Concussion Awareness Month
2026-09-01 08:00 - 2026-09-30 17:00 (America/Toronto)
Dealing with a Concussion

Resources
Concussions are the most common form of head injury caused by an impact or forceful motion of the head or other part of the body, or a quick motion of neck and head, resulting in rapid movement of the brain within the skull.
The Concussion Legacy Foundation has information about concussion as it may occur in different settings, including response and treatment. Contact for support groups in Canada for people dealing with concussion and other head injuries are also featured.
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Concussions in the Workplace
This presentation will discuss the following topics:

Information about concussions and post-concussion symptom
Long term effects
Recovery and return to work
Underreporting, workplace factors, raising awareness about concussions in the workplace, and prevention of workplace hazards.

The goal is to raise awareness about concussions and to promote steps to take action to prevent concussions in the workplace.

Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) For Workers and Workplaces is a program designed to provide workers and workplaces with the information they need to take an evidence-based approach in responding to and managing concussion.
Go to Tool
After a Concussion: Return to Work Strategies

According to Parachute Canada, Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention, returning to your regular activities, including work, after a concussion is a step-wise process that requires patience, attention and caution. In the Return-to-Work Strategy: • Each step is at least 24 hours. • Move on to the next stage when you can tolerate activities. • It is common and OK for your symptoms to worsen mildly and briefly* as you return to activities. But, if your symptoms worsen more than this, take a break and adapt activities.
See PDF

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2026
2026-09-01 08:00 - 2026-09-30 17:00
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. While progress has been made, prostate cancer is still the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Canada. This is a month to join together to transform the future of prostate cancer for the 27,900 men in Canada expected to be diagnosed this year. Prostate cancer is one of the least preventable cancers, making advancements in prostate cancer treatment so important.
The Canadian Cancer Society stresses the importance of early detection which can determine better treatment outcomes. Check out their page on testing here.
See Page on Early Detection

Prostate Cancer Foundation Spreads the Word
Check out the free Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Speaker Series, featuring speakers on topics such as treatments and clinical trials, oncology support, intimacy after treatment, and more. Advanced registration required.
Go to Speaker Series Page

Occupational Risks
Genetic factors and lifestyle pose the biggest risks for the occurrence of cancer. Environmental and Occupational risk factors are also a huge factor. According to peer reviewed articles in the Journal of Cancer Prevention and other sources, the most at risk are

farmers/agricultural workers: pesticides
some manufacturing such as rubber workers: chemicals such as carbamates and triazines, cadmium, chromium, cutting fluids, acrylonitrile
construction work, whole body vibration
flight personnel, health workers, security: shift work
ionizing radiation

See more information and resources on OHCOW’s work-related cancer page.
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Labour Day 2026
2026-09-07
Celebrating Labour Day: The History

See OHCOW Labour Day Page
Toronto Labour Day Celebration and Parade 2026
This Labour Day, let’s come together to Protect Canadian Jobs!

The Labour Day Parade will be held this year on Monday, September 7, 2026 beginning at 9:30 am.
Join us as we take the streets with over 20,000 labour members to honour the past, present and future victories of the Labour Movement at this year’s annual Labour Day Parade.
More Info for Toronto Parade
MORE EVENTS ACROSS ONTARIO:
Find out more about events in your region here.

Kidd Creek Info Sessions
2026-09-09 13:00 - 2026-09-10 20:00
Free Information Sessions (please RSVP)
For your convenience, different times are offered. The content is the same for the different sessions.
DATES AND TIMES:

Wednesday, September 9th;
Two times available: 1pm-4pm or 6pm-8pm
Thursday, September 10th; 9am-11am
LOCATION:
South Porcupine Legion Branch 287
46 Legion Dr, South Porcupine, ON P0N 1H0.
FOR MORE INFO:
contact Donna Pearson occupational health nurse at 249-885-1035
or Emma Lee client service coordinator at 416-525-4971.

World First Aid Day 2026
2026-09-13
Learn First Aid, Save a Life
Learning First Aid empowers you to make a difference, by providing immediate, potentially life-saving assistance in emergencies. According to the World First Aid Day Foundation, the date aims to raise awareness about the significance of first aid, provide valuable resources for learning basic first aid techniques, and inspire individuals to become first aid champions in their communities.
The Canadian Red Cross marks this day by encouraging people in Canada to learn practical first aid skills, find trusted training, and feel more ready to act in an emergency.
World First Aid Day
Essential First Aid Courses – Ontario
Equip yourself with essential skills—comprehensive training for all levels of first aid and CPR. See the standard, advanced levels and certification available from the St. John Ambulance First Aid Training.

The purpose of First Aid Day is to remind people that first aid skills can help save lives, reduce injuries, and build safer communities. The Canadian Red Cross marks this day by encouraging people in Canada to learn practical first aid skills, find trusted training, and feel more ready to act in an emergency. See our training and certification courses here.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day
2026-09-26
Mesothelioma and Exposure to Asbestos

Mesothelioma Awareness Day is observed annually on September 26th to raise public awareness about the rare, aggressive cancer mesothelioma, its cause, and the importance of research for a cure. The day also serves to support patients and families affected by the disease. Activities include wearing blue ribbons or wristbands, participating in fundraisers, and sharing information and stories on social media using the hashtag #goblueformeso.

The Mesothelioma Centre defines the disease as “…a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and it develops in the tissue lining the lungs, abdomen, heart, and, in rarer cases, the testes. While it cannot be cured, it is treatable. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery can extend life and improve quality of life. Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment options and survival.”
Exposure to asbestos can cause miniscule fibres to become trapped in the mesothelium, the protective tissue lining human organs. These fibers cause chronic inflammation and DNA damage, transforming normal cells into cancer. Pleural Mesothelioma that forms in the tissue lining the lungs is the most common type of Mesothelioma. For more information on asbestos exposure and hazards, see the OHCOW web page on Asbestos, and our page on Asbestos awareness week.
Years can pass between the exposure and the presentation of the disease caused by that exposure. Anyone who has reason to believe they have been exposed to asbestos at any point in time is at risk and should have a medical exam.
The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation
The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation is a largely volunteer-run registered charity, dedicated to raising awareness and understanding about mesothelioma in Canada. Their website features informative webinars, information about support groups for patients and caregivers, and opportunities to volunteer.
On September 24 they have a Gala Fundraiser in Toronto to raise money for research and treatment.
A Personal Story
In 2023 writer and lawyer Robyn Schleihauf wrote a piece for the CBC about losing her father to the disease of mesothelioma. He contracted it from working in the chemical factories of Sarnia, where Robyn grew up. Sadly this is not a rare tale, as many men and women who worked at the oil refineries, manufacturing plants and factories contracted debilitating and sometimes fatal diseases. There is a memorial in Sarnia’s downtown park called the Missing Worker Memorial that honours workers who have been injured, become sick or died because of their jobs.
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