Creating connection and cultivating community during Wellbeing Week

The second annual Wellbeing Week will take place from Oct. 2-6, 2023. Wellbeing Week is an initiative led by TMU’s Mental Health Lead, in partnership with Workplace Wellbeing Services and Student Wellbeing. 

This year’s theme is “Creating Connection, Cultivating Community.” Throughout the week, students, faculty and staff are invited to take part in a series of events and activities designed to help foster deeper connections within the campus community. You can find more information about Wellbeing Week events, as well as a schedule and additional resources on the website. 

“Through recent engagements, we found that students, faculty and staff identified building connection and community as a priority after several years of learning and working virtually,” says Erica McDiarmid, the university’s mental health lead. “It is important for us to listen to what our TMU community is saying, so we’ve tailored this year’s Wellbeing Week to address this need and help each other reconnect and provide a sense of belonging on campus.”

The week will focus on three key connections: connecting with yourself, connecting with others, and connecting with the community. 

“We know that building strong community connections can have a positive impact on our mental health and well-being and provide a sense of belonging. Wellbeing Week strives to create opportunities for participants to build relationships and support systems through events that facilitate learning and connecting with one another,”says McDiarmid.

A variety of events and activities will run throughout the week. Some are specifically designed for students, like the Wellbeing Connection Fair, taking place on Monday, Oct. 2 in the Student Learning Centre (SLC) Amphitheatre. There are also events specifically for faculty and staff, including a Notice, Engage, Refer + Debrief workshop and a session on Relational Models of Collaboration at Work, in partnership with Indigenous Initiatives and Workplace Wellbeing. 

Here are some of the events to look out for during Wellbeing Week:

Yoga in the Urban Farm

In partnership with Athletics and Recreation and the Urban Farm, we are hosting Yoga in the Urban Farm on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to stay after the yoga session to socialize over tea and watch the sunset over the city. Register here.

Urban Farm Tour and Harvest Party

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the Urban Farm will provide a tour of the space where participants can learn about the Indigenous Foodways Program and the Black Food Sovereignty initiative. After the tour, they will host the Urban Farm's Harvest Party where there will be free delicious snacks and tea, a seed exchange, and a raffle draw to win garden goodies. Register here.

Grief Literacy 101 Workshop

Rachelle Bensoussan (external link) , educator, mental health professional and grief literacy specialist, is hosting a workshop for all TMU community members on grief literacy and the importance of acknowledging and supporting those who have experienced loss. Whether it be the loss of a person, the loss of one’s health, mobility, or capacity, the loss of access to resources including housing, food security or health care, Bensoussan will share language and expertise to support yourself and others experiencing grief. Register here. 

Resource Roadmap: your path to well-being spaces on campus

The Resource Roadmap, in collaboration with the Health Promotion Program and Recreation, will showcase the spaces across campus that support and promote well-being. On Thursday, Oct. 5 from 1-2 p.m., come and learn all about the services and resources available to students, faculty and staff to support their mental health and well-being. Meet our well-being crew at the front desk of the Student Learning Centre (SLC), grab a snack and come on a journey to locate the range of services included in your student fees that support your physical and mental wellness.  (google form) Register here (external link) .

In addition to events and various activities, the Wellbeing Week website includes a list of well-being resources available to community members, both on and off campus. Learn more by visiting the Wellbeing Week website.