to see these people. Once they start, they love it and stick to it. This is the best program I have ever seen.”

- A nursing staff member

Hopewell Eating Support Centre

Hopewell received a community grant to collaborate with Artswell for this innovative program. Engagement in the creative process is a very effective means for redefining body image, gaining self-acceptance and finding positive solutions to difficulties and challenges.

The Arts and Transformation workshop ran for six weeks. Participants created mandelas, vision boxes, masks, photo transfers, paint murals and totems.

Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre

This collaborative Saturday morning program ran from October 18 to November 6. The program was designed for young people between the ages of 11 and 15. Artswell designed a multi-layered creative experience with different types of dancing (hip hop etc), music (percussion, violin, flutes and singing). It incorporated the creation of individual mandalas and collaborative painting improvisation with non-traditional tools.