Darren is a seasoned organizational leader with extensive experience across various industries
and has a wide network across Alberta. Darren’s professional career began in the non-profit sector with the Edmonton Humane Society. As his fundraising skills evolved, so too did his passion to make a difference with other organizations, where he moved into senior manager positions with both the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Pilgrims Hospice Society. A switch over to the corporate sector in the mid-2000s eventually led him to the President role at Weldco Companies, a large heavy steel fabricator with locations across Canada.
We are delighted to share that Darren will be will be speaking in Calgary tomorrow as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada. We caught up with him to find out how he’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Darren, we are thrilled that you will be speaking at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada next week. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I’m doing great, thanks for asking.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
Stigma is one of the biggest challenges. The silent pain so many people face and endure has a significant impact on an organization’s workforce. The stigma holds people back from seeking help until it because debilitating.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
Ensuring employee health and benefits include support for mental health and promoting the awareness of these services.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
I’ve lost co-workers (and friends) to suicide.
What impact is AI having in your organization and how are you managing that?
This is still an element we are learning to embrace responsibly.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
Increased levels of “burn-out” that have resulted in extended leaves of absence.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Understanding and embracing the fact that you can’t have a healthy and resilient workforce if you are only looking at physical health…mental health is an equal partner in one’s ability to be a safe and productive employee.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
One of the reason’s I left the corporate sector to join the Mental Health Foundation was to drive awareness and change in this space. Employers want to do more, but the resources and tools are limited. It is getting better, but implementation and adoption are lagging.
How has your organization been leading the way?
Since joining the Mental Health Foundation last year, we’ve formed a strategic partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to help integrate and expand “The Working Mind” training for employers. This is basically a mental health training course designed to initiate a change in how people think, feel, and act about Mental Health.
Darren will be speaking during the final day of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Canada which take place in Calgary tomorrow. Find out more and book your tickets here.
