OHCOW

Civic Holiday – Simcoe Day
2026-08-03 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto)
Simcoe Day is a mid-summer civic holiday in Ontario celebrated on the first Monday of August. It honors John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada and founder of York (now Toronto).

International Youth Day
2026-08-12 08:00 - 17:00
A day to focus on Youth-oriented issues, including occupational health and safety for young workers. By 2050, the people who are under 25 today will compose more than 90% of the prime-age workforce. See Website
Youth Mental Health in the Workplace
2023 Webinars
As part of the 2023 Mayday, Mayday Webinar Series, the topic of Youth Mental Health was explored. The webinar acknowledged that young workers have recognized vulnerabilities to workplace injuries & harms, including to psychosocial risk factors, made worse in the pandemic.
The presenters spoke of the need to learn more about challenges faced by these frequently exposed front-line staff in their daily jobs, and some solutions to reduce risk and mitigate harm from an agency, industry and advocacy perspective.
Moderated by OHCOW Ergonomist Melissa Statham, it featured two parts:
Part A: Youth Mental Health Outreach/Support, challenges and solutions, Ashleigh Erdelyan MSW RSW, Zahra Abou Elhassan MSW RSW, Youth Wellness Hub, CMHA-Windsor Essex
Part B: Essential Public Services, Essential Workers’ Health: Union-based Initiatives to Protect the Mental Health of Young Public Transport Workers. Canadian context for the International Project and Report, Shirly Yan, Occupational Hygienist, OHCOW; On the ground: Young Worker advocacy and support, Krista Lee Hanson, President, Unifor Road Transport Council See Webinars
Young Workers in the Transportation Sector
In March 2023, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) released a report on “union-based initiatives to protect the mental health of young public transport workers”, along with a briefing paper in nine languages and the announcement of an online train-the-trainers course directed to participants with responsibilities for youth and/or occupational safety and health issues within their unions. See the booklet PDF.
Young Workers in Agriculture
The Workplace Health Without Borders partnered with the International Ergonomics and Human Factors Association for this webinar, the Physical Risks of Young Workers in Agriculture: Special Groups Need Special Methods. See Webinar

International Overdose Awareness Day
2026-08-31 08:00 - 17:00
25 Years On. Still Needed.
Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings a global community together to take action on overdose. Hold an event, spread the message, take action today. This year the theme for IOAD is 25 Years On. Still Needed. For 25 years, International Overdose Awareness Day has brought people together to remember those we’ve lost and to take action to save lives. Go to Site
Studying the Problem
The Institute for Work and Health conducted an extensive study on Opiod use among Ontario workers. They explored which professions were at greater risk for opioid use and overdose. See the information here.
A Data Tool
The IWH and the Ontario Cancer Research Centre partnered to create The Opioid-Related Harms among Ontario Workers project. This project aims to establish a surveillance program to monitor opioid-related adverse health events among Ontario workers.
The Opioids and Work Data Tool is an interactive tool that illustrates patterns of opioid-related harms among Ontario workers. The tool includes three dashboards, each displaying data for a different opioid-related harm identified in emergency department and hospitalization records:

Poisonings
Mental and behavioural disorders
Adverse reactions

Graphs within each dashboard can be customized to show trends in opioid-related harms over time, as well as the characteristics of the workers experiencing these harms (i.e., their age, sex, health region, occupation, and industry).
Did You Know?
Since 2023, employers must provide naloxone in the workplace if certain circumstances described in the Occupational Health and Safety Act apply. FIND OUT MORE
OHCOW Webinars
Opiod Use at Workplaces

Opioid and substance misuse in the Building Trades: A strategy to deal with an epidemic.
Speaker: Carmine Tiano, MA, Director of Occupational Services, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
Carmine covers factors in the construction industry that make its workers vulnerable to substance abuse and addiction. Workers usually work contract on different sites, sometimes for short periods of time, and are always adjusting to new work sites and conditions. Work can be dependent on weather and project progress. He explains how accepted accident stats are skewed and don’t show the whole story, and how the compensation landscape does not adequately support injured workers.
Opioid-harms among Ontario Workers, what we know and are striving to learn.
Speaker: Dr. Nancy Carnide, PhD, Associate Scientist, Institute for Work & Health
Dr. Carnide discusses the statistics for OPIOID harms among Ontario workers. Opioid uses has increased since the Covid pandemic, and males are most effected. In Ontario, there are not adequate statistics gathered or surveillance systems to monitor substance abuse in workplace — BC has better records. In that province, construction, transportation and warehousing are the topic fields where opioid abuse and fatalities occur. 44% of those who died from overdose were employed at the time of their death. Get factual information about the real numbers from this webinar.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2026
2026-09-01 08:00 - 2026-09-30 17:00
Current Research Findings
According to the Canadian Cancer Society:

Ovarian cancer can start in the cells of an ovary, but the most common type is thought to start in the cells of a fallopian tube. Fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers are staged and treated the same as epithelial ovarian cancer.
Risks for epithelial ovarian cancer include having a family history of ovarian cancer and BRCA gene mutations. Fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer share many of the same risks as epithelial ovarian cancer

Occupational Hazards for Ovarian Cancer
For more information:

Ovarian Cancer Canada

OHCOW Work Related Cancer Page
Asbestos and Radiation exposures are known risk factors for Ovarian Cancer. See information and resources relating to work-related cancer.
Go to Page

Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope
September 26 & 27, 2026 – Join us at the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope, where our community is changing what’s possible for people living with ovarian cancer.
Event Details

The Walk of Hope is the largest event in Canada dedicated to raising funds for ovarian cancer. Together, participants from coast to coast will come together with one shared purpose: to move ovarian cancer research, advocacy, and support forward. Those who raise $250 or more will receive a beautiful t-shirt (right).
Find more details about your location here.
Since its inception, the Walk of Hope community has raised more than $34 million to help advance this critical work. It is a powerful force for change. This is why we can be hopeful for a future without ovarian cancer.

REGISTER

Concussion Awareness Month
2026-09-01 08:00 - 2026-09-30 17:00
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.
Go to Page
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.
Go to Page

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 Suicide Prevention Day
2026-09-10
Preventing suicide: When and how to help
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline.
Help is also available through Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) and the Hope for Wellness Help Line (1-855-242-3310).
Mental Injury Toolkit
Canadian employees thinking of suicide at high rates: what can HR do differently?
A new survey of Canadian workers has revealed alarming statistics: 23% had thoughts of self-harm or suicide in the previous two weeks, and 36% had such thoughts in the previous year. Read this research about work-related suicide in Canada: HRR Reporter
For practical approaches and information about improving mental health in the workplace, OHCOW’s Mental Injury Toolkit is specifically created to answer questions and provide guidance for the workplace with regards to mental health. The workplace can be a major source of stress for workers. This guide and resource kit will provide workers with a basic understanding and a place to start to learn about workplace stress and what to do about it, including:

Definitions
Common Causes of Mental Distress
Legal Frameworks
Possible Actions
Additional Resources

Mental Injury Toolkit

Suicide Prevention Workshops
Do you want to be better prepared to help those living with suicidal thoughts and behaviours? Take internationally recognized and certified suicide prevention training workshops delivered through Ontario Shores by our highly trained and qualified mental health professionals.
Find out More

Workplace Mental Health Webinar Series

OHCOW’s Mayday, Mayday Webinar series has featured sessions on work related suicide, and mental health for the high-risk role of service responders, Crisis Planning for Worker & Responder Mental Health.
See the playlist for the 2025 Mayday, Mayday here.

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.
Go to Story
