Related Topic: Other 2008 Health & Wellness Nominations
2008 Health & Wellness Award Nominations
All the nominees for BCEEA’s 2008 Health & Wellness Award have made significant contributions to individual and workplace health. We commend their exemplary leadership and commitment. ___________________________________________________________________________
Nominee: Dyne Torgeson
Executive Director Real Estate, LCS (Victoria)
Nominator: Jim Baker
Real Estate Manager, LCS (Victoria)
Narrative: Dyne creates a stress-free atmosphere that helps our team get the work done and makes this an enjoyable place to work. He has done many things to promote healthy living, including: setting up a gold putting-game right outside his office, an on-going weight loss contest, Qi Gong at morning breaks, and healthy food choices at catered lunches. Our department scored exemplary marks in the employee engagement survey. A true leader by example, Dyne has participated in our weight loss contest, and has lost nearly 50 pounds in the past year. He also encourages us to take short walks at break times, to help us keep active and alert. Dyne is a deserving candidate for this award.
___________________________________________________________________________
Nominee: Michelle Tessier
Workplace Health Advisor, HSD (Victoria)
Nominator: Gale Bryant
Workplace Health Advisor, HSD (Victoria)
Narrative: Michelle worked for the Ministry of Housing & Social Development for 17 years, in Vancouver, and the Fraser Region before moving to Victoria where she worked tirelessly to create the best wellness program for staff and the ministry as Workplace Health Advisor, Vancouver Island Region.
Michelle had an intuitive sense about the best solutions. Key to her way of helping was follow up to ensure everyone was ok. She was extremely proactive when it came to health initiatives, giving up personal time to involve people in health and wellness initiatives. She chaired our regional Health and Wellness Committee, coordinating staff across Vancouver Island, promoting corporate initiatives as well as motivating staff to develop their own. She supported staff working through health and safety issues within the region making sure everyone’s voice was heard. In addition she supported staff in increasing their knowledge of health and safety issues through training and involvement in a variety of committees, including Health and Wellness and Occupational Health and Safety Committees. Sadly, Michelle passed away suddenly on May 8th, 2008. We believe she is a worthy recipient of this award, and we will always remember her kindness and zest for life.
____________________________________________________________________________
Nominee: Ministry of Education Healthy Workplace Committee
EDUC (Victoria)
Nominator: Wanda Smith
Executive Coordinator, EDUC (Victoria)
Narrative: Over the past 18 months the Ministry of Education’s Healthy Workplace Committee has worked tirelessly (off the sides of desks, during lunch and after hours), creatively leading the Ministry of Education to promote healthy lifestyle habits in our workplace and making healthy living a defining part of our corporate culture.
With small (and large) steps, from making healthy foods available in our vending machines to encouraging us to use the stairs, the committee is creating a better, stronger and more efficient workplace. Beyond a personal sense of accomplishment and achievement, modeling a healthy lifestyle makes our staff a powerful force for change in the school system as a whole.
We have worked through safety and liability issues, space accessibility contracts, funding, and soliciting staff buy-in from all levels, but the committee’s determination and positive approach have led to many successes – running groups, soccer games, chair massages – even salsa dancing! We’ve had the first ministry golf tournament, and it looks like another one is on the way. The committee organized its first recreation and fitness fair with an impressive 65% staff turnout and even more impressive was a 75% staff participation rate in our very own eduAction virtual fitness challenge.
With their enthusiasm and positive spirit, their willingness to model and lead, the Ministry of Education’s Healthy Workplace Committee members have had a profoundly positive impact on workplace health and employee engagement. They are without a doubt, deserving of this prestigious award.
____________________________________________________________________________
Nominee: Criminal Justice Branch
MAG (Victoria)
Nominator: Brent Thompson
Project Manager, Special Prosecutions, CJB (Victoria)
Narrative: One of the biggest challenges for any busy legal organization is to find a way to cultivate and maintain a healthy work/life balance. The Criminal Justice Branch has implemented formal and informal initiatives that make it easier for people to achieve that balance.
Creating a safe, secure, healthy and productive place to work is one of the Branch’s primary goals. Managers receive regular training about the importance of work/life balance, the symptoms of stress-related disorders and negative coping strategies in themselves and in others. The Branch has also established peer-counseling initiatives to provide individual or family counseling, and has been actively involved in the Canadian Bar Association’s Work Life Balance Committee. They hold ‘Lunch and learn’ sessions about issues relating to wellness, fitness, relaxation and nutrition.
In addition to formal initiatives, the Criminal Justice Branch has also been a leader in supporting alternative work schedules that accommodate the needs of employees and reduce stress related to work/life imbalances. They frequently accommodate arrangements such as time off following lengthy trials, part-time work and job-sharing, leaves of absence and irregular work hours. I believe the Branch is doing a great deal to improve the health and wellbeing of its employees, and is a worthy recipient of this award.
2008 Health & Wellness Award Nominations > PDF
RELATED TOPIC: Sandra Bramhill Wins Health & Wellness Award > PDF
