Ideas & Inspiration

In this section, we provide a list of ideas for your GenWell Weekend or at any time, to start building healthier connection habits with family, friends, neighbours, classmates or colleagues.

Of course, there are too many ideas to list here, but the key is that you take action, whether it’s a coffee with a friend or neighbour, or you feel like something larger on your street, at the office or in your community.

Whatever it is, HAVE FUN!

Check out ideas, inspirations and photos from past Genwell Weekends.

Community Inspiration

Whether it is family, friends or neighbours, power up your community by hosting your own GenWell Project. Make a few calls, send an email or knock on a few doors – whatever it takes to get people connecting face-to-face. We thought we would share a few suggestions just to get your mind started on what you can do to host your own GenWell Project on GenWell Weekend. Don’t forget, size doesn’t matter and it doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Start small and let the energy of those who join you inspire bigger events in the future! Don’t forget to use some of the tools we have to help you make the initial outreach – here.

If you are a community or neighbourhood leader and are interested in engaging your street or community in a deeper knowledge about the power of human connection for the health and well-being of every resident, consider hosting a GenWell Social Health Workshop for your street or community

Download Community Toolkit

Some ideas:

Coffee with a neighbour
Backyard BBQ
Front yard BBQ
Catch the game
Wine and Cheese
Corn Roast
Street party
Street potluck
Front porch chat
Picnic in the park
Euchre/Poker/Card tourney
Board game competition
Photo album/slideshow
Street or community band
Front yard talent show

Some ideas:

CEO Coffee Chats
Random lunch dates
Gratitude circles
Pizza lunch
BBQ Lunch
Reunion Event
End of day eats and treats
Sporting activity
Pub night
Mini Fun Olympics
Board Game Competition
Karaoke/Live Karaoke
Trivia nights
Activities to improve mental health
Activities to improve physical health

Workplace Inspiration

The workplace is undergoing massive disruption on the other side of the global pandemic. It is critical right now that businesses find ways to keep their employees connected, to support the work of the business, but also to support the health and well-being of each employee. A reactive approach to employee well-being is a thing of the past, and the need and opportunity is to proactively connect your employees so they can build the healthy connection habits that drive happiness, health, success and resilience, inside and outside of the office.

On the Friday of every GenWell Weekend, we want to inspire all workplaces across Canada to think about getting their people together to share the message around human connection, to remind people to make it a priority and to catalyze action together, making it easier for many to feel included in a powerful movement.

Download Workplace Toolkit

Classroom Inspiration

All GenWell Weekends start on Friday, so teachers, professors and students can lead conversations and activations that help students build healthier connection habits. On Saturday and Sunday, we hope that students take the understanding of the importance of their social health and make it happen on the weekend with family, friends, neighbours or the community.

Maybe this GenWell Weekend is the perfect excuse to connect with classmates that you have been meaning to connect with using one of the activities that we have suggested below! Have fun getting connected!

Download Classroom Toolkit

Some ideas:

Work with a on-campus club to host a gathering around their specific passion
Get together with your classmates to watch the big game!
Gather with friends and catch a movie.
Picnic in a park with your whole class.
Visit a local restaurant with your classmates.
Make plans to volunteer for a local charity on campus or off.
Make the effort to sit beside someone you have never met in class this week.
Start a study chat / Facebook group for your class
A great chat at a local coffee shop with friends
Host a GenWell Project in one of the campus bars

Seniors Inspiration

Your connections serve not just as a comfort but as a critical component of your health and happiness. It's well-documented that fostering social connections can dramatically improve your quality of life, offering protection against a host of health issues and extending your lifespan. GenWell Weekend is your excuse, reminder, and permission slip to reconnect with your family, friends, neighbours, and build new connections in your community.

Download Seniors Toolkit

Some ideas:

Host a Neighbourhood Potluck
Organize a Community Walk
Start a Book Club
Join a Local Hobby Group
Volunteer Together
Attend Local Events or Fairs
Organize a Game Night
Participate in a Workshop
Create an Intergenerational Exchange
Host a Tea or Coffee Morning
Plan a Group Exercise Session
Organize a Storytelling Evening
Start a Sing-Along or Music Night
Arrange a Craft Circle
Initiate a Photography Club
Engage in Community Gardening
Host a Cooking or Baking Session
Plan a Day Trip
Organize a Senior Tech Clinic
Create a Memory Album with others