MEDIA ADVISORY - How Can Painted Rocks, Skateboards and Spinning Counter Canada's Loneliness Epidemic? The GenWell Project Has The Answer This Weekend

TORONTO and MONTREAL, Sept. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Is there a 'loneliness epidemic' in Canada? Some experts believe there is, and many others feel that if loneliness has not yet reached an 'epidemic' level, we are fast approaching it. With the increasing pace of the world around us and the growing distractions within it, coupled with more Canadians living alone than ever before (28.2 per cent) and the 2016 census showing 32 per cent of Canadians feel a weak or very weak sense of belonging to their community, the problems of loneliness and social isolation are very real.

This weekend, The GenWell Project (formerly The Generator Project) is serving as a catalyst to get people to make plans to get together and strengthen those important face to face social connections, and pushback on those factors that are feeding the epidemic of loneliness. This weekend is the GenWell Weekend and connections will be made!

Since 2016, The GenWell Project has endeavoured to remind people of the importance of face to face social connection through its twice-annual GenWell Weekends. On these weekends, people are encouraged to connect with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues by registering to host an event, which can be as small as coffee with a friend all the way up to a street-long party. With research showing that isolation is a growing issue affecting all of us – it is now more important than ever to forge and strengthen those personal connections. The benefits of face to face social connections to your mental and physical health and well-being are numerous; it reduces anxiety and depression, it strengthens the immune system and increases your chances of living longer by 50%. Overall, it is one of the single largest indicators of happiness in your life.

Media are invited to see firsthand how people are connecting and having fun as part of
The GenWell Weekend: 

WHAT:	Torq Spin With Friends - To celebrate the opening of a new spin studio near the Danforth, the owner wants to bring her spin family and friends together in a community to be healthy and feel great.
WHEN:	Saturday, September 15, 2018 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:	Torq Ride
	702 Pape Avenue
	Toronto
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	Able to do interviews in French and English
WHAT:	Skateboards For Hope - Breakfast snacks and a good old fashioned game of skate. Bringing the community together and spreading awareness about The GenWell Project.
WHEN:	Saturday, September 15, 2018 10:00 a.m. to Noon
WHERE:	P45, Projet45 (OUTDOORS Behind LE TAZ SKATEPARK )
	8931 Avenue Papineau
	Montreal
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WHAT:	Stone Painting With Kids - Kids and grown-ups will be painting stones with messages of hope and positive wishes which they will then distribute around their neighbourhood so that they can bring a surprise and smile to someone's day.
WHEN:	Sunday, September 16, 2018 4 p.m.
WHERE:	North Toronto
	Interested media are asked to RSVP at which time directions will be provided

In addition to the above listed events, hundreds of people from Abbotsford to Monte Lake and Edinburgh to Kyoto have registered to host their own events, ranging from four to 200 people. Some of the events registered so far include:                                                                                               

Ti-Cats Game with Pals	Golf Match with Neighbours
Go-Kart Racing	Toronto Polish Festival
Neighbourhood BBQ	Sunrise Breakfast at Woodbine Beach
Games Night	Morning Fitness Hour
Brunch with an Old Roommate	Backyarder (in Melbourne, Australia)
51^st Birthday Bash in the U.K.	September Celebration
New Neighbour Housewarming	Terry Fox Run
Music Festival	Movie Night with a Sick Friend
TIFF with a BFF	Intergenerational Extended Family Time
Outdoor Potluck Dinner and Movie Outdoors	Lunch Date
Trip to Small Town Ontario	Legion Supper
No Phonies	50^th Anniversary Celebration
Lakeside Friends Gathering	House Warming Dinner Party
Staff BBQ	Northern Getaway
Getting the Kids Together	Wellness in the Park
Muddy Puddles Party	College Reunion
Wine with Neighbours	Jazzy Harvest BBQ
Dinner in the Bahamas	Lake Biwa (Japan) BBQ
Family BBQ	NFL with Friends
Hammer Homecoming	Mushroom Hunting in the Black Forest
Coffee Get Together	Spa Day with Pals
Connecting with Cousins	Oxford Jericho
Kettleby Village People	Get to Know the Neighbours
Habitat Sundae Bar	Muskoka Weekend Get Together
NABS Lunch	Friday Staff Pub Crawl
Let's Catch Up	Golf Trip to Sudbury
Cottage Weekend	Campfire S'mores

Media interested in covering an event are asked to contact us and we will work to coordinate with the host.

About The GenWell Project.

The GenWell Project (formerly The Generator Project) is a movement that was inspired by the summer Blackout of 2003 on the Eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States. With no ability to connect with people through technology and with most businesses on hold, people connected. Face-to-face.  With their friends, with their family and with their neighbours. The GenWell Project is about reminding people about the importance of those connections and inspiring them to take action and create healthy connection habits ongoing. Join the movement, bring your community together, become a Generator. www.GenWellProject.org.

SOURCE The GenWell Project

Jamie Deans, [email protected], 647.284.7710