Supporting employee well‑being is an essential part of building healthy, sustainable work and learning places. That commitment was front and center at a recent employee wellness fair, that brought together information, resources and opportunities for VSB staff to learn more about caring for themselves and one another.

On Friday, February 13, 2026, more than 300 staff members gathered at Kitsilano Secondary School for VSB’s annual Employee Health Fair. Several workshops were offered for staff on topics including resilience in the workplace, healthy meal planning, budgeting and more. The workshops were designed to enhance all aspects of employees’ well-being.

During the Indigenous herbal medicines workshop, Melaina Patenaude, a Métis herbalist, guided participants in making all-natural herbal-infused lip balm. She encouraged everyone to bring a holistic approach into both their professional and personal lives by recharging in nature and bringing the outdoors inside.

“Today we’re doing something so much deeper than making lip balm. I’ve harvested these medicines in a good way,” she said, referring to the conifers (cedar, fir and pine) she had harvested and distilled for their essential oils. “Build your relationship to the natural world. There’s scientific evidence that conifer medicines change our chemical makeup. They can enhance every element of our holistic well-being. You can also reap emotional benefits from breathing in natural air.”

During the move, strengthen, thrive workshop facilitated by Therapy X, participants were led through a series of strength and mobility exercises designed to ease tension and prevent repetitive strain injuries. Registered physiotherapists Jessica Cheng and Randy Gao also discussed when to seek help from a healthcare provider.   

Along with attending workshops, staff visited the wellness fair, where 35 booths were set up by health and wellness providers including Pacific Blue Cross and Telus Health.

All attendees came together for the afternoon keynote address delivered by Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe, who spoke on the topic of everyday resiliency. She shared her personal history as a troubled youth battling addiction and a life-changing and near-death experience that led to her interest in the study of resiliency.

Along with practical tips for managing cortisol and activating her five pillars of resiliency (belonging, perspective, acceptance, hope and humour), Dafoe encouraged the attendees to look at each other and students with “kind eyes”. “Connection is more important than information,” she stressed. “Connection and community are always the answer.”