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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Puzzle Lending Program Available as of November 1st
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/your colleagues to borrow and complete.
Please visit the Puzzle Lending Program web page to view the available puzzles and request a puzzle today!
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Door Decorating Contest: Enter by Friday, December 12
Celebrate the holiday & winter season with Ontario Tech’s annual Door Decorating Contest!
How it works:
- Gather your colleagues and select a door to decorate* for the holiday/winter season.
*Please abide by the Guidelines for Office Decorations from the Office of Risk Management. - Decorate your door in celebration of the holiday and/or winter season. Please be mindful that any decorations used do not damage the door upon removal.
- By Friday, December 12, email wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca the following:
- A photo of your door
- Names of decorating participants
- Your Department/Faculty
- Dec. 17-19 view photos of contest submissions on the Door Decorating webpage and vote for your favourite!
- Please remove your decorations no later than Tuesday, December 23.
- Winners will be announced in January 2026 and prizes distributed (yes, there are prizes!).
- Gather your colleagues and select a door to decorate* for the holiday/winter season.
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Respiratory Care & Can Quit Programs: Informational Workshop: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
This session will include an overview of the FREE Respiratory Care & Can Quit Programs offered by Sun Life.
The Respiratory Care Program (RCP) is a 12-month, no-cost program designed to support individuals living with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Program benefits include:
- Access to a dedicated team of pharmacists specializing in asthma and COPD care
- One-on-one virtual consultations
- A personalized Asthma/COPD care summary to take home
- Ongoing follow-up appointments over 12 months
The Can Quit Program, offered by Sun Life in collaboration with the Ottawa Heart Institute, provides Canadians who smoke or vape with virtual access to expert guidance and proven strategies to quit.Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Virtual
Audience: Group Benefit Plan Members -
Crucial Conversations for Employees: February 2-6, 2026
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, February 2, 2026 to Friday, February 6, 2026 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to Noon
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Employees
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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! -
Ridgeback Run Club - Resuming Spring 2026
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:
- Resuming Spring 2026
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.
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.