MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo Empowers the Community

Archana Cini, 
Lookout Newspaper 

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The Naden Athletic Centre came alive on Mar. 6 as the annual MARPAC Health & Wellness Expo returned to CFB Esquimalt. With a lively crowd, engaging demonstrations, and a BBQ lunch fueling the fun, the event brought the Defence community and vendors together to celebrate the power of well-being. Visitors walked away with an array of prizes, valuable products, and meaningful insights to enhance their holistic health.

Among the businesses in attendance was Saje Natural Wellness who displayed immersive healing and self-care products.

“Ultimately, we’re here to spread well-being to a community that deserves to be healthy and happy,” said Kristina Thiele, Victoria store manager. “It’s rewarding to connect with people who are as excited about wellness as we are.”

Throughout the event, Saje fostered conversations around self-care, encouraging military members and civilian employees to unapologetically prioritize themselves and their healing.

MĀ Wellness & Yoga also inspired attendees with their mind-body approach to health. Captivating attendees with a soothing booth design, the local holistic wellness studio highlighted the value of preventative measures to the community.

Stacy Picard, manager, shared how the MARPAC Expo provided the studio with an opportunity to show up for “those around us.”

“People have the power to look after themselves, and we’re here to help them unlock that,” she said.

The studio not only engaged visitors in conversations about movement and mindfulness, but also offered acupuncture demonstrations.

Wellness vendors extended to include financial services with the attendance of BMO and SISIP, base clubs encouraging new registrations with CFB Esquimalt’s Garden Club, Golf Association, and Model Railroad Club, and base resources including Base Fire Prevention, the Dental Unit, Formation Safety and Environment, Complaint and Conflict Management Services, Defence Advisory Groups, and the Employee Assistance Program.

Other notable attractions included an exciting technical shirt debut for the upcoming Navy Run on June 21,  the Navy Bike Ride, and a blended keynote and watch-party on the power of radical self-care with Dr. Taslim Alani-Verjee for International Women’s Day.

The Lookout would like to thank Costco Langford and Tim Hortons Esquimalt for the generous donations to the event, all vendors who contributed to door prizes, giveaways, and resources for attendees, and to all the base support who made this event a success.

See you in the Fall for the Ship-to-Shore Industrial Trade Show on Oct. 7!