Western Health employees are being challenged to keep active through the “Walking Western for Wellness” challenge which will kick off today, on Canada Health Day and run until December 12, 2011. Participants will use Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador’s Small Steps . . . Big Results, a provincial physical activity website designed to motivate individuals to start moving towards a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Western Health employees can join as individuals or in teams of five people and compete with each other logging over seventy types of activity from walking, playing different sports, to playing wii, on smallstepsbigresults.net. Different exercise types are given a step count per 10 minute interval and users add their time logged or if they are wearing a pedometer, they can input their actual step count.
“We are encouraging all employees to participate and increase their physical activity,” says Joanne Goosney, Employee Wellness Manager. “We currently have over 100 teams and almost 700 employees registered and the number is increasing daily. We are hoping our employees use this activity challenge to kick start their activity plans and make their own resolutions to stay healthy throughout the year. This initiative has the potential to help improve the quality of the lives of our employees and increase their engagement and job satisfaction.” Although the launch is today, new teams or individuals can still join the challenge.
“This type of program can help foster a positive work environment,” says Rob Kenny, VP Human Resources and Organizational Development. “We can have staff in Port Saunders competing against staff in Burgeo in the challenge and that can help create a regional culture. In addition, there are numerous benefits for our employees when they are physically active.”
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For further information:
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications
Western Health
709-637-5252
heidistaebensimmons@westernhealth.nl.ca