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University鈥檚 first Mindfulness Challenge a success

2018 Mindfulness Challenge participants

"You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
–, PhD, Founder and former Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center

The Healthy Workplace Committee (HWC) would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2018 Mindfulness Challenge on November 25. Special thanks to Wendy Stanyon, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Angie Wood, Fitness Co-ordinator and HWC member, for all their dedication and hard work that went into making this event successful.

Together, the entire group of Oshawa participants raised $2562.85. The Dragonflies (a university-based team with four members: Angela Wood, Bridgette Atkins, Cathie Griffin and Wendy Stanyon) raised $1280 of the total amount.

Total raised across Canada: $139,073.41.

This was the first time the university hosted the event as a satellite location, livestreaming it from the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto, Ontario. Other participating cities included Oakville, London and Kitchener, Ontario.

This year’s theme was Resilient Self-Resilient Communities. Mindful activities included:

  • Guidance through the day by esteemed author, activist and formally trained Buddhist teacher, Lama Rod Owens.
  • Story telling.
  • Meditation
  • Mindful movement.
  • Mindful walking.
  • Mindful music.
  • Mindful eating.

Feedback from participants was exceptionally positive. They HWC hopes to host an even larger group next year.