Josi McFadden (left) and Charlotte Hart, both four, enjoyed the water beads at the Global Wellness Day event at Desert Sun on June 8. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Global Wellness Day is celebrated in June internationally, and now in Osoyoos as well.

In part with the Osoyoos Wellness Hub, Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre hosted its first Global Wellness Day at its office in Osoyoos.

Attendees could visit booths with information on local wellness-related services, participate in a walk, yoga and sit in on seminars about laughing and naturopathies.

“It’s an international day where our focus is on wellbeing, and part of well being is mental wellness too,” Desert Sun executive director Marieze Tarr said. “That’s why we thought that it was important that we have a part in it too.”

Along with raising awareness for Desert Sun’s programming, Tarr wanted to bring attention to the Global Wellness Day movement now celebrated on the second Saturday in June annually in 130 countries and 5,000 different locations.

“Not a lot of people know that it’s an international event, so I think that was a big piece of it too, just creating awareness that this is international event and that even in our small community wellness should always be in focus,” she said.

Councillor Myers Bennett signed a proclamation making June 8 Global Wellness Day in Osoyoos. Behind, from left, are Trish Stevens, Denise Blashko, Marieze Tarr and Carmen Kocsis. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

On June 7, councillor Myers Bennett signed a proclamation that June 8 would be Global Wellness Day in Osoyoos.

The proclamation outlines the importance of physical activity in decreasing chronic diseases, as well as mental health, a healthy diet and overall wellbeing.

“Learning how to protect and be proactive about our health and well-being by improving health care habits, eating nutritious food, being physically active and keeping our minds strong will help grow Osoyoos as a healthy living community,” the proclamation reads.

Having a proclamation pass through town council shows support for healthy lifestyles, Bennett said.

“It shows commitment from the town to the community that we’re prepared to back that type lifestyle or business.”

Tarr said the proclamation brings wellness into focus in Osoyoos.

“The people in elected office set the example of what is important to the community, so by them signing the proclamation, that says to me that they feel that wellness should be a focus in our community as well,” she said. “I think that’s very important.”

Desert Sun plans to hold a Global Wellness Day event again next year.