2026 Program
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- May 7, 2026
- Hilton Markham Suites, Ontario
Research & Innovation Gallery
Showcasing Measurable Impact in Health & Safety
The New Horizons 2026 Research & Innovation Gallery is a curated showcase of applied research, practical innovation, and measurable outcomes that are shaping the future of health and safety.
Aligned with our 2026 theme — From Outputs to Outcomes — the Gallery highlights work that moves beyond theory and demonstrates meaningful, real-world impact across workplaces, systems, and communities.
If you are advancing safety through research, innovation, policy, or practice — we invite you to share your work with a national audience of leaders, practitioners, and decision-makers.
Contribute to the future of safety:
OVERVIEW
The Research & Innovation Gallery provides a professional, high-visibility platform within New Horizons 2026 for selected presenters to share their work and engage directly with conference attendees.
The Gallery is designed to foster dialogue, knowledge translation, and collaboration between researchers, practitioners, policy leaders, and industry partners.
We welcome submissions that contribute to advancing health and safety outcomes in measurable, meaningful ways.
Themes & Scope
We encourage submissions addressing, but not limited to:
Occupational Health & Worker Safety
- Injury prevention
- Exposure control
- Ergonomics
- Psychological health and safety
- Safety culture
Patient & Client Safety
- Incident prevention
- Quality improvement
- Infection prevention and control
- Safe medication practices
System-Level Safety Innovations
- Digital tools and decision supports
- Automation
- Policy or regulatory innovation
- New models of service delivery
Education & Training Innovations
- Programs strengthening safety competencies
- Behaviour-based safety initiatives
- Knowledge translation into workplace practice
Submissions may include completed research, quality improvement initiatives, program evaluations, or innovative practices with measurable or clearly articulated outcomes.
- We are particularly interested in work that demonstrates impact — not just activity.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
Submissions are open to:
- Researchers
- Health and safety practitioners
- Students and trainees
- Community organizations
- Policy makers
To maintain the integrity of the Gallery:
- Work must be original or substantially updated. Encore presentations must be clearly identified.
- Projects involving human participants or identifiable data must indicate appropriate ethics approval or exemption.
- Submissions must be educational in nature. Purely promotional or commercial content will not be accepted.
If you are unsure whether your project aligns, we encourage you to submit — our review committee will evaluate fit.
Abstract Requirements
Abstracts must be submitted in English and include:
Title
Maximum 25 words
Author Information
Presenting author name, affiliation, and email. Co-authors and affiliations.
Structured Abstract
300-350 words maximum, including:
- Background and Objectives
- Methods / Approach
- Results / Outcomes (or expected results if ongoing)
- Conclusions / Implications for health and safety practice or policy
Keywords
3-5 keywords
Figures, tables, and references should not be included in the abstract text.
Selection & Participation
Review Process & What to Expect
Review & Selection Process
All abstracts will undergo blinded peer review by members of the Organizing Committee. Submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance to health and safety and the conference theme
- Originality and innovation
- Clarity and rigor of methods
- Strength and clarity of outcomes
- Significance and potential impact on practice, policy, or systems
Acceptance is competitive and subject to available gallery space. High-scoring abstracts may be invited for oral presentation during the Forum. Others will be selected for poster or digital presentation within the Gallery.
The Organizing Committee reserves the right to determine final presentation format.
Selected presenters will be notified by April 20, 2026.
Participation Fee
There is no fee to submit an abstract.
$200
for accepted submissions
Includes:
- One full conference registration for the presenting author
- Dedicated Gallery display space
- Inclusion in the official conference program
- On-site presentation support and promotional visibility
Payment is due upon notification of acceptance. Refundable until April 20, 2026.
Presenter Expectations
At least one author of each accepted abstract must:
- Register for the conference
- Be present during designated Gallery engagement periods
- Present and discuss their work with attendees
By submitting, authors agree to allow the conference to promote accepted work through program listings, digital communications, and event photography. Authors retain intellectual property rights.
Accessibility & Inclusion
New Horizons is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Detailed guidelines will be shared with accepted presenters to support:
- Clear and readable visual formatting
- Inclusive and accessible language
- Captioning for digital materials where applicable
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026
Notification: April 20, 2026
Conference: TBA 2026
Awards & Recognition
Practice in Safety Impact Award
One submission will be recognized with this prestigious award, honouring work that demonstrates excellence across key dimensions.
Award Criteria
Measurable safety outcomes
Strong translation from research into practice
Clear and meaningful impact on workplace health and safety systems
The recipient will be recognized during the Forum and featured in post-conference communications.
Submit Your Abstract
We welcome submissions from across sectors, disciplines, and industries.
If your work contributes to advancing measurable safety outcomes, we encourage you to apply.