The 2022 Wellness Innovation Grant Awarded to the GTHS
The CGMH Wellness Innovation Fund supports innovative wellness initiatives throughout the South Georgian Bay Region. Recently, Jory Pritchard-Kerr, CEO of the CGMHF presented GTHS Board Member, Barbara Foster, and GTHS Community Outreach Manager Karen Marsh with a $10,000 cheque as the recipient of the 2022 Wellness Innovation Grant.
Funding for this grant will enable the GTHS to launch their wellness enhancing program Vets of Tomorrow level II. Vets of Tomorrow level II is an online course that builds off Vets of Tomorrow level I and is designed for secondary school students ages 14-18. The course has two wellness goals for youth; to arm them with the skills necessary to make knowledgeable career choices and to improve their mental health through the development of their emotional and social skills learning.
“Interaction with animals has a positive impact on the social and emotional development of youth. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (habri.org) states that animals are universally embraced as an essential element of human wellness. Providing unconditional love and companionship, animals alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.” stated GTHS Community Outreach Manager, Karen Marsh. “Program users will experience a 10% (or higher) increase in their emotional and social learning by learning about animals, working with animals, and understanding the human-animal bond.”
The GTHS Humane Education Program has been proven to assist participants in their ability to tackle challenges through increased social and emotional skills such as responsibility, respect, and compassion. It is important to note that this project was piloted by GTHS and is a front runner in humane education across the country.
“We want to thank the CGMH Foundation Team for their outstanding support and grant founders, Larry and Barbara Hall, for understanding the valuable role that innovation plays when creating impact in our community,” said GTHS Executive Director Sonya Reichel. “We look forward to sharing this program with our community and inviting youth to experience the wellness of the human-animal bond.”
“The CGMH Foundation is constantly looking for innovative initiatives to promote health and wellness within South Georgian Bay,” said Jory Pritchard-Kerr. “We are pleased to support GTHS in the development of the next level of their Vets of Tomorrow program. We encourage others to visit our website for information and grant applications at https://cgmhf.com/innovation-fund.”
To learn more about the Vets of Tomorrow course please visit https://www.gths.ca/services/humane- education/.
