Welcome to our Virtual Gratitude Wall, an integral part of our Thrive Week celebration! Join us in embracing positivity and appreciation by contributing to this digital space dedicated to gratitude.

Express your thanks, share uplifting messages, and celebrate the good things in life by posting on our virtual wall. Whether it’s a shout-out to someone special, a note of appreciation for the little things, or a moment of reflection on what you’re grateful for, this wall is your canvas to spread positivity.

In a world where kindness matters more than ever, take a moment to connect with others and share your thoughts. Your contributions will not only uplift spirits but also create a community of gratitude.

Let’s come together virtually and make our gratitude wall a vibrant mosaic of appreciation during this Thrive Week!

Visit our virtual gratitude wall HERE. 

Contest Rules:

• Must be a McMaster student to participate.
• Colouring sheets are available at the Student Wellness Lounge (PGCLL 201) or you can download and print the colouring sheet here: Colouring Page
• The contest runs from Monday January 20, and will close on Friday January 31 at 4:30pm.
• All submissions must be made in person in the Wellness Lounge (PGCLL 201)
  • All submissions must include your name, McMaster email, and student number.
  • Only one submission per student.
• The Health Promotion Team will select the top 4 submissions, and YOU will get to vote on Instagram for the winner
  • The top colouring page will win a $25 gift card to the campus store
  • The winner will be announced the first week of February.

Join your first year science and engineering friends and take a break from studying for the first midterm of the Winter 2025 semester with some hot-off-the-iron waffles.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS 

This presentation enhances digital media literacy and critical thinking skills by analyzing media persuasion techniques and advertisements, including on social media. With Ontario’s new online gambling market, exposure to gambling media has surged.

We focus on ‘influencer marketing’ and gambling ads that normalize gambling and misrepresent it as risk-free and a way to make easy money. Participants will learn to critically analyze online content and counter harmful narratives. We also provide information on community support services for digital literacy, mental health, and problem gambling. 

Register here. 

Drop by the Connection Centre on the 1st Floor of Mills Library for a barking good time. Visit some furry friends and get all the cuddles and puppy kisses your heart desires.

This is a drop in event so no registration is required.

Take a break, cozy up with a good book, and join us for a relaxing drop-in reading session! Whether you’re a bookworm or just looking for a quiet space to unwind, this event is for you.

Feel free to bring your current read or pick up some inspiration from the recommendations board. Stay for a few minutes or the whole session – this is your time to read, relax, and connect!

Cozy up with a cup of delicious hot chocolate and join us for a drop in of fun board games! Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just looking for a good time, there’s something for everyone.

Highlights:

• A variety of board games to choose from
• Delicious hot chocolate bar with all the toppings
• Good company and lots of laughs

Bring your friends, your competitive spirit, and your love for hot cocoa! We can’t wait to see you there.

A mini golf course winding through the 2nd floor Government Publication stacks with a chance to win a prize.

How novel!

No registration necessary.

Bring a buddy, or many!

Join ALTITUDE for a climbing workshop, where we teach you the basic techniques of the sport of rock climbing and introduce you to adaptive climbing. Coaching will be available throughout the event and our staff will help you reach new heights, no matter your ability. This will be an accessible event. Rentals and admission are free for McMaster students, faculty, and alumni.

28 people per session.

Register HERE. 

The opening of Ontario’s regulated gambling market to private companies has significantly expanded sports betting opportunities. Ontarians can now bet on various aspects of a game, including in-play betting, which can lead to continuous betting with no clear stopping point, akin to slot machines.

This presentation examines several facets of online sports betting, including e-sports betting and daily fantasy sports. It explores how sports knowledge influences the accuracy of match predictions and highlights the extensive media exposure of sports betting and the impact of betting content on social media. Additionally, it addresses community support services available for mental health issues related to sports betting.

Register here. 

Join us on on January 28th from 1-3 to get your green thumb fix!

We will be packing and preparing seeds for the 2025 seed library.

If you can’t make it Tuesday you can join us on Wednesday from 11-1 (or you can come to both).

No registration is required.

Can’t get enough of dogs? Miss your pet while you’re on campus?

Drop in to spend some time with Biscuit and give him some much deserved belly rubs.

No registration needed. Just pop by and get some cuddles.

McMaster offers staff & faculty a comprehensive package of benefits to support their, and their families, psychological wellbeing. Join this virtual event to learn more about these benefits through SunLife, how to access these benefits in times of need, and additional tips on how to get the most value from your benefit plan and what McMaster has to offer.

Register HERE

Join us for a special edition of Queer Study Buddies. Take some me-time and decompress from any stress you’ve got and learn how to make your own bookmark — all supplies will be provided! Drop in anytime, no registration necessary.

Queer Study Buddies is a casual, safer space for McMaster students from the 2SLGBTQ+ community to gather and study together. Study, connect, and find your queer community. The program runs weekly on Tuesdays from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the Connections Centre, first floor, Mills Memorial Library.

Calling all McMaster students! Join the SWC & the International and Exchange Student Experience Office for monthly grocery trips in Hamilton! These trips offer an opportunity to connect with your own culture through familiar foods and ingredients while also exploring other culinary traditions. Enjoy free food tastings and gain valuable tips on grocery budgeting and maintaining a balanced diet.

This project was funded by the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health and Well-being, an Office dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of all students, staff, and faculty at McMaster. For more information, visit okanagan.mcmaster.ca.

Register here 

Get creative and unwind at our Paint Your Own Mug Café! Drop by to decorate your own mug with paint pens and cool stickers, plus learn how you can save money and support sustainability with our Bring Your Own Mug program at campus hospitality locations. Enjoy hot chocolate, baked goods and door prizes!

What to Bring: Your own mug or thermos to decorate. Don’t have one? No worries! We’ll also provide new and gently used mugs.

Express your creativity, enjoy a warm beverage and connect with others.

No registration needed—just drop in

The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce stigma around mental illness in the workplace.  This training directly supports our shared purpose of promoting and contributing to a healthy and safe community at McMaster University.

Register here. 

Join us for an exciting scavenger hunt at Mills Library! Follow the clues to explore the library’s spaces and resources while searching for a hidden sloth along the way. It’s a fun and interactive way to discover all the library has to offer! No registration is required—just drop in and join the adventure at your own pace. Bring friends or go solo, and see if you can solve all the clues and find the elusive sloth!

Prizes available to be won!

Gambling elements are increasingly integrated into video games and mobile apps, creating a blurred line between gaming and gambling. This presentation delves into micro-transactions in virtual worlds and gambling-like features in video games, such as loot boxes and player pack unlocking.

We will analyze the impact of excessive technology use on well-being, identify signs of problem gaming and gambling, and explore the potential risks associated with these activities. Participants will receive strategies for making safe and healthy decisions and will be given information on accessing community support services.

Register here. 

Join M(M)A staff for a tour of the current exhibition Ascending Horizons, followed by a hands-on collage button making workshop with M(M)A Information Assistant, local artist and McMaster Fine Art alum PauTheRebel.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Workshop and all materials are FREE.

Space is limited. Registration is required.

Register HERE

This workshop is provided by the N. Gillian Cooper Education Program.

Join us on on January 29th from 1-3 to get your green thumb fix!

We will be packing and preparing seeds for the 2025 seed library.

If you can’t make it Wednesday you can join us on Tuesday from 11-1 (or you can come to both).

No registration is required.

McMaster Undergraduate students can book a ‘Leaf Lounge‘ tour and pot painting experience here. Spend an hour relaxing with a small group of other attendees, then adopt a plant to bring home. The Leaf Lounge program is funded by McMaster Okanagan Special Project Funding 2024.

To register, participants need to click on “Leaf Lounge for individual undergraduate students”, and select the date (Jan 29), and the time 3:00 pm or 4:00 pm).

Register here. 

Calming the Nervous System: Learn and practice tools to reset your nervous system, fill your cup, and build your resilience during challenging or stressful times. Try exercises to notice and heal thoughts and anxieties that get in the way of being centered and stretching outside your comfort zone.

Register here. 

More info: www.OpenCircle.mcmaster.ca/reflection-circles

This event will feature a variety of board games, puzzles, and a staff-brought Nintendo Switch for graduate students to enjoy. Hot drinks, such as tea and coffee will be available!

Please email ByunJ8@mcmaster.ca if you have any questions/concerns.

Join us for an insightful event focused on promoting mental wellbeing for ourselves and those around us. In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is more important than ever. This event will provide practical strategies and a supportive community to help you navigate the challenges of maintaining mental health. We will be also talking about how you can use Collective Care to help.

Who Should Attend:

• Anyone interested in learning more about mental health and wellbeing
• Individuals looking for practical strategies to improve their own mental health
• Friends, family members, and caregivers seeking ways to support their loved ones

Please purchase your tickets online in advance of your show via the link provided in each show description.  Purchases are final sale.  Tickets may be available at the door (for purchase with CASH ONLY), but this is not guaranteed.  Please note that if you are late, you will not be admitted into the show.

Why should planets get all the attention? Learn about the massive collision that made our moon, Mars’ tiny moons and their tragic fates, the volcanos of Io, the possible life hidden below the ices of Europa, the massive Ganymede, the completely alien oceans and lakes of Titan, the geysers of Enceladus, the death star lookalike Mimas, the two faces of Iapetus, the backward orbit of Triton, and more. We will also discuss how moons are formed, what they can teach us about the planets they orbit, how we explore them, and any other moon-related questions you may have.

All ticket sales are final.  Please use our Directions page for information on parking and getting to the planetarium.

A note that this show is not specifically designed for kids – if you are interested in a show designed for a younger audience, please consider our Introductory Astronomy for Kids options (typically on the first Wednesday or the third Saturday of each month).

Purchase tickets HERE

? Wellness Bingo Challenge! ?

Hey everyone! Ready to boost your well-being and have fun doing it? Join our Wellness Bingo Challenge where your wellness activities earn you a chance to win amazing prizes!

How it works:

1. Register and we’ll send you the bingo card before Thursday morning
2. Complete wellness activities in each square.
3. Mark them off as you go.
4. Email us when you have filled the whole card. The first 3 people will win a prize!

Register HERE

Join us for an engaging event showcasing two impactful projects funded by the McMaster Okanagan Special Project Funding (MOSPF) and their contributions to the well-being of the McMaster community.

The ReCoat team will delve into the concept of environmental well-being, highlighting how sustainable actions can positively influence mental health.

Meanwhile, the International Grocery Tour team will share a recap of their past year, celebrating the project’s logistical successes and exploring its connection to student health and well-being at McMaster.

Register HERE.

Join your first year science and engineering friends and take a break from studying for the first midterm of the Winter 2025 semester with some hot-off-the-iron waffles. 

Do you have ADHD? Do you have a family member with ADHD? Do you have a student with ADHD? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you will want to come to this talk.

The ADHD brain is amazing. It can do so much and can be a superpower but during stressful times it can also make things much harder. This talk discusses how the ADHD mind handles stress, how ADHD is different for the male and female brain and how ADHD self-care looks different.

Join Lynn Armstrong from the Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being and proud ADHD adult to talk about the ADHD mind and why it’s so amazing.

Register here 

Creative activities can help us improve our focus and concentration, offering similar benefits to a seated guided meditation. In this session, we will explore how to find mindfulness moments in our everyday lives.

In advance of the session:

Please think about something you’d like to draw and have a picture of it handy on your phone. It could be a picture of yourself, a friend, a pet, a tree, or an object such as a cup or vase. This is a fun exercise that focuses on being in the moment, not on your art skills, so don’t worry too much about what you choose!

No special materials are required, but please have some paper and markers ready.

Register here. 

Did you know food choices can significantly influence mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being? Join us for an enlightening webinar that delves into the fascinating relationship between what we eat and how we feel.

During this lunchtime talk, McMaster graduate and registered dietitian, Jenille Hutchinson ’04, MSc.FN, RD, will explore how the gut and brain communicate, the role of gut health in mental well-being, and will discuss which foods can help improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Jenille will provide actionable advice on how to incorporate mood-enhancing foods into your daily diet.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into how to harness the power of nutrition to support your mental health.

Register HERE

Sometimes to focus your mind you have to focus your fingers, whether you’re feeling a little restless after studying for hours, or looking for a low stress environment to meet new people this event is for you! 

Bring your favorite fidget toy and join the SAS MacStart crew for some fidgety fun and the opportunity to meet other students.

Don’t have a fidget toy? We’ll provide them for you.

This event is open to all, you do not have to be registered with SAS to participate.

Email SAStransition@mcmaster.ca if you have any questions or accessibility requests.

Register in advance HERE or drop-in

Experience a guided meditation to bring attention to what fills your cup, bringing vitality, life energy, and wellbeing into your life.

Notice what drains you and gets in the way of whole-hearted living. Explore how to set boundaries to fill your cup in daily life. 

Register here.

More info: www.OpenCircle.mcmaster.ca/reflection-circles

Are you looking for more fun ways to get active on campus?

The SWC Health Promotion team is hosting a sunset and hot cocoa walk on Thursday, January 30, from 3:00pm to 4:30 pm!

Join us to learn about our active living programming while enjoying hot cocoa and the sunset.

Limited spots available. Sign up quick via our Eventbrite link in our linktree bio!

We also encourage everyone to bring your own mug to help us use less plastic. Hope to see you all there!

Register here. 

Did you know you have a relationship with money? Like any relationship, it is unique and complex and needs to be understood as it is a key determinant to a financially healthy future.

Join Money Coaches, Terry Bennett and Gina Robinson from Mac’s Money Centre to discover how your relationship with money evolves and the variables that inform financial behaviors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how your relationship with money shapes your financial habits. Terry and Gina will give you the necessary tools to help you reflect on your insights and discover how making mindful behavioral changes can transform your financial outcomes.

Register HERE

Join the McMaster Soc Sci Society as they host a different sort of wellness fair. Drop in to visit some of the campuses wellness resources as they lead participants through fun activities that well also help with your wellbeing. Located in the MUSC Atrium.

Examples include:

• Libraries – board games
• Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being – Gratitude crafts
• SAS – bracelet making
• SWC – button making

AND MANY MORE!

Hey McMaster students! Are you ready to unleash your inner dodgeball champion? Join us for the most epic showdown of the semester at the Intramural Dodgeball Tournament!

Why should you be there?

• Epic Battles: Face off against your friends (and frenemies) in a high-stakes, adrenaline-pumping dodgeball extravaganza!
• Hilarious Moments: Watch your classmates’ best (and worst) dodging skills in action. Trust us, you don’t want to miss the epic fails and glorious victories!
• Awesome Prizes: Compete for bragging rights and some seriously cool prizes. Who wouldn’t want to be crowned the Dodgeball King or Queen?

Grab your friends and get ready to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge your way to victory! Don’t miss out on the most fun you’ll have all semester. See you on the court!

Register HERE

Our Live Awake Circle on this rainy icy day is moving indoors for a cozy creative activity on the theme of “Being Enough & Self-appreciation” And as parts of thrive week, there will be Fantastic prizes ! find us at 2:30 to 320 PM TODAY in the Museum of Art, 4^th floor coin room. Follow the signs or ask for directions at the front desk.

More about our theme:

Being Enough & Self-appreciation: Brene Brown says “If the opposite of scarcity is enough, then practicing gratitude is how we acknowledge that there’s enough and that we’re enough.” Join us to practice gratitude through music, quotes, creating a gratitude mandala, and learning to savour your own good qualities as a path to resilience.

REQUIRED SCREENING: to attend circles, review our Screening Checklist  If you are feeling unwell or had COVID-19/exposure, please do not attend. Exception: if you were sick within the last 10 days but your symptoms have improved for 2 days, you are welcome to attend if you wear a mask. (masks available)

If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for the weekly email list to receive the weekly updates/reminders by completing this Open Circle Email Sign up form: https://forms.gle/Y23XdD84JHovafHX7

Take a journey into asking: Who am I? How do I strip away the layers and uncover the original me? Why am I here? What would it look like for me to live authentically in a world that isn’t always supportive of my true self? How can I motivate myself with kindness? Series includes weekly 50 minute workshops with interactive group exercises, mindfulness exercises for practice daily, a meeting with a staff coach, and self-awareness and creative activities.

Click HERE to register.

LivingWorks safeTALK

LivingWorks safeTALK is a three-hour training that equips people to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. Using a simple yet effective model, LivingWorks safeTALK empowers everyone to make a difference.

The LivingWorks safeTALK Experience

In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support. Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training, which features:

• Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
• Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
• Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
• A community resource person will be on hand at the workshop to support your safety and comfort.

Register HERE

Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to register for a wellness workshop, led by Cari-Lyn Henhawk, Traditional Knowledge Hub Coordinator and Auntie-in-Residence at IHLL. Cari will guide us through the Thanksgiving Address and share teachings on how our first medicines were gifted to us for our wellness.
This workshop includes:
Story and Medicine Bag Creation: Learn the significance of medicine pouches while creating your own.

Teachings on the Ganohonyok (Thanksgiving Address). Participants are offered brief insights into each section and understand how they serve as medicine for our well-being.
Interactive Pop-Quiz: opportunity to reflect on learning with the chance to win exciting prizes.
Snacks and Strawberry Juice: Food is an important part of our wellness!

All materials will be provided for participants. Registration is limited, so be sure to secure your spot soon! Registration ends on January 23rd at 1:00PM.

Register HERE

Take time for self-care and de-stressing in community! Enjoy a free guided yoga and meditation session (mats provided) with Cheryl Fenn, a trained yoga instructor and social worker, followed by a potluck dinner. Cap off the night with an interactive workshop led by Emilie Rayner (OC & CVC alumni) on cultivating healthier relationships with technology and creating intentional morning and daily routines. Come for the yoga, stay for the food and connection, and leave with new tools for balance and mindfulness!

Register HERE