2026 Program
Building on Momentum
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- May 7, 2026
- Hilton Markham Suites, Ontario
Morning Program
Conference Agenda
A full day of inspiring sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Opening Address
Government Leadership Remarks on Workplace Safety
Premier Doug Ford (Invited)
Minister, MLITSD (Invited)
Mayor Frank Scarpitti (Invited)
Logan Kanapathi (Invited)
Session Partners
Government of Ontario & The City of Markham
Plenary Session 1
Artificial Intelligence and Occupational Health & Safety
Followed by a roundtable with Dr. Peter Smith, Sabesh Kanagaretnam, and AI industry leaders
Session Partners
4S Consulting
Panel Discussion
Bill 30 – Working for Workers Act 7: Impact and Opportunities
Session Partners
MLITSD
Plenary Introduction
Introduction to WSIB Excellence Program Evaluation
Session Partners
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Plenary Session 2
Measuring the Effectiveness of the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence Program
Followed by a roundtable with Rod Cook (WSIB), Sobi Ragunathan, and other Industry Leaders
Session Partners
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board & 4S Consulting
Awards Presentation
4S Consulting Safety Recognition Awards
Session Partners
4S Consulting
LUNCH & NETWORKING
Take a break to connect with peers, speakers, and industry leaders while continuing conversations that drive safer workplaces forward.
RESEARCH GALLERY & Exhibitor area
Explore applied research, innovative solutions, and industry-leading tools designed to turn safety knowledge into real-world workplace impact.
Afternoon Program
Breakout Sessions
Digital Solutions for Small Business Safety
Presented by
WSIB and CCOHS (speakers to be confirmed shortly)
Session Partner
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
Designing the Safer Transit Bus: Innovation for Operator Health
Presented by
Centennial College Innovation Hub, Toronto Transit Commission, Amalgamated Transit Union
Session Partner
Centennial College, TTC, and ATU
Safety Compliance and Technology Solutions
Presented by
Michael Sherrard (Sherrard Kuzz LLP) & Sabesh Kanagaretnam (4S Consulting)
Session Partner
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Advancing Health, Safety and Wellness through Research and Innovation
Presented by
Dr. Amin Yazdani and Nicki Islic
Session Partner
Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance
WSIB Mental Stress Injury Strategy
Presented by
Julie Thurlow
Session Partner
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Research and Tools to Reduce Musculoskeletal Disorders
Presented by
Dr. Jack Callaghan and Research Team
Session Partner
University of Waterloo – CRE-MSD
Closing Remarks
A brief wrap-up highlighting key takeaways and next steps for advancing workplace safety beyond the event.
VIP Reception
An exclusive opportunity for speakers, sponsors, and invited guests to connect, unwind, and continue high-impact conversations in a more intimate setting.
- May 7, 2026
- Hilton Markham Suites, Ontario
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Designed for decision-makers, not spectators
The 2026 program is intentionally designed to deliver relevance, visibility, and real-world impact for sponsors and attendees alike:
- 2 Plenary Sessions: positioning Ontario’s prevention outcomes challenge within current regulatory and employer realities
- Panel Discussions: bringing together research leaders, policymakers, and employers to explore implementation pathways, including Bill 30, COR, and ISO frameworks
- 6 Breakout Sessions: focused on adoption, system alignment, and overcoming barriers to putting evidence into practice
- Research Gallery: creating dialogues that surface emerging evidence through interactive discussion, not traditional lectures
- Networking Opportunities: breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks and a VIP reception to connect decision-makers across public, private, & academic sectors
Program and speaker announcements begin February 2026.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Voices shaping Ontario’s prevention system
Connect with the voices turning research, policy, and innovation into practical solutions that improve safety outcomes for workers and workplaces.
Rodney Cook
Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services at WSIB
Dr. Chris McLeod
Associate Professor and Director of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety at the University of British Columbia
Dr. Arif Jetha
Associate Scientific Director & Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health
Janet Mannella
Vice President, Operations at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Jules Arntz-Gray
Assistant Deputy Minister - Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division at Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Jonathan Hack
Dean, Centennial Innovates (Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at Centennial College
Dr. Jack P. Callaghan
Director of the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD)
Dr. Steven Fischer
Assistant Deputy Minister - Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division at Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Julie Thurlow
Vice President, Specialized Claims and Recovery Services at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Michael G. Sherrard
Partner at Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Steven Crombie
Senior Director Public Affairs at ORBA
+ Additional Industry Leaders
Come and join leaders, innovators, and experts behind the ideas shaping safer, healthier workplaces today and in the future.