NORTH BAY, ON – An Ontario health and safety association accustomed to handing out its own provincial health and safety awards now boasts one of its own from Excellence Canada, a national authority on organizational excellence established by Industry Canada. The award recognizes outstanding achievements by organizations in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, from coast-to-coast across Canada.
Workplace Safety North (WSN) was announced the gold winner of the Canada Award for Excellence in the Healthy Workplace category, and on November 5, WSN staff accepted the award at a ceremony in Toronto.
“Workplace Safety North is honoured to receive this award,” says Cindy Hunter, WSN Strategic and Marketing Communications Director. “It’s especially relevant for a health and safety association and it shows how WSN staff have demonstrated how to make health and safety – both physical and psychological – a cornerstone of company culture.”
As one of the four designated health and safety associations in Ontario, WSN provides its member firms with expert advice and information, classroom and online training programs, on-site consultations, health and safety audits, industrial hygiene testing, ergonomic assessments, and specific problem-solving. With approximately 70 employees, WSN is headquartered in North Bay with an additional office in Sudbury and field staff located across the province. WSN and its legacy organizations have been helping make Ontario workplaces safer for nearly 100 years.
“Right across the province, WSN staff do an awesome job,” says Hunter. “They’re dedicated, caring professionals who work hard to help ensure Ontario workers come home safe and healthy at the end of each work day. This award is a reflection of their dedication and we are very proud.”
This is the second award for WSN, having won silver in the same category in 2016.
The Healthy Workplace award is based on Excellence Canada’s Canadian Healthy Workplace Standard which was developed in partnership with Health Canada and in association with professionals from the health and wellness sectors.
As a national authority, Excellence Canada provides excellence frameworks, standards, and independent verification and certification to organizations of all sizes and in all sectors. It is also the custodian and adjudicator of the Canada Awards for Excellence program, of which the patron is the Governor General of Canada.