Events, Initiatives and Training
Healthy us. Healthy campus. Rise and thrive at Ontario Tech.
Your Human Resources health and wellness supports and services, including the Healthy Workplace Committee are committed to providing the university community with opportunities to engage in activities that promote employee optimal health and well-being. Check out this web page often for updates on offerings that support a holistic approach to building a healthier workplace.
Do you have an idea for an event, speaker or initiative? The Healthy Workplace Committee welcomes your input, email wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca.
Current and Upcoming
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2025 Just For the Health of it Photo Contest: Extended to September 19th!
People, Places, Pets and Pastimes
To support the university’s commitment to a healthy workplace, the university’s Healthy Workplace Committee (HWC) is pleased to announce the annual photo contest!
In response to feedback received, a new category has been added – pastimes! Get ready to snap photos of your favorite hobbies, ways you relax, re-charge and/or compete!
Photos should capture and clearly display images that fit into one of the following:
- Category A – People (Don’t forget work peers!)
- Category B – Places
- Category C – Pets
- Category D – Pastimes
Images must be accompanied by a caption identifying how the subject of the photo has supported your well-being. Tell us a little bit about your entry!
- View Contest Poster
The HWC will announce winning photos and award prizes in late September.
Please visit the Photo Contest web page for full contest details.
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Bird Safe Campus
Collisions with windows are estimated to kill 25 million birds in Canada a year. With biodiversity loss threatening the wellbeing of the planet, the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability has decided to take action by tracking bird window collisions on campus with the hopes of eventually retrofitting high collision zones to be visible to birds.
Register to become a Bird Safe Campus volunteer to perform external surveys of campus buildings to collect essential data on bird-window collisions at Ontario Tech.Any questions or comments can be emailed to sustainability@ontariotechu.ca.Volunteer resource bank:
Cheat sheet for building survey information (includes contact for local wildlife centres)
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Move over October: Cross Canada Trek Returns - Register by Fri., September 26
The Healthy Workplace Committee is excited to announce the return of the Move over October: Cross Canada Trek! Together, our goal will be to get moving and travel across Canada during the month of October!
How it works:
- Participate as an Individual or within a Team.
- Be active - participate in any form of physical activity from Oct 1-31, 2025 to gain steps towards our Cross Canada Trek.
- Win prizes while having fun and experiencing the health benefits of healthy habits.
- Register by Friday, September 26 and be entered into our Registration Incentive Draw to win a Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) Annual Parking Pass!
For full details, please visit the Move Over October: Cross Canada Trek web page.
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Health Safety and Wellness Fair: Thursday, October 30
Save the Date
The 2025 Health Safety and Wellness Fair is scheduled for Thursday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Founding Deans Atrium (SCI_W_ATR). Stay tunded for updates on the Health Safety and Wellness Fair web page. Hope to see you there!
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Crucial Conversations for Employees: November 3 - 7
When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversation 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 when 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 resources: 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.
Crucial Conversations: Employees
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- Date: Monday, November 3, 2025 to Friday, November 7, 2025 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Employees
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Crucial Conversations for Managers/Directors: November 10 - 14
When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversation 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 when 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 resources: 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.
Crucial Conversations: Managers/Directors
- Date: Monday, November 10, 2025 to Friday November 14, 2025 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Managers/Directors
Note: Participants must attend all dates to receive their certificate.
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Fuel Your Defenses: Put up a Fight During Flu Season! November 24
What can you do to help keep your immune system strong and healthy? Food and lifestyle play a play a critical role in how well your immune system functions.
In this workshop, Dr. Bardin, Healthy Workplace Committee member, will explore the complexities of your immune system and help you to discover how foods and lifestyle choices can make an impact - both positively and negatively. Dr. Bardin will also dive into the vital role your gut and microbiome play in the overall health of your immune system and highlight the key nutrients that can help you stay strong and resilient throughout the flu season.
Fuel Your Defenses: Put up a Fight During Flu Season!Boost your Immune System
- Facilitator: Dr. Sylvie Bardin, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Science and Certified Nutritionist
- Date: November 24, 2025
- Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Employees
Boost your immune system!
- Facilitator: Dr. Sylvie Bardin, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Science and Certified Nutritionist
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Ridgeback Run Club
Whether you’re preparing for a specific event or looking to get moving, join the Ridgeback Run Club (RRC)! The RRC is open to all levels and runs rain or shine.
Upcoming Dates:
- Our Summer dates have concluded. Please check back for Fall dates. Thank you.
Time: 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. (Start running at 12:16 p.m.)
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.
Reoccurring
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Orientation: Watch a recording or attend a live session
Whether you are new to Ontario Tech or wanting 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-Minute Mini Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
- 25-Minute Full Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
- Virtual Orientations: Employee and Manager* sessions 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 Leader Supports webpage.
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Free Fitness Classes offered by CRWC
Free fitness classes offered by Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre for Staff and Faculty.
Visit the Group Fitness web page to book your spot.
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Healthy Workplace Committee (HWC) 2025 Recipe Calendar
Are you wondering what to make for dinner? Would you like to try a new recipe?
Look no further! The HWC 2025 Recipe Calendar is filled with delicious options contributed by Ontario Tech University colleagues! Each month highlights a different winning recipe that was selected as a part of a HWC 2024 recipe challenge! Also enjoy photos of people, places, pets, and peers that were submitted as part of the 2024 HWC annual photo contest!
Learning and Development
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Professional Development Courses
Ontario Tech University is proud to offer professional development workshops to all employees. Visit the Professional Development Courses webpage to view available offerings.