Health awareness campaigns

Employee Wellness at a Glance

Featured content:
Monthly Spotlight	Stronger Every Day – Blog
Upcoming UFV Community Events	Workshops & E‑Learning Opportunities
Resources & Educational Materials	Annual Snapshot

Monthly Spotlight

Cancer Prevention & Screening

Cancer Prevention Starts With You

Cancer is common—but many cancers can be prevented or detected early, when treatment is most effective. This May, we encourage employees to learn about BC‑specific cancer screening programs and how everyday choices can lower cancer risk.

Around 4 in 10 cancers could be prevented by making healthy behaviour changes. What you eat and drink, whether you smoke, your level of physical activity and how much you protect yourself from the sun are all things that can affect your chances of getting cancer, and your chances of preventing it. For more information on how to reduce your cancer risk, please visit the Preventing Cancer website.

Everyday Actions That Reduce Cancer Risk

BC Cancer and the Canadian Cancer Society recommend the following proven prevention strategies:

🌞 Practice sun safety (SPF 30+, protective clothing, shade)
🚭 Quit smoking or vaping (the leading cause of preventable cancer)
🏃 Move more (aim for at least 150 minutes of activity per week)
🥗 Eat well (more fruits, vegetables, whole grains; less processed food)
🏠 Know your environment (reduce exposure to radon, asbestos, second‑hand smoke)
🍷 Limit alcohol (less is better—alcohol increases cancer risk)
💉 Get vaccinated

HPV vaccine → reduces cervical and other cancers
Hepatitis B vaccine → reduces liver cancer risk

Take the “It’s My Life!” Cancer Prevention Quiz

The Canadian Cancer Society’s “It’s My Life!” quiz is a quick, interactive tool that helps you:

Understand your personal cancer risk factors
Identify prevention actions you can take
Learn which screenings may apply to you

Take the quiz

Cancer Screening

BC Cancer offers free, province‑wide screening programs for eligible residents, even if you’re feeling healthy and have no symptoms. Real stories from people across B.C. show how screening has saved lives—often catching cancer early or stopping it before it starts.

Cancer Screening in British Columbia: Who Should Get Screened

Learn From Real People in B.C.

British Columbians share powerful stories about how cancer screening gave them peace of mind, caught cancer early, or saved their lives.

Explore these firsthand experiences at ScreeningStories.ca

This May, Take One Step

Cancer prevention doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
It can start with booking one screening, making one healthy change, or sharing this information with someone you care about.

Early detection saves lives—and prevention starts with awareness.

Stronger Every Day

HR's Health & Wellness team launched a new blog series this year called Stronger Every Day. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing resources, stories, photos, recipes, and other content focused on health and wellness. We’d love this to be a collaborative space, so we warmly invite your participation.

Please share your ideas, questions, comments, and personal stories—we can’t wait to hear from you.

Submit content to: nancy.scarrow@ufv.ca

View Blog

Upcoming UFV Community Events

Stronger Every Day – Vision Board Workshop #2	Our first workshop was a success, so we will be back at it again, please comeback or join for the first time. Snacks and all materials provided—come get inspired and connect with colleagues! Date: May 12, 2026 Time: 12-1pm Location: AB - C1429 RSVP »
	It is with great pride and joy that we celebrate the achievements of Nancy Scarrow. Since the early 2000s Nancy has worked tirelessly over the years, demonstrating a commitment to build a healthy active community for all employees here at UFV. As Nancy says goodbye to UFV after 37 years, she will leave behind a lasting legacy of fitness challenges, friendships, and memories that will live on in the hearts, halls, and habits of UFV. Feel free to join us rain or shine for all or part of the walk, or wave hello as we pass by around the Abbotsford campus. Light refreshments and cake to follow. Date: May 21, 2026 Time: 12:30 pm Location: Meet in the breezeway between Bldgs. A&B RSVP »
Run For Water - UFV Team	Our colleague, Vincent wanted to share the link to register for Run For Water on May 24^th in Abbotsford, he created a UFV team if some people want to join, running or walking 5 and 10 km. Registration here »

Featured workshops and e-learning

INSPIRE HEALTH - My Decision, My Choice – Personal Stories of Courage from Our Community	No two journeys through hereditary cancer risk management are the same. In this intimate and inspiring session, you’ll hear personal accounts from BRCA carriers who made very different choices about prevention and screening. Our speakers will share what influenced their decisions, from medical advice and personal values to family needs and timing, as well as the challenges they faced along the way. You’ll gain insight into how they live with those decisions today, how they’ve adapted over time, and what they’ve learned about making choices that feel right for them. This is the third and final session in our From Fear to Clarity decision-making series, designed to guide and support carriers through the emotional, social, and practical realities of making high-stakes health decisions. Key Topics: Different Paths: Contrasting approaches to surgery, screening, and lifestyle. Factors in Decision-Making: The interplay of medical advice, personal values, and life circumstances. Living with the Decision: How choices evolve and what acceptance looks like. Q&A: Connect with speakers, share reflections, and ask questions in a supportive environment. Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm Location: Online Facilitator: Tina Marr, BRCA+ Community Member, Additional speakers TBC Learn more and RSVP »

Resources and education materials

	Cutting Your Cancer Risk Cutting Your Cancer Risk \| Colorectal Cancer_ Cutting the Risks
	Prevention - from head to toe
	Cancer Education Project \|Cancer Awareness and Education

Homewood Health - EFAP Newsletters

Life Lines: May 2026 - Menopause and Mental Health

Play Video | Audio File

Vitality (Manager and Supervisor - supporting employees): Menopause and the Workplace: A Guide for Employers

Play Video | Audio File

Archived articles: Employee health promotion newsletter

Health & well-being awareness campaigns

January	Mental Health	July	Respect in the workplace & harassment prevention
February	Healthy Heart	August	Trauma informed care
March	Women's Health	September	Work-life balance
April	Financial Wellness	October	Breast cancer awareness
May	Cancer Prevention	November	Men's health
June	EDI Awareness	December	Self-care

Please contact health.disability.wellness@ufv.ca if you have any ideas to share or questions.

Need Help Now?

If you are dealing or know someone who is dealing with a health crisis:

Require immediate support? please consider accessing our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) through Homewood Health. They offer confidential resources and support for mental health, wellness, and other personal needs. You can reach them at: