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This article is the first in a series to showcase the departments and faculties nominated for the 2014 Healthy Workplace Award.

The University Secretariat is a staff of six, supporting the Senate, Board of Governors and their standing committees and ad hoc and working groups. There are over 20 different 鈥渂odies鈥� that are supported by the six staff 鈥� no easy task.

How does the University Secretariat manage this number of 鈥渂odies鈥� with such a small staff? The difference is the director, Susan Brousseau, and her desire to make the office a healthy, active workplace. She leads by example and walks the talk. As a result, every staff member wants to work hard, recognizing that they need to take care of themselves in order to work hard.

The University Secretariat is one of those offices that can be proud of the fact that each member of the office team is physically active and supported in their activity. The group has runners, cyclists, walkers, swimmers, and yogis.聽 On the professional front, each staff member is encouraged to develop an individualized plan for learning to enhance any area which needs upgrading. This is done, in part, through the ACHIEVE performance support program, which the office has been following for several years.

For five years now the University Secretariat has held what is now known as the 鈥淪ecretariat Hasty Retreat,鈥� an annual, summer fun鈥恌illed afternoon for the whole group. From the planning to the actual day, it is a team event.聽 The activities branch out from internal get-togethers to ways to support others.聽 In 2010, the Secretariat hosted the first Henry Hicks鈥� Got Talent event to raise money for the United Way and in 2013 the group invited their colleagues from other offices in the second floor of the Hicks Building to a summer social.

Bi-weekly meetings share information, ideas and snacks within the group and project completions are celebrated as they are accomplished.聽 The group took the time to develop their own mission and vision statements, another team effort.

Andrea Power, a member of the Secretariat and author of their nomination for Dal鈥檚 Healthy Workplace Award, believes that, 鈥渢he result of these initiatives is a happy and productive workplace where employees feel valued, supported and safe. This has occurred in large part to Susan Brousseau鈥檚 effort, motivation and attention to the needs of her staff. She understands that each of us have challenges and issues with which to contend and she supports us to get what we need.聽 Our loyalty to her is testament to how connected she is to her people.鈥�

Watch for future department profiles and contact HealthyDal@Dal.ca to explore how to advance the health of your workplace.