 |
 |
Healthy U of T Awards
History and Purpose of the Awards
Past Winners
Contact Information
Each
year the Centre for Health Promotion presents the Healthy
U of T Awards. These awards recognize an individual or
a group of students, staff, and/or faculty members at
the University of Toronto that have made a substantial
and long lasting healthy difference to the campus community.
In the Individual and Group categories,
we look for candidates who:
- ensure and strengthen the participation
of campus community members in creating a healthier University environment;
- form
partnerships to create healthy and supportive environments
within the University;
- support and advocate for the
adoption of healthy public policies within the University;
- work
with the most vulnerable members of the University
community;
- empower campus community members to
achieve physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Background
and Purpose of the Awards
History of the Awards
At
the opening ceremonies for the Centre for Health Promotion in 1990, University
of Toronto President Robert Pritchard remarked
that the University,
under the leadership of the Centre, was committed to creating
a healthier environment. Since then, a Healthy U of T Interest
Group was formed and
a number of different projects were undertaken to fulfill
this mandate. Included in their projects was the inception
of the Healthy U of T Awards
(Individual and Group), first presented in 1999.
The
Healthy U of T Awards were established to recognize individuals,
departments and/or organizations affiliated with the University
who have made an outstanding “healthy university” contribution
to the campus community and/or the broader community. Health
is broad based, encompassing physical, mental, social, spiritual
and environmental aspects. There are those that
create social and environmental conditions that promote
the health and well-being of others. These Awards are a
way of showing appreciation for
such contributions. In
so doing, the Healthy U of T Committee hopes to draw attention
to the issue of health within the University
and to
familiarize the campus community with the definition of health
in its broadest terms.
Past
Winners
Congratulations to Rachelle
Pascoe-Deslauriers , one of two people
selected to share the 2007 Healthy UofT Award in
the Individual Category - Annat Koren (nominator),
Rachelle Pascoe-Deslauriers, Suzanne Jackson and
Jody Macdonald (Chair of the Awards Selection Committee)
(left to right) |
The first
person sharing the individual award in 2007 was Rachelle
Pascoe-Deslauriers, Executive Director of
the University of Toronto Sexual Education and Peer
Counselling Centre.
Rachelle has been involved
with the Centre since 2003, and has refined the image
of the Centre as an accountable and highly professional
organization that is becoming a centre of expertise
for inclusive sex-positive education. She has dramatically
increased the number of volunteers at the Centre,
and is in great demand for her expertise in developing
workshops, talks, and events, across campus and beyond.
In doing so she has consistently pushed to de-stigmatize
sex, creating the well known and appreciated ‘Porn
and Cookies’ event.
Her holistic approach and
emphasis on areas of commonality rather than division
has also diversified the centre’s reach across
campus to include St Michael’s College, whose
views were previously considered incompatible with
the Centre.
All of this has been achieved
as a volunteer and a student, a remarkable achievement.
Her work is an excellent example of the health promotion
strategies of “developing personal skills” and “creating
environments conducive to health.” |
|
The co-winner
of the individual award in 2007 was Dr. Michael
Evans. Michael is a faculty member of the
Department of Family and Community Medicine. Michael
has shown a very high level of commitment to educating
people from the campus outwards to create healthy and
aware communities. In addition to the vast number of
clinical projects he has innovated and led to develop
expertise and best practice, he has also shown his
dedication to promoting health awareness in the wider
community through numerous media outlets.
The Healthy U of T Awards
Committee was particularly impressed by his work
in launching the renowned Mini-Med School at the
University of Toronto. This innovative idea of pooling
the University’s expertise on health and using
it to educate and engage the community through interactive
sessions, graduates 1000 laypeople annually, and
has now been launched at 5 other universities. It
is an incredible achievement that showcases the wonderful
work done at the University of Toronto to a wider
audience and is an inspiration to those who are working
to develop and promote the expertise fostered by
the University. This work exemplifies the health
promotion strategy of “developing personal
skills.” |
 Congratulations
to Diana Alli, winner of the 2006 Healthy UofT
Award in the Individual Category - pictured here in the centre
holding the award certificate along with her many fans and Jody
Macdonald, Chair of the Awards Selection Committee (right) and
Sagar Dugani (extreme right) who nominated her for the award.
|
Diana Alli was
awarded the Individual award in 2006 for her
passion, dedication and long years of commitment in
serving the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
needs of not only students on campus but to the larger
Toronto GTA community
for the past 30 years. She has truly helped create a sense
of community and belonging for those she has touched.. Her
long record of initiatives and ongoing commitments
include the founding of the Summer Mentorship Program,
Saturday Tutoring
Program, Earthtones, Rhythm and Dance, Out of the Cold
programs, MedLife, Advisory Group member of Transitional
Year Program
and membership on committees and boards of many campus
and community organizations.
In addition to being a Healthy UofT
award winner,she is a member of the Order of Ontario, a YWCA
Women of Distinction Nominee (YWCA Toronto), a Diva with Determination
(Harmony Movement), David Eberle Award winner from the Faculty
of Medicine, presented the Chancellor’s Award (University
of Toronto) and Anti-Racism Award from the Toronto District
School Board among others.
Congratulations Diana on your dedication,
level of commitment and contribution to social justice and creating
healthy/wholistic living for all. |
SHOP received
the Group Award in 2006. It is a health promotion program
of Health Services on the St. George campus. It
began as a peer-to-peer education pilot program with
10 students in 1991 and has grown to over 30 students
in the past 15 years. Students
are trained to be peer health educators. They provide
health information, education, confidential referrals,
peer support and presentations on current health topics
of interest to students. The variety of programming, fun
initiatives, information and commitment to healthy
student experience that SHOP volunteers are committed
to bringing about
on campus
is
commendable. SHOP has also helped inspire the creation
of the Toronto Peer Health Network with other local
universities. SHOP’s
initiatives and dedication as peer health educators
to support their fellow students is a wonderful resource
on campus and
serves to create a healthy and supportive learning/living
environment.
Congratulations to all of the dedicated
student volunteers who give their time and level of commitment
to empowering themselves and their peers. A special mention
of congratulations to Kathryn Haworth and Judy Vorderbrugge
who as staff members at Health Services, help coordinate this
team of students! |
Congratulations to SHOP (Student Health Outreach Program) winner
of the 2006 Healthy UofT Award in the Group category. From left to right are
Judy Vorderbrugge from Health Services, four student peer health educators, Dr.
David Lowe from Health Services, Suzanne Jackson, and Jody Macdonald. |
|
Carlene Thatcher
Martin received the 2005 Individual
Healthy U of T Award for conceiving and
initiating Bikechain,
a facility on campus that promotes bicycle use
on campus by providing encouragement, resources
and practical support. BikeChain, which
helps reduce barriers to cycling by teaching people
about road safety and bike repair, and by providing
free repair and resources for cyclists, was realized
through Carlene’s hours of volunteer work,
her ability to mobilize other volunteers and secure
funding, and her considerable energy and enthusiasm.
Future plans include the reconditioning of used
bikes for those in need.
Carlene Thatcher Martin with
her Award
|
The Achieving
Work Life Balance Committee, chaired by
Rosie Parnass, was chosen to receive the Group
Healthy U of T Award 2005, in recognition
of the work they do in encouraging a healthy approach
to life for campus members. The Committee conceives,
develops and offers Work Life Balance Month,
a month-long series of events specifically designed
to encourage a balanced and well-rounded lifestyle
among U of T staff members, and to offer an avenue
for stress relief. The initiative, introduced in
2004, is offered on all three U of T campuses. |
Rosie Parnass with Achieving
Work Life Balance Committee Members with
CHP Director, Suzanne Jackson |
The 2004
Individual Award was presented to Mike
Peterson, staff person with
Computer and Network Services. Mike has been volunteer
coordinator of the recreational Graduate
Student Union Volleyball League for 25 years.
Currently with 50 teams, the League is open campus
wide and provides an opportunity for all skills levels
to participate. Mike's efforts, which are inclusive
of all campus members, have encouraged not only improved
physical health, but also a sense of community and
belonging. He was nominated for the Healthy U of
T Award by Mahadeo Sukhai, President of the GSU,
and staff member Ruth Perkins, on behalf of the Union.
Mike Peterson
and Ruth Perkins, ready to play volleyball |
 |
The 2004 Group Award went to the UTM/Evergreen Naturalization Steering
Committee in recognition of the work they do in creating
a healthy and natural environment at the University
of Mississauga campus,
and their inclusion of campus members in their initiatives.
The activities and planting events organized by the Steering
Committee make a lasting
contribution to the surroundings at UTM at the same time
as they bring together members from across the campus in
a joint effort to create a
healthier environment. The Steering Committee also advocates
for healthier public policy and makes an important contribution
to UTM’s Grow
Smart Grow Green directive to manage the campus’s rapid growth
in an environmentally sensitive manner. They were nominated
by Dr. Ian Orchard, UTM Vice-President and Principal.
The 2003
Group Award recognized the Sexual
Education and Peer Counseling Centre (SEC). SEC
is a student-run, non-profit organization that promotes
sexual and relationship health through its many services
and partnerships. Non-judgmental peer counseling,
information on sexual health issues, outreach programs,
and increasing sexual health knowledge and safety
on campus, as well as the promotion of a queer positive
outlook on campus are just some what SEC does. The
nomination came from U of T student, Kunmin Karen
Li.
David Udayasakeran
from SEC with Dr. Suzanne Jackson |
|
The 2003
Individual Award recognized Dr. Luigi
Girolametto, of the Department
of Speech-Language Pathology. Dr. Girolametto’s
nomination was a glowing testimony to the difference
he has made in the health and well being of many
lives, both students within his department and beyond.
The letters of support that accompanied his nomination
were very impressive and the lasting influence he
made, and continues to make, in the lives he touches
was evident. Dr. Girolametto was nominated by Speech-Pathology
graduate student Janice Bennett.
Dr. Luigi Girolametto
with friends |
|
2002 Individual Award: Victoria
Simpson, Health and Safety Committee, FitzGerald Building
Victoria was responsible for creating a supportive and open environment where
students and staff perceive that their safety concerns are given serious consideration.
2001 Individual Award: Douglas Moore, U of T Gardeners Collective
Douglas set up community gardening projects on U of T campus using organic
cultivation methods that put a focus on the physical, mental and social aspects
of growing food and contributing to the broader community.
2001 Group Award: Leave the Pack Behind
This group involved nine university and community college campuses in their
campaign to reduce smoking prevalence among post-secondary school students
using open dialogue and multiple strategies geared to young adults.
2000 Individual Award: Professor Carol Rodgers, Faculty of Physical
Education and Health
Professor Rodgers' course, "Active, Healthy Living," is offered
as an elective to Arts and Science undergraduates through
the Faculty of Physical
Education and Health. It integrates theoretical material on health with practical
components in nutritional assessments, stress management and physical activity.
For many of the students this course represents their first exposure to or
opportunity for physical activity and lifestyle management.
2000 Group Award (tie): Environmental Studies ENV421 Class of 1999/2000
This class conducted research on safety, sick buildings, food security and
mental health amongst undergraduates. They worked with members of the Healthy
UofT Interest Group to select research topics, and for input into their survey
and focus group designs and regularly attended meetings of the Interest Group
during the 1999/2000 year. The research data they compiled were then consolidated
and put into a report along with a list of recommendations for University
administrators on appropriate action to address the documented needs.
2000 Group Award (tie): USWA Local 1998 Health and Safety Committee
The committee was recognized for their commitment to health and safety issues
on the University of Toronto campus that affect, not only staff, but all
members of the campus community. Since their inception, they have addressed
and monitored issues from ergonomically incorrect workstations to air quality,
radiation exposure and unsafe working conditions. They have done so in an
open and participatory manner, have held regular meetings, and have set up
an on-going training program to assure that all of the local Joint Health
and Safety Committee members are fully trained in the provincial and federal
health and safety legislation.
1999 Group Award: Food Issues Action Group, represented by Brett
Kennedy, part of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group
In the 1998/99 academic year the Food Issues Action Group
worked very hard on a project to open a vegetarian café on the St. George campus. Students,
staff and faculty have long complained about a lack of healthy, affordable
vegetarian food on campus. "The Vegetarium Café" opened in
the fall of 1999, and is a non-profit, student-run, collective management structure
that uses ethical purchasing policies and offers food for vegan, halal, and
kosher diets. The Food Issues Groups objective is to educate people about food
safety, ethical purchasing and fair trade, environmental issues, food security
and hunger. They also produced the "Supermarket Tour and Guidebook" a
few years ago.
Contact
Information
For more information about the Healthy UofT Awards,
phone
(416) 978-2182
or email centre.healthpromotion@utoronto.ca.
Back to Top
Last Updated:
20-Nov-2008
|
|
