Health and Wellness
Our services for eligible community members
About the program
The North Shore Women's Centre's Health and Wellness program provides a broad range of health and wellness services, such as information, advice, treatments and classes.
The goal of this program is to profoundly improve the health of women on the North Shore, particularly those faced with barriers to healthcare access (financial, social, etc). We hope to empower women to become active participants in their own care, and to reconnect with their healing abilities.
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The program operates from a holistic health perspective, meaning the care of the whole person: body, mind and spirit; it is not intended to replace medical care received, but rather to complement it. The focus of the program will be on prevention, health and healing.
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Services available in our Health & Wellness Program:
Holistic Health Treatments
About Individual Holistic Treatments
We offer treatment sessions with a variety of holistic health care practitioners. Women who qualify will have access to various treatments - up to six 1-hour sessions over the course of a year - depending on individual health needs and goals. Energy healing, acupuncture, and holistic nutrition are a few examples of what may be available. We are fortunate to receive these treatments on a volunteer basis from an amazing group of female health practitioners.
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What is Holistic Health?
When we speak of holistic health we are referring to the care of the whole individual: mind, body and spirit. Holistic health aims to treat not only the symptoms of ill-health, but also the root causes. Prevention is an important part of holistic health, promoting healthy living before illness actually occurs. You may also hear holistic health referred to as integrative, complementary or alternative health.
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Who Can Receive the Holistic Treatments?
The program is primarily for North Shore women who want to improve their overall health and have a household income of $50,000 per year or less before tax. Individuals with household income above $50,000 will be considered individually based on their circumstances.
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How do I qualify?
To qualify for this program, you must:
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Self-identify as a woman
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Live on the North Shore (North Vancouver City/District, West Vancouver, Bowen Island, Lions Bay).
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Be able to attend treatment sessions within the Centre's hours of operation and coordinated with practitioner's availability.
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Have a household income of $50,000 before tax or less.
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How do I show my residency and my income?
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For proof of residency, please bring one of the following: photo id or a piece of mail addressed to you (ie. hydro bill).
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For proof of income: a piece of photo id, a copy of your most recent Revenue Canada Tax Return for you and your household members (if applicable). We may be able to accept the following: income assistance, pension or disability statements; pay stubs from the last 3 months, a court order that outlines personal income and /or spousal support.
This information will NOT be kept on file and is for verification purposes only.
More Questions?
If you have any questions, please drop by the drop-in centre at 131 East 2nd St. North Vancouver.
Or:
Weekly Yoga
Free classes open for weekly registration
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Join us for weekly yoga classes every Wednesday at 12:00pm!
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First Wednesday of every month: Yoga with Artemis, 12:00pm (noon) at the NSWC drop-in
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Every other Wednesday: Yoga with Mandana, 12:00pm (noon) at the NSWC drop-in
Where: 131 E 2nd St, North Vancouver
How: Register in advance on a weekly basis by filling out this form
Monthly Hair Styling
The North Shore Women's Centre offers monthly hair cuts and styling for free, thanks to our dedicated hair styling volunteers Veronique and Monica .
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A few hair appointments are available each month. Please call us at 604-984-6009 or email info@northshorewomen.ca to book your appointment!
Health Library
We have developed an ever-growing lending library in the center. Here you will find numerous books on a vast array of health-related topics, from pregnancy and birth, to alternative healing modalities, and much much more.
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The books are available for women to borrow for a one month period. If you would like to access our lending library, please speak with one of our staff members. Donations of health books are always welcome!
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We also have many online health and wellness resources which may be helpful!
Women's Health in Women's Hands - Workshops
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Women’s Health in Women’s Hands’, a workshop series which is a part of our Health & Wellness program and focuses on women gaining control of their own bodies and health from holistic point of view. Click here to view upcoming workshops on our events calendar.
Seasonal Gear Lending Program
To help you get outside year-round, we have gear you can borrow! Activities like tennis, pickleball, and snowshoeing can be easy and low-impact ways to stay active.
Available Equipment:
• 1 pair of 14.5" kids snowshoes for up to 80lbs.
• 1 pair of 21" snowshoes for up to 120lbs.
• 1 pair of 25" snowshoes for 120-180lbs. with matching hiking poles
• 1 pair of 28" snowshoes for up to 190lbs.
• 1 pair of large women's insulated ski gloves
• 1 pair of youth polar fleece gloves
• 2 tennis rackets and balls
• 1 set of pickleball rackets (2 rackets) and balls
• 2 yoga mats
• 2 cold weather sleeping bag
Borrowing process:
If you are interested in borrowing snowshoes please email maria@northshorewomen.ca and let her know what equipment you are interested in borrowing and the dates you want to borrow it for. Snowshoes can be borrowed for a maximum of 48 hours.
Equipment will be picked up from and dropped off at the North Shore Women’s Centre (131 2nd St E, North Vancouver, BC V7L 1C2). When borrowing the equipment a $10 refundable deposit will be required and you will need to sign an agreement, agreeing to return the equipment. Once the equipment is brought back to the North Shore Women’s Centre the $10 deposit will be returned.
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Where to snowshoe in North and West Vancouver:
Other Snowshoeing Resources:
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Want to volunteer?