committee:

Health, Safety & Wellness

2025 Health Safety and Wellness Conference October 3-4, Niagara Falls        

Responsive Image

This year, the Health, Safety & Wellness Committee proudly presents Living on the Level – Empowering Life Balance
October 3–4, 2025 | Niagara Falls, ON -The Brock Niagara Falls Fallsview

This two-day event brings CUSW members together for meaningful conversations around safety, support, and the everyday realities of balancing life and work in the skilled trades.
Following the conference, the National Social Committee (NSC) invites you to keep the momentum going with their Dinner & Dance Event on the evening of October 4th — same venue, new vibe.

With this year's focus on Living on the Level – Empowering Life Balance, we’re committed to:

  • Support members in creating balance in their work and personal lives
  • Increase awareness that balance, well-being, and safety are everyone’s responsibility
  • Remove barriers to achieving balance at work, at home, and in our communities
  • Empower members with tools and strategies to protect their health, safety, and overall wellness
  • Create safer workplaces by promoting a strong HSW culture with members
(More details and the full agenda will be posted soon) 

Looking Back to Move Forward
Last year’s conference sparked powerful conversations around communication, connection, and care in the skilled trades. 
Explore highlights, keynote moments, and member reflections on the CUSW YouTube channel. 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU3hZxIX1v0HdkeyK4oNXaA0y_IIrJvO4&si=aWJGRXv3R9iLrCPM

During the conference, live updates and key moments will also be shared on the CUSW Facebook Page, so don't forget to hit like, follow, and share to stay informed. https://www.facebook.com/cuswhsw

Dan Plexman - Master of Ceremonies

We’re excited to welcome back Dan Plexman as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Health, Safety & Wellness Conference:
Living on the Level – Empowering Life Balance.
Dan is a 20-year CUSW member and an active contributor to the Health, Safety & Wellness Committee. Many know him as the voice behind the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, but his story goes much deeper. 

After surviving a life-altering workplace incident, Dan has become a powerful advocate for safety, mental health, and the CUSW community. His message is grounded, relatable, and backed by lived experience. As always, he brings a sharp sense of humour, deep empathy, and a clear focus on what really matters.

We're glad to have him back to help lead two days of meaningful conversations and connection.

Listen to the podcast here: https://thecuswspotlightpodcast.buzzsprout.com
 

 

Meet our Speakers

Slade Doyle 
Losing Touch in More Ways Than One: A Journey Through Trauma, Recovery and Renewal

Friday, October 3
 
Slade Doyle is a workplace accident survivor, elite athlete, and passionate advocate for reshaping the conversation around health, safety, and wellness in the workplace. After a traumatic, life-altering injury on the job, Slade’s world was forever changed. He has refused to let that injury define him. Through resilience, hard work, and an unwavering spirit, he rebuilt his life. Today, he’s a proud husband, father of three, and six-time gold medalist - representing the province of Manitoba in cross-country skiing and Team Canada in hockey. 
 
 Slade’s lived experience gives him a powerful and grounded perspective on what it truly means to recover, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. He speaks candidly about the ongoing nature of trauma and the need for safer, more empathetic work environments. Through his story, Slade challenges organizations to prioritize wellness as much as productivity, and to see safety not as a checklist, but as a culture.   
Responsive Image
Responsive Image

Amanda Nagib - Bridging Worlds : Healthy Habits for Work-Life Balance.

Friday, October 3
 
Amanda is a bilingual occupational health and safety technical specialist at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). She has experience in high-rise and commercial construction, restoration, and remediation and a background in public health.
Since joining CCOHS, Amanda has provided workplace health and safety guidance to employers, workers, and the public on topics like designated substances (silica, asbestos, lead), heavy machinery and crane safety. She is also part of the technical team that research, writes, and reviews content for the OSH Answers fact sheet collection.

Amanda received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Health and Safety from the School of Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University

Roxanne Derhodge - Establishing Work-Life Balancing

Friday, October 3
Roxanne has a gift of connecting with others. She decided quite early in life that she wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives. She entered the field in her early twenties, working with the Metro Toronto Police assisting victims of crime.
She eventually went on to head an addictions unit with the Niagara Health System before entering the corporate consulting field where she was responsible for over 40 companies.
Roxanne has a unique way of bringing her warmth and uncanny ability to read people to a platform where she is able to deliver whatever is needed in her work with people. She is an engaging presenter who makes people think on a deeper level about their lives and living them to the fullest.
Responsive Image
Responsive Image


Hannah Doyle -Surviving the Survivor

Saturday, October 4

Hannah Doyle provides a vital and often underrepresented perspective on workplace safety, advocating for the families affected by the ripple effects of workplace injuries.

Following her husband Slade’s accident, Hannah assumed a caregiving role, navigating the challenges of recovery alongside their young family. She offers a distinctive insight into what she terms “surviving the survivor,” emphasizing how life-altering events impact not only the injured individual but also their entire support network.

Through her story, Hannah encourages organizations to broaden their understanding of safety, recognizing that healing is a collective journey and that strong support systems are essential.

Victoria Vass - Life after Burns


Saturday, October 4

Victoria Vass is a Canadian burn survivor who, at age 9, sustained third-degree burns to 21% of her body in an accident on October 26, 2002, in Muskoka, Ontario. That autumn afternoon, while playing tag, she fell backward into a large pot of hot soup and was airlifted to Sick Kids Hospital, where she spent a month recovering and underwent multiple skin-grafting surgeries.
Though she carried the emotional and physical impact of her injuries for many years, Victoria eventually came to recognize a major gap in care: once discharged from hospital, survivors and their families often felt isolated and lacked local peer support. In response, she founded Life After Burns, a nonprofit dedicated to creating connection and community beyond the hospital.

Victoria is currently the chair of Life After Burns and a board member for the Canadian Burn Survivor Communities and remains deeply committed to advocating for peer-based support, building inclusive healing spaces, and raising awareness around the long-term needs of burn survivors and their loved ones.
Responsive Image
Responsive Image

Scott Simpson - Empowering Life Balance : Fitness and Wellenss Strategies That Work Anywhere


Saturday, October 4

Scott Simpson is a certified reflexology therapist, fitness instructor, and personal trainer with over a decade of experience in health and wellness.

A proud father of two and seven years sober, he has built a sobriety-focused wellness retreat as part of his own journey of resilience and recovery.

Scott is the founder of Spirit Fit, where he combines fitness, reflexology, and motivational speaking to help people of all ages create balance, energy, and long-term wellbeing. He primarily works with First Nations communities but is not limited to them.

HS&W Conference 2024

Moving the Needle on Healthy Communication
October 25-26, 2024 - Niagara Falls, ON

This year the Health, Safety and Wellness (HS&W) Committee is proud to come together with the National Social Committee (NSC) to host 2 events – 2024 HS&W Conference and the NSC Dinner & Dance on October 25-26, 2024 at the Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, ON.

The HS&W Committee is pleased to present a dynamic program featuring industry-leading speakers who inspired, informed, and introduced new initiatives to strengthen health and safety within their personal and work lives.

The Conference is open to the first 60 registrants (Members). 

In the next few days we will be updating the Speaker list and agenda. Stay Tuned!!! 

Check out 2023 HSW video!

Click HERE for access to more videos from the 2023 Health, Safety and Wellness Conference. 
CUSW HSW Conference 2023 (youtube.com) All new video added in playlist

HSW Conference Agenda

Speakers

Responsive Image

Dr. Joel Moody

Ontario’s recently appointed Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) Dr. Joel Moody is American born who has studied across North America, earning an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering at Duke and Master of Public Health Studying International Health and epidemiology at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He did postgraduate work in epidemiology and bio statistics and earned a medical degree at George Washington University and then did additional work at the University of Toronto in cancer epidemiology.

His diverse background allows him to speak, listen and emphasize effectively with different groups on safety during pandemic times and otherwise.

 

Amanda Nagib
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Amanda is a bilingual occupational health and safety technical specialist at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). She has experience in high-rise and commercial construction, restoration, and remediation and a background in public health.

Since joining CCOHS, Amanda has provided workplace health and safety guidance to employers, workers, and the public on topics like designated substances (silica, asbestos, lead), heavy machinery and crane safety. She is also part of the technical team that research, writes, and reviews content for the OSH Answers fact sheet collection.

Amanda received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Health and Safety from the School of Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University.
 

Susan Freeman, MSc Marketing
Outreach Program Manager, Communications Services

Sue Freeman is the Outreach Program Manager at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

For many years Sue has acted as a champion and advocate for mentally healthy and positive workplaces. She uses her research in emotional intelligence and positive psychology to facilitate workshops on creating healthy and inclusive workplaces and to help create work policies and procedures for the Centre.

Sue has a Masters of Science-Marketing from the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) and the University of Wales, Cardiff. Her graduate thesis focused on how social marketing campaigns help promote both community and workplace health and safety. Sue was also granted post-graduate certificates in Positive Psychology and Positive Education from the Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being, Laurier University.

Responsive Image

Chris Lacko 
"We are all worth another chance"


After surviving 20+ years of drug and alcohol abuse, multiple stab wounds, a house filled with domestic violence and a lifelong journey of hearing impairment, Chris now proudly shares his story in hopes that others can identify and lead a life full of positivity and gratitude. Even though Chris is deaf, he is a natural communicator and offers unique and candid insight that the hearing world can apply to their lives.

 

2023 HS&W Conference and 25th Anniversary Dinner & Dance

HS&W Conference

Kinder and Better When We’re Together
October 27-28, 2023 - Niagara Falls, ON

This year the Health, Safety and Wellness (HS&W) Committee is proud to come together with the National Social Committee (NSC) to host 2 events – 2023 HS&W Conference and the NSC Dinner & Dance on October 28-29, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, ON.

The HS&W Committee is pleased to present a dynamic program featuring industry-leading speakers who inspired, informed, and introduced new initiatives to strengthen health and safety within their personal and work lives.

The Conference is open to the first 60 registrants (members). Click on the below link to register your spot now.
 

REGISTER NOW

Dinner & Dance

October 28th, 2023 from 6:00pm to 11:00pm

The National Social Committee will kick off the first CUSW 25th Anniversary event this year at the HS&W Conference on the evening October 28th, 2023 from 6:00pm to 11:00pm at Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview.


The Dinner & Dance is open to all CUSW members. Overnight accommodations and dinner for Saturday October 28th will be subsidized and will include dancing, face-painting, costume competition and much more.

Click on the below link to register for the dinner and dance now.  
 

REGISTER NOW

The full event program for both the HS&W Conference and Dinner & Dance will available later this month. Stay tuned.

Speakers

Responsive Image

Dr. Joel Moody

Ontario’s recently appointed Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) Dr. Joel Moody is American born who has studied across North America, earning an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering at Duke and Master of Public Health Studying International Health and epidemiology at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He did postgraduate work in epidemiology and bio statistics and earned a medical degree at George Washington University and then did additional work at the University of Toronto in cancer epidemiology.

His diverse background allows him to speak, listen and emphasize effectively with different groups on safety during pandemic times and otherwise.  
Responsive Image

Scott Simpson

Scott Simpson of Spirit Fit and member of Beausoleil First Nation Wellness walks the RED road.

Scott strongly believes we can make small steps to becoming the people we want to be and have a family life. Scott had his own personal battles with alcoholism/addiction and class 2 obesity, so he decided to make it his mission to help people live better lives after he climbed out of what he found himself to be a not so favorable life.
Responsive Image

Nasia Houvarda

Athanasia (Nasia) Houvarda is a healing art practitioner, and she truly appreciates the kindness she’s experienced in her life.

In 2001, a devastating car accident tragically claimed the lives of two of Athanasia's friends and left her with life-threatening and life-changing injuries. In the face of immense hardship, she initially felt defeated. But the unwavering support of her family, friends, and the burn community provided her with the strength she needed. Their kindness and love created a sense of belonging that became the foundation for her recovery.

Travelling this rough road of healing, Athanasia discovered the therapeutic power of art, and found solace in its captivating embrace. Through this creative form of therapy, she gradually regained her sense of identity and reinvented her life. 

Driven by a strong desire to make a difference, she shares her story with audiences across various countries, advocating for safe driving to prevent others from enduring the pain and suffering her family endured.

Beyond sharing her story, Athanasia also guides the audience on a mindfulness journey, helping them navigate stress and anxiety alongside her. Her empathetic approach is rooted in understanding the transformative potential of art as a catalyst for healing and personal growth.
Athanasia creates a safe and inclusive space, bringing together the participants, aiming to inspire positive change and cultivate a profound sense of belonging.
Responsive Image

Carin Mullen

Carin has over 25 years experience in management and customer relations. Carin has been recently promoted to manage Key Clients specifically in the government, municipal and post-secondary sectors at Homewood Health. Many find Carin to be a great listener and a natural conversationalist with a positive personality.
Responsive Image
Responsive Image

Interval House - Be More Than a Bystander

Maddie Brockbank is the Manager of Gender-Based Violence Prevention Training at Interval House of Hamilton and is responsible for overseeing public education initiatives, community partnerships, and training content. Complementing her work at IHOH, Maddie is also a Ph.D. Candidate and Vanier Scholar in the School of Social Work at McMaster University, where she studies gender-based and sexual violence prevention with men and boys.
 
Liza Ritchie is the Director of Programs and Services at Interval House of Hamilton. Liza is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of programs and services at the agency, with a special focus on delivering prevention-based programming that seeks to end gender-based violence (GBV). Liza's work on MentorAction engages a range of workplaces and communities to raise awareness about GBV and learn skills to safely intervene and prevent violence.  



Responsive Image

James Herman

James Herman has had extensive experience helping working people who have been injured at work. He took his first case as a volunteer in 1977 and won for a student worker who had no union and no representative. At the time he was on the executive of the KW and District Labour Council.

James was the second ever union representative in the province of Ontario who specialized in workplace injuries. He has been on staff of both public and private sector unions. As well as the Office of the Worker Adviser where he served as Chair of its Training Committee.

James was working for the NDP Compensation Critic when they forced the government of the day to found the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. as well as other legislation benefiting workers.

James was appointed by the Chair of the WCB (former name of WSIB) to coordinate The Chairman’s Taskforce on Service Delivery and Vocational Rehabilitation. Following the completion of the Task Force he accompanied the Chair of the Board around the province of Ontario talking to Unions and Employers around the issue of Return to Work. The result of this tour eventually evolved into legislating need for Return-to-Work Plans that we have today and the legislated need for both employers and workers to cooperate in return to work after an injury.

CUSW was formed in 1999. Since the early days of the Union James Herman has been the WSIB mentor, trainer and sometimes representative for CUSW.
Responsive Image
The Master of Ceremonies for this year’s conference will be no other than “Man on a Mission” – Dan Plexman. Dan is an extraordinary average guy whose life changed forever when he was involved in a preventable workplace accident. He received 3rd to 6th degree burns at 60% of his body while operating a manlift near live powerlines. The doctors gave him a 13% chance of survival and were also making surgical plans to amputate both his arms above the shoulder.

Miraculously, Dan beat the odds! He survived and kept both his arms. Victoriously, 14 years later he won the 2022 International Federation of Arm-wrestling World Championships in France, in both arms!

Thanks to the invaluable partnership and support from his brothers and sisters at the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW), he is proud to represent Team Canada and defend his World Championship title at the 2023 International Federation of Arm-wrestling World Championships this September in Malaysia.

According to Dan, the CUSW community is very similar to the burn survivor community and the arm-wrestling community. All 3 communities have helped him learn the value of kindness and to always try to be a better person.
Attention all Health & Safety Reps:

Register and Reserve your Room for the 2022 Health, Safety and Wellness Conference! 

WHERE:  Crown Plaza Fallsview - Niagara Falls, Ontario
                       
WHO:  All CUSW Health and Safety Representatives are invited to attend a 2 day in-person Conference.

WHEN: Wednesday November 16th – Thursday November 17th 2022
 
This year our Conference Theme is ‘5 Minutes of Empathy – Improving our Mental Health’. Health and Safety means both physical and mental.
  • Guest Speakers on WSIB, PSBT, Workplace Mental Health
  • Break Outs for Wellness Sessions
  • The opportunity to meet and connect with fellow Health and Safety Reps!

Schedule:

Wednesday
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner (Buffet)
  • Guest Speakers and Activities (9-4)
  • Dinner – on your own
Thursday
  • Breakfast and lunch (Buffet)
  • Speakers, discussions, and activities

We are excited to announce that this year's Health Safety & Wellness Conference will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 10, 2021, from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM. The theme of the 2021 event is Lockdown our CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Culture.

To download the 2021 HSW Conference PDF, visit this link. 

Sneak peek at your HSW Conference "lobby"! 

Responsive Image

What can you expect:

  • An accessible, professional and organized digital experience
  • Quality content via presentations that are both informative and engaging, and include the opportunity for Q&A.
  • Relevant speakers, who are subject matter experts in the field of Health, Safety and Wellness.
  • A post-event "experience box" for attendees (don't forget to provide your t-shirt size in the registration form).
  • And much, much more!

We are delighted to share that our experienced guest speakers will be:

Beverly Beuermann-King, Resiliency and Wellness Strategist

Beverly is a recognized resiliency and wellness strategist who synthesizes the latest health and wellness research into more practical and achievable best practices. For 20 years, Beverly has worked with people, who want to control their reactions to stress, build resiliency against life's challenges and live healthy, successful lives.

Click here to learn more about Beverly »

Responsive Image

Dan Plexman, International Professional Workplace Safety Expert

While Dan Plexman was working as a CUSW electrical apprentice, he survived a horrific workplace accident. Today, Dan is your average guy on a mission to keep workers safe! He speaks from a depth of experience few know when he stresses: Plan & Prepare. Prevent & Protect.

Click here to hear CUSW Members' honest and moving feedback after attending Dan Plexman's presentation Man on a Mission. 

Responsive Image

James Herman, CUSW Workplace Mentor

How can we find win-win situations for members who are injured and cannot return to the same job or cannot work a full shift? An employer has a responsibility; it's the law to provide safe and suitable work.  With constructive communication between the employer and the member, the workplace gets back a valuable employee, and the member can safely return to meaningful employment.

Click here to view a short interview with James Herman »

Responsive Image

We are excited to announce that this year's Health Safety & Wellness Conference will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 10, 2021, from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM. The theme of the 2021 event is Lockdown our CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Culture.

To download the 2021 HSW Conference PDF, visit this link.