Fore! Jenn Skelding, Executive Director, Student Life and Success, got some tips on the green from Espen Lester, Manager and Instructor at Brock Golf Course during Brock's Employee Wellness Day.From pickleball and crochet to board games and the Butterfly Conservatory, wellness came in many forms for Brock employees on Tuesday, June 25.
The University’s annual Employee Wellness Day saw nearly 700 participants come together to explore a variety of activities meant to encourage wellness in all aspects and connection between colleagues.
The day began with Department of Music Chair Karin Di Bella delivering a personal Land Acknowledgement followed by Brock University President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg providing opening remarks to the crowd gathered in Rankin Family Pavilion.
Employees then headed off to their pick of nearly 90 workshops and activities, such as painting, yoga, forest therapy and the opportunity to volunteer in the local community.
Jasmine Little (right), Manager, Sponsored Research and Internal Programs in the Office of Research Services, accepts the annual Health, Safety and Wellness Champion award from James Iseghayan, Brock’s Director of Health, Safety and Wellness.
In an effort to give back, donations of non-perishable food items were collected both in the lead-up to and during Wellness Day in support of Community Care.
The daylong event concluded with participants gathering for the presentation of Brock’s fifth annual Health, Safety and Wellness Champion award during the closing ceremony. This year’s recipient is Jasmine Little, Manager of Sponsored Research and Internal Programs in the Office of Research Services.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award,” Little said. “Promoting health, safety and wellness is so important to me as I believe it is essential for creating a positive and supportive environment at Brock.”
Little was recognized for her exceptional leadership in and dedication to promoting health and wellness within the Office of Research Services by demonstrating unwavering commitment to supporting her team’s well-being. She does this by actively working to protect her staff’s time and assisting team members in establishing a healthy work-life balance, with the goal of preventing burnout.
Little also regularly shares lessons from the Working Mind framework and associated training, and advocates for team members to attend training to establish a common language for discussing wellness issues.
“I aim to inspire health, safety and wellness in others by fostering a culture where every team member feels genuinely valued and cared for,” she says. “By leading with empathy, providing support and encouraging open communication, we can ensure these principles are integral to our daily lives and community.”
Ticket sales from the Wellness Day raffles, which saw 68 items up for grabs, raised $4,000 in support of student awards. Winning ticket numbers and prize pick-up instructions are available on the Wellness Day SharePoint page.
In the next month, Wellness Day participants will receive an email from Brock’s Office of People and Culture inviting them to participate in an online survey. Feedback gathered from the survey will inform planning for future Wellness Day events.
Share photos of the day by emailing wellnessday@brocku.ca and including the session or activity and, if possible, the names of individuals in the photos.
