http://www.bowmanvillehealthcentre.ca/

Bowmanville Health Centre, 222 King Street East, Bowmanville, ON (2025)

10/15/2025

🕯️ October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, with October 15 marking the global Wave of Light—a day to remember the babies gone too soon and to stand with families who carry this grief every day. 💜

Sadly, 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss. Behind each number is a family, a story, and a love that never fades. By raising awareness, we help break the silence, reduce stigma, and create space for healing.

On October 15 at 7 PM local time, people around the world will light candles for one hour, creating a wave of light in honour of all babies gone too soon. 🕯️💫

✨ How you can support:
💜 Light a candle on October 15.
💜 Check in on friends or family who may be grieving.
💜 Share resources and raise awareness.

📍 Canadian support resources
🕊️ Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network: Peer support across Ontario: pailnetwork.ca
🕊️ Bereaved Families of Ontario: Support groups and resources: bereavedfamilies.net
🕊️ Infant Loss Support Centre (ILSC): National support: infantlosssupportcentre.ca
🕊️ Kids Help Phone (24/7 for parents, teens & families): Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868

Together, we can show compassion, support, and love for those walking this difficult journey. 💜

10/13/2025

🦃🍁 Happy Thanksgiving, Ontario! 🍁🦃

Canadian Thanksgiving is more than turkey and pumpkin pie—it’s a holiday rooted in gratitude, community, and history.

📜 A little background:
• The first official Thanksgiving in Canada was in 1872, celebrating the recovery of the Prince of Wales from a serious illness.
• By 1957, Parliament declared it an annual holiday, held on the second Monday in October, a time to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year.

🌟 Why it matters:
It’s a day for gathering with loved ones, reflecting on abundance, and acknowledging the many things for which we have to be grateful.

🍂 Fun facts:
• Canadian Thanksgiving is over a month earlier than the U.S. version, timed with our earlier harvest.
• Not all provinces treat it as a statutory holiday (sorry, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick!).
• Pumpkin pie may be the classic dessert, but butter tarts and Nanaimo bars also make festive appearances.

This Thanksgiving, may your table be full, your heart even fuller, and your gratitude overflowing. 💛

10/10/2025

💙 World Mental Health Day 2025 💙

You can't be well without good mental health.

In Ontario, steps are being taken to make mental health care more accessible:
✅ Expanded free structured psychotherapy for anxiety and depression.
✅ New Youth Wellness Hubs across the province.
✅ More funding for community mental health and addictions care.
✅ Mobile crisis teams to support people where they are.
✅ Increased WSIB coverage for workers’ mental health.

But there’s still more work to do. from tackling wait times to making therapy universally covered.

Today is a reminder that mental health IS health. Everyone deserves care, compassion, and dignity. Let’s keep pushing for a future where help is within reach for all. 💙

Remember that LifeCare Centres is ready to help. Call 905.231.2273. They are located on the third floor of the east wing.

10/09/2025

👁️✨ World Sight Day 2025: Spotlight on Ontario ✨👁️

This October, as the world recognizes , we’re turning our attention to eye health right here in Ontario, because our vision deserves care, too.

📍 Ontario in focus

In Canada, an estimated 681,000 Ontarians identify as having some form of sight loss. Across Canada, 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with early intervention.

A recent study shows that Ontarians with eye wear insurance are significantly more likely to visit an eye care professional than those without it.

💡 Why this matters
👁 Many eye diseases—glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration—progress silently. You may not notice the changes until it's too late.
👁 As we age, vision risks rise. Regular eye exams are key even if your vision seems “fine.”
👁 When people don’t have coverage or can’t afford treatment, preventable conditions may worsen.

🛡 What you can do
👁 Book your comprehensive eye exam (and remind your loved ones to do the same), even if you don’t have symptoms.
👁 Call Bowmanville Eye Centre at 905.623.4444 to set up an appointment to have your vision checked.
👁 Check whether your insurance or benefits plan helps cover glasses, contact lenses, or treatments.
👁 Share this post to raise awareness: early detection can save sight.
👁 Encourage equitable access to eye care, especially for underserved communities.
👁 Let’s make sure that in Ontario, no one has to lose the beauty of sight for lack of awareness or access. 👓💛

10/07/2025

👐✨ October is Occupational Therapy Month in Canada! ✨👐

Occupational Therapists (OTs) help people of all ages do what matters most to them, whether that’s getting dressed, cooking a meal, going back to work, or engaging fully in daily life after illness, injury, or disability.

OTs help people regain independence after illness or injury, support children in learning and play, improve mental health, and make everyday activities possible again. They don’t just treat conditions — they empower people to cook, work, study, connect, and thrive in the moments that matter most.

💡 Why it matters: Without occupational therapy, many Canadians would struggle to return to their daily routines, adapt to new challenges, or participate fully in their communities.

💡 What OTs do:
Support recovery and independence after injury, stroke, or surgery.
Help kids thrive at school and play.
Improve mental health and coping strategies.
Adapt homes, workplaces, and communities for accessibility.

🌟 The benefits? Greater independence, improved quality of life, and the confidence to live life your way.

King Physiotherapy and Foot Clinic offers occupational therapy. Call them at 905.623.4050. No referral is necessary, and they are located on the lower level of the east wing.

Occupational therapy isn’t just about “therapy,” it’s about living life to the fullest.

10/05/2025

💙 Mental Illness Awareness Week (Canada, October 5–11) and World Mental Health Day (Friday, October 10) 💙

Mental health IS health. Yet too often, stigma and silence keep people from reaching out for the support they deserve.

This week and every week, let’s:
🌱 Normalize conversations about mental health.
🤝 Support friends, family, and coworkers who may be struggling.
💡 Learn about resources and encourage reaching out for help.

💙 Remind ourselves that healing and resilience are possible.

The 2025 theme for World Mental Health Day is “Mental health is a universal human right.” It’s a powerful reminder that everyone deserves access to care, compassion, and dignity.
Together, we can build a future where no one feels alone in their journey. 💙

If you or someone you knows could use some help, please call LifeCare Centres at 905.231.2273. They offer counselling to individuals, couples, and families. They are located on the third floor of the east wing.

10/03/2025

💜 Rett Syndrome Awareness Month 💜

Rett syndrome is a rare neurological disorder, almost always caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene, that primarily affects girls. After approximately 6–18 months of seemingly typical growth, children may start to lose skills such as purposeful hand use, speech, and walking, and also face challenges with breathing, seizures, and movement.

But there is hope on the horizon. Here are some recent breakthroughs and positives in the fight against Rett:

• In October 2024, Health Canada approved DAYBUE™ (trofinetide), the first drug therapy in Canada for Rett syndrome in patients aged 2+ (weighing at least 9 kg), a significant advancement.
•Gene therapy trials are underway. For example, TSHA-102 (from Taysha Gene Therapies) is being tested in Phase 1/2 studies in both adults and kids. This therapy aims to introduce a safe, more regulated version of the MECP2 gene.
• Also under investigation: RNA editing, X-chromosome reactivation, and other genetic approaches that aim to fix or compensate for the core problem.

While there is not yet a “cure” in the sense of restoring full function in all individuals, the landscape is shifting. New treatments are reducing symptoms, improving quality of life, and showing that Rett is not beyond hope.

Let’s use this awareness month to:
• support families living with Rett,
• push for broader access to promising therapies,
• share stories to increase understanding and compassion,
• and advocate for more research funding.

Everyone with Rett deserves dignity, care, and the best possible chance for progress.

10/02/2025

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. 🎀

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers in Canada. In 2024, an estimated 30,500 women will be diagnosed, and around 5,500 will sadly lose their lives.

That’s about 1 in 8 women facing this disease in their lifetime, but with early detection, treatment advances, and research, survival is improving. The 5-year net survival rate is now ~89% for women. Please check with your family doctor (or in Urgent Care if you don't have one), and get your mammogram done when indicated.

🌟 New hope: what's improving
• Earlier detection through better screening guidelines.
• Research into sub-types, treatment personalization, and more targeted therapies + support.
• Stronger support services and advocacy to help those living with and beyond breast cancer.

🏃‍♀️ Get Involved: CIBC Run for the Cure — October 5, 2025

Mark your calendar! The 34th annual CIBC Run for the Cure is this Sunday, October 5. Whether you walk, run, join virtually, donate, or cheer others on — your involvement helps fund vital research, support services, and awareness that saves lives. Click or tap to learn more at https://tinyurl.com/mrrhuamf.

Let’s come together this month to raise our voices, support loved ones, and push forward the advances that make a difference. Every dollar, every step, every story counts. 💪🎗️ Donate at https://bit.ly/3lZdc8z

The CIBC Run for the Cure is this Sunday, October 5.

09/30/2025

🧡 September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. 🧡

Today, Canadians pause to reflect on a history that cannot be forgotten, and must never be repeated.

For over 150 years, residential schools operated across Canada. More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were taken from their families, communities, languages, and cultures. Thousands never returned home. Survivors carry the weight of those experiences, and their stories are vital to our understanding of truth and reconciliation.

This day, sometimes known as Orange Shirt Day, was inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school. It symbolizes the loss, trauma, and resilience of children and communities affected — and serves as a call to action for all Canadians.

🪶 Why it matters:
• Reconciliation is not only about acknowledging the past, but also committing to a better future built on respect, justice, and healing.
• Wearing orange, attending community events, and engaging in learning are small but meaningful ways to honour Survivors and remember the children who never made it home.
• True reconciliation requires listening to Indigenous voices, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, and ensuring every child today grows up in safety, dignity, and love.

🧡 Every child matters. Let us honour the lost, support the Survivors, and carry forward the responsibility of reconciliation — not just today, but every day.

09/28/2025

🛡️ World Rabies Day 2025: You, Me, Community 🛡️

Did you know? Rabies is 100% preventable, but still claims ~60,000 human lives every year. Children are among the most vulnerable.

Here’s how you, me, and our community can make a difference:
🐶 You: vaccinate your pets, learn proper wound care, know post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) rights.
👥 Me: lead by example—share info, support local awareness efforts, and encourage policies that improve access to vaccines and treatments.
🌍 Community: organize vaccination drives, educational workshops, and ensure animal health and human health systems work together.

Because once symptoms start, rabies is nearly always fatal. But with timely action—vaccines, clean wound care, public education—it is absolutely preventable.

Let’s to make rabies a thing of the past.

09/26/2025

💉🍂 Fall 2025 vaccine update for Ontario 🍂💉

The Ontario government has announced this year’s flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccine schedule. All vaccines are free. Here’s what you need to know:

🦠 COVID-19 and flu shots

✅ Sept 22: Available to hospital patients/staff, long-term care residents/staff, and adults 65+ (COVID first).
✅ Sept 29: Same groups eligible for flu shots.
🌐 Oct 27: Open to everyone.

👶👵 RSV immunizations
✅ Sept 22: Adults 75+ eligible.
✅ Oct 1: Babies under 2 (entering 1st or 2nd RSV season) & pregnant people eligible.
👉 RSV can be serious for infants, young children, and older adults — these protections matter.

Protect yourself, your family, and your community this fall. 💛

09/26/2025

🌿 The power of basil: more than just a kitchen herb! 🌿

Did you know this fragrant little herb isn’t just for spicing up your pasta sauce? Basil is a true health powerhouse hiding in plain sight in your kitchen, packed with compounds that support your health:

🔬 Anti-inflammatory effects: Basil contains essential oils like eugenol, linalool, and citronellol, which may help reduce inflammation in the body.
🛡️ Rich in antioxidants: These protect your cells from oxidative stress, a key factor in aging and chronic diseases.
💊 Vitamin boost: A great source of vitamins K and A, and minerals iron and calcium.
🩸 Blood sugar support: May help regulate glucose levels.
🌿 Digestive aid: Can ease bloating and indigestion.
🦠 Immune support: Basil extracts have shown antimicrobial properties that can help defend against certain bacteria and viruses.
🧠 Stress and mood balance: Especially in varieties like Holy Basil (Tulsi), studies suggest adaptogenic properties that may support resilience to stress.

💡 Pro tip: Add fresh basil to salads, blend it into smoothies, steep it in tea, or of course, make a classic pesto!

🍕 So next time you sprinkle basil on your pizza, just know you’re giving your body (and taste buds) a little gift. 🌱💚

Bowmanville Health Centre

10/15/2025

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10/07/2025

10/05/2025

10/03/2025

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09/30/2025

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09/26/2025

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