PACE community exercise programs are supervised by trained health care professionals and McMaster undergraduate students. Our supervised exercise sessions are designed to meet the individual needs and fitness levels of each community member based on a thorough medical history and screening process. A documented emergency plan is in place and is known to all staff and volunteers. This includes the requirement of McMaster Regulatory Health & Safety Training; current CPR, First Aid, and AED certification; phone access to the campus emergency first response team and local paramedic services; and the presence of AEDs on site. Core PACE staff are also trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid.

At program initiation, PACE participants are educated regarding self-monitoring of exercise tolerance and are asked to report any new or worsening symptoms to PACE staff immediately. PACE staff are trained and available to measure heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, and to monitor participants for potential signs and symptoms of exercise intolerance.

PACE health care professionals follow guidelines, uphold practice standards, and are in good standing with their respective regulatory bodies: College of Kinesiologists of Ontario and College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

The McMaster PACE Code of Conduct outlines the rights and responsibilities of the PACE Community to ensure safety and uphold University standards.

All members of the University Community have the right to study, work, and live in an environment that is free of Discrimination and Harassment. McMaster’s Equity and Inclusion Office promotes and supports institution-wide commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and principles of inclusive excellence, to foster a campus culture and community that respect the human rights, integrity and dignity of all community members. McMaster Equity and Inclusion Policies are available to read in full below:

• Discrimination & Harassment Policy
• Accessibility Policy
• Sexual Violence Policy

The PACE Program Manager and Program Administrator are members of the the Ivor Wynne Centre (PACE)/David Braley Athletic Centre – Joint Health and Safety Committee (IWC/DBAC-JHSC), which is a group of management and labour representatives who meet regularly to discuss Health and Safety issues in these buildings on McMaster University campus. This team also conducts regular inspections of all McMaster work areas to help better identify any safety-related issues that need to be addressed. JHSCs also make recommendations to Senior Management regarding the identification of and control of hazards, which may include building improvements, procedure implementation, training requirements, policies and programs.