November 27, 2013 (TORONTO) -- Five Canadian organizations received awards today for their commitment to health and wellness in the workplace as part of the GoodLife Fitness Health & Wellness Leadership Awards.
 
The Awards are given to organizations that demonstrate significant efforts to foster cultures of workplace wellness through continuous improvement in fitness, activity, nutrition, education and employee behavioural change.
 
Winners include SSQ Financial Group / SSQ Life Insurance Company, ING DIRECT, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada and The Westin Calgary.
 
“These companies are doing things differently. They are truly ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to supporting employee wellness through fitness programs, opportunities for healthy eating and positive workplace culture,” said David Patchell-Evans, GoodLife Founder & CEO. “Once you make wellness part of your strategic plan, the performance and culture of the entire organization improves.”
 
The award recognizes four aspects of workplace wellness programs – Leadership, Culture & Engagement, Rewards & Recognition, and Personal Growth – and celebrates organizational initiatives across all sectors and sizes. 
 
SSQ Financial Group / SSQ, Life Insurance Company
SSQ Financial Group is a financial institution with more than one million policy and contract holders and nearly 2,000 employees. 
 
To encourage healthier habits among employees, SSQ Financial Group introduced a HealthWise program that included lunch and learns on health-related topics, employee exercise programs and coaching from a nutritionist. The company offers change rooms and showers at the office and manager training to encourage supportive leadership. Each employee receives a health passport and sets a health goal for the year. As they participate they qualify for prizes.
 
“Employees are adopting healthier lifestyles: eating more fruits and vegetables, consuming less tobacco and alcohol, sleeping better, increasing physical activity and taking more time for themselves, all of this put together contributes they are performing well and more present at work,” said Marie-Pierre St-Antoine, health and wellness management advisor at SSQ Financial Group / SSQ, Life Insurance Company.
 
ING DIRECT
ING DIRECT is Canada’s leading direct bank with more than 1.8 million clients and close to $40 billion in total assets. It has been operating in Canada since 1997 and employs 950 people.
 
ING DIRECT introduced an employee walking challenge that saw more than 15 per cent of employees participate. It also launched a new restaurant at head office that focuses on healthy foods. Employees were invited to take part in nutrition seminars with Dr. Patel of the Living Proof Institute, as well as a cardiovascular screening clinic. Employees established an online wellness committee connected through the intranet and there has been a successful smoking cessation initiative. 
 
“Healthy employees are happy employees; the more we increase our wellness offerings and increase participation in our wellness initiatives, the more engaged our employees will be. Engaged, healthy employees increase profitability, reduce benefit costs and can result in reduced turnover,” said Natasha Mascarenhas, vice president of human resources for ING DIRECT.
 
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a public teaching hospital providing a range of specialized assessment and treatment services to people living with complex and serious mental illness. Ontario Shores employs a team of 1,200 staff members. 
 
For Ontario Shores, one of the main challenges is dedicating limited financial resources for their employee wellness programs. The hospital has adopted a more grassroots approach to health and wellness programs, including a badminton tournament with a neighbouring hospital as well as a mini basketball league.  
 
The hospital also organizes an annual Thanksgiving Burn the Bird fitness challenge to motivate employees to stay active after the holidays.  By promoting our internal spirit of community Ontario Shores endeavours to inspire our staff by providing opportunities that foster their intrinsic motivation to practice healthy lifestyle behaviours
 
“When employees play and take part in challenges with senior leadership team members, titles are gone and fitness, health and fun are the goals. These kinds of activities build trust and openness across the teams,” said Maria Bates, wellness coordinator for Ontario Shores.
 
Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada
Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada is a division of Nestle Canada Inc., and employs 600 people across Canada. The company is market leader in the Canadian pet food and cat box filler markets. 
 
Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada introduced a Walk This Way program that encourages employees to go for walks and track their steps online. It also offers weekly fitness classes, discounts on gym memberships and an annual flu shot clinic. 
 
“Implementing wellness initiatives has helped our employees realize how important it is to make the effort to get and stay healthy. It’s a good way to bring employees together who share a similar goal and passion,” said Sara Rustico, human resources manager, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada.
 
The Westin Calgary
Sending guests and associates home feeling better than when they arrived is the goal of The Westin Calgary’s workplace wellness programs. By making associate wellness a business strategy, The Westin Calgary aims to be a first choice employer. 
 
Hotel associates have access to healthy snacks, blood pressure clinics, Pilates and yoga classes and information about wellness. The hotel cafeteria serves ‘super foods’ that are nutritious and filled with anti-oxidants. The Westin Calgary started a 5k run and gave associates a discount on shoes and running gear. 
 
“We are inspiring associates to make the right choices every day. From daily dance and exercise in the housekeeping department to meetings on the go, focusing on the well-being of associates has increased morale, productivity, quality of work and ultimately guest satisfaction,” said Didier Luneau, general manager of The Westin Calgary.
 
For more information visit www.glfwellness.com
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Coralie Olson
GoodLife Fitness
colson@goodlifefitness.com
226-376-0254