STRATA Select Voluntary Benefits

Through the Voluntary STRATA Select Program, you are eligible for discounts on a variety of products and services such as:

• Hotel Bookings
• Home & Auto Insurance
• Home Telephone
• Home Security Systems
• Hospital Cash
• Individual Health, Dental and Travel
• Long Distance Savings
• MyCare (Medical Access Plan)
• Personal Safety Monitoring Devices
• Pet Health Insurance
• Travel Discounts
• Vehicle Rental Discounts (National / Enterprise)

Log on to your STRATA Select website for more information.

Login: rrc              Password: voluntary

Preferred Vision Services (PVS)

Preferred Vision Services is a service provided by Great-West Life. PVS entitles you to a discount on a wide selection of quality eyewear and lens extras including scratch guarding and tints when purchased from a PVS network provider.

You can also obtain a discount on laser eye surgery and even hearing aids!

You can use this discount as often as you like for yourself and for your dependents.

Refer to your group benefits booklet for more information. You can also contact the PVS Information Hotline at 1-800-668-6444 or visit the PVS Web site at www.pvs.ca for information about PVS locations and the program.

Supporting Your Wellness

Are you missing out on the resources and support your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) has to offer? RRC’s EFAP through LifeWorks is a resource to help you stay healthy, reduce stress, and be happier at work and at home.

Remember your EFAP User ID and Password:

User ID: rrcefap                                Password: efap

LifeWorks is available any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone, online and by mobile application.

Your EFAP provides:

• Toll-free access to qualified, professional consultants for confidential, expert help with work, life and everything in between;
• Telephonic, face-to-face or video counseling live via webcam with Master’s level counselors across Canada;
• Customized research to assist you in addressing your particular issues;
• Information about resources and support agencies located in your community; and,
• Access to hundreds of educational materials including articles, booklets, audio recordings/CDs, toolkits and assessments, and more.

NEW! Try the LifeWorks mobile app available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices. This FREE app provides the convenience of EFAP access via your smart phone!

NEW! Now you can chat confidentially online with a qualified LifeWorks consultant. You can even access counseling services through the chat feature. You can launch a chat session on the LifeWorks website. A personal account is required to access the chat feature as well as self assessment tools and action plans. Visit www.lifeworks.com and click ‘REGISTER’ at the top right of your screen to register for a personal account. Personal account information and usage is confidential.

ORIENTATION WEBINARS! To provide you with more information on services available, LifeWorks provides 24/7 access to a pre-recorded program orientation webinars, and conducts scheduled live program orientation webinars throughout the year.

To view the pre-recorded program orientation webinar click here.

The next live program orientation webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 1pm EST, to register click here.

Check out these recommended LifeWorks resources:

• Podcast – Quick Stress Reducers
• NEW full-length audio recording/CD – Brief Exercises to Help Reduce Stress
• Seminar – Relax the Body, Calm the Mind

It is influenza season again. We want to protect our friends, family, colleagues, and any with whom we interact who could become seriously ill. See  below for different myths that are “busted” .

MYTH: The flu shot gives you the flu.

FACT: The flu shot cannot cause the flu. It’s normal to feel tired, feverish, and achy for a couple of days after the flu shot. The real flu lasts 1-2 weeks.

MYTH: I never get sick, so I don’t need a flu shot.

FACT: You can give other people the flu even if you don’t have symptoms yourself.

Kids, elderly persons, and people who have chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes, cancer, people who are on special medications) can get extremely sick from the flu.

MYTH: The flu shot will protect me from the stomach flu.

FACT: The flu affects your lungs, not your stomach. The flu shot is for a type of infection that affects your lungs only. The stomach flu is different and caused by different germs.

MYTH: You only need to get the flu shot once.

FACT: The flu shot only protects you for about 6 months. You need it once a year.

MYTH: Getting the flu shot is the only thing I need to do to not get sick.

FACT: You still need to wash your hands and cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing to prevent the spread of germs

Developed by Health Services 4th year Student Nurses who are here on practicum from Univeristy of Manitoba.

Mike Poitras, Guy Dugas, Wayne Ferguson, Tyler Steiner, Deron Warkentin, Michael Whalen, Dayna Graham

We did it! Your team cycled 140 km to the MS Riding Mountain Challenge finish line because you encouraged us to keep going, and you helped make sure Canadians with MS receive as much support as possible. We couldn’t have done this without our supporters at RRC, and we can’t thank you enough.

You helped us raise $6,392 for MS!

We were the #2 team in Manitoba (the #1 team, Mosaic, had 23 riders and raised $18,380). Why not join us in 2016 and help the team hit #1 next year?

Thank you RRC!

Exception Drug Status/MB Pharmacare[1]

The group benefits plan provides coverage for Drugs that require a prescription and are eligible under the provincial formulary. The Manitoba Formulary renews and updates eligible Drugs on a regular basis. You are encouraged to discuss with your doctor and/or pharmacist to determine whether your medication is considered formulary or non-formulary and to make sure it is the right choice for you.

The Manitoba Drug Formulary covers three classifications of medications:

• Part 1 – regardless of the need, the prescription is covered.
• Part 2 – the prescription is covered only when prescribed for a specific condition which must be noted on the prescription; if the condition is not specified or not eligible, the medication will not be eligible.
• Part 3 – Exception Drug Status (EDS) medications – the requesting Doctor must submit a request to Manitoba Health on the patient’s behalf to have the medication covered. If approved, the patient receives notification from Manitoba Health.

In addition, if you have high drug costs Pharmacare may pay your prescription drug costs once you have reached your annual deductible. Pharmacare coverage is based on both your total family income, and the amount you pay for eligible prescription drugs.

Our plan requires generic substitution, which means that the drug prescribed by the doctor will be automatically exchanged with the lowest priced generic equivalent. The only exception to this is if your doctor has indicated on the prescription that there is no substitution allowed. Please note, a generic equivalent must have the same therapeutic benefit as the associated brand name medication.

For more information or to check if your drug is eligible under the Manitoba Formulary click here.

Dispensing Fee Reminder

The price of every drug prescription is made up of two parts (a) the cost of the ingredients to make the drug, and (b) the cost of the pharmacist’s services and advice called the dispensing fee. Dispensing fees can differ from pharmacy to pharmacy, and from drug to drug.

Extended Health Care Options 4 and 5 both have a drug deductible. Option 5 has a $4 deductible per prescription whereas Option 4 has a dispensing fee deductible; this means that your deductible will be equal to the dispensing fee.

You can, of course, go to any pharmacy you choose. When considering your out-of-pocket costs, you should also take into consideration the familiarity that the Pharmacist has of your state of health and how comfortable you are with the individual. Having said that, you have every right to ask the pharmacy the amount of the dispensing fee they charge.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you and your family. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

From being over-scheduled to feeling overloaded, LifeWorks resources can help you handle your work-life challenges. Check out these recommended resources:

• Podcast – Mindfulness at Work
• New Seminar – Navigating Work and Life

[1] Manitoba Pharmacare Program. Manitoba. http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/index.html.

Consider donating blood over the summer and in the next month. Canadian Blood Services (CBS), located at 777 William, needs more donors.

If there is a group of 2-8 donors interested (either students and/or employees), a Life Bus shuttle can be booked. The Life Bus will take you from RRC to the CBS building and back to RRC.

The donation process, including transportation, takes about an hour and a half of your time. Below are some available dates and the contact number. Consider donating – it can save  a life.

— From Health Services (Please do not call Health Services to book appointments)

The Life Bus shuttle can be booked by calling  Debbie at 204-789-1045

Life Bus pickups are available on

Monday, June 29^th– 11am, 12pm, 1pm

Tuesday, June 30^th– 1pm

Thursday, July 2^nd– 10am, 11am, 12pm

Friday, July 3^rd– 9am, 12pm, 1pm

Appointments still available:

Monday, June 29^th– 86 open appointments

Tuesday, June 30^th– 60 open appointments

Wednesday, July 1^st– CANADA DAY- 49 open appointments

Thursday, July 2^nd– 65 open appointments

Friday, July 3^rd– 81 open appointments

Saturday, July 4^th– 95 open appointments

Red River Rebel Riders 2014: Deron, Marnie, Mar-Zeus, Miguel, Guy, Dayna, and Mike by the fire at the end of day-1.

September 12th and 13th, your intrepid Red River Rebel Riders (rrrr…) will be cycling their 12th MS Riding Mountain Challenge (a biker’s dozen). Their goal? Raise another $5,000 for MS! Guy Dugas, Dayna Graham, Michael Poitras, and Deron Warkentin have signed up from the Roblin Campus, and new members Kristen Cameron and Tyler Steiner have joined the team from Notre Dame. This is the call for a few more of you to come on board.

How can you help?

Simple. You can join the team or support us with a donation, or both!

Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world. 100% of the money we raise goes directly to MS research and valuable services for families affected by Multiple Sclerosis.

• Join the 2015 team. It’s a beautiful 150 km round trip ride through Riding Mountain National Park. We drive to Dauphin Friday the 11th after work, cycle Dauphin to Clear Lake the morning of the 12th and back to Dauphin on the 13th, getting back to Winnipeg early that evening. Sign up and train with us through August to get in shape for the big ride! Email Guy Dugas (guy@spright.ca) for details or simply click here and then click on the Join team button.
• Donate securely online by clicking on any team member’s name at this site. All monies raised go to supporting those suffering with MS or to MS research.

Together we can end MS.

April is Cancer Awareness Month

2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime and about 1 in 4 Canadians will die of cancer.[1]

In 2014, it is estimated that 191,300 Canadians will develop cancer and 76,600 will die of cancer. [2] April is Daffodil Month. The daffodil is considered a symbol of strength and courage by the Canadian Cancer Society. Funds raised during Daffodil Month are used to lend a helping hand for families and those receiving treatment for cancer, fund lifesaving clinical trials, advocate for cancer patients and provide access to services in your community.

For more information on Daffodil Month, please visit: http://www.cancer.ca/en/get-involved/events-and-participation/find-an-event-near-you/daffodil-month/?region=mb

Prevention

There are a number of factors that contribute to whether you are susceptible to cancer. You can help minimize your risk by[3]:

1. Quitting smoking and limiting your exposure to second hand smoke.
2. Eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruit and fibre with little fat and sugar.
3. Keeping physical activity as an important part of your day with at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day.
4. Be aware of your family genetics.
5. Reducing your alcohol intake.
6. Being safe in the sun by covering up, wearing sunglasses, using sunscreen and staying hydrated.
7. Getting the right amount of Vitamin D.
8. Monitoring environmental factors such as what household cleaners are being used and what residues are left behind especially if you have young infants and toddlers who spend an ample amount of time on the floor.

Screening

You know your body better than any one else as you will know what is normal for you. When cancer is found early, it is often easier to treat. Having regular checkups with your doctor will help reduce the risk of a health problem being ignored. Screening tests help find some types of cancer before you have any symptoms. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your risk of cancer and what screening tests you should have. Be sure to mention any family history of cancer.

Benefits and risks of screening[4]:

Benefits:

• Better survival rates
• Better quality of life

Risks:

• False positive results
• False negative results
• Over-diagnosis
• Increased exposure to harmful procedures

Upcoming Events

There are a number of events throughout the year all over Manitoba in support of the Canadian Cancer Society and the fight against cancer.

Relay for Life – numerous dates based on location from May to July across the province

River City Dragon Boat Festival – June 5 & 6 at the Manitoba Water Ski Park

Walk Because You Can – June 13 at Assiniboine Park

Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival – September 11 – 13 at The Forks

If you enjoy the intrinsic benefits of being a volunteer, consider supporting the Canadian Cancer Society and volunteering your time and skills to a wonderful cause. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available.

For more information about fundraising events and to access the volunteer application form, please visit www.cancer.ca.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you and your family. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

This month the recommended seminar is ‘A Personal Guide to Managing Change’. Learn how to thrive through change throughout your life!

Did You Know?

STRATA Select Blackline Safety (a division of Blackline GPS) offers the highest technology in worldwide personal safety devices.

The safety device will send an alarm when:

1. There is a fall or collision sensed by the device.
2. There is no motion sensed by the device (e.g. person is unconscious).
3. The user activates the silent Alert.
4. The user activates the audible alarm (used if there may be people near your vicinity to help).

Once the alarm is triggered:

1. A text and email are instantly sent to the people that have been identified or to 3rd party monitoring personnel.
2. An email will also be sent identifying the exact location the incident occurred and what triggered the alarm.

These safety devices can provide improved safety for:

• Outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, quading, cross-country skiing, etc.)
• Seniors living at home
• Anytime someone is alone

Log on to your STRATA Select website for more information.

Login: rrc              Password: voluntary

[1] Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014. www.cancer.ca/statistics. 2014.

[2] Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014. www.cancer.ca/statistics. 2014.

[3] Canadian Cancer Society. Prevention & Screening. www.cancer.ca. 2014

[4] Canadian Cancer Society. Prevention & Screening. www.cancer.ca. 2014

Rebels Athletics and Recreation Services are excited to bring the Lunch and Learn series to the college this school year. Come participate and interact with fitness, exercise, and wellness professionals as they present on wide array of active living topics.

2015 Spring Session

First Session – Nutrition Myths Busted

Date: Monday, March 30
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Green Lecture Theatre
Host: Janelle Vincent

Whole grain bread or rye bread? Butter or margarine? Gluten or no gluten? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, come and join us for this exciting Lunch and Learn, where we will discuss healthy eating and bust nutrition myths!

About the Host

Janelle is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for sport! She completed a Kinesiology degree prior to her Human Nutritional Sciences degree and recently completed the IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition. She was a Bison athlete in Cross-Country and Track and Field and is also a Competition Development (Level 3) trained coach in Athletics. She currently works with various athletes and teams representative of various levels of competition, from endurance to strength/power to precision/skill sports.

Her goals in sport nutrition are to combine both university degrees and her sporting background to help high performance athletes achieve their athletic goals by guiding them in properly fuelling their bodies.

Second Session –
Running Efficiency: How to Train: Best practices!

Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: North Gym
Host: Sheldon Reynolds

Whether you are training for soccer, ultimate Frisbee or a marathon there are basic similarities in running strides. Participants should wear running attire. Dress in layers. Shorts, t-short, sweats or tights and a sweatshirt or light jacket. You will learn, technique, training, and nutrition in preparation for competition. If you have any specific questions regarding specific training for a 10km, ½ marathon….bring them!

About the Host

Sheldon Reynolds, a lifelong runner will facilitate this active session. He has coached learn to train athletes as well as adult instructors in the Athletics Canada Run, jump and Throw program. Sheldon is an endurance athlete in the Active for life stage that has competed in races from 1,500 meters to the marathons and completed Ironman Wisconsin in 2010.

Third Session – Biking 101-Part 1

Date: Wednesday, May 13
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Green Lecture Theatre
Host: Dave Elmore

Biking basics: Sizing and purchasing advise on where to get a bike and as well where to purchase bikes from. Basic maintenance and preparing for your bike ride also discussed.

About the Host

Dave Elmore is a certified CAN-Bike Master Instructor and was a founding member of Bike Winnipeg. He served as the Director of Safety and Education for over 6 years and remains active serving on several committees. CAN-Bike is a national program run by Cycling Canada offering a variety of courses on all aspects of cycling safety and skills. An avid road and commuter cyclist, Dave has been commuting by bike from Charleswood to downtown for over 25 years. He is also the project manager for Bike Week Winnipeg and the former project manager of Bike to School Winnipeg (now coordinated by Green Action Centre). A regular volunteer at The WRENCH, Dave enjoys building and repairing bikes of all kinds.

Fourth Session – Biking 101-Part 2

Date: Wednesday, May 27
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: PH Staff Parking
Host: Dave Elmore

Taking it on the road: ABC Quick Check – how to quickly check that your bike is safe to ride. Skill component: learn some basic and often overlooked skills that can help you be more confident and safe on your bike. (straight line riding (w/shoulder checks and signals), rock dodge, quick turns, panic stops). Please bring your own bike to this session. Rec services has a limited amount of bikes that can be used.

By Mario De Negri

Fitness Coordinator, Rebels Athletics and Recreation Services

It’s come to that time of year where most of us have not only given up on our New Years resolutions but more importantly just recalled we had some. What’s so fascinating about this is that now that we have brought it back to the forefront of our thoughts, most, and I’m saying close to all of us will still not do anything about it.

So I ask what is it that would stop me from implementing an action towards that resolution I had. I would like to think its distraction. When I am focused and I know what I want I usually do what is necessary to get it.

For example the fact I haven’t eaten anything for breakfast today, and not really a lunch that when I get home I all I can do is focus on a way to eat or better yet the urgency to have to go to the bathroom keeps me pretty focused.

I think distraction is the cause of non focus. Next time you have to go to the bathroom really bad try to get angry at something in your life that at other times makes you really angry and try to hold off on going to the bathroom. What will happen is that you might start to get the rise of anger but shortly following is the call of nature. So you can persist and keep focusing on getting angry but just around the corner is the sound of the tap being turned on. Eventually you will give in and accept and in that moment your focus won’t be of anger but of relief.

So does this work when not being forced? Try this; Start to pay attention to yourself. Watch to see how you react to things. You see something and it’s making you angry. That anger has taken over your whole body. Stop! Look at the anger. Say to yourself “I choose not to be angry” over and over and over again until one, you’ll say to yourself how stupid this is and that it doesn’t work which will keep enforcing the anger or two, you treat this mantra like the urgency of having to use the loo and you will experience change.

Anger cannot exist if the focus is on not being anger. Just as darkness cannot exist when light is focused on it. If we agree that focus will only exists if there is no distraction then we must continue to keep watching to see if we stay on track to what we want. When distractions arise like I have no time, it’s too late, I don’t know how to do it or whatever the distraction is you accept to yourself we must stop, see it for what it is, and go back to focus.

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We have not yet reached our World Health Organization goal to be measles free and with measles outbreaks being in the news, below are a few important points to remember.

The illness begins with the following, which lasts for 2 to 4 days: high fever, cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, and sore red eyes (conjunctivitis or “pink eye”) .The virus can live in your nose, mouth, eyes and on your skin. It is highly contagious, meaning it spreads very easily. The measles virus spreads:                                                                                         ■through direct contact                                                                                                               ■through the air—such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes                               ■on objects that were recently exposed to infected mucus or saliva—such as shared utensils, cups and tissues

Key points to remember about measles

• measles is a potentially serious disease caused by a virus
• measles can be prevented with vaccine
• it’s very infectious – measles spreads very easily and quickly from one person to another
• it usually takes 10 – 12 days from contact with someone with measles to the first symptom
• babies,  children and young adults along with those who may be immuno-compromised are at risk for serious complications.
• if your child has measles, keep your child resting at home until they are well again
• isolate the ill person and do not allow visitors as much as possible
• your health provider will advise you about the safest time for your child to return to school or childcare
• children and adults with measles often develop complications like pneumonia, deafness or swelling of the brain
• immunization is the only way to prevent measles. Adult or child, we need two (2) doses of the MMR vaccine. (measles, mumps, rubella)

A contact is defined as any individual who has:

• spent any length of time in a room or enclosed space with a confirmed measles case during that case’s infectious period (i.e. approximately 4 days before rash onset to 4 days after rash onset);or
• spent time in a room previously occupied by a measles case, during that case’s infectious period, within 2 hours after that individual left the room/space

If you or someone at home becomes ill, contact Health Links at (204) 788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257, or your health provider as some may require hospitalization.It you think you have or have been exposed to measles, because it is highly contagious, call before going to any clinic.

If you have measles. There is no cure, so symptom control such as pain relievers (never give aspirin to a child), eating well and drinking lots of fluids, along with staying home at least 4 days after the rash appears and isolating yourself is the best plan. Call your health provider if you have any concerns.

From Health Services