Carleton’s Excellence Journey

Excellence Canada

Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit Canadian organization that is dedicated to advancing organizational performance across Canada. Excellence Canada developed and maintains the Healthy Workplace®, Mental Health at Work® and Excellence, Innovation, and Wellness® standards. Each standard includes a four-level implementation model. Each level is progressive in scope, and ranges from Bronze Level to Platinum Level.

Our Journey So Far

Carleton currently holds the Canada Order of Excellence Healthy Workplace® certification (university-wide), Platinum Level Mental Health at Work® certification (university-wide), Gold Level Excellence, Innovation & Wellness® certification (for the Finance & Administration division), and Bronze Level Excellence, Innovation & Wellness® certification (for the Students and Enrolment division).

Certifications

Certification Description Carleton University has achieved
Healthy Workplace®  This progressive set of requirements provide a system for the development, implementation and sustainability of a healthy workplace environment. Built on a solid foundation, the Excellence Canada Healthy Workplace® criteria provide a holistic, success-focused approach that helps individuals and organizations develop tangible goals for achieving continuous improvement and excellence in workplace wellness issues. Canada Order of Excellence in October 2021.
The Canada Order of Excellence (COE) builds on the achievements and outcomes from the previous four levels with a focus on sustaining excellence in Healthy Workplace® over time. The organization has maintained good to excellent results and positive trends from its efforts for overall improvement in the physical and psychological health and safety factors in the workplace. The organization can clearly identify sustained improvements against specific objectives and goals. The key outcomes of COE are:

  • Sound systemic approach to physical and psychological health and safety in the workplace.
  • Continuous improvement continues to be a “way of life” with full integration into culture and systems.
  • Sustained positive improvements in all areas over at least three years (trend data required).
  • Organization is viewed as a leader within its sector regarding physical and psychological health and safety in the workplace, in terms of knowledge sharing, industry and benchmark leadership and best practices.
Mental Health at Work® This progressive set of requirements is a proven methodology for implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, which Carleton committed to in 2013. Mental Health at Work® allows you to focus resources and initiatives to achieve a dramatic improvement in prevention of illness, reduction of lost time, and higher engagement of employees. Platinum Level in October 2021.
The Platinum level builds on the achievements and outcomes from the previous three levels with an emphasis on establishing sustainable practices. The organization has achieved good to excellent results and demonstrates positive trends from its efforts in improving mental health. The organization can clearly identify sustained improvements against specific objectives and goals. The key outcomes of the Platinum level are:

  • Sound systemic approach to mental health
  • Continuous improvement as a “way of life” with full integration into culture and systems
  • Sustained positive improvements in all areas over at least three years (trend data required)
  • Viewed as a leader within its sector regarding mental health, in terms of knowledge sharing, industry and benchmark leadership, and best practices
Excellence, Innovation, and Wellness® This integrated management Standard enables planning with a holistic approach that respects the intricate relationships existing in every organization between strategic goals, business drivers, business units, and people, regardless of size or industry. Demonstrates Carleton’s focus on continual improvement to employees, customers, suppliers, your board, and other stakeholders. Gold Level in June 2017
(for Finance & Administrative division)
There is a division-wide implementation of the strategic focus on excellence, innovation and wellness through the understanding and application of the Standard. Positive results are being achieved across all departments within the division.Bronze Level in September 2019
(for Students & Enrolment division)
Bronze Level demonstrates a clear commitment to excellence, innovation and wellness. The division is in the early stages of implementing a long-term strategic focus on excellence, innovation and wellness that promotes good principles and practices as outlined in this Standard.

Carleton’s Students & Enrolment Division accepting bronze level Excellence, Innovation & Wellness certification and award at the 35th Annual Performance Excellence Summit and Canada Awards for Excellence Luncheon

Carleton University accepting gold level Mental Health at Work certification and award at the 35th Annual Performance Excellence Summit and Canada Awards for Excellence Luncheon

President and Vice-Chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon delivering the keynote address “Mental Health: My ongoing Journey towards Resilience, Purpose and Gratitude” at the 35th Annual Performance Excellence Summit and Canada Awards for Excellence Luncheon