The Government of Canada describes mental health as “the state of your psychological and emotional well-being. It is a necessary resource for living a healthy life and a main factor in overall health. It does not mean the same thing as mental illness. However, poor mental health can lead to mental and physical illness.” Good mental health allows you to feel, think and act in ways that help you enjoy life and cope with its challenges.

The 2023 Research Report of Canadian perspectives on health, wellness, and employee benefits reports that the majority of Canadians surveyed agree that "physical health, financial situation, and job satisfaction contribute to mental health. (The 2023 survey was completed by 1,502 Canadians – representing all age groups and all provinces (excluding territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon) – between January 6 and 16, 2023.)

The First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness views Wellness as a fluid concept with concentric circles (wellness streams) that impact the wellness of the individual. The centre circle involves the concept of individuals taking responsibility for our own health and wellness (First Nations or not). The second circle speaks to the importance of Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Physical facets of a healthy, well and balanced life. The Third Circle represents the overarching values that support and uphold wellness: Respect, Wisdom, Responsibility and Relationships. The Fourth Circle depicts the people that surround us and the places from which we come (Land, Community, Family and Nations.) The Fifth Circle depicts the Social, Environmental​, Cultural and Economic determinants of our health and well-being. And finally, the outer circle depicts the people - strong children, families, elders, and people in communities. The people are holding hands to demonstrate togetherness, respect and relationships, which in the words of a respected BC elder can be stated as "one heart, one mind." Children are included in the drawing because they are the heart of our communities and they connect us to who we are and to our health.

• to bring wellness into the 'culture' of work sites;
• to educate school district employees about the importance of wellness, and work- home balance; 
• to provide school district employees with information and tools for wellness and self-care (including the equitable allocation of site/school based funds to support wellness initiatives at the staff level); and  
• to organize district wide events that promote both wellness and connections between school district staff. 

1. VTA Member and Chair:                 Billie-Jo Beaudoin
2. Assistant Superintendent:                 Katherine Oviatt
3. Exempt Member:                            Natashia Bacchus
4. VTA Member:                                         Nicole Heffner
5. VTA Member:                                           Ailish Mallow
6. CUPE Member:                                   Michelle Skillnik
7. CUPE Member:                                      Sharon Halcro
8. CUPE Member:                                       Shylo Orchard
9. Exempt Member/PVP Rep:             Moira Manthorne
10. Exempt Member/PVP Rep:         Melissa Yurkowski

• The Wellness Committee exists as a committee of the Superintendent. Funds committed to wellness and provided through the SD22 annual operating budget are dispersed equitably amongst schools, departments, and/or worksites. 
• The use of these funds are determined by the school or department and are to be used to support the wellbeing of all staff. Principals and department heads report the use of these funds through the Wellness Committee. 

The Guarding Minds Survey measures employee perceptions regarding psychosocial factors, psychosocial hazards, indicators of workplace inclusion and indicators of stress or trauma. 

Each of the factors can act as a risk or protection for employee well-being. The survey does not measure levels of personal or historical trauma or other personal factors that may also contribute to a person's wellbeing. 

The Wellness Committee sends out this survey to all SD 22 employees to gather data to assess the psychosocial factors that are positively or negatively impacting the psychological health of employees and the organization. The initial survey was completed in 2023. A second survey was completed in 2025. Employees will have the opportunity to fill out the survey every 2 years. 

The Wellness Committee continues to collect feedback through: 

• The Guarding Minds Survey (sent every 2 years).
• Ongoing consultation via round table discussion, focus groups, online submissions. 

In addition to your participation in the wellness survey, staff are welcome to use the feedback tools available. All submissions are anonymous, unless you provide your email with a request for a follow up directly to you. All feedback will be reviewed, discussed, and actioned by the Wellness Committee.  If you require immediate support please contact your local union representative or access support at:  TelusHealth (Formerly Lifeworks)

If you would like to provide feedback directly to the committee about their work or would like to share your thoughts about how to improve psychological safety in the District, please use this feedback tool:

Wellness Committee Feedback Form

If you have concerns or feedback with respect to accessibility, please use the Accessibility Feedback Form. If you have feedback with respect to a workplace safety issue, please contact your local union, administrator, or school OH&S committee reps.

There are multiple ways to provide your feedback and help as we work to improve Wellness across our District. Here are some:

1. Participate in the Guarding Minds survey.
2. Participate in round table or focus group discussions.
3. Fill out the Wellness Committee Feedback Form.
4. Contact or talk to a member of the Wellness Committee.
5. Contact your union representative.
6. Talk to your supervisor who can share with the committee. 

Purpose:  

• To enhance the integration of workplace wellness in School District 22 and to promote employees' awareness of, and tools for, caring for their physical and mental health - aligning with the District's Strategic Plan: Leadership Excellence #5 Cultivate positive staff experiences, supporting professional growth and wellness.

Mandate:

• bringing wellness into the 'culture' of work sites 
• educating school district employees about the importance of wellness, and work- home balance
• providing school district employees with information and tools for wellness and self-care 
• organizing district wide events that promote both wellness and connections between school district staff