About Toronto French School (TFS)

For more than 60 years, Toronto French School (TFS) – Canada’s International School has been redefining bilingual education, shaping globally minded students through an academically ambitious and internationally recognized curriculum. With campuses serving students from age two to university entrance, TFS fosters a diverse, co-educational environment where students develop as individuals and global citizens.

Beyond its commitment to student success, they also value the well-being of their employees. For the past three years, they partnered with HEAL to offer wellness-focused lunch and learns during their Professional Development (Pro D) days, providing staff with valuable health and lifestyle education. In 2025, they decided to take it a step further, expanding their wellness programming to include a team-building wellness challenge that encouraged employees to build healthier habits together.

The Goal: Strengthen Employee Well-Being Through a Team Challenge

Toronto French School recognized the importance of mental health and employee engagement, especially after years of one-off wellness sessions. They wanted to take their wellness programming to the next level and bring employees together across campuses, encourage movement and mindfulness, and create lasting, positive change.

That’s where HEAL’s wellness challenge came in. The structured, multi-week program focused on nutrition, movement, and mindset, offering daily wellness challenges that employees could incorporate into their routines.

The program saw exceptional engagement, with over one-third of all employees enrolling in the 4-week wellness challenge, surpassing the expectations of Gabriel Bérard, Executive Director of People and Culture at TFS. He was especially proud of the engagement in the program and the healthy habits employees were able to build.

The Results of Toronto French School’s Team-Building Wellness Challenge

Felt their company cared about their well-being:

95% of participants

Reported better stress management and increased happiness:

89% of participants

‍Said the challenge made work more enjoyable

84% of participants

"I really enjoyed it. I was hesitant to sign up due to having so little time, but it was such a breath of fresh air and ended up being something I looked forward to."

The program not only helped employees feel healthier but also strengthened workplace relationships. Many participants expressed a desire to continue the challenge, with the majority wanting it twice a year and nearly 30% hoping for three times annually—a testament to its impact.

Why This Wellness Challenge Was So Successful

What made this challenge so effective?

• Employees appreciated the mix of nutrition, movement, and mental health topics, with one noting, "I appreciated the extra resources and recipes."
• Unlike one-off wellness sessions, this program ran for multiple weeks, allowing participants to integrate habits into their daily lives.
• Employees built relationships through shared goals, team accountability, and friendly competition (with prizes for the top teams and top individuals!).
• From the organizer’s perspective, Gabriel, Toronto French School’s Executive Director, People and Culture, shared how much he appreciated how hands-off the program was. “Even after the challenge ended, we’re still seeing employees maintain the healthy habits they picked up, like drinking more water and staying active. The team aspect really boosted engagement and brought people closer together. The whole program was extremely easy to run, flexible for everyone’s needs, and our team loved the app. We even noticed more employees signing up to use the gym—and they’re still using it long after the program ended!”
  

Final Thoughts

The Toronto French School wellness challenge proved that investing in employee well-being doesn’t just benefit individuals—it strengthens the entire workplace. By prioritizing mental health, movement, and nutrition, Toronto French School fostered a culture of support and engagement, leaving employees feeling healthier, happier, and more connected.

With plans to run the program multiple times a year, it’s clear that ongoing wellness initiatives are a valued part of the Toronto French School community.

Want to bring a similar challenge to your workplace? Click here to contact us about a customized, done-for-you wellness program.