CORNWALL, Ontario - A healthy living wellness fair is being planned for next month, where it's hoped people who are struggling with food intolerances (like searching high and low for gluten-free bread) can get some support and tips on where to turn.
Sylvie Thibert, a self-described health nut, has partnered with Mary Brink, the Cornwall satellite representative for the Ottawa Celiac Association Chapter, to create the one-day fair which will bring together health professionals and others to discuss things like food intolerances and natural alternatives to mainstream health.
The wellness fair will run from 1 to 4 p.m. April 6 at Harvest Christian Fellowship Church on York Street in Cornwall.
"I've realized there are lots of people who have food intolerances," she said in an interview. "We figured we should do something for these people."
Although statistics are not readily available, it is estimated that one in every 200 people in Canada are affected by Celiac disease.
Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the surface of the small intestine is damaged by a number of proteins found in grains, and referred to collectively as 'gluten'. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients like certain proteins, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.
"We decided to have a lot of different vendors come in that will be geared towards gluten-free and food intolerances," said Thibert. "It's going to be a very unique day...it's really going to be to promote healthy, natural and local people."
Proceeds from the event are being collected to benefit Maison Baldwin House in Cornwall.
