A conversation around healthy relationships to build a healthy Lloydminster accompanied the beef stew at the library’s Lunch and Chat on Wednesday.
The Lloydminster Interval Home Society hosted this week’s session. The Interval Home Society provides temporary housing for women and children fleeing abusive relationships. The organization is currently raising awareness during Family Violence Prevention Month.
Kathrine Ford has been with the Interval Home for nearly a decade and in the last two years she has been chief program officer. She says they relished the opportunity to meet people where they are at and celebrate the good things that they are already doing to continually build healthy relationships
“We are looking for opportunities to continue that conversation. And just encourage people to make small shifts and changes and add more of those good things to their relationships. But also, recognizing opportunities to support individuals who may be struggling with harm in relationships,” says Ford.
Participants over lunch also engaged in a few board games along with the lively banter. Ford says research shows the benefit of board games in building healthy relationships.
“Board games are just one way that we can engage with each other. It’s quality time. It promotes cooperation, communication, and positive interactions.”
The Interval Home is also developing a message board with a collage of what the community is saying that’s key to building healthy relationships. Ford says towards the end of the month they will be putting together a video post along with more social media messages to highlight what the community is saying about building healthy relationships.