Wellbeing and Belonging Committee at U of T Mississauga

 

Why was the wellbeing and belonging committee formed?


This group came together around our shared belief in a bright future at work – where staff, faculty, and librarians have joy in their jobs, feel connected to their colleagues, and find supports and communities to belong. 

This future matters for our employees, who deserve to bring their full selves to work and lead vibrant lives beyond it. It also matters for our mission, since the university’s power is its people. We better support our students when we feel supported ourselves. We better advance knowledge when we know our colleagues are standing right beside us.

pride flag raising at UTM
Black at UTM Staff

 

What does the wellbeing and belonging committee do?


This committee connects faculty, staff, and librarians to:

UTM aerial view
  • Assess current initiatives for employee wellbeing and belonging, identifying opportunities to make our supports more visible and easily navigable. 
  • Listen to colleagues, inviting diverse perspectives on the spaces, supports, and connections people need to feel well on campus.
  • Advance proposals for wellbeing and belonging initiatives, as grounded in U of T’s commitments to equity, anti-racism, and truth and reconciliation.
  • Collaborate with tri-campus partners, including on U of T’s wellness review committee, to link university-wide plans with campus-specific contexts. 
  • Support strategic framework priorities, including by aligning approaches to safety, accessibility, and physical, mental, and social health. 

By summer 2025, UTM will synthesize this work into our first wellbeing and belonging plan, with data-informed priorities to strengthen employee supports. 

Our hope is that these priorities will help create the brighter future we imagine – that UTM’s people feel appreciated at work, joyful in life, and connected to places, resources, and communities that lift them up.

 

Calling all collaborators


To learn more about, and shape, UTM’s culture of wellness, you can:

Register for a consultation

Share your perspective to inform the wellbeing and belonging plan.

Volunteer as an ambassador

Receive tools and resources to plan your own wellbeing and belonging events.

Connect with the committee chair

Ask questions or set up a time to meet.

 

Wellbeing and belonging committee members


Chaired by Heather Hines, the Wellbeing and Belonging Committee brings together:

Nythalah Baker, Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Nader Boutros, Director, Human Resources

Tee Duke, Director, Indigenous Initiatives

Ravi Gabble, Supervisor, Wellness Programs

Heather Hines, Director, Office of the Vice-President and Principal

Mai Lu, Head, Library Public Services and Outreach

Dina Moreira, Manager, Academic Human Resources

Steven Suraci, Director, Operations and Finance, Dept. of Mgmt. 

Kathi Wilson, Vice-Dean, Faculty

Shahid Zafar, Assistant Director, Campus Safety

 

Looking for community, counselling, or work-life support?