Local health promoter recognized nationally

Pearce has spent career encouraging residents to choose a healthier lifestyle

When Health Promotion Canada wanted to bestow its inaugural lifetime achievement award on Jodi Pearce, the local health promoter had to beg off on ceremony — she had a high school workshop to attend instead.

“I love my job, it’s very exciting and ever-evolving,” said Pearce, whose first job with the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre was as secretary at the local teen health centre 27 years ago.

Asked for a definition of “health promoter,” Pearce said her job is “somewhere between social worker and a nurse, but I’m neither of those two.”

Her varied work in health promotion and harm reduction has addressed a variety of social needs at the local level, whether it’s tackling bullying, helping foster self-esteem, offering education on substance use and pointing to pathways out of substance abuse.

With marijuana to be legalized in Canada for recreational use by adults in July 2018, Pearce is already among those gearing up for educational outreach among local youth.

“Historically, the ‘just-say-no’ philosophy hasn’t worked. Harm reduction philosophy is to not lecture but educate,” she said.

On Feb. 1 at the Caboto Club, parents, teachers and coaches will be the targeted audience for a Uniforsponsored workshop focused on the current opioid crisis. Partnering with police, Pearce is one of the main organizers of the Not My Kid series, which has already been staged in Kingsville, Amherstburg and LaSalle, the latter attracting more than 300 people.

Pearce has helped with student peer mentorships at schools and teacher training workshops, and she sits on “a number of committees,” including as co-chair of the local Service Alliance for Equality committee.

Pearce also promotes healthy living as a fitness instructor for seniors.

One of her latest projects, begun in September, is working with high school girls recently arrived from Syria with their refugee families. The topics they tackle, said Pearce, include healthy relationships, selfesteem, empowerment and sports.

“Those 27 years have just flown by,” said Pearce. She credits the “wonderful” people she works with: “If there’s a need, we put our heads together and see how we can help.”

Health Promotion Canada says its lifetime achievement award “recognizes passionate and visionary health promoters who, during their lifetimes, have made substantial contributions to the promotion of health ... thereby empowering Canadians to achieve full life potential.”

Historically, the ‘just-say-no’ philosophy hasn’t worked. Harm reduction philosophy is to not lecture but educate.