Benefit FYI: Fall 2025 Banner with Colourful fall trees and a blue sky, a person walks through the leaves at UBC Vancouver
 

Welcome to Benefits FYI! In this edition:
 

EFAP focus: Indigenous mental health plus nutrition support through GreenShield
A person wearing a colorful, patterned indigenous garment stands in a snowy forest, looking upward. Tall trees surround them under a clear, sunlit sky, creating a peaceful winter scene.

Culturally safe mental health support for Indigenous faculty & staff

UBC faculty and staff who identify as Indigenous can access free, confidential, and culturally safe mental health services through Noojimo Health, an Indigenous-owned provider available to access via our EFAP platform: GreenShield+.

Learn more
A plate of fresh food featuring cooked salmon, sliced avocado, cucumber, arugula, and fig quarters, with a small dish of extra figs beside it. A fork rests on the plate’s edge, and a striped cloth napkin is visible in the corner.

Personalized nutrition: a journey towards healthy and affordable meals

After we shared the new personalized nutrition service available through our EFAP, some HR Benefits team members decided to take a closer look and investigate the new service. Here is a detailed look at one person's experience connecting with a personalized nutrition health coach.

Learn more
 
Illustration on a green background with one hand held up to signify saying no to the other hand offering cigarettes

Thinking about quitting smoking or vaping? Your benefits can help

UBC faculty and staff have access to free, confidential support through programs like BC government's QuitNow.ca; Sun Life’s Can Quit; and ALAViDA through our EFAP. Whether you're ready to quit or just exploring options, these resources offer expert guidance and tools to help you take the next step.

Access smoking cessation supports

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Two people collaborate at a desk in a modern workspace. One sits, looking thoughtfully at a laptop, while the other leans in to view the screen. A large monitor in the background displays lines of code.

Learn about your benefits plan during our semi-annual benefits webinar November 26 

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about your UBC benefits, including what you are eligible for and how to access them. In this 90-minute webinar, we will look at Extended Health and Dental Care, Life Insurance, Employee and Family Assistance Program, and Tuition Waivers and help you maximize your coverage.

  • Learn about costs, coverages, and how to coordinate and make claims
  • Tips on making changes to your benefits in Workday
  • Ask questions directly to the Benefits team during Q&A
  • Learn how to get support and who to contact.

Date: Wednesday, November 26 | Time: 10:30 am–12 pm | Location: Zoom

Enrol in the semi-annual benefits webinar
 

New BC government IVF program can supplement your UBC surrogacy and adoption benefit plan 

Back in 2023, we added coverage for fertility treatments and fertility drugs and launched UBC’s Surrogacy and Adoption Benefits. These family-forming benefits will reimburse you and your eligible spouse related to fertility treatment, as well as expenses incurred on behalf of your surrogate and costs related to the adoption process.

Now, with the Government of British Columbia's new In Vitro Fertilization program (available to eligible B.C. residents enrolled in MSP), UBC faculty and staff can access up to $19,000 towards their family-forming journey. 

Learn more about the BC government's IVF program
 

When we focus on wellbeing, everyone benefits

Your benefits plan is one way UBC can help support your health and wellbeing, but there are more opportunities to explore—here are some other initiatives to help support your wellbeing at UBC.
 
Illustrated Thrive banner

Up to $500 in Thrive Grants available until Oct. 1

It's time to start planning, partnering, and applying for grants. Faculty and staff at UBC Vancouver and Okanagan can apply for Thrive Grants of up to $500 to host events that promote mental health and wellbeing during Thrive Month this November.

Applications are open till Wednesday, October 1. Don't delay, these grants go quickly!

Apply for your Thrive Grants
 

Want more health and wellbeing stories?

Have you signed up for Healthy UBC? In this monthly newsletter, you will get a selection of our best health and wellbeing stories and events from across UBC.

Subscribe to Healthy UBC
 

Updates to our faculty and staff perks

View the latest offers available to faculty and staff on the UBC Exclusive Discount and Perks page. Enjoy a range of perks, from local deals to national discounts—just for being part of UBC.
Promotional image of a person riding an e-bike with text: Try an e-bike for free for two weeks! Program open to UBCV staff & faculty

New e-bike trial program now open until November 30

Skip the traffic and make your commute to campus smoother and more sustainable by trying out an E-bike.

UBC is partnering with Friiway e-bike subscription and rentals to allow UBCV staff and faculty to try an e-bike for FREE for two weeks.

Learn more

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UBC Vancouver Alumni Centre at sunset.

Take a look at alumni UBC's faculty & staff perks

Did you know that many of alumni UBC‘s benefits partners also offer discounts and services to UBC faculty and staff? From cell phones, mortgage rates, and tickets to meal prep and insurance benefits; explore additional perks for faculty and staff available from the Alumni Association.

Learn more
 
 

Explore your benefits
 

Health, Wellbeing and Benefits
UBC Human Resources
600 - 6190 Agronomy Road
Vancouver, BC Canada, V6T 1Z3

hr.ubc.ca/benefits

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Disclaimer: The information contained in Benefits FYI is for information purposes only; it is not a contract. In the event of a discrepancy between the information in Benefits FYI and the applicable contracts/documents, the applicable plan contracts/documents, collective agreements and/or governing legislation will apply. Unless otherwise specified in the newsletter, you must be registered and enrolled in the appropriate benefit plans to receive the coverage and/or services as described. Enrolment in some of the benefit plans is not automatic. For more information on benefits, visit hr.ubc.ca/benefits.
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