Windsor Essex County Health Unit

In celebration of Canada’s Healthy Workplace week – October 22nd to 29th, 2007, Health Action Windsor-Essex hosted the 6th Annual Canada’s Healthy Workplace Week Awards Breakfast on October 24th at the Ciociaro Club.

This year, a record 19 Windsor-Essex County workplaces received recognition awards for their commitment to the health and well-being of their employees through the provision of organized workplace wellness programs.

To attain an award, these workplaces implemented one or more workplace wellness activities (e.g. healthy eating, smoking cessation, physical activity, responsible drinking, etc.) that included all of the following health promotion strategies:

1. Awareness raising 
2. Education and skill building 
3. Environmental support and 
4. Policy support.

These comprehensive programs can make a positive difference in the health and well-being of their employees. The success of a company is directly linked to the health of its employees. Improving performance is important for all organizations in today’s business climate.

Working Toward Wellness Healthy Workplace Awards

Bronze Awards

BASF Canada (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their “Have a Heart Day” because there were employees diagnosed with high blood pressure that would most likely have gone undetected had they not taken part in this event.

• Theresa Umbenhower, Registered Nurse and Occupational Health Service Administrator
• Mark Thibault, Environmental Health & Safety Co-ordinator

Canada Revenue Agency - Windsor Tax Services Office - Employee Assistance Program (first time winner)

Of all their wellness activities this past year, they are most proud of their Wellness Fair because it's the culmination of all their talents, partnerships, and it was a huge success.

• Darlene Vandal – Assistant Director of Enforcement
• Roy Gellner - Technical Advisor – Audit Division

Casino Windsor/CAW Local 444 Joint Wellness Committee (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their Biggest Winner campaign because of the great reception and participation amongst their employees – 73 Teams!

• Marsha Way – Manager Employee Relations, Casino Windsor
• Denise Viau – Union Representative, CAW Local 444

Children First (first time winner)

They are most proud of their Breast Cancer Screening and Awareness workshop as well as our Dragon Boat Team because they are a staff of predominantly women and unfortunately, the lives of some members of their staff have been touched by breast cancer this year.

• Linda Nagle, Executive Director
• Laurie Tiegs, Human Resource Advisor

The Corporation of the Town of Essex (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year they are most proud of their Healthy Eating Promotion because everyone really seemed to embrace the new food guide and enjoyed creating their own food plans online.  They had a great response to the prizes (cook books & pedometers) and upon following up with the winners, it was discovered that both were being used quite frequently.  People were even comparing to see who could walk the farthest in a day!

• Shelley Marchand, Building & Fire Clerk, and Wellness Program Co-ordinator
• Dan Boudreau, Drainage Superintendent & Member of the Central Joint Health & Safety Committee

Teen Health Centre (first time winner)

What they are most proud of is their ability to work together to accomplish health goals individually as well as, as a team and an entire centre.  Our "Walk Across Canada" event allowed everyone to participate in some way and contribute to the team to collect kilometres.  The healthy competition got everyone asking - "When is the next walking challenge" when it was all done.  Our staff keeps participating and our wellness committee has had to get creative in our walking challenges! 

• Sue Williams, Acting Executive Director
• Jodi Pearce, Health Promoter and Wellness Program Co-ordinator

Silver Award

Lear Corporation – Windsor Assembly Plant (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year they are most proud of their "Lunch and Learn program" because it promotes Health Awareness outside of the workplace, is driven from employee input, and truly touches their employees on a more personal and caring level.

• Patrick Lauzon, Union Plant Chair, Local 1973
• Linda Farmer, Occupational Healthy Nurse
       

Gold Awards

DJ Galvanizing Limited Partnership (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their nutritional awareness program because this was the committee’s first challenge as a team.  Organizing a weight loss challenge for 90 people was a challenge in itself.  The timing was key, being that it was the New Year.  The committee developed the rules, the teams, and they provided nutritional snacks at the kick-off meeting.  With the help of their Healthcare partner, they provided a wealth of information to their employees and spouses online, through communiqués, and postings. Weight loss was the target of this first activity but what they really wanted to accomplish was the start of a culture and thought process shift to healthier lifestyles among all of their employees.

• Kristi Wright-Farmer, Accounting & Benefits Coordinator
•  Len Thiessen (Maintenance Technician) 

Enwin Utilities Ltd. and Windsor Utilities Commission (first time winner)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their Healthy Heart Initiative because it was their first wellness initiative for the organizations, the attendance at the blood pressure clinic, and the presentation from the Heart and Stroke Foundation was outstanding. It was a great start to a great year."

• Jen Beaudrie-O'Hara - Human Resources Generalist
• Michael McKinnon- Vice President of Customer & Employee Relations

Gates – Windsor Operations (this is their second Gold Award)

Their program featured a Team Weight Loss Challenge and a presentation by Dr. Todd Small on nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Samantha Russell, Human Resources Coordinator 
• Susan Kachler, Credit and Collections Assistant

Honeywell Specialty Chemicals (this is their second Gold Award along with three Silver Awards)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their comprehensive summer safety program because it not only focused on safety and wellness in the workplace but also in our employee’s everyday life.

• Beth Burrows - Human Resources Generalist
• Rick Mamak – Occupational Health Nurse   

Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital (a previous Bronze Award Winner, this is their first Gold Award)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year they are most proud of the variety of programs offered and the overall total engagement of their staff.

• Maria Giannotti, Director Mission Services
• Cathy Piazza, Unit Manager, Adult Day Surgery

Kelly Healthcare Resources - Casino Windsor Medical Centre (this is their second Gold Award

Of all our health promotion activities this past year we are most proud of our breast cancer awareness campaign because it increased awareness and resulted in early detection and treatment for some of our employees and employee family members.

• Julie MacVoy, Occupational Health Nursing Supervisor
• Julie Pouget, Occupational Health Nurse
• Lisa Deschamps, Occupational Health Nurse

The Corporation of the Municipality of Leamington (this is their fourth Gold Award along with one Silver Award)

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their Health Fair, which included Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol clinics as well as a Heart Healthy Cooking demonstration by a local chef. This Fair was the most well attended to date of any of their events- employees were excited about it and the attendance demonstrated this.

• Pauline Russell, Human Resources Officer
• Stewart Carey, CUPE Local 528 Shop Steward and EAP Committee Representative

Windsor Regional Hospital (this is their second Gold Award)

Of all the wellness activities they have done this past year, we are most proud of the initiatives like Big Loser, Lunch Bunch Fitness, and Weight Watchers because they have been entirely initiated and organized by staff. We are thrilled that they have embraced these programs.

• Dr. Martin Girash (President and CEO)
• David Musyj (Vice President of Corporate Services/Medical Affairs)

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (this is their third Gold Award)

They are most proud of their NAOSH week activities because of the incredible office turn-out and the fun and learning shared by all those who participated.

• Bill Meeke, Non-Bargaining Unit Co-Chair, Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOH&SC)
• Deb Remekie, Bargaining Unit Co-Chair, Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOH&SC)

General Motors of Canada Limited - Windsor Transmission Plant

They are most proud of their Healthy Hearts initiative, which included activities such as the “Walk Your Dog to Win” Contest, a “Bike to Work in June” Contest, a “Break for Health” Assessment, and Blood Pressure Screening with the assistance of student from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Human Kinetics and the Faculty of Nursing.

• Lewis Campbell, Plant Manager
• Kate Beaumont, Nurse/Wellness Committee

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their yearly Health Fair because seeing so many employees participating all in one day lets us know that our work as a team has really benefited others.

• Christopher MacDonald, Plant Manager   
• Betteann Clinton, Registered Nurse

Leamington District Memorial Hospital

Of all their health promotion activities this past year, they are most proud of their  “Paint the Hospital Pink Campaign” in October for breast cancer because it encompassed their staff, volunteers, and the community in one common goal to raise awareness, educate, and raise funds to assist in the fight against breast cancer in Essex County.

• Irene McClymont, Director of Human Resources
• Jenny Darowski, Resource Development/Volunteer Specialist 

Bike-Friendly Workplace Awards

Bronze Awards

Citizens Environment Alliance

• Suzanne Friemann
• Gord Taylor

First Stop Services

• Christine Davison
• Tammy Dewhirst

Gold Awards

Lear Corporation – Windsor Assembly Plant

• Keith Nap – Plant Manager
• Patrick Lauzon – Union Plant Chair, Local 1973

General Motors of Canada Limited - Windsor Transmission Plant

• Linda Jamotte