Project 11 helps educators prioritize mental wellness

Project 11 partners with school division for educator-focused Adult Wellness Development Day

While Project 11 primarily focuses on providing mental wellness resources for youth, the team recognizes that youth also need a supportive circle of adults who are also taking care of their own well-being. This is what inspired the creation of Project 11’s Adult Wellness Development Day (AWDD), an annual event to give educators, caregivers and other professionals who work with youth a day to focus on and prioritize their own mental wellness. A collaboration with the Pembina Trails School Division expanded this year’s AWDD to include an additional day of curated professional development for over 100 educators.

“All teachers and staff would benefit from a day devoted to mental wellness – professionally and personally,” said Jennifer Rothwell, principal of École St. Avila in the Pembina Trails School Division. “It was an opportunity to authentically participate in professional development that aligns with the work we do every day at school.”

Rothwell first heard about Project 11’s AWDD on social media and immediately recognized how it would benefit her colleagues. She reached out to the Project 11 team, who loved the idea of an educator-focused event and helped Rothwell tailor the day to align with Pembina Trails School Division’s professional development objectives and wellness goals for educators. With Project 11’s regular AWDD already providing experiential education that benefits adults and the youth they support, not much had to be changed to meet the division’s specific needs.

“I expected it to be somewhat like a regular professional development day, but I quickly realized it was much more meaningful and personal,” said Ginette Desroisers, a Grade 4 teacher at École St. Avila. “It was refreshing to attend something that focused on us as people, not just as educators.”

The event included breakout workshops led by experts in the fields of stress and energy management, mental health, Indigenous healing and fitness and nutrition. These sessions were balanced with a keynote address by local Indigenous author David A. Robertson, a reflection session hosted by radio personality Ace Burpee, movement and outdoor breaks and nourishing meals shared between coworkers.

“Having an entire day that encouraged us to pause, reflect, and care for our own well-being made people feel valued and appreciated,” said Desroisers. “It strengthened connections among staff because we were able to share experiences and support one another in a more personal way than during a typical professional development day.”

“Many teachers and staff told me it was the best professional development day they had ever experienced,” said Rothwell.

While every person and profession can benefit from a day dedicated to mental wellness, an opportunity to focus on themselves was particularly impactful for the educators who attended.

“Mental wellness is especially important for educators because of the emotional, mental and physical demands of the profession. Teachers are constantly giving their energy, patience, and support to others while balancing increasing expectations and responsibilities. Over time, that can become overwhelming if mental wellness is not prioritized,” said Desroisers. “When educators are supported mentally and emotionally, they are better able to support their students, create positive classroom environments and maintain healthier work-life balance while reducing burnout.”

The next Project 11 Adult Wellness Development Day will be held in April 2027. For more information about the annual event, visit www.projecteleven.ca/events.