Thrive Leisure & Recreation Services

"I started attending various leisure and recreation programs. It was hard at the beginning when I started attending groups, I was awkward in social situations and wasn’t comfortable to go out but then when I was in the group, I enjoyed it. I joined Community Gardening Program in the summer 2019. Gardening was so therapeutic and I started enjoying being outside. I made start walking. I started first walking around the block. I also took a Bike program and connected with other clients and started biking with them. Last winter we biked every week. I did some Walking Groups and joined the Running group. If someone ever asked me that I would run 10k, I would say never. Even when I was younger I never run and yet, I ran 10km Big Elf Run this December. I credit my success with running to Anja (facilitator). She has been such a good coach. I now go for runs regularly and last week I run 6km without stopping. "

"I’d just like to take the time to thank you for supporting me. I remember first reaching out to Thrive as a young person in my early 20s, unsure of what to expect. I hadn’t even had my first hospital stay then. I was nervous and fearful of the stigma and laden with shame. Coming to Thrive and having something to do with my time was really helpful for me, and meeting other young people (and not so young/older people) who had similar experiences was reassuring to me so that I knew I wasn’t alone. From watercolor, to ukulele, to go-karting and running, to summer BBQs, I’ve benefited greatly from Thrive’s programming and chance to socialize and participate in recreation/leisure. I lost a lot of confidence in myself as a result of my illness, and Thrive was a space where I could just be and exist, without the fear of being judged and without the expectation to put on a mask. Throughout my years being part of Thrive on and off, despite 13 hospital stays, I slowly got more comfortable in my own skin and gained leadership skills through my volunteer and paid work, including the Work Experience Opportunities Grant with Thrive. Thank you so much for this opportunity to professionally develop myself and apply my lived expertise."