Foothills School Division honoured with Workplace Wellness Award
The Foothills School Division (FSD) has been recognized with the prestigious Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention Workplace Wellness Award. This honour celebrates FSD’s ongoing commitment to fostering a healthy, supportive work environment for its 900 employees and the broader school community.
The CMHA Workplace Wellness Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate exemplary promotion of mental health in the workplace and outstanding cooperation between employers, employees, and community agencies. FSD’s proactive approach to mental wellness is highlighted by the introduction of Administrative Procedure (AP) 414 – Safeguarding Learner Work Life Excellence, which affirms the division’s belief that supporting staff well-being translates into stronger support for students, colleagues, and the entire community. This foundational policy underlines the importance of organizational structures that encourage individual wellness and set clear boundaries between work and home life.
The impact of this AP was recently measured through the Guarding Minds Survey conducted with all staff in late Fall 2024. The Division and school teams are analyzing the data and actioning goals to address workplace wellness priorities.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” said Chris Fuzessy, Superintendent of Foothills School Division. “Our intent is to promote that every member of our team feels valued and supported, which in turn enables us to provide the highest quality learning environment for our students and community.”
In addition to Safeguarding Learner Work Life Excellence, FSD offers a range of resources for parents on its website, including advocacy letters and information on topics such as grief, internet safety, and student engagement. The Division is also an active partner in the Foothills Community Coalition and, in previous years, played a pivotal role in facilitating the Youth Mental Health Summit—an event that brought students, staff, and parents together to build resilient, connected communities.
“This award is meaningful because it recognizes the collective effort to strengthen wellness across Foothills,” said Theresa Letendre, Board Chair. “We know this work is ongoing, and the Board is deeply grateful for the continued dedication of our staff and leaders in supporting this priority. Fostering a culture that supports well-being has long been a focus for our Division and remains a steadfast commitment, because we know it is essential to the success of both staff and students.”
Highlighting FSD’s commitment to continuous improvement, the recognition reinforces the Division’s focus on creating a workplace where wellness is woven into everyday practice. The Division remains dedicated to sustaining a culture of engagement, support, and success for all.
The Foothills School Division’s achievement was announced by CMHA Alberta and the Centre for Suicide Prevention on November 9, 2025. Read the full release from CMHA Alberta at https://alberta.cmha.ca/cmha-alberta-awards/
For more information about FSD’s wellness initiatives, please visit foothillsschooldivision.ca
Media Contact:
Sara Fox
Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
communications@fsd38.ab.ca
