Employee Wellness Initiatives That Encourage Active Living and Promote the Trans Canada Trail
“Fitness has always been a part of my life,” says Carole Woodstock, Fitness and Nutrition Specialist with Kinaxis. “I started figure skating when I was just three, transitioned into dance and later triathlon, and my mom always made sure I stayed active and connected to the outdoors.
“So, from a young age, the joys of being outside and being active was instilled in me.” Fast-forward to today, and Carole brings her love for the outdoors and passion for healthy living to employees worldwide from the Kinaxis office in Ottawa, Ontario.
Carole cites the Trans Canada Trail as a constant in her life. She lives only a couple of kilometres from the Trail and is on it several times a week – gravel biking, running, hiking and cross-country skiing are some of her favourite activities. She’s also gotten into canicross — a cross-country running sport with dogs — through a side hustle walking and running with clients’ dogs, which she absolutely enjoys.
Photo credit: Carole Woodstock
Employee engagement: Cleaning up the Trail and raising awareness
Carole often selects the Trans Canada Trail as the site for employee engagement activities. In April, she organized a trail cleanup on two sections of the Trail over two days. “People really loved it. They told me after the activity that they had never been on the Trail before, but they’d started using it after that time. My goal here at work is to raise awareness about the Trans Canada Trail and have employees bring that enthusiasm back to their families,” she says. She explains that a lot of Kinaxis’s employees are New Canadians and not always aware of the Trail and its reach; by incorporating the Trans Canada Trail into her employee wellness program, it helps to raise awareness about the access to nature the Trail affords across the country.
Photo credit: Carole Woodstock
Take On the Trail challenge – and a virtual Trans Canada Trail journey!
Carole organizes several annual walking, biking and running fitness challenges for Kinaxis employees. This year, their Take on the Trail challenge coincides with the Great Canadian Hike. Carole plans to organize employee walks and hikes on the Trans Canada Trail throughout the challenge.
In addition to their Canadian offices, Kinaxis also has employees worldwide. For those at their offices in Ottawa, Toronto, and Atlantic and Western Canada, she encourages them to get out on the Trans Canada Trail. For those outside of Canada, “We have an app, and we add a visual of the Trans Canada Trail that runs between our Ottawa and Toronto offices. Employees walk and hike in their own countries, but we track the mileage on that part of the Trail,” she explains. Carole says it’s a fun way to raise awareness about the Trail, no matter where they are. “We’ll have employees in India, and they’re virtually walking along the Ottawa-Carleton Trailway and more.”
Carole says that she’s noticed how employees come back from team walks and hikes energized and happy – it’s a major pick-me-up and a boost to team spirit.
Photo credit: Carole Woodstock
Supporting Trans Canada Trail at an organizational level
Not only is Kinaxis generously supporting the upcoming Great Canadian Hike at a corporate level, but the organization is also encouraging employees to participate. Employees can join a Kinaxis team, track their kilometres and fundraise for Trans Canada Trail – and since it ties in so well with Carole’s employee wellness challenges, it’s an easy fit!
Photo credit: Carole Woodstock
A reliable cross-country trail system – for everyone
Carole cites the Trans Canada Trail as an almost omnipresent entity across the country as a major plus, in addition to how well it’s taken care of by trail groups from coast to coast to coast. When she and her husband are in a different part of Canada, they always make a point to seek out the Trail. “It’s reliable. The signage is good. Trails are well-maintained,” she says. “It’s hard to explain how I feel about the Trans Canada Trail,” Carole says. “It’s almost like it’s there for us to enjoy, but also to take care of. And that’s what I love.”
Register today for Great Canadian Hike.
Main photo credit: Carole Woodstock
