Stairway to Health Success Story
- The Region of Peel

The beginning of February marked the start of worthwhile journey for staff at the Region of Peel. Regional employees embarked on the challenge of climbing some of highest mountain peaks in the world, right from the convenience of their offices!

How it worked

Each day, employees would incorporate more physical activity into their routines by using the stairs instead of the elevator.

Promoting the program

Encouragement came from many avenues including, freshly painted and attractive stairwells, motivational posters and spirited team competition.

Step by Step Success

The program began with the goal of climbing to the top of Canada's highest peak - Mount Logan at 5959 metres. By the end of the journey employees had topped Mount K2 (8611 metres), Mount Everest (8850 metres) and climbed high into the clouds (13,500 metres!). An evaluation conducted during the program revealed a 10% increase in the number of employees that "always" and "usually" take the stairs.

One Stairway to Health participant noted:

"This challenge was not only a great way to have fun at work but more importantly, it was a valuable tool for raising awareness about building physical activity into our daily lives."

Many of the participants continue to choose the stairs and go for walks on their breaks. These healthy habits are perhaps the best evidence of the program's success, and the impact it can have on the health of employees at a workplace.

Visit Health Canada's Stairway to Health website for more success stories and resources for starting a stair walking initiative at your workplace.

Here is a stretching document you may wish to share with your own participants.

Stairway to Health - Success Story!