Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.
I’m straying from our usual content this week to share some amazing news. Last week, ICBA President Chris Gardner won a prestigious 2022 Ragan Wellness Award for Wellness Executive of the Year,
When we launched the ICBA Wellness program last year, Chris opened up and told the story of his father’s suicide when Chris was just five years old. This was the first time he had ever publicly shared the story, and it garnered a lot of media attention. Most importantly, it started a conversation about mental health, addiction and suicide.
He has done dozens of interviews and speaking engagements since then, promoting ICBA Wellness as a way to destigmatize addiction and mental health in construction.
This is a big honour. Chris is one of four winners from across North America, and the only Canadian.
The Chicago-based Ragan Awards “celebrate the most successful campaigns, initiatives, people and teams in the communication, PR, marketing and employee wellbeing industries. As the leading voice in organizational communications—both internal and external—Ragan Communications recognizes those who create and cultivate best practices.” Ragan has been around for more than 50 years and is the pre-eminent source of news and training for HR professionals and executives.
ICBA Wellness was a finalist for Ragan’s Wellness Program of the Year Award, and a runner-up for BC Business Magazine’s Business of Good Award (Workplace Wellness division). This is a testament to the work of Chris, the ICBA team, and the 50+ ICBA member companies and 6,000+ construction workers who have participated in the program.
Congrats Chris!
ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 50 companies, and thousands of construction professionals, better understand mental health. The program is free for ICBA members — see icba.ca/wellness.
