Celebrating Five Years of Excellence and Innovation in Workplace Health!

Waterloo Region’s Healthy Workplace Awards Program recognizes and celebrates workplaces in Waterloo Region that demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the health of their employees. Region of Waterloo Public Health launched Waterloo Region’s Healthy Workplace Awards Program in October 2009.

On October 23rd the 5th annual awards celebration will be held at Knox Waterloo during National Healthy Workplace month. This awareness month is dedicated to encouraging Canadian organizations to promote the benefits of workplace health. Two new awards will also be offered this year: Platinum level award (for workplaces that have achieved 3 Gold levels consecutively in the last three years) and an Innovator award.

“Workplaces can have a significant impact on employee health, especially when you consider that most people spend over half of their waking hours on the job,” says Sharlene Sedgwick Walsh, Director, Healthy Living Division, “Workplace wellness programs and policies that businesses and organizations put in place recognize that the health and well-being of their employees is paramount and contribute to the health of the community as a whole.”

Through adopting a comprehensive workplace health promotion approach to wellness programming, workplaces may receive one of the four award levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum). To recognize innovation in workplace health, new this year will be the “Innovator Award”.

Media contact: Sharlene Sedgwick Walsh, Director, Healthy Living Division at 519-883-2254.

**Businesses will be available for interviews and photo opportunities.