dear lakehead,

we're excited to announce the release of the 7th edition of our trail to wellness, focusing on occupational wellness for all members of our lakehead community—世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , faculty, and staff alike. this issue offers practical strategies to achieve balance, purpose, and satisfaction in your work and studies. it highlights the importance of building meaningful connections, embracing challenges, and aligning your daily efforts with personal values. fostering growth and creating supportive environments are at the heart of this edition.

key highlights include: insights from career development experts; an overview of the epid@work study; details on thrive week and the launch of lakehead gathers; and tailored resources such as career services, co-op programmes, and training opportunities. this issue invites reflection on how finding purpose and creating positive dynamics can enhance well-being across our entire community.

to read the full newsletter >>> click here <<<

as you explore this issue, take time to reflect on what brings joy and fulfilment to your work or studies. by embracing occupational wellness, we can continue building a thriving, connected, and supportive lakehead community.

take care, be well, and thank you,

jonathon racine (he/him)
wellness strategy coordinator, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
807-343-8010 ext. 7246 | wellnesscoordinator@lakeheadu.ca

got a story or tips to share about your wellness journey? we're excited to feature insights from lakehead 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , faculty and staff! submit your ideas for future newsletters focusing on social, spiritual, and physical wellness.

to subscribe to the our trail to wellness newsletter, please sign up here

workplace wellness update for thunder bay and district

season's greetings from tbdhu

the tbdhu workplace wellness team wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season. thank you for your continued dedication to employee wellness. we look forward to providing you with helpful information, training opportunities, and new workplace wellness resources in the coming year.

creating a psychologically healthy workplace - simple steps for workplace leaders

webinar recording available!

did you miss the recent webinar on how to create a psychologically healthy workplace? good news - it's not too late to deepen your learning on this important topic. you can watch the recording!

click on the webinar recording link below to learn about how you can support the mental health of employees in your workplace. as krystina hunter, the webinar facilitator outlines, there are key meaningful actions any organization can take to foster a psychologically safe work environment, even with tight budgets, busy schedules, and competing priorities.

what's even better? the webinar also offered bonus materials to participants. if you are interested in these, please send us a quick email at workplacewellness@tbdhu.com. we'll be happy to send them to you.

the webinar was an initiative of superiormentalwellness@work, a collaborative project coordinated by the thunder bay district health unit.

for information about the workplace mental wellness resources and for details about future learning events, visit superiormentalwellnessatwork.com

click here to view the webinar

mental health guide for small businesses (new)

workplace safety north recently published a new guide to assist owners of small businesses to manage employee mental health. it was developed by advisors who are certified in psychological health and safety and trained by the canadian mental health association. this guide outlines the simple steps to recognize and manage factors that can affect mental health at the workplace. it also provides resources and tools to help small business leaders to create a supportive and safe environment for mental health.

click here to view the mental health guide for small businesses

12 days of sit less challenge toolkit

are you looking for a great way to challenge your coworkers to sit less and move more? check out tbdhu's "12 days of sit less" challenge toolkit. it offers workplace wellness champions a really easy way to encourage employees to take breaks from sitting each day. the customizable email templates make it as simple as "copy and paste" and have fun!

check out the 12 days of sit less challenge toolkit at this hyperlink: tbdhu 12 days of sit less challenge toolkit

mental health first aid - first nations training

koru training and consulting in thunder bay is hosting a mental health first aid for first nations training. this is a culturally adapted training program designed for first nations participants and anyone that works with first nations people and communities. the 3-day training event is scheduled for january 21-23, 2025. for details, visit korudirection.com/training

for the 5th year, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 celebrated thrive week, from january 22 to 26, by hosting a week-long series of events helping all members of our community to explore their pathways to better mental health, well-being and resilience.

it was our biggest thrive week yet, and it really felt like a campus initiative with so many lakehead departments, lusu and student groups taking part.

check out some #employeesthrive highlights from thrive week 2024 below:

thrive is an initiative that began at ubc as a conversation between colleagues about the importance of reducing the stigma associated with mental health. it has since grown into a movement celebrated at campuses across canada, providing opportunities for important conversations about mental health to take place. 

thank you all for taking part and supporting thrive week!!!

thrive week 2024, january 22-26, 2024 - 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
#thriveweek2024 #employeesthrive #lakeheadthrives #thunderwolvesthrive

get ready for a fun-filled family night out!

the lu social committees is excited to offer lakehead employees and their family a chance to attend the lakehead thunderwolves vs. york lions game on friday, january 3rd, 2025, at 7 pm at fort william gardens.

limited tickets available!

to ensure everyone has a chance to attend, a maximum of 2 tickets per rsvp will be available to employees while quantities last.

to secure your free tickets, simply rsvp before wednesday, january 1st, 2025.

how to rsvp: https://forms.gle/dgbtahhyx7vmwhgt9

ticket pickup:

• thursday, january 2nd: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
• friday, january 3rd: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
• location: student central

let's show our thunderwolves spirit - wear your gold and blue to cheer on our team!

we can't wait to see you there!
sincerely,

the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee

p.s. you can find more information about the event here: //www.hsbcwebinars.com/faculty-and-staff/departments/services/hr/events/archive/node/237532.

december member newsletter

plan changes take effect next month

it’s finally happening – our plan changes are in effect as of january 1, 2025. this is good news for both our dbprime and dbplus members.

here are the key changes:

dbprime: your contribution rate is going down. this means that you will be paying less while continuing to earn the same valuable benefit.

dbplus: your annual pension factor is going up. this means that your pension will grow faster.

for full details about the plan changes, check out the faq section on the website.

your growthplus investment account questions

stop your scrolling! you can’t miss the answers to our members’ top questions about our new optional savings account.

want to know even more about how caat’s new member-focused offering can help build your savings?

we thought so! keep reading:

what is growthplus?

caat’s growthplus investment account launched on october 1. in addition to your valuable defined benefit pension, you have access to growthplus – a simple way for you to grow your tax-sheltered retirement savings and benefit from caat’s investment returns.

following our growthplus member webinar on oct. 9, we collected your top questions about this new account. check out these questions and our resource guide.

how does the growthplus investment account impact my pension?

growthplus is an optional savings account separate from your secure lifetime caat defined benefit (db) pension and does not replace or change your pension. growthplus also has different rules and features from your db pension. you can read all about the features in the growthplus member handbook on our website.

can i transfer in funds from a tfsa or non-tax-sheltered vehicles?

no, since growthplus is a tax-sheltered account, you can only transfer-in funds from an existing tax-sheltered eligible registered retirement savings vehicle. you can transfer in both locked-in and non-locked-in tax-sheltered savings, including registered retirement savings plans (rrsps), locked-in retirement accounts (liras), and group registered pension plans (rpps). a full list of vehicles is available on the growthplus webpage at growthplus.ca.

read more

multi-factor authentication coming to my pension in 2025

we are introducing multi-factor authentication (mfa) for my pension, your pension portal, in the spring to enhance the security of your information.

this means that you will need to set up mfa to access my pension in 2025. you may already be familiar with mfa if you access your banking or other secure websites online.

we will be sending out your member id in the spring. stay tuned for more information on our website and by email or mail.

meet the member services team

members are our number one priority at caat pension plan. our commitment to all our members – 100,000 strong across the country – is a secure lifetime pension when they retire.

we decided to give you an inside peek into the minds of the leaders of our member services team.

• sonny khindria, vice president, member services
• betty gin, director, member services
• maria peduto, director, client services

1: first up, let’s meet the team. what’s your role at caat and how does your team help our members?

sonny: i lead a team of pension professionals that are focused on supporting our members with administrative and support services.   we are here for our members and are committed to providing resources and expertise to help you to maximize your caat defined benefit (db) pension and deliver a trusted and predictable retirement income.

betty: my team and i are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way in navigating your pension.  we work for you, making sure you have the resources needed to fully understand your pension, including how to make purchases and planning your retirement. these resources will guide you to making informed decisions.  whether it is helping you by answering questions about your options, we are here to ensure your pension serves you.

maria: we play a vital role in helping members with their pension-related questions by providing clear, accurate information and addressing concerns with care and empathy. we want you to look at caat as a trusted partner. we are here to help you understand your pension plan benefits and to guide you through complex topics with ease to help you make informed decisions about your financial future. 

read more

extra things you need to know 

visit my pension for a pension estimate

beginning january 1, we are retiring the general pension estimator on our website for the majority of our members. our pension estimator on my pension is secure and tailored to your personal information. it is also a great resource for your retirement planning. if you haven’t registered for my pension, you can do this on our website.

if your employer joined caat through a merger, you can continue to use the specific estimator for your employer on caat’s website. find your employer to get started.

update your information

did you get married this year? have a child? change addresses? it’s important to keep caat (not just your employer!) informed of these changes. call us at 1-866-350-2228 (monday to friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm in the toronto area) or make the change on  my pension, your pension portal with caat. if you joined caat through a merger, changes to your personal information remain with your employer.

if you have questions or comments please email us at contact@caatpension.ca.

happy holidays from caat pension plan!

as we wrap up the year, we want to thank you for the trust and confidence you’ve placed in us to provide the pension security you seek.

we hope this holiday season brings you joy, relaxation, and time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments. we’re excited to keep supporting you in 2025 and beyond, as we continue to grow together.

happy holidays from all of us at caat!

if you have questions or comments please email us at contact@caatpension.ca

november is financial literacy month

money on your mind? let’s talk about it! this november, caat is empowering you to build your financial resiliency and become more financially stable.

financial literacy month is underway in canada, and this month, we’re empowering you to build financial resiliency, enjoy financial confidence, and to take control of your journey into retirement.

we get that retirement planning may not be your number one priority. life is happening today, and with life comes expenses, challenges and opportunities.

at caat, we’re here to help guide you towards a financial future that is secure, predictable and sustainable. plus, financial literacy month is also a great opportunity to expand your pension knowledge and learn more about all the benefits of your membership with caat.

here are just a few perks of being a caat member:

• i have a defined benefit (db) pension. this means that i will receive a regular monthly income throughout my retirement – paid for the rest of my life.
• with caat’s growthplus investment account, i can grow my tax-sheltered savings and benefit from caat’s investment returns. this is in addition to my secure lifetime db pension.
• my caat pension receives conditional inflation protection when i retire to help offset the negative impact of inflation. these increases help reduce the erosion of buying power caused by inflation. ¹
• my pension provides valuable survivor benefits to my surviving spouse, child or loved one after i’m gone at no extra cost.
• caat’s online member portal, my pension, is a secure and convenient way to access important details about my pension. here, i can download my annual statement update my beneficiary information, transfer funds into growthplus and more.

by taking a few minutes and familiarizing yourself with what it means to be a caat member, you’ll be enhancing your financial confidence, which can lead to better financial outcomes.

whether you’re logging into my pension and reviewing your annual statement, updating your beneficiaries or learning more about how growthplus can help you achieve your saving goals, caat is here to help you every step of the way.

¹ the most recent valuation guaranteed funding for inflation protection to at least 2027.

#nostigmanovember

student health and wellness is celebrating #nostigmanovember. to stop the stigma around struggling with mental health and to normalize help-seeking behaviour, we need a whole campus approach. we are encouraging all members of the lakehead community to take action to support their own mental health and to create a campus culture that supports one another and encourages those to get help when needed.

lakehead staff and faculty can take part by:

• supporting their well-being by practicing self-care. faculty/staff well-being is integral to overall campus health as well as the capacity to engage others in well-being practices. there are many actions you can take to make your mental health a priority and resources are available to you as a lakehead staff or faculty member.
• boost your mental health literacy by completing supporting 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 in distress training, or by taking safetalk.
• promote mental health resources in your spaces, meetings, websites, email signatures, etc.
• making a personal pledge to support mental health and reducing stigma on campus on our padlet 
• encourage 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 to use the wellu key to learn more about areas of well-being that may be affecting them and resources for support
• download the stop the stigma toolkit for resources and strategies that lakehead faculty and staff can adopt and practice in their own spaces or request the stop the stigma workshop for your team.

世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 can take part by:

• attending stop the stigma events throughout the month
• sharing their own experience with mental health and taking action to support their well-being as part of the stop the stigma student story campaign
• learning how to support others at wolves watch: supporting your pack
• checking in with their mental health by using the wellu key and making use of the supports and resources available to them
• thunder bay only- attending the stronger as pack night on november 29 and rally our community around supporting student mental health and encouraging all thunderwolves to take action to support their own mental health and get help when needed.

any lakehead community member can support student mental health initiatives by purchasing a "stronger as pack" t-shirt before november 15.

• thunder bay online store
• orillia online store

green shield canada, p.o. box 1606, windsor, ontario n9a 6w1 | www.greenshield.ca

workplace wellness update for thunder bay and district

upcoming webinar! creating a psychologically healthy workplace - simple steps for workplace leaders

our workforce needs mental health support. yet, knowing how to adequately offer it can be intimidating for an employer. join this webinar for practical guidance on the key meaningful actions any organization can take to foster a psychologically safe work environment, even with tight budgets, busy schedules, and competing priorities.

wednesday, december 4, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 am

this webinar will be hosted by thunder bay district health unit and facilitated by krystina hunter of k. hunter workplace consulting.

for more details about the webinar, visit superiormentalwellnessatwork.com.

interested, but can't attend? that's okay!  register anyway and you will get a link to the recording that you can watch at any time. 

click here to sign up for the webinar

corporate social responsibility and your workplace wellness strategy

does your workplace wellness strategy include opportunities for employees to be involved in the community? corporate social responsibility (csr) is actually one of the four areas of influence for a healthy workplace. by integrating csr into the workplace, everyone benefits – employees, the organization, and the community it serves! 

for employees who engage in csr, it can feel uplifting. it fosters a sense of purpose, encourages team bonding, and builds loyalty towards the employer. all of this enhances employee wellbeing and increases job satisfaction.  the organization benefits by improving the workplace culture and company reputation, strengthening employee engagement, and retaining and attracting new talent. 

this may be a good time to consider how your organization can make a difference in the community. during the holiday season, there is often a heightened desire to participate in initiatives that bring people together to support others. plus, there are many community groups looking for various kinds of assistance. aligning your company's values with ways that employees can contribute to the greater good can have a positive impact that extends far beyond the holidays.  

interested in learning more? check out these articles: 

• a comprehensive workplace health and safety program by the canadian centre for occupational health & safety (see how organizational community involvement fits into a broader workplace wellness strategy)
• why corporate social responsibility is important to canadian employers by excellence canada

straight up facts about alcohol to know as we celebrate the holidays

the festive season is fast approaching!  for many of us, it’s an occasion to socialize with coworkers, family and friends. often, alcohol is involved. this holiday season, consider reducing how much alcohol you drink – even by a little – and give yourself the gift of better health.

here’s why: many people don’t know about the link between alcohol and cancer. recently, researchers have learned more about how alcohol affects our health and in 2023, canada’s new guidance on alcohol and health was released. it says that even low levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, including at least seven types of cancer. this may be surprising, as many people are more aware of other cancer prevention strategies like avoiding smoking or sun exposure. now, reducing alcohol can be added to that list. the good news? any reduction, whether you drink a little or a lot, can benefit your health. every little step you take to drink less can make a difference. find more tips and resources at straightupfacts.ca

workplace leaders who wish to promote this wellness message to their employees can email workplacewellness@tbdhu.com for free resources.

if you're looking for support to build a healthy workplace program, tbdhu can help!
our team of workplace wellness experts supports organizations with developing a
workplace wellness program based on their unique needs.
all services are free! for more information, visit tbdhu workplace health,
call 807-625-5900 or email workplacewellness@tbdhu.com.

drumroll, please!

announcing the winners of the 2nd annual 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 employee halloween contest!

a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this year's contest, coordinated by the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee! your creativity and enthusiasm truly brought the spirit of halloween to campus.

without further ado, the winners are:

congratulations to all the winners! your hard work and dedication have made this year's contest a resounding success.

want to see more of the spooky fun? click here to view a gallery of all the amazing entries:

we'd love to hear your feedback on this year's contest! please take a few minutes to share your thoughts through this quick and easy survey:

link to feedback form: halloween contest feedback

we look forward to seeing even more spooktacular entries next year!
阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee

dear lakehead,

we are delighted to share with you the 6th edition of the our trail to wellness newsletter.

in today's fast-paced world, achieving financial wellness can help reduce stress, build security, and empower better decision-making. our latest newsletter equips you with the tools and knowledge to take control of your financial future.

learn about the importance of budgeting, saving, and investing to secure your financial future, click here: >>> click here <<<

highlights from this issue include:

financial wellness tips: smart goal-setting, budgeting, regular financial reviews, and investment in personal finance education.

building financial habits: insights on the time value of money by melanie oakes.

resources for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 : scholarships, financial literacy events, osap, and budgeting tools.

resources for employees: benefits like green shield, pension services, and tuition waivers.

upcoming events: financial wellness topics, including fraud awareness and banking basics.

and much, much more!

we hope you find the newsletter informative and helpful as we continue our journey toward a healthier and more supportive environment for everyone at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 .

take care, be well, and thank you,

jonathon racine (he/him) 
wellness strategy coordinator, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
807-343-8010 ext 7246 or wellnesscoordinator@lakeheadu.ca

got a story or tips to share about your wellness journey? we're excited to feature insights from the lakehead community! submit your ideas for future newsletters focusing on occupational, social, and spiritual wellness.

to subscribe to the our trail to wellness newsletter, please sign up here

dear lakehead colleagues,

we wanted to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended last week's staff & faculty coffee break hosted by the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee and supported by the alumni association. it was wonderful to see so many of you come together to connect, enjoy some refreshments, and catch up.

your participation made the event a great success. we hope you had a chance to meet new colleagues and learn more about what's happening on campus.

to help us improve future events, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide your feedback using the following link: event feedback form

thank you again for your support,
阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee

hello lakehead colleagues, 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , alumni, and friends,

we are delighted to share with you the 5th edition of the our trail to wellness newsletter.

this edition focuses on emotional wellness and offers valuable insights and resources to help our lakehead community enhance their emotional health and build resilience.

to read the full newsletter >>> click here <<<

highlights from this issue include:

emotional wellness: understanding and managing emotions with kindness and compassion, including the importance of impulse control, self-esteem, and expressing feelings.

five ways to enhance emotional wellness: practical tips such as practicing mindfulness, expressing emotions healthily, engaging in joyful activities, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-compassion.

peer support: information about talkcampus and talklife workplace, anonymous online platforms providing mental health peer support for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and employees.

research insights: perspectives from dr. mirella stroink, dean of the faculty of health and behavioural sciences, highlighting the interplay between emotion and cognition, and the impact of social and cultural factors on emotional health.

personal stories: reflections from madeline fabiano, an msc candidate in kinesiology, on balancing emotional wellness with academic responsibilities in graduate school.

upcoming events and resources: details about events and resources available to support emotional wellness in our community.

we hope you find the newsletter informative and helpful as we continue our journey toward a healthier and more supportive environment for everyone at 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 .

take care, be well, and thank you,

jonathon racine (he/him)
wellness strategy coordinator, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
807-343-8010 ext 7246 or wellnesscoordinator@lakeheadu.ca

are you passionate about wellness and have insights to share? if so, we invite you to contribute to our future newsletters! upcoming topics include: financial wellness, occupational wellness, and social wellness.

to subscribe to the our trail to wellness newsletter, please sign up here

at lakehead, we recognize the importance of fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and support for all members of our diverse community.

pride month serves as a poignant reminder of the progress made towards equality and justice for 2slgbtqqia+ individuals, while also highlighting the ongoing work needed to create a more inclusive society. it is a time to celebrate love, acceptance, and the right of every individual to live authentically, without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

as a university committed to diversity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to actively participate in pride month celebrations.

here are some ways you can get involved.

• take part in educational opportunities:
  • check out the special issue of the journal of lgbt youth: thriving on campus: promoting the inclusion, academic development, and wellbeing of diverse 2slgbtq+ university and college 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛
  • review cicmh's campus equity toolkit
  • check out the library's pride collection

• attend local pride events:
  • these gatherings are an opportunity to show solidarity with the 2slgbtqqia+ community and celebrate diversity in all its forms.
    • thunder bay pride events
    • orillia pride events
    • barrie pride march
  • stop by the pride block party on the thunder bay campus on june 27 hosted by pride central and lusu!
• show pride in your space:
  • decorate your workspace or office to demonstrate your support of our 2slgbtqqia+ community members at lakehead
  • use our pride zoom backgrounds
  • download and print positive space posters for your space
• commit to practices that affirm 2slgbtqqia+ community members:
  • speak up when you see discrimination, insensitivity and/or gaps in knowledge or action. use the mobile safety app to report discrimination on campus.
  • practice and use gender-neutral language
  • add pronouns to your email signature

for more information about pride at lakehead and information about supports and resources, visit www.hsbcwebinars.com/shw-pride.

dear lakehead colleagues and friends,

we hope this message finds you well.

on behalf of the lakehead social committee, please accept our heartfelt thanks to everyone who was so enthusiastic to sign up and move with us as part of let’s get active! your excitement and participation helped make the event a huge success, and we appreciate your support in promoting wellness and fitness within our lakehead community.

for those who attended, we hope you enjoyed the activities and found them beneficial. whether you joined the walk/run, modo yoga, or pickleball, your involvement made the event truly special.

we value your feedback and would love to hear from you about your experience. please take a few moments to complete our feedback form here. your insights will help us improve future events and continue fostering a vibrant, healthy community at lakehead.

feedback form

thank you once again for your participation and support. we look forward to seeing you at our future social committee events, like summerfest: a multicultural celebration!

stay active and healthy!

best regards,
阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 social committee

we are helping all members of our lakehead community explore their pathways to better mental health with our 5th annual thrive week from january 22-26!

an initiative that began at ubc and adopted on campuses across canada, thrive is a week-long series of events for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , staff and faculty that provide opportunities to engage in wellness practices, learn about how you can support the well-being of yourself and others, and about the mental health and wellness resources available at lakehead.

wall of champions

have something nice to share about a fellow employee? join us throughout the week to write a beautiful anonymous message on our wall of champions for all to see. please share a positive message or story about a colleague who makes a difference in our lakehead community!

see the full employee thrive week 2024 schedule at www.hsbcwebinars.com/employeesthrive

thrive week 2024 (employees).pdf

thrive week 2024, january 22-26, 2024 - 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜
#thriveweek2024 #employeesthrive #lakeheadthrives #thunderwolvesthrive