Orange Shirt Day: September 30th
This year, September 30, 2021, marks an inaugural statutory holiday in Canada in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day. It was originally created as a day of observance in 2013 and is designed to educate and promote awareness about the Indian residential school system, and the devastating impact it had on indigenous communities for over a century. In brief, shortly after Confederation, in a misguided attempt to secure Canada as a nation and forge a single Canadian identity, the government of Canada felt it should absorb the First Nations into the general population and essentially extinguish their culture. One of the methods used was to open residential schools, in conjunction with a number of Christian churches, that would separate indigenous children from their parents and culture. The children would effectively be immersed in the ‘new’ Canada, leaving behind their native roots. As a […]
National Injury Prevention Day
Monday, July 6th, 2020 marks the 4th annual Nation Injury Prevention Day in Canada. Initiated by Parachute, it is designed to raise awareness about the devastating effects of predictable and preventable injuries. Perhaps this year more than any other, we need to pay special attention. According to the Cost of Injury in Canada report published in 2021 using data from 2018, preventable injuries annually represent: $29.4 billion lost to economy 4.6 million emergency room visitsMore than 61,000 injuries result in permanent or partial disabilities And the human cost is staggering: 17,000 Canadians die each year 47 Canadians die each dayInjury is the No. 1 killer of Canadians aged 1 to 44.The loss of life is equivalent to a jumbo jet crashing every 10 days. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world we all knew and trusted has been turned upside down and has impacted the way we work, the way […]
Safety Tips for the Holidays
As November draws to a close, and December rapidly approaches, the retail and hospitality industries are kicking into high gear. The Festive Season comes with its own unique set of risks and hazards, not just in the retail and hospitality sectors, virtually every business will be impacted in some way over the holidays. Now is as good a time as any to make sure you and your staff stay safe and healthy through the next few weeks. As your organization prepares for the holidays, here are some potential health and safety risks to keep in mind: Seasonal Hires – many businesses require temporary help to meet the increased demands of the holiday season. Seasonal workers are at high risk for workplace accidents and injuries just like any new hire, possibly more. Since their employment is temporary, things like safe practices, accident reporting procedures and performance issues can be glossed over, […]
Honouring Labour Day
Although observed on May 1st in most countries around the world, the first Monday in September is recognized as Labour Day in Canada and the USA. It is a statutory holiday commonly associated with the end of summer, marking the last long weekend of the season and signalling the day before school starts. Over the years, however, the origins of the Labour Day, what it means, and why it’s celebrated have all but been forgotten. Labour Day is an annual holiday celebrating the achievements of workers and can be traced to the labour unrest of the late 1800’s, the dawn of the industrial revolution, and the birth of unions. Perhaps one of the most significant developments from this period was the 8 hour day movement, which advocated eight hours of work, eight hours of recreation, and eight hours of rest per day — a concept that should be revisited more […]