2025 Workplace Health and Safety Conference - Exhibitor Registration

Trade Show Opportunities

The trade show is a UNIQUE opportunity to showcase your products and services to over 300 delegates from the region's health and safety community!

The cost is $350/booth and includes lunch for two (2) people.

For more information call the WCB's OHS Division at 902-368-5697.

Booth dimensions are approximately 6' x 10'.

Includes one 6' skirted table, two chairs, 110v electrical outlet, pipe and drape.

Set up time is from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 5, 2025, or at 7:00 a.m., on May 6, 2025.

WCB Workplace Health and Safety Conference

With Keynote Speaker Kevin Rempel

The 2025 WCB Workplace Health and Safety Conference features workshops on a wide range of workplace safety topics, as well as a comprehensive trade show of products and services of interest to the region’s workplace health and safety community.

Click here for the conference poster and schedule.

Keynote Speaker – Kevin Rempel - Paralympic Medalist in Sledge Hockey

Kevin Rempel has overcome incredible challenges to reach the Olympic podium and now shares his powerful message of hope and resilience through his speaking and writing. As a 2013 World Champion and 2014 Sochi Paralympic bronze medalist in sledge hockey, Kevin's story is one of remarkable perseverance.

At 23, a freestyle motocross accident left Kevin an incomplete paraplegic, with doctors telling him he would likely never walk again. Adding to his struggles, Kevin's father, Gerry, became a complete paraplegic after a fall from a tree while deer hunting, just a year before his retirement. Unfortunately, Gerry took his own life in July 2007, because he couldn’t cope with his circumstances.

Determined to defy the odds,"Remps" as he is fondly called by his friends, willed himself to move one toe, then another, until he eventually walked again. His incredible determination led him to become one of Canada's top Paralympic athletes, earning a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.

Since then, Kevin has traveled the world, inspiring thousands through his story, and has been featured in media outlets such as CBC, TSN, and BBC Sport. In his keynote, "The Safety Shift: Breaking the 'It Won't Happen to Me' Myth," Kevin shares his journey through two catastrophic, life-altering accidents. Both incidents were preventable and rooted in the common belief that accidents only happen to others.

In addition to the keynote presentation, delegates may choose three workshops throughout the day to create their own customized learning experience. This year’s conference workshops are described below.

UNB Course Giveaway Contest

WCB PEI is proud to announce a new partnership with one of Atlantic Canada’s leading providers in Occupational Health and Safety training – the University of New Brunswick (UNB).

Starting in April 2025, employers and workers across PEI can access a variety of Occupational Health and Safety courses from UNB at a discounted rate.

To celebrate this partnership, we’re launching the UNB Course Giveaway Contest!

• Grand Prize (1 Winner): Full tuition for one Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety or Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety program. (Value $6,750 to $6,875 per certificate)
• Consolation Prizes (4 Winners): Tuition for one Certificate in Psychologically Safe Leadership program or Certificate in Becoming a Psychologically Safe and Inclusive Employee program. (Value $177 per certificate)

Winners will be randomly selected and announced at the 2025 OHS Conference.

Enter the contest.

Workshops

Mastering the Basics: How to Perform an Effective Hazard Assessment

Understanding and contributing to the hazard assessment process is a critical responsibility for employers, workers, safety representatives, and safety committees. This session is designed to equip you with the skills needed to identify workplace hazards, assess risks, and prioritize the most pressing safety concerns. Despite its importance, many professionals lack formal training in this essential task. Join us to gain practical, actionable insights you can immediately apply to improve safety in your workplace.

Workshop Leader – Sue Flower, Lead HSE Adviser, Elanco Animal Health

Safety Starts Here: Essential Health and Safety Training for New Employees

Effective health and safety training is important for new employees to thrive in the workplace. This session provides practical strategies to design impactful onboarding programs that prioritize safety, compliance, and risk prevention. Learn how to make sure employees understand their roles, responsibilities, and rights while fostering a culture of continuous learning and safety awareness. Participants will leave with actionable tools to create a safer, more informed workforce from day one.

Workshop Leader – Jim Power, Store Manager, Charlottetown Kent Building Supplies

The Other Wet Floor: A Deep Dive into Workplace Mental Health

As mental health emerges as the leading cause of workplace absence and disability, workers and employers are often left frustrated at the prospect of addressing the complex factors of psychological occupational risk. This session will explore how empathic strain, traumatic stress, burnout, and moral distress contribute to the psychological experience of workers, offering practical strategies for preventing psychological injury and supporting occupational mental health.

Workshop Leader – JD Gilmour, Manager, Employee Abilities and Return to Work, Health PEI

The Role of Leadership in Workplace Safety Culture

Effective, people-focused leadership is important for cultivating a strong workplace safety culture. Leaders who build trust and respect, communicate openly and prioritize workers’ well-being naturally, seamlessly integrate safety into their everyday practices. Join CCOHS to explore how leadership strategies, policies, and actions can foster a culture where safety is not just an initiative but an integral part of how work gets done.

Workshop Leader – Janet Mannella, Vice-President of Operations, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)

Empowering Young Workers: The Role of Safety Leadership and Positive Workplace Culture

Young workers face a higher risk of workplace injuries due to their inexperience and limited training. This session will explore how strong safety leadership, and a positive safety culture can help create safer workplaces while boosting young workers' confidence and skills.

Workshop Leader – Erin Carver, Youth Education Consultant, WCB of PEI

Understanding the Claim Process for Work-Related Psychological Injuries

This session will explore the claim process for psychological injuries caused by work-related harassment. Participants will gain insights into eligibility, documentation, and the WCB’s Psychological Care Process. Participants will also gain practical insights on how to support workers through the claims process.

Workshop Leader – Adam Gallant and Samantha Allen, WCB Claims and Compensation

Implementing Effective Welding Safety Programs

This session will provide an overview of welding fume fundamentals, including fume characteristics, health hazards, and challenges of assessing exposures. Participant will learn about welding fume controls, from respirators to ventilation strategies, and how all of this applies to PEI welders.

Workshop Leader – Matt MacFarlane, Industrial Hygienist, NB Power

Safety Cop or Collaborator? Your Sentence. Choose Wisely!

Explore this engaging and thought-provoking session that explores the vital shift from enforcing safety rules to fostering collaboration and shared accountability. Discover how to move beyond the “safety cop” persona and embrace the role of a trusted partner in cultivating a safer, more cooperative workplace. Through practical insights and strategies, this session will empower you to inspire teamwork and drive meaningful changes in your organization’s safety culture.

Workshop Leader – Darcey Lynch – President, Levitate HR Strategies Inc.

Claims Made Simple: Essentials for Employers and Workers

Join this session for an in-depth exploration of the Workers' Compensation Board claims process, exploring the journey from injury to returning to work. Participants will gain valuable insights and practical approaches on how to navigate claims effectively, making recovery smoother and transitions back to seamless, for a healthier workforce.

Workshop Leader – Craig Abbott – Manager, Work Disability Prevention and Long-Term Benefit, WCB of PEI

Real-World Safety Challenges: A Collaborative Discussion

In this session, participants will work in small groups to analyze workplace safety challenges, brainstorm practical solutions and explore best safety practices. With guidance from experienced OHS officers, participants will also gain insights into effective safety strategies and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Workshop Leader – WCB OHS Officers

Resilience at Work: Applying the Resilience Scale to Promote Psychological Safety

This session will introduce the Resilience Scale, developed by the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative, as a tool for understanding how experiences shape brain development and influence well-being throughout our lives. Participants will explore the Scale to reframe daily workplace interactions, enhance psychological safety, and support worker resilience. Through practical examples and collaborative brainstorming, participants will develop actionable strategies to foster resilient and supportive work environments across PEI.

Workshop Leader – Megan MacKenzie, Director, Knowledge Mobilization and Impact, PEI Alliance for Mental Well Being

Developing a Hearing Conservation Program

What did you say? Could you speak up? I can’t hear you! Over time, high hazard noises can leave some workers with significant hearing loss. Hearing loss has a huge impact on an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. In this session, participants will be provided with an overview of the PEI legislative requirements for noise and the key elements for an effective hearing conservation program.

Workshop Leader – Katriona MacNeil – Occupational Hygienist, WCB of PEI

For more information about this year's conference, please contact the Conference Administrator at the Workers Compensation Board at ohs@wcb.pe.ca or 902-368-5697.