The Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) is excited to offer Ontario Tech faculty and staff free one-month track/shower memberships. The membership is available for the months of June and July, and must be renewed each month. It does not provide access to the fitness centre or gymnasiums but if you want to give those a try, contact Dwayne Christo (Oshawa) or Jamie Baker (Whitby) for three complimentary day passes.

Important note: Please bring your own towel as the CRWC does not have a towel service. Lockers are for day use only. Lockers used overnight will have the locks cut and items removed.

Instructions for faculty/staff:

1. Go to registercrwc.dc-ot.ca.
2. Log in using your Banner number and network password.
3. Select Memberships.
4. Select Faculty/Staff Track & Shower Membership - 1 Month and complete the registration. 
5. You’ll need to scan your faculty/staff digital card at the CRWC to enter the turnstiles.

Summer group fitness classes have also started up. Visit the Fitness classes page on the Ridgebacks website for more information on how to register.

Is the kitchen your happy place? Do you have favorite family recipe? Does cooking bring you joy? 

Why not share a recipe and earn a chance to be part of the 2025 Healthy Workplace recipe calendar? 

From Friday, March 1 – Monday, September 30, recipes from the following categories can be submitted to wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca

          A Main course

          B Non-alcoholic drinks

          C Appetizers/snacks

Individuals can submit up to one recipe for each category. 

As recipes are received, they will be posted and voting will take place between Monday, October 7 - Friday, October 18. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 25.

Consider the following when selecting what recipe(s) to submit:

🍎cooking instructions are easy to follow
🍑includes components of Canada's Food Guide
🍎ingredients are fresh/locally sourced and budget friendly

Include the following when submitting your recipe(s):

Name:                                                         Department/Faculty:

Category:                                                     A or B or C

Recipe ingredients/cooking instructions:

Picture of recipe once completed.  

Start thinking about your favorite recipe(s) and get ready to submit to wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca 

The Healthy Workplace Committee is receiving delicious recipes as part of the Recipe Contest event and will be featuring entries for your review and cooking enjoyment! 

Submitted by: Sarah Thrush, Office of Planning and Analysis

Category: Snack

Recipe name: Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

"This is one of my favorite gluten free cookie recipes. Not one of my own but the go to from the internet."

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
• 1/4 cup almond flour (or and additional 1/4 cup gluten-free 1:1 baking flour for nut free)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/4 cup coconut oil softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
•  1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup coconut or an additional 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. Place the softened butter, coconut oil, brown sugar and white sugar in a bowl. Mix until light in color, 1-2 minutes.

2. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, another 1-2 minutes.

3. Scoop out the dr ingredients (gluten-free flour, almond flour, baking soda and salt) and mix until incorporated.

4. Add the gluten-free oats, chocolate chips and coconut. Stir or mix until combined.

5. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. Then scoop out the cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet.

6. Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Enjoy warm, freshly baked gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!

Just For the Health of It Photo Contest

To support the university’s commitment to a healthy workplace, your Healthy Workplace Committee would like to offer all employees the opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable people, cherished places, beloved pets and supportive university peers that have brought you joy, comfort, and/or solace.

Contest Details:

• One photo submission per category, per person (four photos maximum per employee).
• Amateur photos only (photos should clearly meet category criteria).
• Maximum size: 10MB.
• Use the following naming convention for each photo you submit: [category]_[last name]; e.g. A_Smith; B_Smith; C_Smith; D_Smith.
• Provide a photo caption describing your photo (maximum of 100 characters).
• Photos to be submitted to wellnessatwork@ontariotechu.ca between Monday, June 10, and Friday, September 6.

                                                          Snap your fav' people, places, pets and peers and share.

Time: 9 - 11 AM

Invasive plants outcompete native plants and have negative impacts on how ecosystems function, on native vegetation, and native wildlife. Join us at Windfields Farm to tackle these plants and improve our campus biodiversity!  

The first 30 mins will be a presentation on which invasive plants we are targeting (dog-strangling vine, buckthorn, and burdock) as well as how to safely use tools. The group will then be split up to tackle different areas of the farm. 

REGISTER

ASIST is a two-day in-person workshop featuring powerful audio-visuals, discussions, and simulations. You'll learn how to recognize when someone might be thinking about suicide, and how to provide a skilled intervention and develop a safety plan with the person to connect them to further support. This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide suicide first aid.

This training requires a minimum of 8 participants to occur.

REGISTER

You have probably heard the saying that the gut is your second brain. In this Lunch and Learn session, you will learn why a healthy gut is so important for both physical and metal health. What constitute a healthy digestive tract will be explored as well as the prime importance of the microflora that inhabit our gut.

In partnership with the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability, Dr. Bardin will discuss in season vegetables being grown at Windfields Farmlands and how they can support and contribute to our gut health.

At Ontario Tech University, we encourage staff to prioritize their health, so we hope you can join us for this very informative session. To your gut.

Congratulations to all participants on completing the 2024 Every Day in May Health Challenge.

Top Teams:
After the fifth week of points tallying, the leaderboard (scores are averaged by the number of team members) are as follows:

1. Provost Perambulators
2. The Young and the Rest of Us
3. Britlinks
4. Ketchup if You Can
5. Shelf Care
6. FitFabFive +1
7. Take a Hike
8. Fit Babes in Training (FBIT)
9. SAS
10. Non-Brits
11. SIRC du Sore Legs
12. IT Ninja Warriors
13. Team Terminator
14. S.A.S.S.
15. ACE Walkers
16. Nutrition Nerds
17. Team Forens-fit
18. Positive Vibes
19. Jabberwalkies
20. Pedominators
21. Serenity Squad
22. The Dream Team
23. Brand Champs
24. Adventure Bay

The only international mental health training program that is being delivered in 25+ countries around the world.  Participants will learn how to support someone who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis.  A certificate from the Mental Health Commission of Canada is provided upon completion.

*Participants are required to complete a ~2-Hour online self-directed learning module prior to attending the Wednesday, October 9 virtual training day.  To facilitate access to this course, please register by Friday, September 20.

REGISTER

Gain knowledge to identify shifts in mental well-being in yourself and others while learning coping skills to manage stress. Increasing our awareness about mental health will help reduce stigma associated with mental illness. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).

Tuesday, November 5
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: In-person, SHA-024
Audience: Employees (Faculty adn Staff)

 REGISTER FOR THE WORKING MIND TRAINING- EMPLOYEE ON NOV 5, 2024

 A minimum of 8 participants to run a session. Participants will be notified if the session is cancelled due to low enrollment.

Develop suicide alertness through in-depth skills to recognize signs of suicide, engage someone, and ensure a connection to safety. This session is facilitated by the Canadian Mental Health Association and participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

Date: Tuesday, November 19
Time: 9 a.m. to noon.
Location: SHA-024
Target audience: All Faculty and Staff

REGISTER

Ignite your fitness journey and experience the power of group fitness. Participate in 12 weeks of summer group-fitness programming. Registration opens three days before each class. All classes are FREE to students, staff, and faculty.

You can find additional information on how to register, as well as class descriptions and times, on the Ridgebacks website under Recreation->Programs->Fitness Classes. 

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. 1-Minute Mini Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
2. 25-Minute Full Orientation for Employees - Video Recording
3. 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.

Health Safety & Wellness Fair

Thank you to everyone who visited the Fair! 

Digital Resource Package

Employees who were unable to attend can download this Digital Package of resources from the fair.

Digital Resource Package Vendors and Links
Ergonomics Position for Safety Poster
Kensington Ergonomic Equipment 
SunLife Mobile App
TELUS Health EAP Brochure 
TELUS Health EAP Service Summary

Pumpkin Voting Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who voted for the best carved and best decorated Ontario Tech Pumpkin. More than 20 pumpkins were entered into this year's Pumpkin Extravaganza contest, held at the Saturday, October 26th Health Safety and Wellness Fair. After 277 votes, the winners are:

Best Carved: Blue Screen of Death, submitted by IT Services team members:

• Christine Gray
• Anna Jaworski
• Jason Pirocchi
• Mike Prasad
• Wendy Young

Best decorated: Night of the Library Dead, submitted by Campus Library team members:

• Kate Gibbings
• Alyssa Jeffrey
• Paul Pasgas
• Jenn Tesluk