Header image: Participants pose together after a great workout
The Real Firewall We Need to Protect
Let’s be honest, we live in a world that doesn’t shut off. Ever.
Between inbox overloads, TEAMS calls, deadlines and a news cycle that never stops, it’s no wonder people feel stretched thin. For IT professionals and leaders, that mental load runs even deeper, the constant vigilance, the problem-solving, the “always on” expectation. It’s exhausting, right?
For me, fitness was never about the number on the scale or hitting personal records. It wasn’t because I love being sweaty or enjoying lifting heavy things (ok maybe a little bit), and cardio? I dread it every single time. It was because my brain NEEDED IT.
Life has a funny way of testing your limits.
Some days it’s a balancing act; other days it’s a flat-out juggling act with fire. When everything around you feel like its breaking, the only thing you can really control is how you show up for yourself.
“Only you can get you where you want to be.”
For me, that’s what movement does. It grounds me.
For some, it’s a 15-minute walk after dinner. For others, it’s a morning lift, a yoga class, or a game of hockey with friends. Whatever it looks like, moving your body helps you steady your mind.
Because mental health isn’t just about how we feel- it shapes how we think, lead, and connect. And when we neglect it, everything else starts to crack around the edges.
IT Professionals Are Carrying More than Code
At CWE, our focus has always been connectivity, cybersecurity, and innovation – but over the last couple of years, one thing has become really clear: we can’t just connect networks, we have to connect people.
Our members work in high-stress, high-stakes environments. They protect systems that keep our region running- municipalities, schools, libraries, utilities, public safety. They lead teams, manage change, and keep the lights (and Wi-Fi) on for everyone else.
And yet, too often, their own well-being comes last.
According to TELUS Health’s 2024 Mental Health Index:
- 42% of Canadian workers feel mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the workday.
- Physically active workers lose 10 fewer days of productivity per year than those who are sedentary.
- Mental strain is now one of the top causes of burnout and absenteeism across every industry.
We talk a lot about protecting infrastructure- but maybe it’s time we start protecting ourselves with the same urgency.
Fight the Firewall: Where It All Began
Back in Spring 2025, we decided to try something new: a mental health event that was actually fun.
Enter Fight the Firewall – a beginner-level kickboxing session just for our members, hosted with our friends at Kersey’s Kickboxing.
No PowerPoint. No policies. Just gloves, movement, and laughter.
IT professionals, senior leaders, and colleagues from across the region came out learned something new, hit some bags, and maybe burned off more than just stress. And the feedback? Incredible! It was such a hit we knew right away- this had to become a regular thing.
From left to right: Getting ready for action; Teams line up for a friendly competition; Gloves up!
Why Kickboxing? Hear It Straight from the Source
We asked Francesca Braccio, Kersey’s Kickboxing Fitness Club – Lead Trainer and Studio Manager, what it is about this sport that makes such a difference:
“Kickboxing is so much more than a workout- it’s an outlet. Every punch, kick and combo helps release stress, clear your mind, and build confidence. It challenges both your body and your focus, forcing you to stay present and let go of whatever’s weighing you down. Over time, that physical empowerment carrier over into mental resilience.
People often start for the fitness, but they stay for the community. Through movement, they find confidence, and through the community, they find belonging. Week after week, you see members standing taller, smiling more, and believing in themselves again.
Everyone deserves a space to recharge- especially those in high-pressure, often sedentary roles like IT. This event gives people a break from screens and deadlines and reminds them how powerful it feels to move, sweat, and breathe together.”
That last line hit me. Because it’s exactly why we did this- to remind people what it feels like to breathe again.
The Science is Clear: Move Your Body, Protect Your Mind
There’s a reason every major health study connects physical movement to mental well-being. Exercise reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression by up to 50%, boosts serotonin and dopamine, and improves focus, creativity, and confidence.
And leaders aren’t immune. A survey from Statistics Canada found that in April 2023, 37.3% of workers in management occupations reported high or very high levels of work-related stress (versus 21.2% overall for workers across Canada)- showing that those in higher responsibility roles are especially vulnerable.
Goodie bags and gloves lined up before the event.
Movement changes that.
When leaders make time for their own health, they make better decisions, show more empathy, and lead with clarity. Emotional intelligence (EQ), resilience, and retention all improve when organizations invest in mental wellness- because healthy leaders create healthy teams.
(Sources: TELUS Health, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Harvard Business Review)
Leadership Lessons from the Gym Floor
You learn a lot about yourself when you wrap up your wrists, put the gloves on, or hit the weights.
You learn patience. Focus. Grit. And maybe most importantly- that pushing through discomfort often leads to growth.
For leaders, that lesson translates directly to the boardroom.
A clear mind makes better decisions. A steady leader builds steady teams.
An when you prioritize your mental health, your people notice- and follow suit.
Your Move
Here’s the thing: just do something.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t even have to be long.
Maybe it’s a five- minute stretch between meetings. Maybe it’s parking a little farther away. Maybe it’s trying something completely new- like a kickboxing class.
Whatever you choose, just move your body.
The smallest step forward can have a bigger ripple effect than you think.
Because at the end of the day, your mental health is the strongest system you’ll ever protect.
And it deserves the same care, attention, and innovation that you give everything else.
So…do it! Fight your own firewall. See what I did there?
Being your most productive self means finding time to focus on your needs. Find out how CWE is supporting IT teams across the region by exploring membership today.
