The Municipal District of Greenview introduced its “Get Moving Greenview” healthy workplace initiative in 2004. The initiative provides employees with information and opportunities to live a healthier lifestyle.  This year’s highlights include a “Smoothie Challenge” where ingredients and blenders were available and many new and interesting smoothies were created; monthly potluck lunches; Wellness Information Centres; and a “Walk to Calgary Challenge”.  The ‘Walk to Calgary Challenge’ has been a successful and well received program for the employees of the Municipal District of Greenview.  The program promoted physical fitness, and was done at the employee’s own pace.  It was not a race, simply a means of achieving each employee’s own goal.  They created a large map showing the route from Valleyview to Calgary, marking milestones along the way, showing steps and kilometers to towns and cities on the route.  Each participant chose a personalized running shoe which they moved along the route as they walked, ran, or bicycled.  Every participant received a ‘Walk to Calgary’ T-Shirt when they began the walk, along with a Healthy U at Work starter kit.  Once a milestone was reached, the participant received an achievement reward which was other merchandise from the Healthy U at Work website. All of the participants were proud of their accomplishments, and many of them reached Calgary – some even began the route back home.  Next year, they are planning to ‘swim’ the Little Smoky Rive, by clocking each employees hours of exercise, and converting it to ‘swim hours’.  This should be another great challenge.

These initiatives and activities resulted in healthier employees who took a total of 20 fewer sick days compared to the previous year.  The Municipal District of Greenview initiative exhibits strong management support and a total team effort from council, management, and staff.