Over the past year, the council was honoured to contribute to the realization of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) system’s vision of protecting and promoting the health, safety, mental health, and wellbeing of workers across the province. We were able to capitalize on the OHS expertise of our members to streamline our strategic advice and feedback to the Minister and the Chief Prevention Officer on the implementation of innovative, comprehensive, and evidence-based initiatives across the system. We also continue to advise the ministry on the new strategy and the OHS system’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic.

The past year has also been a year of renewal for the council — new council members were appointed by the Minister, a new chair was elected, and new outreach efforts were initiated. We intend to build on this momentum in the year ahead by collaborating with the ministry to improve the Occupational Health and Safety system’s effectiveness in the areas of health and safety training, the internal responsibility system and joint health and safety committees, tower cranes review and recommendations, occupational disease prevention, infection prevention and control, and supports for small business. We also intend to expand our outreach to OHS system partners, OHS advisory committees, workers, employers, and the public.

The work of the OHS system will be even more vital as Ontario’s workers and employers grapple with the unprecedented effects of COVID‑19. We are confident that the ministry and system partners are up for the challenge and we are committed to working with them as we strive to make Ontario’s workplaces the healthiest and safest in the world.

We would be remiss without also announcing, with profound sadness, the passing of Prevention Council member Frank Saunders. Throughout his career, Frank held positions with Ontario Hydro, McMaster University and Bruce Power. But even in retirement, he continued to give of his time as a member of the Nuclear Innovation Institute Board, as the lead for New Technology Development at Bruce Power, and as a Prevention Council member.

It was an honour to work with Frank. He will be missed.

Prevention Council members, 2019-20

  • Blair Allin
    National Health and Safety Representative, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
  • Dan Bonnar
    Firefighter, Ontario Professional Firefighters Association
  • Patrick Bourgeois (Vice-Chair)
    Construction Manager, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC
  • John Bourke
    Business Manager/Financial Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • Michael Dauncey
    Director Health and Safety Corporate, Mattamy Homes
  • Colin de Raaf
    Director of Training, CLAC
  • Daniel Fleming
    Manager, Training and Development GTA, NORCAT
  • Erin Oliver (Chair)
    Vice President of Health, Safety and Sustainability, Modern Niagara Group Inc.
  • Frank Saunders
    Vice President of Nuclear Oversight and Regulatory Affairs, Bruce Power
  • Patricia Pereira Janicas
    Director, Health & Safety, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.
  • Peter Rowe
    Director, Chair of the Regulatory Committee, Ontario Petroleum Institute Inc.
  • James St. John
    Business Manager/Financial Secretary, Central Ontario Building Trades
  • Roger Tickner
    President, Tickner and Associates Inc.
  • Susanna Zagar
    Chief Strategy and Analytics Officer, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board