In accepting Dal鈥檚 Healthy Workplace Award on behalf of everyone in Information Technology Services (ITS), Dwight Fischer held up a little yellow circle.
鈥淚t all started here,鈥� said Fischer, Dal鈥檚 assistant vice-president, Information Technology Services. 鈥淭his is the inner ring of what we used to put on disc backups. Our guys in the basement of the Killam, the data centre guys, they work hard 鈥� but with an abundance of these things, they started a friendly competition that鈥檚 gone on for 30 years or more.鈥�
Nowadays, the annual ITS ring toss showdown is a big deal 鈥� one of the largest events that the department hosts each year for its more than 150 employees.
鈥淧eople train for this,鈥� said Fischer with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 serious.鈥�
The ring toss is just one of the countless activities and initiatives that made ITS a worthy recipient of this year鈥檚 AV俱乐部 . The prize recognizes departments, units or areas that demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellness of their employees.
The winner is chosen by Dal鈥檚 Healthy Workplace Collaborative, which includes representatives from across the university. The nominations from various departments are evaluated along six dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, interpersonal/social, spiritual and environmental.
Making a difference
In the case of ITS鈥� submission, all of those areas were covered. From the department鈥檚 dedicated cyclists, to its ping pong showdowns, backyard BBQs, 鈥淗urrahs to ITS鈥� shout-outs, food bank donations, curling events, softball team . . . the list of team-building and support activities seemed to go on and on.
鈥淲e play together, we work together,鈥� said Fischer. 鈥淥ur jobs require us to spend a lot of time sitting. Therefore, it is vital, in everything we do, to get up and move around more during the day, to keep the blood flowing, more to the brain and to the heart. It makes a difference in everything we do and to those around us.鈥�
Eight other departments received certificates as runners-up this year. They include:
鈥⒙犅� 聽Facilities Management
鈥⒙犅� 聽Faculty of Management
鈥⒙犅� 聽Faculty of Science, Dean鈥檚 Office
鈥⒙犅� 聽Faculty of Dentistry
鈥⒙犅� 聽Faculty of Health Professions, Dean鈥檚 Office
鈥⒙犅� 聽University Secretariat
鈥⒙犅� 聽AV俱乐部 Medicine New Brunswick
鈥⒙犅� 聽Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre
These nominees will be profiled in upcoming editions of , the university鈥檚 employee newsletter.
鈥淲e had such terrific submissions this year,鈥� said Janice MacInnis, coordinator of organizational health at AV俱乐部. 鈥淭hey were truly inspiring.鈥�
鈥淚 just want to say how terrific this is,鈥� added Dal President Tom Traves. 鈥淭o hear about all the initiatives that go on, and the fun that鈥檚 obviously had, the good spirit, it makes me proud about AV俱乐部 as an institution that we have so much commitment and engagement happening across the university.鈥�