On August 22, AV俱乐部 joined more than 30 Canadian universities and colleges from coast to coast in signing onto the : An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges. The charter represents a formal commitment to being a health-promoting university.
鈥淪igning the Okanagan Charter demonstrates our commitment to well-being and calls upon all of us at AV俱乐部 to further strengthen our leadership in health promotion within our own university community, regionally, and globally,鈥� says AV俱乐部 President Deep Saini.
The charter is aligned with AV俱乐部鈥檚 launched in 2021 and the university鈥檚 recent adoption of both the , measured through the Your Voice workplace survey, and the newer .
Adoption of these evidence-based frameworks for improvement has prompted the creation of a new 鈥淏e Well鈥� campus wellness initiative, a collaboration of student wellness and employee wellness at Dal.
鈥淏y introducing the 鈥淏e Well鈥� initiative as a partnership among units and departments, we aim to promote well-being and to improve access to wellness programs, resources and supports,鈥� says Janice MacInnis, manager, organizational health, a unit within the Human Resources department.
The Okanagan Charter was endorsed by the self-study group on campus health and well-being, which helped prioritize wellness, support and accessibility in the university鈥檚 strategic plan (2021-2026), Third Century Promise.
This commitment to health promotion follows the university鈥檚 signing of the Scarborough Charter, an institutional promise of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) last fall.
鈥淲e are excited to be joining other like-minded universities across Canada that have chosen to prioritize health and wellness through the Okanagan Charter,鈥� adds Dr. David Pilon, director, Counselling & Psychological Services, Student Health & Wellness. 鈥淎V俱乐部 has made great progress towards being a healthy place to study, live and work, and we want to now introduce 鈥楤e Well鈥� to help make well-being more accessible to all members of our community 鈥� students, faculty and staff.鈥�
Plans are underway to promote the 鈥楤e Well鈥� initiative, which will include a website with resources, supports and information, so stay tuned. If faculty, staff or students need wellness support, please contact BeWell@dal.ca.