Events, initiatives and training

Join us for Brushes & Banter, a relaxed seasonal themed paint session designed to spark creativity and connection with colleagues. All participants will receive a paint kit (photo below) with their canvas, paints, and brushes*.  We'll follow an on-demand step-by-step Paint Nite instructional video of a holly jolly snowman (photo below), making it easy for all skill levels to participate. The instructional video is 55 minutes in length; however, rooms have been booked for 2-hours.  Participants must be in attendance to receive a paint kit.
*Note: Aprons are not provided.

Available sessions:
Session #1: Friday, November 27 at Charles Hall (CHA-213) from Noon to 2pm.
Session #2: Monday, November 30 at North Campus (SHA-024) from Noon to 2pm.
Session #3: Tuesday, December 1 at North Campus (SHA-037)** from 2pm to 4pm.
Session #4: Thursday, December 3 at North Campus (SHA-037)** from Noon to 2pm
Session #5: Tuesday, December 8 at Charles Hall (CHA-217) from 11am to 1pm.
Session #6: Wednesday, December 9 at North Campus (SHA-024) from 10am to Noon.
**Sessions in SHA-037 are smaller to provide a quieter option for participants.

Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.  When registering, please rank your preferred session and if there are any sessions you cannot attend.

REGISTER TODAY!

You will receive a calendar invite to confirm your session registration.

Audience: Staff/Faculty

All participants will be painting a Holly Jolly Snowman.

Paint kit contents:

If you have questions or need more information, please email wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca.  Thank you!

Celebrate the holiday & winter season with Ontario Tech’s annual Door Decorating Contest!

How it works:

1.  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.
   
   
2. Decorate your door in celebration of the holiday and/or winter season.  Please ensure your theme is respectful and please be mindful that any decorations used do not damage the door upon removal.   
   
   
3. On or before Wednesday, December 9, email wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca the following:

• A photo of your door
• Names of decorating participants
• Your Department/Faculty

It can be difficult to squeeze in time for our health and well-being with the holidays approaching, and limited daylight in our evenings.  The Winter Solstice occurs on December 21^st and is the day of the year when we have the least amount of daylight. 

To help you infuse wellness into your days, welcome Winter with our 12 Days of Self-Care until the Winter Solstice Activity Sheet (coming soon).  Choose from activities that will help you connect with colleagues, get into the holiday spirit, and take time to be well. 

After participating, enter our prize draw on/before Wednesday, December 23.  The Winner will be contacted in January 2027. 

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, February 8, 2027 to Friday, February 12, 2027 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Virtual
Target Audience: Employees

REGISTER

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, March 1, 2027 to Friday, March 5, 2027 (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:

• Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Run Club and completed the Chancellor's Challenge!

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. 

• 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