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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 17 ,2 02 0 | 24 Gary Carr Regional Chair The 2021 Halton Region Guide andWaste Collection Calendars are here Check your mailbox--the 2021 Halton Region Guide andWaste Collection Calendars have been mailed to homes. Thank you for your participation in our curbside collection programs! By taking simple steps, we can help reduce community waste. Here are some helpful tips: • Properly sort your materials using our online PutWaste in its Place tool. • Reduce food waste. Buy only what you need or freeze leftovers to enjoy later. • Use recyclable paper, such as brown packing paper or newspapers, to wrap gifts. To learn more or to access your waste collection schedule from your computer or smartphone, visit halton.ca/waste or use theOneHalton app. HaltonHills ChristmasDay HouseholdWasteCollectionNotice 12 17 20 Please note collection day changes. HaltonWaste Management Site Please place yourwaste at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled holiday collection day. Blue Box • Aluminum foil and trays • Brown packing paper • Boxed beverage containers • Plastic grocery bags Green Cart • Turkey, including bones • Tissue paper • Shredded paper • Paper plates and cups Garbage • Masks and gloves • Wrapping paper and bows • Plastic and compostable cutlery Please contact us, as soon as possible, if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. RegularOperatingHours Monday to Saturday | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 5400 Regional Road 25,Milton Closed Friday, December 25, 2020 Reduce your holiday waste Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Dec 20 21 22 23 24 Christmas Day 25 26 Areas A, B & C No change Meetings at Halton Region Regional Council meetings are taking place through web conferencing until further notice. Videos will be posted to halton.ca. Area D Collection moves Bag and tie all garbagematerial before placing at the curb. Learnmore athalton.ca/waste. Reminder: Masks and gloves go in the garbage 2020 has been anything but typical, and we can say the same thing about this year's holiday season. Given the restrictions related to the pandemic, it will likely be very different than in years past. But it should most definitely in- clude taking time to think about and care for our own mental health and wellness -- and that of others. FOLLOWING ARE A FEW IDEAS TO KEEP IN MIND: • Experiment with some new traditions. For example, why not have a good old summer BBQ for your household's holiday meal? Burgers, hotdogs, potato salad, etc. Cooking a turkey isn't every- one's favourite way to spend a day, and some people may look forward to the novelty and get- ting away with something non- traditional that their extended family would never go for in any other year. If there's something you don't particularly enjoy do- ing for the holidays, take a break from it this year. • Be creative with the tradi- tions you do want to keep. No, you can't gather in groups for movie-watching or gift exchang- es, but think about what you can do to stay connected and enjoy time together, even if it's virtual- ly. Video calls and distanced vis- its outside can be as festive as you choose to make them. • Prioritize self-care. While this season may not have the vis- iting, get-togethers and other kinds of activity that can tire you out, it doesn't mean that you can't give yourself the gift of wellness by taking care of your- self. Make sure you sleep enough, eat healthy, and build some down time into your days even with everything else you may have on your to-do list. Even just 10 or 15 minutes, a day of "me-time" can have a big im- pact on your mood. • Pay attention to what's hap- pening with others. People often assume that everyone is cheery and happy during the holiday season, but that's not true in any year, yet alone one that has brought so much uncertainty and stress. Acknowledge that people may be feeling low, anx- ious, isolated and coping with stressors that don't go away just because it's the holidays. Be pre- pared to listen, accept their feel- ings, and support them to think about what might help. Letting them know that it's OK to not feel OK can go a long way. Keep in mind that the Canadi- an Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch has a free call-in counselling service if you or someone in your life are looking for the support of a counsellor with no cost, wait- list, or referral. Call 289-291-5396 and you will be contacted by a counsellor within 24 hours from Monday to Friday. Melanie McGregor is the communications and advance- ment specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Hal- ton Region Branch, which pro- vides mental health/addiction community support and educa- tion. Visit www.halton.cmha.ca for more information and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. OPINION DON'T LET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH TAKE A HOLIDAY A LITTLE CREATIVITY AND SELF-CARE CAN GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES ENJOYABLE, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGORColumn SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA