The West Coast Men's Support Society presents a Father's Day Library Tour, where everyone is invited to come out and talk about the importance of dads.
All week, the society will be hosting talks at Cowichan's libraries to discuss the programs they offer for men in the community.
On Thursday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. they will be at the Duncan branch; Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m. they will be at the Mill Bay branch; and Friday, June 13 at 1 p.m. the group will be in Chemainus.
This is a good time, the society said, to turn to the men in your life and ask them how they are doing. When was the last time that they had an annual physical? How have they been feeling lately? What are they doing to take care of themselves? "I think that this is the biggest challenge facing men: asking for help," said Grant Waldman, executive director of the society. "I think that men were raised to do it on their own - that they are supposed to 'tough it out', 'suck it up', etc. I think that the majority of messages that the media, movies, and society in general deliver to men are all around being super strong and that you can climb mountains, build mega corporations, fight the 'enemy', and come home and have your dinner, watch the NHL playoffs, and hit the hay. How many of you can relate?" "We really hope that Men's Health Week and Father's Day will be a "wake-up" call to some men in our community to take the necessary action towards a healthier lifestyle versus reacting to a health scare," he said.
West Coast Men's Support society has been supporting men in the Cowichan Valley and beyond for nearly five years with programs such as one on one counselling, weekly Men's Circles and a Dads Make a Difference group. The society has a book and video resource library at their office (Merchant Building, 80 Station St., Ste 213), along with numerous online resources on their website.