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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

  • Crucial Conversations for Employees: April 27 - May 1

    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

      • Date: Monday, April 27, 2026 to Friday, May 1, 2026 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
      • Time: 9:30 a.m. to Noon
      • Location: Virtual
      • Target Audience: Employees

    REGISTER

  • Campus Butt Blitz: Wednesday, April 29

    Join us for a campus cigratte butt cleanup in partnership with A Greener Future. 

    Wednesday, April 29
    Noon - 1:30 p.m
    Meet outside of Shawenjigewining Hall 

    For more information and to regsiter, visit the A Greener Future website. 

  • Every Day in May Health Challenge: May 1-31

    The Every Day in May Health Challenge returns, May 1-31, 2026! This challenge combines various healthy habits, such as physical activity, nutrition, water consumption, and self-care practices, into a fun, friendly competition between colleagues.  Sign-up today for your chance to win prizes, while reaping the benefits of healthy habits and connecting with your team!

    Visit the Every Day in May Health Challenge web page for full details!  

  • Health & Safety Week: May 4-8

    Celebrate Health & Safety Week by completing this Scavenger Hunt by Friday, May 15. 

    Participants will receive a First Aid Kit (while supplies last).

  • Mental Health Week & Come Together Contest: May 4-10
    Mental Health Week has become a Canadian tradition, with communities, schools and workplaces shining a spotlight on the importance of mental health.  Visit the Mental Health Week web page to view a message from Dr. Steven Murphy and upcoming events, including our Come Together Contest.
  • LEGO Workshop: Retro Rewind Edition: Thursday, May 7 & 21 - FULL

    Session Full - If you'd like to join the waiting list, please email wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca.  Thank you.

    We heard you say connecting with your colleagues is important and fosters a Sticky Campus, so back by popular demand - our LEGO Workshop!  Connect with colleagues while activating those creative juices!

    From feedback received, this year’s theme is Retro Rewind.  Let’s bring back those way back, play back favourites we enjoyed years ago! 

    Every participant will receive a LEGO set to keep. Each LEGO set is a ‘3 in 1’ design to provide more options to participants. 

    Available LEGO sets include 

    • Camera/Video Camera/TV Set

    • Gaming Console/Mini Arcade Game/Mini Computer

    • Roller Skate/Boom Box Radio/Mini Skateboard

    • Rotary Phone/Wireless Phone/Flip Phones

    • Typewriter/Flowerpot/Keytar

    These workshops are open to all faculty/staff.  Space is limited, so register today!

    North Campus Session
    Thursday, May 7, 2026
    Noon to 1 p.m.
    In-Person, SCI-1350


    Downtown Campus Session
    Thursday, May 21, 2026
    Noon to 1 p.m.
    In-Person, CHA-217

  • Outdoor Group Fitness in Polonsky Commons: Friday, May 8

    World Move for Health Day 

    Physical activity helps us live healthier lives! Join us outdoors in the sunshine at Polonsky Commons on Friday, May 8 for a line-up of awesome group fitness classes.

    All group fitness classes are free to students, staff, and faculty of Ontario Tech University.

    To reserve your spot, visit the Campus Recreation website.

    All equipment is provided - just bring a water bottle and your positive energy!

    Whether you’re new to group fitness or a seasoned pro, this is a great way to take a break, connect with others, and prioritize your well-being. We hope to see you there!

  • From Worry to Wellness: Tuesday, May 19

    The demands and stressors in our everyday lives, including workplace stress, can leave us feeling anxious, worried, and overwhelmed. Over the course of this workshop, participants will explore practices to help shift their mindset to one that protects their mental wellbeing while also strengthening their ability to adapt to demands in the workplace. The objective is not to remove all stress, but rather to change how we view and respond to it. Building resilience will allow all staff to increase their feelings of self-efficacy, equipping them to tackle life’s inevitable challenges.

    The supplementary activity journal is a personal resource for participants, thoughtfully designed to help you dive deeper into the positive psychological practices introduced during the workshop. It offers space for you to reflect, capture your insights, and continue exploring these concepts on your own.

    Learning objectives:

    • Understand the relationship between mental health, workplace stress, and burnout
    • Define the meaning of personal resilience and identify constructs that positively affect mental wellbeing
    • Apply positive psychological practices that foster self-awareness, emotional regulation, social connectedness, and purpose

    Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
    Time: Noon-1 p.m.
    Location: Virtual
    Audience: Faculty and staff
    Presented by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    REGISTER TODAY!

  • Sun Life Respiratory Care Program & Can Quit Program Session: Wednesday, May 20

    This training session will introduce employees to two no-cost health support programs available through Sun Life: the Respiratory Care Program and the Can Quit Program. Participants will learn how these programs support respiratory health and smoking or vaping cessation through personalized, virtual care. The session will explain who the programs are designed for, what employees can expect when they enroll, and how to access services such as one-on-one virtual consultations, ongoing follow-ups, and personalized care plans.

    Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
    Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    Location: Virtual
    Audience: Group Benefit Plan Members

    Register today!

  • Building your wealth through investing: Wednesday, May 27

    This May, you’re invited to attend Building your wealth through investing.  In this webinar, we will explore key topics including:

    • How to define priorities and identify investment options
    • How to benefit from tax-deferred investments
    • How to manage risk

    Date: May 27th, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am ET
    Audience: Group Benefit Plan Members
    Please register via this link: Building your wealth through investing

  • The Working Mind: Employee Cohort: Tuesday June 9

    This evidence-based course, with newly released updated content, is designed to initiate a shift in the way you think, feel and act with respect to mental health by increasing your awareness, reducing stigma and other barriers to care in the workplace, encouraging mental health conversations, and strengthening your resilience. By accomplishing these goals, TWM aims to help you maintain your wellness and support others living with a mental health condition in a psychologically healthy and safe work setting.

    Participants will receive a certificate of completion from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

    Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

    Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    Location: Virtual

    Target Audience: Faculty and Staff without direct reports

    Register Here! 

  • Crucial Conversations for Managers/Directors: June 15-19

    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, June 15, 2026 to Friday, June 19, 2026 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
      • Time: 9:30 a.m. to Noon
      • Location: Virtual
      • Target Audience: Managers/Directors

    REGISTER

  • Just For the Health of it Photo Contest : June 22 - September 11

    Our annual just for the health of it photo contest will be returning! Get ready to snap photos of your favorite people, places pets and pastimes!

    Stay tuned for further details!

Reoccurring

Learning and Development

Sustainability Events

Please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist, with questions or if you should require an accommodation in order to participate in any of the events.