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Volunteer Profile: Treena Dixon
When you look for a role model who embodies the definition of community engagement and commitment, Treena Dixon is someone who demonstrates that in many ways. Treena has been involved as a volunteer with Threads of Life since 2011, after moving to the Red Deer region in 2009, serving in numerous roles including co-Chair of the Steps for Life Red Deer committee.
Writing your story for healing and sharing
I have a confession: as a writer, I get a little sick of the word “share”. We use it all the time, after all – we’re always encouraging family members to share their stories. It’s right there in our Threads of Life values! It’s also core to our programs – family members share their stories when they’re paired with a volunteer family guide; they’re encouraged to share experiences at family forums, and there’s always an opportunity for personal sharing during our FamiliesConnect workshops.
Forty years does not lessen the heartache
On February 24, 1979, 16 miners entered No. 26 Colliery in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, to begin their shift. They were working the night shift 11pm to 7am. They descended five and a half miles into the No. 12 South wall of the mine, almost 2500 feet below the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The No. 26 Colliery was the biggest coal producer in the local area for many years and was owned by the Cape Breton Development Corporation, also known as DEVCO.
From safety professionals to families of workplace tragedy, with love
This past April, Threads of Life’s Executive Director Shirley Hickman shared her story at the What If One Health and Safety Forum (WIO) in Vancouver, in a session titled “One Voice Can Make a Difference”. Organizers of the event gave participants a unique opportunity to make a $25 donation in exchange for two Safety and Health Week T-shirts — one to keep and one to use to send a message to a Threads of Life family member – someone who was living with the reality of an on-the-job injury, illness, or fatality. Gabe Guetta, CEO of Salus
Ryan Durling, 21
Ryan was the youngest of three and loved his siblings dearly. He was closest in age to his brother, Mitchell and they were inseparable when they were young. The two could always be found out searching for mud holes with the four wheelers in the summer and hunting rabbits in the winter.
What I’ve learned about Self-Care as a Caregiver and as a Griever
Self-care is one of the most important things I learned as I moved through caring for my husband after he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. I felt blessed to be able to be there to help with the care for nearly a decade but it wasn’t without cost.
Challenge yourself to a Self-Care Streak!
We all know self-care is important, but that doesn’t mean we do it. A million things get in the way. Threads of Life’s Self-Care Week is coming up again this July, and it offers a chance to try something new, learn what works for you, share your experiences with others, and maybe have a bit of fun.
Learning to love who I became
I’m a father to six children and have worked hard since I was about 13 years old. I really enjoyed working over the years. I worked in the oil fields for three years and went on to do sheet metal work for over 25 years. I would work six to seven days a week and eight to sometimes 16 hour days.
With a little help from our best friends
Stars are always in the sky, they just shine brighter at times. Sometimes they are hidden by the sun, but they are still consistently there. The same can be said about a solid friendship.
Thanks for coming to our Steps for Life family reunion!
There was no potato salad but still, Steps for Life felt like a big family reunion this spring. There was singing, and a little bit of dancing. There was food and team games. And whether the events were virtual or in person, we were just all so happy to be together again!
Threads of Life families call for better safety for young workers
2022 seems like an ideal time to be a student or young worker looking for a job. There are ‘help wanted’ signs everywhere, and employers are desperate to fill vacant positions. First job opportunities are a great chance to grow, and it’s vital that health and safety is the first thing new and young workers learn. Sadly, for some employers, it’s not even on the list.
Make the call now — It’s Visit Your Relatives Day
A day turns into a week, which turns into a month quickly. Before you know it too much time has passed and you haven’t seen your loved ones since the last holiday get together. Or what happens when too much time has passed, and it becomes too late?
