Aiming to promote wellness year-round and provide greater accessibility to wellness sessions for faculty and staff, Live Well @Work will now consist of bi-monthly wellness activities throughout the year. These activities will continue to be offered at both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.

The Live Well @Work week was initially created to acknowledge the ‘whole selves’ that staff and faculty bring to work each day. Mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being are celebrated at the Live Well @Work events; allowing staff and faculty to take the time to relax, learn, laugh and connect with colleagues.  The same spirit of holistic wellness will be honored with the new format.

Dementia: wellness & caring for the caregiver

To start off 2020, we will celebrate Alzheimer’s Awareness Month by offering two sessions focusing on dementia and Alzheimer’s.  Registration is encouraged.

Feel free to bring your lunch and enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks as we explore advances in treatments for dementia and get tips on caring for yourself as a caregiver.

 No one needs to go through dementia alone.

Fort Garry campus: The Forgotten Ones: Challenges with Alzheimer’s Research and Care

Speaker: Dr. Benedict Albensi

Date: January 16, 2020

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Location: 327 Education Building

Bannatyne campus: Alzheimer’s disease non-pharmacological treatment options

Speaker: Dr. Zahra Moussavi

Date: January 17, 2020

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Location: 061 Apotex Building

Attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable item to donate to the UM Food Bank to help support UM students in need.

For more information about Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, check out the Alzheimer Society of Canada website.

In March, join us to discover new ideas for easy lunch and freezer meals from a registered dietician. Save the dates below.

• March 9 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Fort Garry (location TBA)
• March 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bannatyne (location TBA)

The week’s offerings

Whether you wanted to spend time with colleagues crafting or gardening, learning about campus architecture during a guided walk, or improving your nutritional knowledge, Live Well @Work week had something for everyone.

At the wellness fairs, faculty and staff learned about the many wellness resources available at the U of M and though external vendors. Visitors at the Fort Garry fair discovered the art of paper-marbling in creating sustainable bohemian wall hangings to take home, give as a gift to a friend, or put on display in their offices. Coffee and treats were available for attendees.

A terrarium workshop brought participants together in a new, exciting way. Spending the afternoon gardening was a great way to reduce stress, improve our mood and purify the air.

Other participants learned about mindfulness and how it can enrich our lives, while gaining valuable insight on how mindfulness can be incorporated into our workday.

Another highlight of the week was seeing the community come together to learn about the seven sacred teachings and the medicine wheel. Elder Norman Meade welcomed participants to the sharing circle, encouraging participants to connect with their own inner wisdom and spirit.

The planning committee received the following feedback about the week:

• “Create your own terrarium was awesome. I loved getting to take time away from work to do something fun and creative. I keep my terrarium in my office and now I get to look at it and feel happy every day!”
• “The terrarium workshop was absolutely phenomenal.”
• “My terrarium looks great in my office and provides some “life” in it.”
• “I loved learning about Indigenous ways of being.”
• “Medicine Wheel could be an ongoing series. If so, I would make every effort attend regularly.”
• “The week got me out of my office at lunch, gave me a chance to interact with other staff on campus, learn some strategies to bring back to work and personal life, such as mindfulness techniques, creating balance, and nutrition.”

Overall, this year’s Live Well @Work week was a success. The planning committee hopes to build upon the momentum and offer wellness sessions and gatherings throughout the year.

“We want our university community to thrive, both personally and professionally,” says Arlana Vadnais, employee wellness specialist, human resources.

“The goal of the week is to celebrate our health and wellness resources, and to support our community with new tools and options to enhance their lives and help them find a balanced lifestyle.”

The university is committed to creating a work environment that supports work-life balance and mental, physical, emotional and spiritual development.

If you have event suggestions or would like to partner with the planning committee to develop new sessions for our employee community, please reach out to Arlana Vadnais at arlana.vadnais@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-8323.

The Live Well initiative is a collaboration between Active Living, Human Resources, Student Affairs and the Office of Sustainability and is closely aligned with our university mental health strategy, Success through Wellness. Dedicated to building personal and community health, Live Well provides accessible information about the many resources available to students and employees on our campus.

The Live Well @Work week takes place every June, and features a wellness fair along with many workshops and activities, from outdoor yoga to lectures to Medicine Wheel teachings. Last year’s Live Well @Work at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses attracted nearly 650 faculty and staff.

Health and wellness initiatives are also supported by the Respectful Work and Learning Environment (RWLE) policy, which promotes diversity and inclusion.

Recently, the U of M established Success through Wellness grants to fund student, staff and faculty projects that foster positive mental health and wellbeing for the campus community. Read more about the initiative in UM Today. 

“Wellness is about our whole selves — our mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being,” says Arlana Vadnais, U of M’s employee wellness specialist and campus mental health facilitator. “So we think broadly when developing new programs and initiatives.”

“Our wide range of wellness programming is meant to provide community members with opportunities to focus on well-being, maintain positive, professional relationships, and be engaged in our work,” she adds.

“Ultimately, we want to continue to move forward as a strong and healthy community.”

A list of health and wellness resources for faculty and staff (each title is a link to a U of M webpage):

Live Well @ U of M
This cross-campus initiative promotes health and wellness resources through informational campaigns, activities and an online hub, recognizing the “whole selves” that faculty and staff bring to work each day. The website includes supports for employees’ mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being. 

Live Well @Work week and year-round activities
The Live Well @Work week takes place every June, at both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, and features a wellness fair along with many workshops and activities, from outdoor yoga to lectures on topics such as mindfulness to Medicine Wheel teachings. Watch for additional programming year-round. 

U of M’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
The 24/7 program provides a free and confidential range of services, including personal counselling, tools to manage stress, and a variety of wellness resources. It is managed by an outside supplier.

U of M’s Psychological Service Centre
Did you know the university has a dedicated professional to provide advice and consultation for faculty members about mental health and well-being? Contact Harold Wallbridge, director, Psychological Service Centre, 204-474-9069 or harold.wallbridge@umanitoba.ca

Office of Human Rights & Conflict Management (OHRCM)
The OHRCM promotes a respectful working and learning environment in which individuals are treated equitably and diversity is valued and inclusion is fostered. They provide conflict resolution supports including one-on-one coaching, mediation, conciliation and facilitated group dialogue, as well as support in situations of harassment, discrimination and sexual assault.

Learning and Organizational Development (LOD)
This spring, LOD will host a new workshop on self-care that will cover simple ways we can take of ourselves in our daily lives. Among the many offerings are workshops on mental health first aid, managing conflict and creating a respectful work and learning environment.

Human resources consultants
The team of specialists provide coaching and advising services, engaging with community members to maintain a respectful and fulfilling work environment. Consultants work at both campuses and look forward to collaborating with colleagues.

Office of Human Rights & Conflict Management’s Respect Policy
The Respectful Work and Learning Environment (RWLE) policy promotes diversity and inclusion within the university community, and an overall climate of respect.

Success through Wellness: The University of Manitoba’s Campus Mental Health Strategy
Launched in 2014, Success through Wellness supports and promotes mental health and well-being and encompasses students, staff and faculty in fulfillment of the U of M’s strategic priority of providing an outstanding working and learning environment. The strategy focuses on building a community that is committed, caring, healthy, responsive, supportive and resourceful. It includes 67 recommendations that fall under six goal areas.

Explore the wide range of wellness programming, committees and groups at www.umanitoba.ca/livewell

For more information on wellness programming and mental health resources, contact Arlana Vadnais at arlana.vadnais@umanitoba.ca.

Any general questions can be directed to hrfeedback@umanitoba.ca or human resources contact us webpage.

Since 2010, the campaign dedicated to moving mental health forward in our country has raised close to $100 million to support mental health programs. The strategy is built on four pillars: anti-stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research, and leading by example in workplace mental health.

“Financial support, innovative learning environment and experiential learning opportunities are always top of mind when it comes to providing an outstanding student experience,” says David Barnard, President of the University of Manitoba. “But in order to focus on their studies, be present in class and explore new paths, students must have healthy, active minds. We applaud Bell’s efforts in this area and encourage students to seek out ways to maintain positive mental health through on-campus services.”

On January 30, #BellLetsTalk Day, for every text, mobile and long distance call made on the Bell network, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view, or use of the Facebook frame or Snapchat filter, Bell will contribute 5 cents more to Canadian mental health programs.

Join us and take part in any number of events have been planned on campus leading up to and on January 30:

January 25, 7 p.m.             

Bison men’s hockey at Wayne Fleming Arena

Bison men’s volleyball at Investors Group Athletic Centre

Mental health advocates and community members will be on site, fans will receive Bell Let’s Talk toques (while supplies last)

Fan activities and giveaways!

January 28-Feb 1

UMSU Students Let’s Act mental health awareness week

January 30

Bell Let’s Talk Day

Mental health advocates and community members in UMSU University Centre

Wellness Sharing Circle (International Centre & Spiritual Care),  3:30-4:30 p.m.

Bell Let’s Talk at Bannatyne, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Come meet the staff from Services for Students at Bannatyne Campus and get information, resources, and giveaways in the Brodie Atrium.

“If we want to keep drawing the best people, we have to be on our game and make sure people feel they can make a difference in a real and substantive way.”

The province’s largest post-secondary institution has been selected as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers for the sixth consecutive time in the annual national survey. The focus that the university places on the quality of its work environment is integrated throughout the strategic plan. It’s clear that employee development and overall health and wellness is integral to its operations — from “Success Through Wellness”, a mental health strategy aimed to reduce the stigma of mental illness, to initiatives like “Live Well @Work Week,” an event with sessions on diverse topics like stress reduction, yoga and mindfulness. In addition, there are 145 development sessions offered to staff annually, as well as employee recognition programs through the annual Awards of Excellence, in order to nurture a high-calibre work environment that is both supportive and inclusive.

“We also have many members of our community working on inclusion and diversity. Our university is committed to advancing Indigenous achievement and to creating an accessible community.

“We’re making sure we do all we can to build on a welcoming environment in order to recruit more great people to work at the U of M,” says O’Riley.

Roxanne Tackie, an Awards Officer in the U of M’s Faculty of Grad Studies, knows about the accolades first-hand. She received an award of excellence for inclusion relating to her work on an event to celebrate Black History Month earlier this year.

“That meant a lot to me personally, for the university to recognize me, the event and the amount of work that was put into it. It makes me want to work on big events like that again. It motivates you to go above and beyond in the future because people appreciate what you’re doing,” she says.

By recognizing the work of its people, Tackie says the U of M is setting itself apart from other employers in Winnipeg and universities across the country.

“I’ve worked elsewhere where people have been recognized for years of service, but I’ve never seen an award for something specific,” she says.

Unionized employees and administration workers initiated the Awards of Excellence program to ensure that support staff were consistently being recognized. The awards celebrate a number of areas — leadership, service, teamwork, diversity and inclusion and a president’s award honouring careers of commitment. 

What Mark O’Riley loves is how the awards let people know that what they do matters.

“They increase loyalty and performance and really engage people when they know that what they do is appreciated. The nominators talk about the people they’re nominating and the difference they have made for them,” he says.

Professional development is another high priority at the U of M. Programs like Management Fundamentals and the Leaders Learning Program offer sessions designed to support leaders at various levels throughout the organization.

When Tackie completed a certificate in supervisory training in 2016, she was appreciative of the encouragement and back-up she received from her department.

“They were very supportive of me missing days at my desk to go for professional development, even when some of it didn’t relate to my current job. You’re learning more about the processes you don’t normally do so that you feel confident to apply for a position that comes with more responsibility,” she says.

Supporting the growth and development of staff is key, adds O’Riley.

“We try to make our programs as interactive and practical as possible. We want to give members of our staff the opportunity to tap into their true potential.”

See all 2019 Manitoba Top Employers here.

New format

This year’s Live Well @Work week format is new. Each campus will host a wellness fair and a one-day conference open to all staff and faculty.

The Live Well @Work conference will be held on Wednesday, May 30 at the Bannatyne campus and Thursday, May 31 at the Fort Garry campus. Workshops and times will be posted on the Live Well @Work website. The wellness fairs will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Monday at Bannatyne and Tuesday at Fort Garry.

The conference offers three streams, “Body,” “Mind” and “Life,” with corresponding popular sessions such as Medicine Wheel Teachings, mindful self-compassion or coping with stress.  New this year are some financial wellness sessions such as planning for your future and retirement. Conference participants can attend a single one-hour session, part of the day or the full day, depending on their schedule and needs of their unit.

For the first time, the Active Living Centre and Joe Doupe Recreation Centre also offers its free Staff Appreciation Week as part of the Live Well @Work week, so faculty and staff can enjoy free admittance and group fitness classes throughout the week.

The new format incorporates active living and fitness offerings and condenses workshop times to allow for coordinated presentations across both campuses.

Participating

Greg Juliano, associate vice-president (human resources), encourages everyone to participate in the Live Well @Work week. “Getting tips on health and wellness, feeling refreshed and recharged, and networking with colleagues is time well-spent in a workday,” he says. “The U of M is dedicated to supporting and engaging our faculty and staff to create a healthy and outstanding community.”

He notes that partnering with other units and community members has resulted in a fun and impressive line-up.

If the operational needs of a unit can still be met, supervisors are encouraged to release employees to participate as a professional development opportunity, and part of their regular workday.

Drawing on health and wellness resources available at the U of M, Live Well @Work week at the U of M has been created to acknowledge the ‘whole selves’ that faculty and staff bring to work each day.

Live Well @Work ties into the overall Live Well initiative, a webhub that gathers health and wellness resources at the U of M, and Success through Wellness: U of M’s Mental Health Strategy. Together, these efforts support the university’s goal to create an outstanding learning and working environment. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Live Well @Work week coordinator Erica Ominga at J.Ominga@umanitoba.ca

To read the guidelines on attending U of M sponsored events as part of a regular workday, download the Guidelines on Development and Engagement Opportunities.  

FORT GARRY CAMPUS

Monday to Friday: Staff Appreciation Day at the gym. Fitness classes will be posted on the Active Living Centre website.

Tuesday, May 29: Wellness Fair: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Marshall McLuhan Hall. 

Thursday, May 31: Live Well @Work Conference: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conference workshops and times will be posted on the Live Well @Work website. Conference participants can attend a single one-hour session, part of the day or the full day, depending on their schedule and needs of their unit.

BANNATYNE CAMPUS

Monday to Friday: Staff Appreciation Day at the gym. Fitness classes will be posted on the Joe Doupe Rec Centre website.

Monday, May 28: Wellness Fair: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Brodie Atrium. 

Wednesday, May 30: Live Well @Work Conference: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conference workshops and times will be posted on the Live Well @Work website. Conference participants can attend a single one-hour session, part of the day or the full day, depending on their schedule and needs of their unit.

“I helped put a man on the moon,” the caretaker replied.

Juliano, who serves as the University of Manitoba’s associate vice-president of human resources, believes that same spirit of working towards a common goal exists in spades at the province’s largest post-secondary institution.

“It’s a unique employer in the sense that you really feel like you’re working for a purpose,” Juliano says. “The education and research missions of the University are so important for our young people and for the economic health of the province. What we try to do is create an atmosphere where everyone—from professor to caretaker—truly feels like they are contributing to that mission in some way.”

That is just one of the reasons why the University of Manitoba has landed on Manitoba’s Top Employers list. The institution—celebrating its 140th anniversary this year as the oldest university in western Canada—places great priority on ensuring its faculty and staff are not only challenged and satisfied professionally, but healthy as well. It’s no wonder there are so many long-term employees like Sandra Woloschuk, associate director of learning and organizational development, who recently celebrated her 20th anniversary at the University.

 “One of the advantages of working in such a large and complex organization is that you have the opportunity to advance to different positions,” Woloschuk says. “It’s an opportunity to learn a new job but also learn more about the organization. I have been here 20 years and I’m in my fourth role.”

The University supports employees through programs like Live Well @ Work, which was created to acknowledge the ‘whole selves’ that staff and faculty bring to work each day. It focuses on mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health, and it has its own dedicated week of activities on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.

In addition to supporting the health of over 9,000 staff members, the University continually seeks to improve resources for their families. “We have very good employee and family assistance programs that cover everything from nutritional counselling to legal help,” says Juliano, who has worked at the University for 11 years. The U of M has an on-site pharmacy, dental centre and childcare services. This past October, the campus daycare broke new ground for an expansion that will provide an additional 52 spaces when completed. 

Committed to providing education and development opportunities for staff, more than 125 workshops are available for professional development—10 of which are included in the Leaders Learning Program.

“It was developed to provide a collegial space for our leaders to continue to learn and develop their interpersonal skills,” Woloschuk says. “We cover emotional intelligence, social intelligence, building resiliency and leading high performance teams—and even how to coach others through change.”

The concept of celebrating the ‘whole selves’ of employees is reflected in many of these resources, as well as the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and community engagement. Recognized with a 2017 Canada’s Best Diversity Employers award, the University is also a leading partner in national Indigenous reconciliation efforts.

This November, the U of M hosted the annual Building Reconciliation forum, which brings together leaders from universities, colleges and Indigenous communities to take action on reconciliation and create lasting change. Working with partners and communities to advance Indigenous achievement, the University also offers many Indigenous-focused programs and opportunities, such as the BMO Financial Group Indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship.

Peter Pomart, who is the program director of the Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) in the Asper School of Business, is seeing positive results.

“I see the role of the work we do being able to help foster reconciliation,” Pomart says—noting how Indigenous-focused programs such as the IBEP strengthen both the University community and bridge connections with the community-at-large.

For Woloschuk, this only reinforces the U of M’s commitment to creating an outstanding learning and working environment for its entire community of students, faculty and staff.

“I have really enjoyed my time in the organization,” she says. “I hope to spend the rest of my career here.”

Survey comments included:

“Live Well @Work made me feel like my employer cares about my well-being.”

“The events opened up doors of information I didn’t have before.”

“It was a bonus to have events during the work hours.”

“I was more relaxed after the meditation session and wish it could be a weekly thing.”

One hundred per cent of respondents said they want Live Well @Work to continue in the future.

This year’s Live Well @Work week was held June 19 to 23 at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, attracting nearly 650 faculty and staff to the 20 wellness events held over the lunch hour. Events celebrates and explores physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.

This year, there were UM Researcher Spotlights led by university professors, in addition to a nature walk, outdoor yoga and a workshop on integrating self-compassion into our daily lives.

At both campuses, the wellness fair attracted a crowd, showcasing wellness companies and organizations as well as U of M departments. Participants mingled and enjoyed coffee and refreshments.

“This is a fun week where we acknowledge our whole selves that we bring to work each day,” says Arlana Vadnais, employee wellness specialist and campus mental health facilitator at the U of M.

The survey highlights a demand for more physical and mental health workshops, as well as events that incorporate and feature Indigenous knowledge, says Vadnais. Respondents also suggested the types of wellness programming they would like to see year-round.

“On behalf of the planning committee, I want to give a heartfelt thanks to all the participants and presenters who embraced Live Well @Work and made it such a success!”

For more on the event, see the human resources website and previous UM Today article. 

To view the University of Manitoba’s broad range of wellness programming, visit the U of M  Live Well Hub.

There are a range of benefits people value at their place of work. For some, it might be a great pension and medical plan, for others it might be flexible holiday times, or even a chance to bring their dog to work. For me, I value the opportunity to fit a workout into my workday.

As a former Olympic swimmer who dedicated 20 years to competitive sport, finding time to exercise is key to my mental and physical wellness. I crave the ability to elevate my heart rate and challenge myself.

So when I started working at the University of Manitoba five years ago I immediately signed up for a gym membership to take advantage of the lunchtime opportunity to visit the “Gritty Grotto”. The chance to run, participate in a fitness class, use a cardio machine and get it all done in the middle of the day is one of the biggest things l love about working at the U of M.

When the U of M opened the Active Living Centre in 2015 my lunchtime workout routine moved to a whole new level. I’ve traveled the world and visited many athletic facilities and can honestly say that the University of Manitoba’s Active Living Centre ranks at the top of my list as a workout facility. The four-level building includes a high-performance training facility, an indoor running track and a 12-metre climbing wall. The facility is also home to a research centre, strength and conditioning facilities, and three group workout studios. As the largest active living facility in Manitoba the open-concept building and bright glass exterior provide an amazing view of our campus.

The University of Manitoba is celebrating its annual Live Well @Work week from June 19 to 23 and I take note of this week every year as working at the U of M has helped me live better. To some, getting sweaty over the lunch hour sounds crazy, but for me the mental break is key for my productivity and overall happiness.