NWHU issues workplace wellness challenge

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Do you ever take time to think about your health and wellness when you are at work? Well if you don’t this is Healthy Workplace Month and it is a good time to do so!
The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) is coordinating a special Healthy Workplace Challenge this month and there are teams signed up from all across the region.
Krista Anderson, of NWHU in Rainy River, said, “The “goal” of the challenge is to increase awareness of the importance/benefits of a healthy workplace environment and to encourage people on the teams and in the workplaces to become more aware of their own health & wellness (nutrition, physical activity & sleep) so that they can identify areas where improvement is needed.”
When teams register, they appoint a “captain”. The captain is given a resource package that has tips and resources to support various aspects of wellness – including nutrition, physical activity & regular sleep. Throughout the challenge, the captain will also receive additional resources and suggestions to share amongst their workplace. There is no minimum or maximum size for the teams.
This is not the first time NWHU has held such a challenge, but it is the first time it has been held across the entire catchment area of NWHU; which includes Kenora and Rainy River Districts. “In the past, many workplaces, as well as many communities, have participated in similar challenges,” explained Anderson.
The challenge, running from Oct. 1st to 25th, encourages workplace employees to work as a team to do regular physical activity, eat healthier and get regular sleep. Teams record their efforts and at the end of the challenge one grand prize will be awarded in the Kenora Dist. and one in RR Dist. The grand prizes are a blending system and a smoothie making workshop. They will be awarded to the top achieving teams. There are also several other smaller prizes for participating individuals.
As of last week Anderson said there were three teams in the Rainy River area signed up and several across the district. Overall there are 45 teams participating.
In the RR area the Northern Lights Credit Union, Riverview Elementary School and Big Grassy Band Office have signed up.
Anderson noted, “If there is still interest in teams participating, they must contact me this week (807-852-3268) to discuss joining in the challenge. We ran into some roadblocks with the promotion of the challenge, so have accepted some late registrants. Additionally, if any workplaces are interested in holding their own internal challenge at a later date, they can contact their local NWHU office and we can get them all set up to run a challenge on their own.”