The Wellness Collaborative at the University of Waterloo was created in response to and guided by the principles of the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges.
This Charter, signed by the University of Waterloo in 2018, calls on post-secondary schools to actively integrate health and wellness into the learning environments, business operations, and academic mandates. These efforts will support a culture of empathy, sustainability, and social justice. By supporting the wellbeing of everyone at Waterloo, we will enhance the success of our institution through increased recruitment, retention, and academic achievement.
The University of Waterloo is also committed to working towards becoming a leader in establishing new and innovative health promotion projects, initiatives, research, and learning opportunities.
In working towards these aspirational commitments, the Wellness Collaborative has identified five priority areas based on the unique needs and context of Waterloo
Learn more about the five priority areas and how the University of Waterloo is making ongoing efforts to implement positive change within each area.
These priorities may shift over time to be responsive to emerging needs of our community.
News
Wellness Champions: Teaching Team for REC 373 Work to Provide Respite for Students
For the teaching team of Dr. Lisbeth Berbary, Michela Pirruccio, Akua Kwarko-Fosu, Melanie Sean Lim, and Alex Silver of the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department teaching REC 373 – Qualitative Approaches to Leisure Research, these aspects were critical to the creation and usefulness of the course.
Wellness Champions: Dr. Sharon Kirkpatrick’s work prioritizing her students’ wellness during remote learning
Creating a community within a course of over two hundred students can be difficult in the best of times and is even more challenging during a global pandemic that forced teaching and learning online.
