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"To say that parenting is a journey of continued learning and unique experiences may be one of life’s biggest understatements. There will be instances of laughter and tears, excitement and frustration, uncertainty and challenges of varying degrees. There is no instruction manual. It’s unpredictable, and sometimes things arise that you may know nothing about. Regardless of your role as a parent, guardian or primary caregiver, you have a choice: to explore new ground or stay put. So, what happens when your child begins to wonder about their sexuality or gender identity?

The Wellness@Work Programming Committee has compiled a January calendar of wellness-related events and blog posts to help you set realistic goals, re-energize yourself for the new year, prevent common winter injuries and more.

View upcoming events such as "The Journey to Wellness: One Step at a Time" and "Positive Thinking for Vitality at Work."  Join a free yoga class over the lunch hour every Tuesday or learn more about the mental health training available to employees.  

"Congratulations! You made it through the holiday season. Now, after the parties, events and shopping frenzy, a new year of opportunity has arrived. Packed full of expectations, you may look to new goals and in some scenarios place more pressure on yourself to “do better” and likely, a new set of resolutions. Remember, set realistic and attainable goals, stay excited, optimistic and re-energize yourself for a brand new year!"

Read the full newsletter here. 

Homewood Health has shared their January 2019 article titled, "When the Next Celebration Isn't Just Around the Corner: How to Combat your Post-Holiday Depression".  

Read the full newsletter here.

The Greater Good Science Center has released their January 2019 Happiness Calendar.  Stay up-to-date on the latest research related to the science of connection, compassion and happiness on the Greater Good Science Center website and view the daily inspiration in this month's calendar.

When the snow hits this winter, there are many fun and enjoyable activities to do in the snow and on the ice. Many Canadians look forward to traveling up the mountains to ski or snowboard. Others find delight in sledding down snow hills, or having a good ol’ snowball fight. For those who prefer lower-impact activities, they may take some time to go snowshoeing and ice-skating. And believe it or not, shovelling snow is also considered a good body workout.

With the New Year comes a natural readiness to start fresh. Many of us will set goals and vow to ourselves that this year will be different. So, if we all start with such strong determination why do so many of us fail? According to research 25% of us will break our resolutions and that number goes up to 80% if our goal is to attend the gym more often.

During October's Healthy Workplace Month, a panel discussion was hosted with three renowned psychologists from the University of Guelph’s Centre for Workers’ Health and Well-Being, who shared tips and strategies for individuals to improve their personal well-being inside and outside of their office walls.

Watch a video recording of this session on YouTube here. 

Panel questions included: 

During October's Healthy Workplace Month, employees were invited to sign-up for an exclusive tour of the President's House.  Normally closed to the public, this small group tour led by Steve Nyman offered the opportunity to learn more about the history of the building and an exploration of the unique art work, architecture and design of the rooms.

The beautiful building was constructed in 1882 and used as the President’s residence until 1984. In 1912 it was moved across College Avenue to its current location by a team of horses using round logs as rollers. 

Employees took a break from their busy schedules during October's Healthy Workplace Month for a visit with some furry friends. 

These events were created in partnership with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, Therapeutic Paws of Canada (TPOC), the Ontario Veterinary College, and the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust.