Smokers and ex-smokers from the Quit Café program attended the annual Quit Café Celebration at the CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre in Midland on February 2. Since its inception in 2013, the Quit Café program has helped hundreds of participants in their quitting journey.
Guest speaker Angus MacDougall from Orillia gave an interesting testimonial about his struggle and recovery from addiction. Shelly Bowman moved the audience with a few songs accompanied by her electric harp. Awards were also presented for best smoking cessation tip, most inspiring smoking cessation journey, and most motivating participant to other group members.
Local juggler Larry Weimer testified how learning to juggle helped him quit smoking a few years ago. This led him to pursue his passion for juggling and even teach people how to juggle. “It’s that joy that I like to bring to others by teaching them the confidence that they can do it! And all that self-doubt is gone, it’s erased.”
Larry finished his presentation with his juggling routine, using balls, clubs, and machetes. His grand finale included juggling with a 10-pound bowling ball, a machete, and a torch! He proudly calls it his “Cut, Crush, and Burn” routine.
CHC CHIGAMIK CHC offers the Quit Café program every Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CSC CHIGAMIK CHC has partnered with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and offers smoking cessation advice and free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum lozenges, inhalers, and mouth sprays) for anyone in the community. No registration is required – community members just have to show up.
For more information about the Quit Café program, please contact Jeff Graham at CSC CHIGAMIK CHC at 705-527-4154, ext. 206 or jeff.graham@chigamik.ca.
