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Inspired at the work that is being done by the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy

September 8, 2014 in Community, Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy |

By Kevin Lopes: Thursday 4th September

Hello everyone! I would like to take a moment to introduce myself as a new member of the Mosaic community. My name is Kevin Lopes, a communications student from Seneca, currently doing my co-op with Mosaic. Having just started my third day with Mosaic, I already have a great sense of community and belonging that makes Mosaic unique.

Today I was lucky enough to sit in on a meeting with Jane Teasdale, and Martha Miller of Mosaic who had a chat with Maureen Coyle of the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy. The meeting left me inspired at the work that is being done by Maureen and her colleagues from the University Health Network.

With the opening of our new location at the CNIB Centre earlier this month Mosaic can offer more educational opportunities and information for our community. The program designed by the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy, located in the same building as our new location, is an opportunity that provides participants a chance to discover their artistic abilities in a socially engaging place. The program is for people with mild to moderate dementia, their families and care partners with the hope of improving their mental health through learning and creativity.

The Bitove Academy was established by the University Health Network in order to put theory into practice, by creating a place where people with dementia can engage in arts-based activities in a social setting. Bringing in community artists and musicians the program creates a stimulating environment that can improve the mental health of its participants. A first of its kind, Maureen and the team and partners at York University and the University of Toronto are collecting important data on the social interactions in arts and movement based programming in the hope that the Bitove Academy’s success will lead to more programs of its kind to be developed across the country to help people with dementia.

The Academy offers one hour tours and trial visits that describe the program and the research being done. The program is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm with participants having the option of registering for full day programs ($80+HST) or half day programs ($50+HST). Both programs include lunch.

At Mosaic we hope the connection we have made with The Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy is the first of many at our new location at the CNIB Centre.

For more information on the Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy:

Location: 1929 Bayview Avenue, Unit G30, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3E8

Website: www.dotsabitove.com

E-mail: bwa@uhn.ca

Phone: 416.486.8731

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