Upcoming Events

This welcoming, in-person 1-hour workshop invites university staff and faculty to explore the fundamentals of emotions with curiosity, compassion, and practical care. Participants will build an accessible understanding of the science of emotions by examining the many factors that influence emotional responses—such as lived experiences, stress, relationships, environment, and nervous system states—rather than viewing emotions as something to “fix” or control. Through guided discussion and reflection, participants will explore the purpose of emotions as meaningful signals that...

From time to time, employees may find themselves in need of confidential, professional counselling for personal, family, relationship, and wellness issues adversely affecting work performance or threatening to do so. The purpose of the University's Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is to help meet these needs. Eligibility for EFAP counselling has been expanded to encompass not only regular full-time employees, but also temporary full-time and part-time employees with appointments greater than 6 months and workloads greater than 35...

Supporting a Colleague’s Mental Health: Recognize, Respond, Refer is a workshop for staff and faculty that supports understanding mental health in the workplace and building confidence in navigating mental health–related conversations. Fostering a mentally healthy workplace is a shared responsibility, yet many people hesitate to engage in these conversations out of concern about saying the wrong thing or overstepping. This training helps address those concerns by clarifying roles, boundaries, and practical ways to offer support. This session accompanies the...

Join us for a guided walk through the Arboretum that invites participants to explore a deeper connection to the land we gather on. This tour will reflect on the history of the Arboretum, what the campus landscape looked like before development, and the stories often left untold. The experience will encourage learning and reflection about our relationship with the land- past, present, and future. Please remember to dress for the weather, wear...

Failure is experienced by everyone, but is often seen as "taboo". In this interactive workshop, we will open the conversation around failure and mistakes, discussing how we define failure, how failure is experienced, as well as some tangible strategies to help manage our experiences with failure. There will be opportunities to share experiences (for those who feel up to it) and time to reflect. Participants will walk away with strategies on how to have failure conversations in their own lives.  Registration ...

Chair Yoga is the way to go when you are reluctant to get into the yoga clothes and get on the mat- challenge yourself with Chair yoga. Chair Yoga is a gentle yoga practice that adapts various traditional postures for practice in the chair or with the support of a chair. It is a gentle form of yoga that involves breath-work, meditation, and gentle stretches; all of which release stress and tension from both body and mind. This form of yoga helps those who are aging or have disabilities but is also used in office settings to relieve stress right in our own office chairs, even during the...

We can always look to nature for a marvelous map of how connection is nurturing and essential, especially in the spring. The dormant ground drinks in water, sunlight, and nutrients to give way to bursts of green. Trees share resources, nutrients, and send signals through a vast underground network.  Perennial plants return with stronger, more far-reaching roots, and bigger blooms. Join us for this art-based, virtual workshop as we explore the metaphors of nature to inspire how we find and nurture connection in our own lives. All are welcome, and absolutely no art experience is...

Our brain can become more busy (and more negative thoughts intrude) when we are stressed, tired, or feeling overwhelmed. This experiential Lunch & Learn session shares a variety of research-based tips and approaches for calming worry, anxious thoughts, and a busy brain. The workshop includes: strategies that reboot your brain into a neutral gear the 2 Minute Rule to curb ruminating ‘soft fascination’ and other mind calming techniques how to decrease brain bombardment from body inputs that activate and perpetuate a racing mind...

A truly heart healthy lifestyle is more than exercise and diet. The third and most important key (according to cardiologists Eliot, Bhat, Ornish and others) is stress management. Yet this component is the most neglected! Learn practical stress management strategies that decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease (especially helpful for those with risk factors of high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression, tendency to hold onto anger, or a family history of heart attack or stroke). The workshop includes: the top 3 techniques for relaxing...

Take this unique opportunity to discuss your personal health questions with Heidi Smith, Registered Dietitian and mindfulness facilitator. Heidi has been consulting with individuals and organizations for over 25 years. Tap into her expertise on mindful eating, sport nutrition, emotional eating, menopause nutrition, anti-inflammatory eating or any question relating to your personal nutrition needs. Heidi can help you get the exploration started and point you in the direction of reputable sources of nutrition information.  Some...