Author: denise

National Restructuring Update – February 2026

denise

COHNA-ACIIST currently consists of provincial associations, each with individual members who are deemed COHNA-ACIIST members.

In 2024:

  • We began conversations around how best to structure/restructure for a sustainable future and to ensure that OHN’s remain a specialty practice with a voice for OHN’s across the country.
  • A membership survey was carried out to provide direction for a path forward.

The survey results and current landscape made it clear that something needed to change. Over the last two years, 2 of the largest provincial OHN associations in Canada dissolved, with their members grandfathered/directed into other more broad associations. There are currently only 2 active provincial OHN associations.

COHNA-ACIIST decided to move towards individual memberships.

In 2025:

  • A Restructure Committee was formed and engaged with a consultant to create a proposal for going forward.
  • New Bylaws were drafted and submitted to a legal firm for review to ensure they complied with the CNCA (Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act).
  • Membership and Leadership Committees were stricken to build/update the foundations needed for the new structure.
  • Membership and Leadership Terms of Reference/Policies were drafted.
  • We began testing a new membership platform, TidyHQ.
  • A new Intro to Occupational Health Nursing video was completed and has been posted on COHNA-ACIIST’s website and shared with OHN programs.

In 2026:

  • We will be meeting with CNA to discuss the OHN certification exam.
  • We need to finalize the policies and bylaws, which are 90% completed.
  • The Board must vote to accept the new Bylaws; our next meeting is on February 18.
  • A meeting notice will be sent to all current members (individual members of our provincial associations, including those with the AOHNA at dissolution.)
  • At the meeting of members, we will vote on a resolution to file articles of amendment and accept the change of bylaws, which will allow for individual membership.
  • If the resolution passes, OHNs will be invited to join COHNA-ACIIST as individual members.
  • An AGM will be called for June, when a new Board will be elected.

Completing due diligence with a fully volunteer board, most with full-time jobs, has taken us further into 2026 than we had hoped. But we are committed to completing this within the first quarter.

The new Board will consist of 3-15 directors, with a goal to have representation from across Canada. We hope you will consider joining us as an individual member and/or a director as we strengthen our national voice and commit ourselves to both survive and thrive in coming years.

Juanita House

Juanita House RN,BN,OHNc,COHNc,LNC
President, COHNA-ACIIST

New WorkSafeBC research grant opportunities now open

denise

Do you have a research idea that could improve workplace health and safety? We are pleased to announce new grant opportunities are now open to workers, employers, students, academic researchers, and others who are interested in conducting research related to our research priorities and improving workplace health and safety.

Research Training Awards

Applications due: January 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to master’s and doctoral students, including international students, in B.C.

Research Training Awards foster the development of OHS and work disability research among graduate students in B.C. These awards support the training of new researchers today who will be able to answer the critical research questions of tomorrow.

Master’s students receive $22,500 for one year and doctoral students receive $40,000 per year for two years. Recipients can apply to renew their award for an additional year. 

Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications due: January 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to doctoral graduates who have completed their PhD within the last four years and are currently holding a postdoctoral position at a Canadian university or research institution

Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to foster the development of OHS and work disability research in B.C. and Canada through supporting doctoral graduates who are training for careers as academic researchers.

Awards are $50,000 per year for two years. Recipients can apply to renew their award for an additional year.

Applied Innovation

Applications due: January 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Any Canadian resident may apply

Applied Innovation awards support small-scale, shop-floor research projects that lead to the development of practical knowledge and solutions that can be implemented in the workplace. These projects build on existing knowledge and technologies and apply them in innovative ways.

Grants are up to $50,000 for a duration of one year.

Proof of Principle and Prototyping

Applications due: January 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Any Canadian resident may apply

Proof of Principle and Prototyping awards are dedicated to research that may lead to novel tools and technology that can be used in workplaces to improve health and safety or work disability. Projects must be in the early stages of development such as proof of principle or concept; analytic or laboratory studies; or validation of concepts, tools, and technology.

Grants are up to $100,000 total for a duration of two years.

Exploratory Research

Applications due: January 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to academic researchers based in (or formally affiliated with) a Canadian university or a Canadian research institution

Exploratory Research awards support exploration of occupational health and safety and work disability challenges through a new lens, bringing together non-traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary teams. These grants are for high-risk/high-reward research that investigates new areas of scientific inquiry and challenge current paradigms.

Grants are up to $125,000 per year, for a duration of two years.

Learn more

Visit our website and apply today. We encourage applicants to reach out to Research Services by email at resquery@worksafebc.com with any questions about the application process or to discuss research ideas.

Please feel free to share this information with your networks and encourage them to apply.

Thank you,

Research Services
Strategic Research

WorkSafeBC 

6951 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC
worksafebc.com 

Managing psychological health and safety in the workplace is as important as managing physical health and safety. Spot and prevent psychological harm like bullying, harassment, and threats of violence. Learn more at worksafebc.com/psych-health-safety.

National Restructuring Update

denise

Memo from the desk of the COHNA-ACIIST President, Juanita House

I hope this finds everyone well and that you all had a wonderful summer.

COHNA-ACIIST board members have been hard at work, and I wanted to provide an update to our members as to the status of our organizational restructuring.

As you are aware, COHNA-ACIIST has immediate and longer-term challenges:

  • The immediate challenge is a structural one. How can the profession match available resources with a structure to ensure there is some form of national organization(s) representing our profession?
  • The longer-term challenge is about provision of value. What can a restructured organization focus on and what activities can it undertake (within the resources available) to provide value to OHNs that will stabilize membership and attract new members?

We have coordinated our strategy to directly address these two challenges in the next 12-18 months, giving time for the organization to test a new value proposition once it has completed its restructuring. We will be moving to individual membership nationally.

The challenge is to provide a representative national board WHILE ensuring that, where there are significant numbers of members, those numbers are reflected in board seats.

New Board Composition

The Board shall include at least one (1) director from each of the following regions: 

  1. Atlantic Canada (NL, NS, PE, NB)
  2. Central Canada (QC, ON)
  3. Prairies (MB, SK)
  4. Western (AB, BC, Territories)

And up to seven (7) additional directors elected at large.

Changes to Officers of COHNA-ACIIST Executive

The Secretary and Treasurer were in one role and will now be separated. There will be more demands on both roles with the planned changes, so we want to ensure volunteers in these positions have less demands on their time.

  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

Current Status

Our new bylaws are currently with a non-profit law firm for due diligence review to ensure that the changes and restructuring comply with non-profit legislation and regulations.

We anticipate in the next board meeting October 22,2025, we will be getting down to doing the hard work of updating policy, processes, and general documents impacted by the by-law changes, including membership levels and fees, and the transition from the current provincial structure.

How Can You Stay Involved?

  • Consider volunteering in one of the new directorships or executive positions.
  • Continue to support COHNA-ACIIST with active membership.
  • Support education webinars that are offered at a nominal fee.

COHNA-ACIIST is committed to remain your national voice and our executive and provincial representatives remain committed to see we survive and thrive in coming years.

Thank you for your time.

Juanita

Choosing Wisely Canada

denise

Choosing Wisely Canada is the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in Canada.

Unnecessary tests and treatments expose patients to potential harm, consume precious health care resources, and contribute to the climate crisis.

Choosing Wisely Canada works with national clinician societies to identify and develop recommendations on frequently overused tests and treatments that do not add value to patient care. It mobilizes health care providers and their organizations to adopt the recommendations and make them part of routine practice.

Nurses are at the forefront of this national voice.

Home

Talking About Suicide: Empowering Healthcare Providers, Instilling Hope in Clients

denise

Accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Today in Canada, 13 people will die by suicide.

At least six of those people — nearly half — will have seen their primary care provider in the four weeks before their death. As we mark World Suicide Prevention Day, we have the power to change this narrative.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has teamed up with CHA Learning, the professional development division of HealthCareCAN, to equip health-care providers with the confidence and skills to open the door on difficult — but potentially life-saving —   conversations.

The revamped training, Talking About Suicide: Empowering Healthcare Providers, Instilling Hope in Clients, is a free, self-directed e-course that takes between three and four hours to complete. It is accredited for family physicians and nurses but designed to be helpful to allied health professionals as well.

Talking About Suicide walks participants through everything from understanding suicide and its complex causes to practical interventions and appropriate language to use.

The training helps health-care providers:

  • move beyond fear to have direct, confident conversations
  • create a trusted connection, even when short on time
  • identify and explore suicide risk factors and warning signs
  • tailor responses to individual needs and circumstances
  • collaborate on a safety plan with practical tools
  • reduce stigma and promote hope and recovery

Register today!

OCRC Report: Burden of occupational cancer in Canada – Major workplace carcinogens and prevention of exposure

denise

Canadian workers are exposed to more than 13 occupational carcinogens causing approximately 10,000 cancers each year. Occupational Health Nurses are an essential part of exposure reduction strategies, and health surveillance in Canadian workplaces.

Here are the top four Occupational Carcinogens and how they impact Canadian workers.

  1. Solar Radiation
    • 1.4 million workers exposed
    • 4,600 non-melanoma skin cancers per year
  2. Asbestos
    • 150,000 workers exposed
    • 1,900 Lung Cancers
    • 430 Mesotheliomas
    • 45 Laryngeal Cancers
    • 15 Ovarian Cancers
  3. Diesel Engine Exhaust
    • 897,000 workers exposed
    • 560 Lung Cancers
    • 200 Bladder Cancers
  4. Crystalline Silica
    • 382,000 workers exposed
    • 570 Lung Cancers

Learn more about Occupational Cancers on the OCRC website.

PHAC Stakeholder Newsletter – Updated Resources

denise

We are sharing a number of new and updated resources that are now available on our website (Canada.ca) as well as federal partner websites for the public and health professionals. Your organization may be interested in the following:

Antimicrobial Resistance

Disease Updates

Health Promotion and Consumer Safety

Mental Health

Substance Use

Travel Updates

We will be highlighting our new materials and messaging across our social platforms (below), and encourage you to share and amplify within your networks as appropriate.

ENGLISH
Facebook: Healthy Canadians
Facebook: Travel Advice from the Government of Canada
X (formerly Twitter) : @TravelGoC
X (formerly Twitter) : @GovCanHealth
X (formerly Twitter) : @CPHO_Canada
 LinkedIn: Public Health Agency of Canada

Email address: engagement@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Provide feedback on Health Canada’s draft Critical and Vulnerable Drug List / Fournir des commentaires sur l’ébauche de la Liste des drogues essentielles et vulnérables de Santé Canada

denise

(La version française suit)  

Proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Food and Drugs Act (Shortages and Discontinuation of Sale of Drugs and Medical Devices) were published in Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 158, Number 52 for consultation on December 28, 2024. https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2024/2024-12-28/html/reg1-eng.html

The objective of the proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and Medical Devices Regulations is to better protect people in Canada from the harms posed by certain health product shortages. 

Interested parties are encouraged to click on the following link to learn more about the consultation, including how to participate and provide feedback:  

Consultation on proposed amendments to regulations to address health product shortages in Canada

As part of the consultation, Health Canada is seeking stakeholder feedback on a draft Critical and Vulnerable Drug List (CVDL) and the methodology for creating it. The list will help drug shortage stakeholders focus their actions and resources on the drugs that are the most likely to cause harm if they go into shortage.

To provide feedback on the CVDL, please review the CVDL consultation page and complete the questionnaire at the following links:

Consultation on the draft Critical and Vulnerable Drug List – Canada.ca.

CVDL questionnaire

The consultation is open until March 8, 2025.  

*****************

Les Règlements modifiant certains règlements pris en vertu de la Loi sur les aliments et drogues (pénuries et cessation de vente de drogues et d’instruments médicaux) proposé a été publié dans la Partie I de la Gazette du Canada, Volume 158, Numéro 52 pour consultation le 28 décembre 2024.  https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2024/2024-12-28/html/reg1-fra.html

L’objectif des modifications proposées au Règlement sur les aliments et drogues et au Règlement sur les instruments médicaux est de mieux protéger les personnes qui vivent au Canada des préjudices posés par certaines pénuries de produits de santé.   

 Les parties intéressées sont encouragées à cliquer sur le lien suivant pour en apprendre davantage sur la consultation, y compris comment participer et fournir vos commentaires:   

Consultation sur les modifications proposées à la réglementation pour remédier aux pénuries de produits de santé au Canada

Dans le cadre de la consultation, Santé Canada sollicite la rétroaction des intervenants sur une ébauche de Liste des drogues essentielles et vulnérables (LDEV) et sur la méthodologie utilisée pour sa création.

La liste aidera les intervenants en matière de pénurie de drogues à concentrer leurs interventions et leurs ressources sur les drogues les plus susceptibles d’entraîner un préjudice en cas de pénurie.

Pour fournir des commentaires sur la LDEV, veuillez consulter la page de consultation de la LDEV et remplir le questionnaire aux liens suivants:

Consultation sur l’ébauche de la Liste des drogues essentielles et vulnérables – Canada.ca

Questionnaire de la LDEV

La consultation est ouverte jusqu’au 8 mars 2025.  

Apply today! New WorkSafeBC research grant opportunities now open

denise

Do you have a research idea that could improve workplace health and safety? We are pleased to announce new grant opportunities are now open to workers, employers, students, academic researchers, and others who are interested in conducting research related to our research priorities and improving workplace health and safety.

Research Training Awards

Applications due: January 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to master’s and doctoral students, including international students, in B.C.

  • Designed to foster the development of OHS and work disability research among graduate students in B.C. These awards support the training of new researchers today who will be able to answer the critical research questions of tomorrow.
  • Master’s students receive $22,500 for one year and doctoral students receive $40,000 per year for two years. Recipients can apply to renew their award for an additional year. 

Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications due: January 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to recent doctoral graduates (must have completed their PhD within the last four years) holding a postdoctoral position at a Canadian university or research institution.

  • Designed to foster the development of OHS and work disability research in B.C. and Canada through supporting doctoral graduates who are training for careers as academic researchers.
  • Awards are $50,000 per year for two years. Recipients can apply to renew their award for an additional year.

Applied Innovation

Applications due: January 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Any Canadian resident may apply.

  • Supports small-scale, shop-floor research projects that lead to the development of practical knowledge and solutions that can be implemented in the workplace. These projects build on existing knowledge and technologies and apply them in innovative ways.
  • Grants are up to $50,000 for a duration of one year.

Proof of Principle and Prototyping

Applications due: January 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Any Canadian resident may apply.

  • Dedicated to research that may lead to novel tools and technology that can be used in workplaces to improve health and safety or work disability. Projects must be in the early stages of development such as proof of principle or concept; analytic or laboratory studies; or validation of concepts, tools, and technology.
  • Grants are up to $100,000 total for a duration of two years.

Exploratory Research

Applications due: January 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. PST

Open to academic researchers based in (or formally affiliated with) a Canadian university or a Canadian research institution.

  • Supports exploration of occupational health and safety and work disability challenges through a new lens, bringing together non-traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary teams. These grants are for high-risk/high-reward research that investigate new areas of scientific inquiry and challenge current paradigms.
  • Grants are up to $125,000 per year, for a duration of two years.

Learn more

Visit their website and apply today. We encourage applicants to reach out to Research Services by email at resquery@worksafebc.com with any questions about the application process or to discuss research ideas.

PHAC Stakeholder Newsletter – Updated Resources

denise

We are sharing a number of new and updated resources that are now available on our website (Canada.ca) as well as federal partner websites for the public and health professionals. Your organization may be interested in the following:

October

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

Disease Updates

Health Equity

Health Promotion and Consumer Safety

Travel Updates

We will be highlighting our new materials and messaging across our social platforms (below), and encourage you to share and amplify within your networks as appropriate.

ENGLISH
Facebook: Healthy Canadians
Facebook: Travel Advice from the Government of Canada
X (formerly Twitter) : @TravelGoC
X (formerly Twitter) : @GovCanHealth
X (formerly Twitter) : @CPHO_Canada
 LinkedIn: Public Health Agency of Canada

Email address: engagement@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Sincerely,
Strategic Engagement Directorate
Strategic Policy Branch  
Public Health Agency of Canada 

Nous partageons avec vous un certain nombre de nouvelles ressources et de ressources mises à jour qui sont maintenant disponibles sur notre site web (Canada.ca) ainsi que sur les sites des partenaires fédéraux pour le public et les professionnels de la santé. Votre organisation peut être intéressé pas les éléments suivants :

Octobre

Mois de la sensibilisation au cancer du sein

Semaine de sensibilisation aux maladies mentales et Journée mondiale de la santé mentale

Journée mondiale des soins palliatifs

Mises à jour sur les maladies

L’équité en santé

Promotion de la santé et sécurité des consommateurs

Mises à jour sur les voyages

Nous mettrons en évidence nos nouveaux supports et messages sur nos réseaux sociaux (ci-dessous), et nous vous encourageons à les partager et amplifier au sein de vos réseaux, comme il convient.  

FRANÇAIS
Facebook : Canadiens en santé
Facebook : Conseils du gouvernement du Canada à l’intention des voyageurs
X (précédemment Twitter) : @VoyageGdC
X (précédemment Twitter) : @GouvCanSante
X (précédemment Twitter)  : @ACSP_Canada
LinkedIn : Agence de la santé publique du Canada

L’adresse de courriel : engagement@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Sincèrement,
Direction de la mobilisation stratégique
Direction générale de la politique stratégique  
Agence de la santé publique du Canada