Workers Health & Safety Centre

WHSC 2018 high school scholarship competition now open

Graduates celebrate with their diplomas
Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) once again invites graduating high school students who are headed for post-secondary education to enter our student scholarship competition.
 
This contest is primarily designed to help raise awareness among this group of new and young workers of key occupational health and safety rights, responsibilities and principles. It also aims to help dispel the myth that careless worker behaviours cause traumatic fatalities and injuries, or the significant incidence of occupational disease.
 
“At the root of this unacceptable suffering are uncontrolled workplace hazards,” explains Dave Killham, WHSC executive director. “The suffering stops when employers act upon their significant obligations for protecting workers from hazards, including the provision of effective training so workers and other workplace parties are better prepared to participate in hazard prevention programs in a meaningful way.”
 
As in past years, students responding to the 18th annual WHSC Student Scholarship Contest are asked to write an essay answering a question related to a key health and safety concern. This year’s question asks:In your estimation what does effective training look like and what are the best ways to ensure workers and other workplace parties get the training they need?” 
 
In addition to the essay though, this year’s contest also invites each participating student to share something of their contributions to the quality of life in their school and community, both in their own words and in a letter of recommendation from a teacher, other educator or representative of a community organization.

New Memorial Scholarships

Top submissions will be awarded scholarships for their post-secondary education. Among these scholarships are two new scholarships of $2,000 each. WHSC has created them to honour the memory of WHSC founder, Clifford Pilkey and long-serving WHSC board member, Fred Upshaw.
 
Clifford Pilkey was elected president of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) in 1976 serving until his retirement in 1986. As OFL president he used his considerable talents, influence and credibility to convince the government to fund a central worker health and safety training project that would eventually become the WHSC. He served as president of the WHSC Board from 1985 to 2000 and president emeritus from 2000 to 2009.

Fred Upshaw was elected president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) in 1990, becoming the first African-Canadian to lead a major labour union in Canada. Under his watch as president, OPSEU implemented a significant social justice agenda. In 1992, Fred joined the WHSC Board of Directors, eventually participating on the finance and executive committees.
 
“From their early years as trade unionists, Clifford and Fred were fearless champions of workers’ rights, human rights, women’s rights, social equity and last but certainly not least, worker health and safety,” says Killham.
“These scholarships are but a small gesture in recognition of the enormous contributions Clifford and Fred made.”
 
In addition to the two memorial scholarships, up to three additional scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to students whose submissions merit recognition.
 
Submissions are due no later than Friday, June 8, 2018, 4:00 pm. Those responding should read the scholarship rules and application form very carefully.
 
Winners will be announced in fall 2018 through various WHSC media channels.
 
Also be sure to visit our web site for information on bursary opportunities at Ontario universities. These bursaries honour the memory of the late labour leader, Wally Majesky.
  
Please note: No portion of WHSC revenues or grants from the Ministry of Labour support student scholarships and bursaries. WHSC contributions to these important initiatives are financed solely through funds raised at the Clifford Pilkey Memorial Golf Fundraiser.
 
For more than 30 years, WHSC training has delivered hazard-based, prevention-focused training to workplaces in all sectors of the economy. Further, WHSC offers several information resources including a number aimed at new and young workers .
 
To learn more:
Call:   1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak with a training services representative
Visit:   www.whsc.on.ca
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca