OHCOW

Kidd Creek Info Sessions
2026-09-09 13:00 - 2026-09-10 20:00 (America/Toronto)
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
