Wellington County, Ont. – The County of Wellington is proud to announce that Cecilia Marie Roberts, Manager of Strategic Wellness Initiatives at the County, has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) Workplace Wellness Champion Award. The award was presented on November 5th at the annual Here4Hope event, recognizing Roberts’ exceptional leadership in fostering psychological safety, compassion, and mental wellness at the County of Wellington. This is an annual award that will be given by CMHA WW in Cecilia Marie Roberts’ name.
For more than six years, Cecilia Marie has been a driving force behind life promotion and suicide prevention efforts in Wellington County, guiding the Here4Hope initiative since 2018 and strengthening community awareness, support networks, and open dialogue surrounding mental health. Her leadership has helped workplaces view mental wellness not as an add-on, but as a shared responsibility woven into organizational culture. Building on this work, Roberts officially joined the County of Wellington in March 2023 as the Manager of Strategic Wellness Initiatives within the Human Resources department, and earlier this year, leadership for the Here4Hope initiative transitioned fully over to CMHA WW, with continued support by the County of Wellington.
CMHA WW invited Susan Farrelly, Director of Human Resources at the County, to present this award to Cecilia Marie at the event, and Susan shared the impact Cecilia Marie has had on the workplace.
“From the beginning, we knew the strength of perspective and compassion Cecilia Marie would bring to our team,” said Susan Farrelly, Director of Human Resources at the County. “To say that she ‘knocked it out of the park’ would be an understatement. If you have had the privilege of working with Cecilia Marie, you know what a profound gift her presence and determination is.”
Farrelly highlighted Roberts’ leadership in expanding the County’s Wellness Programme, including:
- Leading the County’s Health Promotion, Employee Recognition, and Diversity and Inclusion committees and initiatives.
- Establishing a psychological safety community of practice for member municipalities.
- Providing training and guidance to managers supporting employees through challenging experiences.
- Expanding awareness and engagement in CMHA-aligned initiatives, such as Here4Hope and World Suicide Prevention Day activities.
“Cecilia Marie, your creativity is unmatched. Your zest for life is refreshing. Your dedication to leading difficult conversations, and your determination to show up for people in the moments that matter, is remarkable” Farrelly shared during the award presentation. “Through all of your County Wellness work, you have kept the focus on life promotion and suicide prevention as the vein that runs through it all, stretching into leadership development and illuminating pathways to support those that need it most.”
During the event, Roberts spoke candidly about the importance of continued investment in community and organizational supports. With her retirement planned for early December, Roberts will leave the County with carefully built foundations, including resources for managers and ongoing wellness programming.
The County of Wellington extends appreciation and congratulations to Cecilia Marie Roberts for receiving the CMHA WW Workplace Wellness Champion Award!
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Media Contact:
Susan Farrelly
Director of Human Resources
County of Wellington
519.837.2600 x 2090
susanf@wellington.ca