Dear Lakehead students, faculty and staff,

Response collection has ended - thank you to everyone who shared your feedback!

Lakehead launched its first Wellness Strategy in 2020. Since that time, it has guided the University’s efforts to support the wellbeing of the communities we work, study and live in. As we enter into the last year of the five-year strategy, we want to hear from you!

You’re invited to take the Wellness Strategy Pulse Check - share your insights into our progress so far and identify key areas for focus in the upcoming year.

Please complete the pulse check before Tuesday, Oct. 22 to ensure your response is included in our review.

Click Here for the Wellness Strategy Pulse Check

Thank you for taking the time to share your insights, your feedback is invaluable!

If you have any comments about the pulse check or would like to learn more about the Wellness Strategy, please contact:

Jonathon Racine
Wellness Strategy Coordinator
Email: wellnesscoordinator@lakeheadu.ca
Phone: 807-343-8010 ext. 7246

In the summer of 2017, the Superior Mental Wellness @ Work project asked the community to portray their mental health at work through creative photography.

REAL images and stories were submitted by REAL people who bravely and honestly answered two questions:

• How do you really feel at work?
• How do you take care of your mental health at work?

This exhibit features a collection of photos and captions selected from the submissions received. Each one is unique but collectively, they shed light on the reality of mental health in the workplace. The goals of the campaign are to reduce the stigma associated with talking about employee mental health and to inspire positive change towards healthy workplaces for everyone!

Check out some of the entries received in the video below.

***The Get Real Photovoice campaign is a project of the Superior Mental Wellness @ Work advisory group. Their mission is to create workplace environments that reduce psychological hazards and maintain positive mental health for employees in Thunder Bay and District. 

What can you do to support mental wellness at work?

• Learn more about the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
• Have zero tolerance for disrespectful behaviours.
• Ensure staff is clear about what is expected of them and how their work contributes to the organization.
• Provide opportunities for staff to develop their skills.
• Support employees that come forward with concerns.
• Encourage and listen to staff ideas.
• Be as flexible as you can with work schedules.
• Make consistent and fair decisions.
• Celebrate achievements and recognize staff commitment.
• Ensure employees have the resources they need to do their job well.
• Promote healthy choices and encourage breaks.
• Encourage staff to work safely and to report any hazards in the work environment. 

• Take regular breaks. Walking outside in the fresh air can be very helpful.
• Practice relaxation and breathing techniques.
• Maintain healthy work/life balance.
• Eat well, be active, drink water and get enough sleep.
• If you are having trouble coping, talk to someone you trust. Get help from a health professional if you need it. There is no shame in asking for help. Visit the Menal Health Support page for a comprehensive list of mental health services nearby.

• If a co-worker seems troubled, let them know you are there for support.
• Listen without giving advice. Ask what you can do to help.
• Encourage them to take breaks.
• Support them to get professional help, if needed. Visit the Mental Health Support page for a comprehensive list of mental health services nearby.

Helpful Links

• Workplace mental wellness resources for workplace leaders
• Mental wellness for employees
• Free local workplace mental wellness resources

For Further Information

Call the Healthy Living Program at (807) 625-5900 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630, or email workplacewellness@tbdhu.com. 

Attention Lakehead Employees - You're Invited!

As part of Alumni Homecoming Weekend, the Lakehead University Social Committee is hosting a Staff & Faculty Coffee Break on October 4th, 2024, from 1:30-3:30pm in the ***Agora***

Take a moment to relax, grab a persian, enjoy some light refreshments, and reconnect with colleagues from across campus.

This is a great opportunity to recharge and catch up in a casual setting.

To provide any feedback or suggestions, click the following link: Event Feedback Form

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sponsored by the Alumni Association of Lakehead University.

We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to the 2023 Employee Service Recognition Event.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 24, 2024,from 2:30pm to 4:00pm.

Let's come together to celebrate the remarkable dedication of our colleagues who've reached milestones of 20, 30, 40, and even 50 years of service, as well as those who retired before July 1, 2023. It promises to be a memorable occasion filled with appreciation and camaraderie. We can't wait to see you there!

Light refreshments will be served.

Please see a list of employees who will be recognized at this year's reception below.

20 Years of Service

• Lynne Thibeault, Contract Lecturer, Nursing
• Hilary Chesterman, Manager, Security Services
• Trudy Russo, Librarian III, Library
• Kathleen Michalchuk, Research Analyst (Quality), Institutional Analysis
• Tiffany Moore, Laboratory and Biosafety Specialist, Human Resources
• Daniel Rogalla, Electrician, Physical Plant
• Rhonda Dubec, Coordinator of Instructional Development, Teaching Commons
• Susan Wright, Manager, Research Ethics & Contracts, Office of Research Services
• Robert McCluskey, Electrician, Physical Plant
• Kevin Schlyter, Planning and Construction Manager, Physical Plant
• Colleen Woods, Administrative Assistant, Professional Development in Education
• Barbara Bingham, Caretaker 1, Residence Services
• Janice Mutz, Librarian IV, Library
• Christina van Barneveld, Associate Professor, Education
• Jesse Canuel, Manager, Enterprise Resource Planning, Technology Services Centre
• Ursula MacDonald, Manager, Health, Safety and Wellness, Human Resources
• Joanne Liikala, Library Clerk, Library
• Jo-Ann Vis, Associate Professor, Social Work
• Kirsten Oinonen, Professor, Psychology
• Naqi Sayed, Associate Professor, Business Administration
• Leonard Hutchison, Associate Professor, Natural Resources Management
• Kam Yu, Associate Professor, Economics
• Todd Randall, Dean Science & Environmental Studies
• Rosanna Scaffeo, Chief of Staff, President's Office
• Baoqiang Liao, Professor, Chemical Engineering
• Apichart Linhananta, Associate Professor, Physics
• Renee Fratpietro, Operations Supervisor, Paleo-DNA Laboratory

30 Years of Service

• Jennifer McKee, Administrative Assistant, Economics
• Thomas Puk, Professor, Education
• Dennis McPherson, Associate Professor, Indigenous Learning
• Josephine Tan, Professor, Psychology
• Louis Pero Manager, Varsity Sports, Athletics

40 Years of Service

• Philip Fralick, Professor, Geology

Retirees

• Bahram Dadgostar, Dean of Business Administration/ Professor, Business Administration
• Francis Clayton, Head Coach, Men's & Women's Wrestling, Athletics
• Edward Karell, Maintenance - Lead Hand, Residence
• Judy Mackie, Programmer Analyst II, TSC
• Kathy Matic, Placement Officer, Education
• Joanne McEvoy, Caretaker I - Lead Hand, Residence
• Shelley Unwin, Administrative Officer Principal, Orillia Campus
• Johane Joncas, Lab Supervisor/QC, Office Instrumentation Laboratory
• Frances Helyar, Associate Professor Education
• Alexandra Lawson, Associate Professor Education
• Edward Rawana , Professor, Psychology
• Linda McKay, Associate Professor, Nursing
• Heather Morrison, Contract Lecturer, Music
• Kathleen Traynor, Library Assistant (Archives Technician), Library
• Glenn Colton, Professor, Music

Hey Lakehead, are you ready to make a positive impact on your health and the environment?

Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Active Commute Challenge is back for 2024, and we invite you to join TBAY On The Move in this exciting journey towards physical wellness and environmental protection!

Simply visit www.tbayonthemove.ca to register and start logging your active commuting activities. Throughout the challenge, there will be exciting incentives, prizes, and recognition for your efforts, making it a fun and motivating experience for all - make sure to join the "Lakehead University" team to be included in our challenge!

Let's show our commitment to physical health and environmental stewardship by participating in the 2024 Active Commute Challenge. Together, we can make a difference one step, pedal, or shared ride at a time!

Lakehead Orillia: Want to participate? You can do so through a different, but similar challenge, Commuter Challenge.

Join us for Campus Beautification Days 2024, an immersive opportunity to enhance our shared environment and foster a stronger sense of community within Lakehead Thunder Bay. Taking place on June 17th & 18th, 2024 from 9am to 1pm, this event invites Lakehead employees to embrace the beauty of nature while collaborating with colleagues and friends to rejuvenate our campus.

Activities Include:

• Tidying up our picturesque gardens.
• Collecting debris to restore the natural charm.
• Revitalizing our inviting courtyards for all to enjoy.

By participating, you contribute to the creation of a clean and inviting campus environment that fills us all with pride. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just eager to lend a helping hand, your presence will make a difference.

How to Participate:

Departments and individuals are encouraged to sign up in advance, though drop-ins are warmly welcomed anytime each day of the event. While bringing your own garden gloves and trowels is appreciated, it's not mandatory. Register via our convenient >>> Google Form <<<.

Location and Amenities:

Look for our welcome table outside the Chancellor Paterson Library, where you'll find all the necessary supplies. Light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Food and Conference Services.

Together, let's cultivate a campus we can ALL be proud of!

Attention Lakehead Faculty and Staff:

Join us Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, from 12:00pm to 1:30pm and Let's Get Active!

As an initiative supported by Lakehead’s Wellness Strategy, the Lakehead Social Committee has planned a lunch hour of wellness in conjunction with National Health and Fitness Day, Active Commute Challenge, and It's Your Move 100 Hour Challenge.

All Lakehead employees are invited to sign up for one of the following activities below.

Please complete the google form to register.

This event promises to be a fun and active way to celebrate wellness and fitness among coleagues and friends here on campus. We look forward to seeing you there and Let's Get Active! 

A Call to be Kind

We all have the capacity to be compassionate, and we know that doing so can make an enormous difference. This year’s Mental Health Week is centered on the healing power of compassion.

Join us from May 6 to 12, 2024 to explore how compassion connects us all.

--- Human Resources Events Page

TBDHU's Get Real Photovoice: Mental Health at Work Matters

--- Student Health and Wellness Events Page

In a world plagued by suffering, we emphasize that kindness is equally intrinsic to our humanity.

Find CMHA in your area

#CompassionConnects #MentalHealthWeek #CMHA
https://cmha.ca/mental-health-week