2026 Workplace Health and Safety Conference - Participant Registration

The 2026 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.

View the conference poster and schedule.

Registration deadline is April 30, 2026

Originally from Australia and now residing in Vancouver, Michelle Ray is an award-winning leadership keynote speaker, entrepreneur, author and educator who advocates the importance of developing self-leadership skills, regardless of one’s title. She established her speaking, training and consulting business in 1995 and has since worked with many health and safety groups around the world, delivering her powerful messages on taking the lead, embracing change, building outstanding safety cultures and positive workplaces. Michelle was inducted into the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame in December 2021.

It Starts with You! How to Lead Yourself and Create a Strong Safety Culture

Leadership is not defined by title or position; it starts with character and self-leadership. How we manage our mindset, behaviour, and responses, especially under pressure, shapes the culture around us. Safety culture grows from everyday communication, trust, and the willingness to speak up. When people feel safe to raise concerns, awareness increases, engagement improves, and safety becomes a shared responsibility. In this energizing and practical keynote, you will gain simple, actionable tools to strengthen relationships, support psychological safety, and contribute to a workplace culture that values both physical safety and mental well-being, long after the conference ends.

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

Women at Work: Leaning On & Leveraging Allies

Women working in male-dominated industries often navigate challenges that go beyond technical skills, from credibility in the field to influence at the leadership table. Progress doesn’t happen alone. Strong networks and real allyship matter. This candid session explores how women can leverage support systems, how men can step forward as effective allies, and how organizations can build cultures where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Workshop Leader - Kaela Ballum, Health, Safety, and Environment Manager, Cavendish Farms

Safety Culture Starts on Day One: Orientation and Training Done Right

Worker orientation is essential for maintaining a safe workplace, meeting occupational health and safety requirements and building a strong safety culture. This session will outline the key elements of effective safety orientations for new employees. Participants will learn about OHS legislation, worker rights, supervisor responsibilities, the importance of accurate training records and practical strategies to strengthen orientation and training processes.

Workshop Leader – Jeremy MacEachern, Education Consultant, WCB of PEI

Resilience at Work: Supporting Mental Health in High-Risk Professions

Supporting mental health and resilience in high-risk professions is important. This session explores the factors that can affect wellbeing at work and emphasizes the value of early support, awareness and organizational commitment to safety. It highlights how creating supportive environments and proactive systems can strengthen workforce resilience and promote healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

Workshop Leader – Verna Ryan, Prevail PEI Mental Health Solutions

Claims Made Simple: Essentials for Employers and Workers

Navigating a WCB claim doesn’t need to be complicated. This session offers an overview of what happens after a work-related injury, from reporting and forms to decisions and return-to-work planning. Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of employers, workers, and of the WCB, along with common pitfalls that delay claims. Practical examples and tips will help employers support injured workers, stay organized and meet their legal and regulatory responsibilities with confidence from start to finish.

Workshop Leader – WCB Claims and Compensation team

Leading Safely: Key Responsibilities Every Supervisor Must Know

Supervisors play a central role in creating safe and healthy workplaces. This session outlines the key responsibilities supervisors must understand under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It will cover topics like hazard identification, training, supervision and responding to unsafe work. Participants will learn how to recognize early warning signs, document safety actions and support workers effectively. The session uses practical real-world examples to show what can happen when supervisors neglect their responsibilities. The session also highlights the benefits of strong leadership.

Workshop Leader – Michel Cyr, Manager of Investigations, WorkSafeNB

Reframing the 9-to-5: Creating Carer-Inclusive Workplaces

Canada’s demographics are shifting and today’s workforce reflects this change. Many workers now balance paid employment with unpaid caregiving responsibilities, like supporting aging parents, raising young children or contributing to their communities. Creating carer-inclusive workplaces, through flexible and supportive accommodations, can help workers thrive and strengthen organizational culture. Join the Centre for Canadian Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) to explore what carer-inclusive workplaces look like and the benefits they offer. The session will also include key considerations for integrating carer support into health and safety policies and programs nationwide.

Workshop Leader – Jan Chappel, Senior Technical Specialist, CCOHS

Beyond the Coffee and Doughnuts: Recipes for an Effective JOHS Committee

Move past the casual meet and greet and discover the key ingredients for a safety committee that truly makes a difference. This session serves up practical strategies, proven tools, and actionable steps to transform your committee into a proactive force for workplace safety. Learn how to mix member engagement, accountability, and results without the sugar coating.

Workshop Leader – David Powers, Corporate Safety Manager, J.D. Irving

Healthy Air, Healthy Spaces: Indoor Air Quality from a Regulator’s Perspective

Indoor air quality is essential for occupant health, comfort, and productivity. This session explores what constitutes good indoor air quality, how it is assessed, and common contaminants such as radon, mould, VOCs, and allergens. We’ll examine how occupant behavior, building design, and maintenance influence the air we breathe. Participants will also gain an understanding of PEI OHS legislation, technical guidance, and practical strategies that support healthier indoor environments.

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

It Gets Better

In this session, Lucas Arsenault shares his remarkable journey of surviving and rebuilding his life after a sudden, life-changing injury. Lucas will talk about what helped him regain stability, purpose, and confidence during recovery. Through honest reflection and practical insight, Lucas will show how progress is built slowly through mindset shifts, patience, and tiny wins that compound over time. His experience offers a grounded, realistic perspective on healing, resilience, and adapting to a new path forward.

Workshop Leader – Lucas Arsenault, National Kiteboarding Champion and Resilience Speaker

Deadline for registration is April 30, 2026.
Exhibitors, please click for trade show opportunities.

For more information about this year's conference, please contact the Conference Administrator at the Workers Compensation Board at [email protected] or 902-368-5697.

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Host or Publisher Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island