Jass' Spotlight: My Experience as a Student-Attendee
When I got accepted into the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of Waterloo, I did not consider the actuality of a global pandemic. Although digital technology fostered collaboration with professors and peers, there was a sense of figurative and literal distance which influenced my personal sense of belonging. The last degree requirement, a practicum placement, made me reflect on my own experiences as a post-graduate student. Given the challenges I faced with my own mental health, I knew that I had to pursue a practicum centered on campus wellness. After onboarding with the Health Promotion Team at UW, I had the privilege of becoming involved with the International Health Promoting Campuses Symposium.
Although held virtually, I was made aware of what it means to have a global community striving for the same vision: improving the health of our campuses and revitalizing the lived experiences of our students. The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. Shannon Waters, an Indigenous public health physician in Canada. Dr. Waters spoke of the link between our body and our environment, working as an ecosystem. Dr. Waters related this work to our campuses, displaying the remarkable interconnectedness between the health of a campus and the subsequent positive outcomes of students and the greater community. The symposium hosted over 395 people from all over the world (depicted in map below). Attendees were able to hear from leaders of national health promoting campuses networks, including Dr. Christine Stock in Germany, Ana Martinez-Pérez from the Ibero America network, Dr. Rajiv Yeravdekar from India and representing Canada, Melissa Potwarka from University of Waterloo. Each of these presenters spoke of the strides being made in their home campuses to drive forward the work of the Okanagan Charter. The Wellness Collaborative at UW was particularly impressive, with efforts being made in multiple areas of the campus ecosystem. The work highlighted the prioritization of mental wellness, spiritual wellness, sense of belonging, supportive environments for active living and healthy eating and institutional commitment to wellness at all levels. These priority areas closely aligned with my own hopes for a supportive campus, work I wish I connected with sooner in my tenure as a post-graduate student.
I was astounded by the participation of Waterloo staff and students in attendance at the symposium. Veronica Nhio-son, an undergrad student at Waterloo and member of the Wellness Collaborative, shared highlights of the day from global leaders, including the collective understanding of how deep wellness runs, critical discussions of eco-grief, and the importance of taking a step back to listen to Indigenous people. Other members of Waterloo’s Wellness Collaborative, including Savanah Seaton, Ashley Ryan and Jennifer McCorriston, narrated their journey working on the Okanagan Charter and the challenges involved in taking a whole-systems approach to wellbeing in higher education. It was highly motivating to see senior executives from campus settings all over the world participate actively in discussion around the strategic priorities for their campuses. The saying, charity begins at home, came to mind as global leaders took a stance to be a catalyst for organizational change, focusing efforts to promoting wellness within all dimensions of campus life. Interestingly, the notable lack of attendance from senior leadership at Waterloo left me with a feeling of promise unfulfilled.
The schedule of the day was tremendously stimulating, with ample opportunities to collaborate and exchange ideas with others. Breakout rooms allowed for smaller discussions to share knowledge of how to apply the Okanagan charter locally and to brainstorm strategic implementation of health promotion processes in higher education. These breakout rooms provided the opportunity to truly collaborate with others who are committed to strengthening student voices and engagement, centering the lived experiences, and addressing social determinants of health and health equity. Professors at UW shared how they are mobilizing the priorities of the Wellness Collaborative; some spoke of changes to syllabus to be more wellness focused, while others discussed the efforts made to be more accessible to their students, such as extending office hours. Other student attendees from Waterloo chimed in with their role in promoting campus wellness, with involvement in equity and Anti-racism groups on campus.
After a motivating day of presentations and vigorous discussion, the ending keynote was delivered by Sione Tu’itahi, Executive Director of the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand and Chairperson of IUHPE Global Working Group on Waiora Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing. In this keynote, the vision of the Okanagan Charter was driven home: “Together, we can transform the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen communities and contribute to the wellbeing of people, places and the planet.” As I logged off, I felt privileged to be part of an event that will reverberate inspiration and courage for all to strive for the continual improvement of health and wellness at the University of Waterloo. To view the videos of the sessions from the Symposium, please visit the International Health Promoting Universities and Colleges webpage.
