Let’s Get our Workplaces in motion!

What is Saskatchewan in motion?

Saskatchewan in motion is a province-wide movement aimed at increasing physical activity for health benefits.  Our vision is that Saskatchewan people will be the healthiest, most physically active in Canada. In motion recognizes that it is important to educate, encourage, and motivate the workforce to participate in physical activity for the health of our province.


Why is physical activity important in the Workplace?

• The workplace is an appealing venue for physical activity and fitness promotion because of the convenience, familiarity, peer support, flexibility, and reduced expense to employees (Health Canada, 2002).
• There is evidence that wellness programs in the workplace improve productivity, enhance job satisfaction, reduce sick leave/absenteeism, job stress, injuries and workers’ compensation claims, and lower turnover (Statistics Canada, 2002).
• In 2002, an average of 7.3 workdays among full-time employees were lost as a result of illness and disability (Statistics Canada, 2002).
• The majority of adults spend over half their waking hours (10.5) at, and commuting to and from, work.  (Cameron, et al., 2002)
• Sedentary employees were absent a total of 38.9 days, while active employees were absent only 12.5 days according to a study conducted over 10 years by the Canada Life Assurance Company (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 1999).
• A five-year review of Prudential Life’s physical activity program noted a 20 percent reduction in disability days for active employees (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 1999).
• Recent research in Saskatchewan shows that almost half of adults (46%) and a greater percentage of children ages 5 to 12 (71%) and youth ages 13 to 19 (73%) are not physically active enough for optimal health benefits.

What is an in motion Workplace?

An in motion workplace is one that values the benefits of physical activity and creates a supportive environment for employees to make the choice to become more physically active.

An in motion workplace is committed to work towards the goal of creating a supportive environment that results in an increase in physical activity levels by its employees. This can be achieved through a combination of education and awareness, improved access to physical activity opportunities, development of policies and procedures that support an employee’s choice to be physically active, and a commitment from all levels of management to integrate physical activity into the overall business plan.

Encouragement in the Workplace!

Elevators in the new 18-story San Francisco Federal Building in California stop only at every third floor, encouraging people to walk and up and down the stairs throughout their workday. Workers in the building also are encouraged to walk in a three-story-high "skygarden" which offers panoramic city views. The building, which also addresses concerns of global warming by consuming about half the power of a standard office tower, is one of the first US examples of a built environment that enhances workplace quality at a lower cost to the environment.

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Regina in motion Workplaces

Congratulations to these in motion workplaces!

Associated Engineering Bertram, Scrivens & MacLeod Canadian Blood Services - Saskatchewan Canadian Cancer Society - Regina Canadian Diabetes Association Cancer Information Service CBI Physical Rehabilitation Centre City of Regina Concentra Financial/SaskCentral Conexus Credit Union - Saskatchewan Crown Investment Corporation Department of Culture, Youth & Recreation Ecole St. Mary First Nations and Metis Relations Harvard Developments, Harvard Property Management Inc. Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan Last Touch Regional Recreation Association Mosaic Potash Mine – Belle Plain Partners in Planning Public Service Commission Regina Catholic Schools Board Office Regina Public Schools Regina Public School Board Office

Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region - Regina Mental Health Clinic Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, Hamilton Street Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region – Wascana Rehabilitation Centre – Children’s Program Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) “F” Division Sacred Heart Community School Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), Regina Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation Saskatchewan Health, Policy & Planning Branch Saskatchewan in motion Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Wascana Campus Saskatchewan Learning - C & I Branch Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board SaskCulture, LL Branch Sask Sport Inc. SaskTel, Regina Star Tek St. Bernadette School St. Dominic School St. Gregory School St. Michael’s Community School The Arthritis Society – Saskatchewan Division