Human Health and Nutritional Sciences (HHNS) has nearly 50 staff and faculty employees, across 4 buildings on the University of Guelph main campus. The Wellness@Work grant they received in 2018 helped to further their existing workplace culture and provided the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships outside of work. The specific goals of the initiative were to:
In 2018, the Office of Research launched a new Volunteer Connection program for their department, with support from a Wellness@Work Grant.
In 2018, Research Financial Services received a Wellness@Work grant for their RFS Reaching for Success in Wellness application.
They held an 8-week health (steps) challenge within their department, focusing on physical activity and hosted three group walking tours to motivate each other. Through the steps challenge, 7 of them collectively walked over 4 million steps in 8 weeks.
They held two lunch and learn sessions, which provided helpful coping skills and tips for dealing with stress that can be part of their work.
University of Guelph Hospitality Services has long been recognized as a Canadian leader for sustainability initiatives within the food service and retail operations. For 10 years in a row, Maclean’s Magazine has voted U of G the #1 Food Service University in Canada.
Wellness@Work wanted to give employees a chance to go behind-the-scenes of the extensive food operation in the University Centre, to learn more about how the food we eat gets stored, prepared and delivered on campus.
The July Wellness@Work calendar is now posted and there are a lot of exciting activities to participate in this July!
Join the new ON TOUR series to explore unique spaces on campus that are focused on sustainability. Tour the UC Basement Kitchen, the Honey Bee Research Centre or the Organic Farm. Join a talk from the Sustainability Office to learn more about the sustainability programs U of G is known for.
If you have a busy scheduled filled to the brim with work, hobbies, and errands, carving out some time for your friends can be difficult. But your pals are important and good friends are good for your health. It’s important to find ways to make time for friends, even if it seems like your planner can't handle another engagement.
Rebecca Best from U of G's Athletics Department has created a short "Summer Fresh" video presentation that showcases beautiful garden photos she has taken.
View this short video on a break. By incorporating relaxation into your day, you can drastically reduce stress levels in the body, and improve both your physical and mental health.
In July, Wellness@Work is inviting faculty and staff on an exclusive tour to the Honey Bee Research Centre to learn more about the work they do and how they are supporting honey bee health.
Bees play an important role as pollinators, working on both wild plants and food crops. Below are 7 tips on how you can keep bees in your garden:
1. Plan for Continuous Bloom
2. Mass Plants
3. Avoid Pesticides
4. Choose Single Blooms
5. Use Colourful Plants with Scent
6. Dead-Head and Prune
7. Water and Fertilize Adequately
There are 2 recycling rules:
Review a detailed sorting list to help you recycle responsibly on campus: https://www.uoguelph.ca/sustainability/recycling.
When compostable material is placed in the garbage, it's sent to landfill. In the landfill, this material is compressed over time as more garbage is added. During this process, food waste in unable to decompose due to lack of access to oxygen. Instead, it produces methane, and in turn contributes to global warming.
When we compost, organic materials are diverted from landfill. This process also allows valuable nutrients to return to the soil. This organic material is no longer considered "waste", it's now a useful resource.