CCOHS Forum 2026 Explores New and Emerging Risks Affecting Workplaces

Press Release

From: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Explore today’s biggest health and safety challenges including artificial intelligence, innovation and the future of work, and mental health.

June 17, 2026

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is bringing people together from across the country for Forum 2026: The Changing World of Work. This two-day national event will take place on October 28 and 29 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Forum 2026 is more than a conference. It is an opportunity for leaders, safety professionals, workers, employers, and government representatives to come together and talk about how work is changing, and how that can impact health and safety in Canadian workplaces.

Over two full days, experts from diverse backgrounds will share their stories and offer forward-thinking ideas that organizations can use in their workplace. Participants can look forward to thoughtful insights from the following speakers:

• Lee Jeyes, business futurist and Head of Innovation and Change at Waitrose & Partners, will challenge current thinking on innovation and share practical insights for moving ideas forward and driving change. Drawing on his extensive professional experience, Lee will offer strategies and tools to effectively execute ideas and navigate change in large and complex organizations.
• Alan Doyle, musician, actor and best-selling author, will offer essential life lessons on how to be open to opportunities and cultivate a mindset for excellence.
• Mary Ann Baynton, psychological health and safety expert, will discuss what the evolution of psychosocial hazards from values-based conversations to operational risk management means for your workplace.
• Janet MacEachern, CEO of the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), will explore national injury trends and emerging risks, and how to support evidence-informed prevention discussions.
• Dr. Arif Jetha, Associate Scientific Director and Scientist, Institute for Work & Health (IWH), explores the future of work and health, anticipating what is on the horizon for occupational health and safety. Discussing findings from an international scan, Arif will highlight emerging risks to worker health and safety, prompting workplaces to consider proactive health and safety strategies for the future of work.

A highlight of the event will be the Innovation Showcase, featuring free programs, tools, and resources to help workplaces foster safer, healthier, and more supportive environments. It’s a hands-on opportunity for attendees to discover solutions they can bring back to their own organizations.

Forum 2026 promises to be an engaging, forward-looking event focused on practical solutions and meaningful change. As the world of work continues to evolve, this gathering will help shape a safer and healthier future for workers in Canada.

More information about the program, speakers, and how to register is available at www.ccohs.ca/forum.

Quotes

“Workplaces today are changing faster than ever, but our responsibility to protect the people behind every job remains constant. Forum provides an opportunity for Canadians to come together to share knowledge and strengthen our collective commitment to safer, healthier and more supportive workplaces where everyone can thrive.”

– Anne Tennier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)

Quick facts

• A discounted registration rate is available until June 26, 2026.
• 97% of Forum 2025 attendees were satisfied with the knowledge and enrichment gained from the event, 89% said they would apply what they learned to their workplace, and 94% would attend a future Forum event.
• The program is still in development with more speakers to be announced.
• Now in its ninth edition, this national forum is held approximately every two years, with the location rotating around the country.
• CCOHS is governed by a tripartite council of governors and is Canada’s trusted source for the advancement of workplace health and safety and promotes the total well-being – physical, psychosocial, and mental health – of working people in Canada.

Contacts

For more information (media only):

Jennifer Howse
Senior Communications Specialist
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
(289) 442-4057
media@ccohs.ca
www.ccohs.ca

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