Events, initiatives and training

This month-long movement challenge is designed to help Ontario Tech employees build healthy habits, connect with colleagues, and celebrate progress together.  Together, our goal will be to travel across Canada during the month of October! 

How it works:

• Be active - participate in any form of physical activity from Oct 1-31, 2026 to gain steps towards our Cross Canada Trek.
• Win prizes (from your feedback, there's more ways to win) while having fun and experiencing the health benefits of healthy habits.
• Register by Wednesday, September 30 and be entered into our Early Bird Incentive Draw to win a Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) Annual Parking Pass!

Please visit the Move Over October: Cross Canada Trek web page for full details.

This re-imagined annual event unites the spirit of Homecoming with the energy of the Chancellor’s Challenge, now in its sixth year, creating one dynamic day at the heart of campus. Inspired by the mission of the university's Tech with a Conscience campaign, the day celebrates how innovation, human-centred thinking and community come together to create meaningful impact. And you're invited to experience all of it!

Friends, families, neighbours, supporters, students, faculty, staff and alumni can enjoy the full lineup of events, including the Chancellor's Challenge run/walk/roll, lunch, an Ontario Tech Talk, exclusive tours, student showcases and more.

Experience firsthand how Ontario Tech is shaping a brighter future through innovation guided by purpose, human integrity and values, all while celebrating what makes this university special: its people, its ideas and shared commitment to positive change.

Community Day Registration and Event Info

The Pumpkin Carving Contest returns this year. Staff/Faculty work together to carve and/or decorate a pumpkin for your chance of being crowned Pumpkin Carving Contest champions!

How it works:

1. Form a group of participants with your colleagues.
2. Have one colleague request a free pumpkin from the Wellness at Work team, by completing this Pumpkin Carving Contest - Pumpkin Request eForm by Wednesday, October 14.
3. The Wellness at Work team will connect with you to arrange pick-up/delivery to your location the week of October 21 (North and Downtown dates to be determined)
4. Choose which category you’d like to enter: Carving or Decorating
5. Work with your colleagues to create your pumpkin masterpiece
6. Bring your pumpkin and pumpkin submission form to the Science Building, Founding Deans Atrium on Thursday, October 29 (no later than 11 a.m.), to be displayed at the Health, Safety and Wellness Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
7. Pumpkins are yours to keep - please remove your pumpkin from the Atrium by 2pm

Judging:

Pumpkins will be viewed during the Health Safety and Wellness Fair and then pictures shared with the Ontario Tech Community to vote on the best carved and best decorated pumpkin from each category. Yes, there are prizes!

Please direct questions to wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca. 

When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversations skills represent the standard in effective communication. Improve your skills and get better outcomes by attending a training course.

The communication skills taught in this training focus on a specific kind of interaction: those in which stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. This is not a course on winning friends or winning people to your way of thinking; it’s about strengthening relationships and securing results in the moments that matter most.

This course teaches nine powerful skills for working through disagreement to achieve better results: Get unstuck, Master my stories, Start with heart, State my path, Make it safe, Learn to look, Seek mutual purpose, Explore others’ paths, and Move to action.

Date: Monday, October 19, 2026 to Friday, October 23, 2026 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Virtual
Target Audience: Employees

REGISTER

Date: Tuesday, October 20
Time: 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Target Audience: Faculty/Staff

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, this session will provide practical guidance on using generative AI safely and securely at work and in personal life.

Participants will learn how to:

• protect sensitive information
• minimize shared information
• reduce their data shadow

The session will also highlight how AI can make phishing, impersonation, and other social engineering attacks more convincing, along with practical ways to recognize and respond to these evolving threats.

REGISTER

The 2026 Health Safety and Wellness Fair is scheduled for Thursday, October 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Founding Deans Atrium (SCI_W_ATR).

Enjoy a FREE snack while you visit the various booths that will include experts from Sun Life, TELUS Health, Therapeutic Pets of Canada, and more, view the pumpkins entered into this year's Pumpkin Carving Contest, and enter your name in a draw for a chance to win one of several prizes.

Visit the Health Safety and Wellness Fair web page for full details.

When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversations skills represent the standard in effective communication. Improve your skills and get better outcomes by attending a training course.

The communication skills taught in this training focus on a specific kind of interaction: those in which stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. This is not a course on winning friends or winning people to your way of thinking; it’s about strengthening relationships and securing results in the moments that matter most.

This course teaches nine powerful skills for working through disagreement to achieve better results: Get unstuck, Master my stories, Start with heart, State my path, Make it safe, Learn to look, Seek mutual purpose, Explore others’ paths, and Move to action.

Date: Monday, November 16, 2026 to Friday, November 20, 2026 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Virtual
Target Audience: Managers/Directors

REGISTER

Whether you are new to Ontario Tech or want to refresh your knowledge of the supports and services available through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Program, please select the orientation format that works best for you.

1. 1-Minute Mini Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
2. 25-Minute Full Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
3. Virtual Orientations: Employee and Manager* sessions are held live. Select the date within the Orientation Flyer that you would like to attend to register.

*Orientation for Manager video recordings are available on the Wellness at Work for Leaders webpage.

Stay active this fall with free group fitness classes at the FLEX Fitness Centre. From September 20 to December 11, 2026, enjoy a variety of instructor-led classes designed for all fitness levels, including yoga, pilates, spin, strength training, and more. View the Group Fitness Schedule for class details and times.

Registration opens 3 days before the class, with a limited number of participants on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your space in our free group fitness classes, visit the DC-OT Campus Recreation website.

Not able to sign up or have a question? Please connect with fitnessservices@dc-ot.ca.

We’ve heard that puzzles bring teams together to socially connect and work toward a common, fun goal, so we are launching Ontario Tech Puzzles, a puzzle lending program!  Images that represent Ontario Tech have been turned into puzzles and are now available for you and your colleagues to borrow and complete.

Please visit the Puzzle Lending Program web page to view the available puzzles and request a puzzle today!

Whether you’re preparing for a specific event or looking to get moving, join the Ridgeback Run Club (RRC)! The RRC is free, open to all levels, and runs rain or shine. 

Email List: To have your name added to the Ridgeback Run Club email distribution list to receive calendar invites and notifications of session changes due to weather, please complete this Registration Form.

Upcoming Dates:

• Thurssday, October 1
• Saturday, October 3 (10am) - Join us for Community Day featuring the Chancellor's Challenge and Homecoming.

Time: Start running at 12:10 p.m. for ~30 minutes

Location: Meet at the front doors of Shawenjigewining Hall (east side of the building)

Get Active Questionnaire: We want you to have a safe and enjoyable run experience, so please complete the Get Active Questionnaire and email your completed copy to wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca prior to attending your first run. If you answer ‘yes’ to any questions within the Questionnaire, please review the Reference Document. 

• Oct 2: 11am – 1pm
• Oct 6: 11am – 1pm
• Oct 9: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
• Oct 13: 11:30am – 1:30pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Oct 15: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Oct 20: 4pm – 6pm
• Oct 21: 11:30am – 1:30pm
• Oct 28: 11:30am – 1:30pm
  
  
• Nov 3: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Nov 4: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Nov 10: 4pm – 6pm
• Nov 12: 11:30am – 1:30pm
• Nov 17: 11:30am – 1:30pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Nov 18: 11:30am – 1:30pm
• Nov 20: 11am – 1pm
• Nov 24: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Nov 26: 11am – 1pm
  
  
• Dec 2: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm
• Dec 3: 11:30am – 1:30pm
• Dec 7: 11am – 1pm + 4pm – 6pm

Step up your routine with Train Like A Pro! This dynamic athletic conditioning class is designed to build the strength, agility, and stamina of a high-performing athlete. Forget the gimmicks, this session focuses on mastering fundamental movements, increasing functional power, and pushing your limits through structured strength blocks and conditioning circuits. Whether you want to boost your everyday performance or challenge your inner athlete, you'll get expert coaching, serious motivation, and a total-body workout tailored to help you excel. All fitness levels are welcome, with modifications provided.

Join us in G110, located down the hallway to the left of Gyms 1 & 2. The registration fee of $100 covers all 20 classes.
*Please note this program fee for Train Like A Pro is an introductory rate. Fees will likely increase next semester. 

Training Schedule:

• Wednesday 5 to 6 p.m. & Friday 3 to 4 p.m.
  • Week 1 - October 7 & 9
  • Week 3 - October 21 & 23
  • Week 5 - November 4 & 6
  • Week 7 - November 18 & 20
  • Week 9 - December 2 & 4
• Tuesday 2 to 3 p.m. & Thursday 3 to 4 p.m.
  • Week 2 - October 13 & 15
  • Week 4 - October 27 & 29
  • Week 6 - November 10 & 12
  • Week 8 - November 24 & 26
  • Week 10 - December 8 & 10

Meet the Coach: As the head of strength and conditioning for Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and Durham College Lords, Emmanuel De Jesus is passionate about training and teaching athletes how to enhance performance. Bringing his experience working with diverse populations, rehabilitation, and now the recreation side of campus, Manny is excited to push people to achieve their goals and overall well-being in a fun, hard-working environment! 

To register, please visit the Recreation Portal. Members of the campus community can log in to the Recreation Portal using their student/staff ID number and network password.

 For further information regarding Train Like A Pro, please visit the Campus Recreation website or connect with the Fitness Coordinator.