Alberta Health Services is encouraging families affected by the 2013 Southern Alberta flood to attend free Flood Relief Respite weekends at Camp Chief Hector YMCA.
According to Camp Chief Hector general manager Jill Jamieson, the Kananaskis Country camp weekends, funded by Alberta Health, are meant to be a respite for people who were, and are still, affected by the floods.
“We invite anyone in Southern Alberta who self-identifies as being flood affected to come out to a respite weekend that includes outdoor activities, art and massage therapies, yoga and shared mealtimes.”
Other camp activities include high and low rope courses, archery, a climbing wall, hiking and canoeing.
“Come and enjoy a weekend outdoors with the whole family, where you don’t have to cook meals or do the laundry,” Jamieson said. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Jamieson said as a consequence of dealing with the aftermath of the 2013 floods, people’s marriages and family life have been affected negatively, and these camps help families relax and reconnect.
“There is still a lot of fatigue,” said Jamieson. “This isn’t temporary; it is their new normal. For some it (the flood) is not over.”
Camp participants have come from Bragg Creek, Redwood Meadows, High River, Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Calgary and the Siksika and Stoney Nakoda First Nations.
“The camps allow neighbours to meet in a relaxed and supportive environment where new relationships can be formed,” said Jamieson.
Attending the camps also provides a sense of belonging and strengthens the bonds of community, she added.
“Having a supported time away can bolster people’s strength and spirit,” said Jamieson. “Our post-weekend evaluations have indicated that the weekends have made some impact and inroads in helping people deal with the effects of flood.”
Jamieson recalled one High River family who lost their family albums in the flood, and were pleased to participate in the program so they could photograph and document their weekend, thereby capturing new shared family experiences.
“It’s been a privilege to serve these families and create new memories for them.”
Chief addiction and mental health officer Dr. Michael Trew, hired last summer by Alberta Health to support flood affected residents’ psychosocial health, said the process of recovery for people, after a natural disaster such as a flood, can last a long time.
“People need to be able to take a break from the constant burden of the recovery efforts; and especially for those with limited opportunities to get that break, this (attending the respite weekends) is helpful,” he said. “We are interested in helping families re-charge for the journey (of recovery.)”
Exshaw resident Josephine Dick, flood recovery coordinator for the Municipal District of Bighorn, attended a first responder weekend at Camp Chief Hector in March to connect with others affected by the flood.
“At the moment we see mental health concerns in terms of depression, loss of hope and extreme frustration,” she said.
Alberta Health granted $260,000 for two years, from Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2015, for the Calgary YMCA Project Camp Chief Hector program, according to Tim Kulak, public affairs officer at Alberta Health.
“The funding to help Albertans cope with the emotional impact of the floods is part of the $50 million in Alberta government flood recovery funding announced in Oct. 2013,” said Kulak.
The Flood Relief Respite weekends cost about $10,500 per weekend, which includes meals, accommodation and programming.
“Decisions regarding future funding have not been made, but the department will be assessing the program in early 2016.”
Dick said she was impressed by the thought and planning that went into the weekend.
“The team at Camp Chief Hector did an outstanding job,” she said. “There was an outstanding range of activities for children and adults. It’s a relaxing and fun weekend getaway and I highly encourage people to attend.”
Flood Relief Respite weekend dates are Oct. 31- Nov. 2 and Nov. 28 – 30; to register call 403-269-6156 or 1-866-430-9622.
For more information ymcacalgary.org/camps/camp-chief-hector/weekend-programs. The program will be offered again in the spring and fall of 2015.
