Local businesses support destigmatization efforts for Eating Disorder Awareness Week
By Sydney Hildebrandt
Two Centretown businesses are partnering with Ottawa’s Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre during next month’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week to raise funds and awareness in support of those struggling with conditions such as anorexia.
From Feb. 1 to 7, Pure Kitchen on Elgin Street and Rama Lotus Yoga Centre on Gladstone Avenue will team up with Hopewell, located on McArthur Avenue, for a national initiative to promote understanding and to fight the stigma surrounding eating disorders.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney are scheduled to attend a ceremony at Pure Kitchen on Feb. 1 to officially proclaim Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
On Feb. 2, the public is invited to participate in a restorative yoga class taught by Tania Frechette at Rama Lotus at 342 Gladstone Ave. Frechette said for her, yoga isn’t just about the exercise.
“I had an eating disorder for years, so this is my way of giving back,” said Frechette. “I want to give them hope that full recovery is possible.”
She noted the yoga class is open to everyone, not just individuals who have a history with eating disorders.
Throughout the month of February, both the Elgin Street and Westboro locations of Pure Kitchen will be selling a signature, Mexican-chocolate-inspired smoothie called the Hopewell Hug. The smoothie was designed specially for this occasion by Pure Kitchen’s general manager Caitlin Doan and Hopewell’s executive director Jody Brian.
Watson and McKenney are expected to launch the Hopewell Hug smoothie at the Feb. 1 ceremony at Pure Kitchen.
“We’re just hoping – I guess it’s twofold – one, that we can raise more awareness for Hopewell as an organization, and then more specifically drawing attention to eating disorder awareness, and providing a safe space for people,” said Doan.
According to Brian, an individual with anorexia nervosa has a one-in-five chance of dying from the disease, either due to the physical implications on their body, or by suicide if they lose hope.
“It’s really hard to be a kid these days in the era of social media and Snapchat and Photoshop and Instagram,” said Brian. “We want to help them realize that the images that they see on some of these platforms are not of real people, and that a lot of people present a really idealized version of themselves, and that level of perfection is not obtainable for the average person.”
She added that the goal of Hopewell’s activities is to create a platform and a safe space for individuals struggling with an eating disorder, and to educate the public about the centre.
All funds raised from these initiatives will go toward Hopewell’s programs and services, which help prevent illness, educate the public and provide outreach to the community.
Brian said public support is crucial to Hopewell since the centre, which is located at the corner of McArthur and Moorvale Street, is a small non-profit organization that relies exclusively on donations from individuals and organizations.
Hopewell has additional initiatives planned for the first week of February, including an information booth at Algonquin College on Feb. 1, and another at the University of Ottawa on Feb. 5.
On Feb. 4, Rogers TV will broadcast a profile on Hopewell featuring individuals who have been helped by the centre. And Thank You India, an Ottawa-based jewellery brand, will be selling butterfly bracelets and necklaces, with a portion of the sales donated to Hopewell.
