Community Health Connect  is the Calgary West Central Primary Care Network's newsletter dedicated to providing members of our community with the latest healthcare information.

May 2026

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Hi , in this issue you can get information about:

• Jump into spring: free resources for forming healthy habits 
• Preparing for wildfire season 
• Building a supportive community for individuals living with autism 

Jump into spring: free resources for forming healthy habits  

 As we wave goodbye to winter,  you may find yourself wanting to welcome the spring weather through a new sport or exercise habit. 

Forming healthy habits can help improve mental health, improve health conditions, and allow for healthy aging.  

Several free and prescription-based resources are available to you. 

 Free resources: 

• Alberta Healthy Living Program: a free resource offering health education, exercise classes, and more for adults with a chronic health condition.  

• MyHealth.Alberta.ca: provides resources for getting active, including Getting Around Barriers to Exercise, Fitting in Physical Activity, Adding More Activity to your Life, and much more.  
• Free City of Calgary activities: a comprehensive guide to free activities in the Calgary area for youth, adults, and families.  

 Referral-based resources: 

• Prescription to Get Active: a healthy-living program you can access through a prescription from your doctor. The program offers you free recreation opportunities with community partners.  

• Prescription for Nature: following a prescription from your doctor, this program encourages you to spend more time in nature by offering free access to conservation areas and national parks in Canada.  

From spending more time outdoors to picking up a new sport, exercise is an excellent habit to support your health and well-being.    

Preparing for wildfire season 

Wildfire season in Alberta runs from March to October. Staying up to date on wildfire safety is a good way to stay prepared and informed about potential fires.  

The biggest health risk from wildfire smoke is the tiny particles in the smoke that can get in your eyes, breathing system, and bloodstream. 

If you have a heart or lung problem, these small particles can make it worse, and even lower smoke levels can create problems if you have these health problems or are an older adult, pregnant, a smoker, or a child.  

Get all the tips to lower your risk when smoke becomes a problem from MyHealth.Alberta.ca.

The Government of Alberta’s dedicated wildfire web page provides information relating to: 

• What to do before, during, and after a wildfire 

• The free Alberta Wildfire app that shares up-to-date information on fires, along with the ability to report fires 

• Creating an emergency kit for unexpected situations

• Keeping your pets and/or livestock safe during emergencies 

• And more 

 If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310.FIRE (3473). 

If the fire is in your community, call 911.  

Building a supportive community for individuals living with autism    

Autism Calgary supports individuals and families living with autism by creating a more inclusive, understanding, and supportive community.  

The not-for-profit organization brings together families, caregivers, individuals on the spectrum, and professionals to help people with autism live meaningful and purposeful lives. 

 Programs and services: 

• Family support team: offering peer support and resources for individuals and families 

• Drop-in support hours: Monday - Thursday (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

• Autism-specific library: available Monday - Thursday (9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
• Talk support program: with an adult support and resource specialist available in person or by phone (note: this is not counselling)
• Monthly support groups for:
  • Adults on the spectrum
  • Fathers
  • Mothers
  • Parents and caregivers
  • Biomedical support discussions

Explore the web page for each type of support for details on how to get involved. To connect to the family support team, call 403.250.5033 or email support@autismcalgary.ca.

 Who it is for:  Individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. 

If you have feedback on any health topics you would like to learn or read more about, please contact us directly at hello@cwcpcn.com.

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