2023 Minerva Annual Report

• President’s Message
• An Update – Minerva’s New Courses in H&S Leadership
• Bluedrop Storefronts for Minerva online courses
• Minerva Webinar Series
• Minerva Learning Forum
• Minerva Student Awards
  • 2023 Rising Star
  • 2023 Minerva- CIAC Case Study Competition
• Conferences
  • BCRSP, Service Hospitality & CSSE
• Minerva Canada Recognition
  • CIAC Excellence in Partnership Award
• Recognition for Minerva Canada’s Volunteers
• Our Condolences
• New Corporate Address
• Meet our Minerva Board and Volunteers
• We Applaud our Sponsors and Partners

Be sure to check out our website!
www.safetymanagementeducation.com

I am very pleased with the progress that our Minerva family of volunteers and our many important partners achieved in advancing our Health and Safety educational program activities not only for post-secondary academia but also for employees and members within industry and professional associations. In particular, I’m extremely pleased with
the creation and partnerships established to run our first ever Minerva – CIAC case study competition along with the continued successes from our webinar and Rising Star awards programs.

Over the past year, we continued to focus our activities on;

1. Advancing the selection of modules and developing an implementation plan for two new leadership courses in Health and Safety focused for existing, new managers or Health and Safety practitioners. Once financing is secured, both courses will be developed and included with the new Minerva and CSSE storefronts created last year on Bluedrop’s Skills Pass platform.
2. Delivery of our annual webinar program in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada. Our 3 one-hour webinars last year were focused on Intentional Leadership through Culture, Safety and Innovation.
3. Successful implementation of our two-student awards program with our three partners – the Conference Board of Canada, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and Key Media’s Canada’s Safest Employer awards. This report identifies some of our new Health and Safety leaders from our awards.
4. More Minerva participation at conferences, both virtual and in person.

Our 2024 activities should see more in person venues including a return since the pandemic of our Learning Forum program for professors, students starting with a session at the University of Toronto. Despite the pandemic, Minerva Canada has been able to reach out with its Health and Safety educational resources and programs to over 18,000 students, employees and members of professional associations over the past 3 years.

You can get details and find out more of our 2023 activities and educational resources along with some of our 2024 plans in the following pages. Our continued success this year is a reflection of the hard work, endless assistance and support from our many volunteers from industry, government, academia and H&S professional associations who make up our Board of Directors and Working Groups. We recognize some of their accomplishments in this Report. I am also very grateful to our sponsors whose continued support and financial assistance make our initiatives at Minerva Canada possible. Without this support, Minerva would not exist as an organization.

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions by contacting me at https://safetymanagementeducation.com/contact-us/>.

A. E. (Tony) Pasteris
Chairman and President
Minerva Canada Safety Management Education Inc.

Minerva Canada Courses Underway in Health and Safety Leadership

Minerva’s pilot training program where over 500 students and employees assessed 9 of Minerva’s 28 online Health and Safety modules was very well received last year. Overall
satisfaction ratings for this training on a scale of 1-5 were rated at 4.5. When asked to what extent their skills, knowledge increased after the training on various issues like hazard identification, risk, leadership, mental health, managing change, health and wellness, participants provided rating between 4.4 – 4.5.

The post-training survey from participants provided valuable feedback and support for Minerva to advance a leadership course. A committee of Minerva’s Board proposed developing Health and Safety courses for future managers and supervisors as well as one for safety professionals and practitioners.

The committee has proposed the following topics for one or both of the courses:

• Introduction to Health and Safety
• Hazard Identification
• Risk Assessment and Management
• Legislation, Codes and Standards
• Mental Health in the Workplace
• Leadership and Management Systems
• Incorporating Safety into Engineering Design
• Human Factors
• Business Case for Health and Safety
• Crisis and Risk Communications
• Health and Wellness
• Management of Change
• Managing Excellence in Health and Safety
• Professional Ethics
• Effective Communications for a Safety Leader
• Minerva Case Studies

Minerva plans to advance development of both courses once funding is secured from its sponsors.

Bluedrop Storefronts for Minerva online courses

In continuing Minerva Canada’s outreach to all interested parties who seek to better understand and avail themselves to health and safety information, all Minerva Canada’s courses, containing 28 unique modules are available on the Bluedrop SkillsPass platform. These modules range from the foundations of hazard and risk assessment to managing excellence in health and safety. These asynchronous learning modules are available by accessing the hyperlink below:

https://minervacanada.bluedrop.io/portal-one/login?redirect=%2Fcertificates

Minerva’s Webinar Series

Minerva’s successful webinar series continued in 2023 that drew praise from speakers, participants and partners alike. We are especially indebted to the Conference Board of Canada for all their assistance and use of their webinar platform. A special word of gratitude is warranted to our entire webinar planning committee chaired by Minerva Board member, Lisa Hallsworth. They worked tirelessly to ensure a very successful program last year.

In 2023, Minerva produced a series of three webinars on Intentional Leadership through Culture, Safety and Innovation.

Webinar 1 – March 29th – Using Empathic Leadership to tackle Five of Today’s most pressing Workplace Challenges. Speakers included McGill’s Dr. Anita Nowak and Jennifer Quaglietta, CEO of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and moderated by Jules Artnz-Gray from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and a Minerva Canada Board member.

Webinar 2 – September 20th – Thriving Amidst Today’s Societal Pressures and the Aftermath of the Pandemic: Mastering Intentional Leadership. Speakers included Nada Vuckovic from Siemens Canada and Byron House from Bruce Power and moderated by Alison Wall from Service Hospitality and a Minerva Canada Board member.

Webinar 3 – December 5th – Leadership Insights: Unveiling Minerva’s Rising Stars of 2023 in Safety Management. The webinar included an interview with 2023 Rising Star winner Alyssa Grocutt from Queen’s University. It also included a panel discussion on a wide variety of Health and Safety topics with two of the Rising Star finalists Gabriella Risi from Canada Post Corporation and Jennifer Spies from Superior Trenching Ltd. Sandro Perruzza from the Ontario Society of Safety Engineering and a Minerva Board member moderated the panel discussions.

Minerva’s one-hour webinars were well attended with an average of 100 participants that came from all Canadian provinces and territories. Retention of having participants engaged for the full hour remained high at about 85%. Organizational leaders represented about 50% of attendees while 50% of attendees were from organizations with 500 plus employees.

Plans are underway for Minerva’s four webinars in 2023 focused on “Employee Well Being”. We welcome any of our readers and past webinar participants to advise us of any topics of interest that should be covered in this year’s webinar series.

Minerva’s in-person Learning Forum Underway in 2024

Given the opportunity to return to in-person events, Minerva Canada Board members are currently developing plans to schedule a May, 2024 Learning Forum on the University of Toronto’s main campus. As the University of Toronto has always been a strong supporter of Minerva’s student programs, this is a testament to this continuing commitment to host this event. University of Toronto Professors and Minerva Board representatives Dawn Kilkenny, Ariel Chan and Bruno Korst are leading this academic initiative. The university central location will allow for numerous academic professors and students to access the Learning Forum. Additional details will be forthcoming as planning continues.

Minerva Student Awards

2023 Minerva Rising Star Award

Based on our successful launch in 2022, Minerva Canada continued last year with its Rising Star award. This award recognizes leaders of the future with a demonstrated commitment to the integration of health and safety and is open to all post secondary students as well as recent graduates who have entered the workplace. Nominees must demonstrate a leadership ability to initiate and implement change in an academic or workplace environment related to health and/or safety.

 
 
The 2023 Minerva Rising Star award was presented by Minerva Board member Peter Sturm during the 12th Annual Canada’s Safest Employers Awards held on October 19th at the Liberty Grand Hotel in Toronto. Alyssa Grocutt, a PhD candidate at the Queen’s University Smith School of Business, was announced winner of the 2023 Minerva Rising Star Award.

As one of 10 finalists for this award, Alyssa was interviewed by the COS magazine for her work researching the consequences of work injuries and workplace fatalities on secondary victims. Some of the finalists participated in a panel discussion during Minerva’s December 9th webinar.

2023-24 Minerva Canada-CIAC Case Study Competition

Minerva was pleased to partner with the Chemistry Industry Association (CIAC) and Conference Board of Canada (CBC) in conducting its inaugural Minerva-CIAC Case Study Competition and open to all post-secondary students and recent graduates now in the workplace. The case study “Ruby’s Restaurant” was focused on various issues related to psychological Health and Safety. Submissions were received from several schools and organizations that were based in four provinces. A panel of judges from Minerva Canada and CIAC reviewed all submissions.

 
 
The February 2024 Better Workplace Conference showcased our three winners in a panel discussion.

Congratulations to the following winners of our first 2023-24 Minerva Canada – CIAC case study:

• First place, $1500 Verna Liezl – Modern Niagara
• Second Place, $750 Ryan Jamieson – Fleming College
• Third Place, $250 Nivedha Krishnakumar – Toronto Metropolitan University

The case study and a recording of the panel discussion can be found on Minerva’s website.

Conferences

Canadian Society of Safety Engineering – Windsor, Ontario Minerva Board members Michael Wilson and Larry Masotti, along with CSSE volunteers welcomed Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer Dr. Joel Moody to the Rose City Safety Conference.

Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals – Calgary, Alberta In keeping with previous years, Minerva facilitated a session for the BCRSP’s National Education Symposium in May, 2023. An update was provided on the increased usage of Minerva’s online course offerings, the Rising Star Award and upcoming events.

Service Hospitality – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Minerva Canada proudly partnered with Service Hospitality at the Saskatchewan Conference. Minerva was well represented by Board members Alison Wall, Denise Skilling and Larry Masotti. The conference was held in Saskatoon with a focus on young workers entering the workforce.

Minerva Canada Recognition: CIAC Excellence in Partnership Award

 
 
Minerva Canada was awarded last year with the Responsible Care Excellence in Partnership Award associated with the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC).
Minerva Canada has had a very close working relationship since 2004 with the CIAC and its member firms in advancing Minerva’s Health and Safety educational programs and activities to academia and industry. CIAC’s involvement with sponsoring and developing Minerva’s Teaching and online modules, providing guest speakers at its Learning Forums and webinars and being active as judges in its awards program has been of significant benefit to all of Minerva’s stakeholders within academia, industry, government and professional associations. Minerva Canada’s President Tony Pasteris, who received the award at the CIAC’s awards dinner last year, expressed his gratitude for this recognition.

Recognition for Minerva Canada’s Volunteers

Minerva Board member Professor Ariel Chan had been chosen as the 2023 recipient of the University of Toronto Northrop Frye Award. The award honours a faculty member who has undertaken a teaching and learning project within the last five years that has significantly enhanced the undergraduate learning experience. Professor Chan, who is cross-appointed to the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice (ISTEP), is being recognized for creating new problem-based, industry-relevant lab projects and developing virtual-reality lab and training materials to facilitate individualized experiential learning for students.
 
 
Dr. William Holmes, Associate Professor at Royal Roads University and Minerva Board member received the following awards this past year:
First Prize Recipient, 2023 John Molson Business Ownership Case Writing Competition, Concordia University, Montreal, November 2023. Outstanding Reviewer Award, ASAC 2023 Case Division, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada 2023 Annual Conference, Ted Rogers School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, June 2023. Lastly, he was awarded the Institute Accredited Director (ICD.D) Professional Designation by the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada in May 2023.
 
 
Congratulations to Lisa Hallsworth for being recognized by the Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine as one of the top women in safety for 2024. Lisa has been a long-standing Minerva Board member and her company has worked prudently to evolve its SDS RiskAssist software. The company’s efforts have been rewarded with being the vendor of choice for clients like Canada Post, Government of Manitoba, City of Toronto and many other small, medium and large organizations. Furthermore, the company has received two awards. Both the COS Readers’ Choice Award 2023 – Key Media (Canadian Occupational Safety) and 5 Star Safety OHS Software & Technology Provider Award – Key Media (Canadian Occupational Safety) were awarded in 2023.

Our New Corporate Address

Effective March 1, 2024, Minerva Canada will have a new corporate address from its previous address at the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation in Mississauga, Ontario.
Its new corporate address:

6700 Century Avenue, Suite 100, Mississauga, Ontario L5N6A4

Meet our Board and many Volunteers

Minerva welcomes new Board members and says thanks to others

Minerva welcomes to its Board Dr. Dawn Kilkenny (University of Toronto), Gregory Royal (Sheridan College) and returning members Christl Aggus (Canadian Society of Safety Engineering) and Michael Wilson (Workplace Safety & Prevention Services). We also welcome new meeting coordinator Emily Howarth from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to outgoing Board Members Dr. Bruno Korst (University of Toronto and to outgoing meeting coordinators Simona Mazat and Cameil McLennon.

Meet Minerva’s Board of Directors

• Chairman and President: Anthony Pasteris – Retired from Imperial Oil Limited
• Vice President: Larry Masotti – Vice Chair, Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
• Secretary-Treasurer: Peter Sturm – Sturm Consulting and Past President, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
• Minerva Meeting Coordinator: Emily Howarth – Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
• Christl Aggus – CEO, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, Ontario
• Paul Belair – BCRSP Chair and Corporate H&S Director, Equinox Gold, Alberta
• Sue Bruning – Retired Adjunct Professor Univ. Victoria and retired Business Professor at I.H. Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba
• Andrew Cooper – Past President, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, and Lead EHS System Planning, Development, Dept. of Environmental, Health & Safety, University of Alberta
• Kim Gould – Manager People and Culture, Canada Post, Ontario
• Jules Artnz-Gray – Director OHS Branch, Operations Division, Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
• Lisa Hallsworth – CEO, Rillea Technologies, Belleville, Ontario
• Anis Haque – Electrical, Computer Engineering Professor, University of Calgary
• Bill Holmes –Associate Professor and former Dean, Faculty of Management, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC
• Byron House – Division Manager, Learning and Performance, Bruce Power, Tiverton, Ontario
• Dawn Kilkenny – Vice Dean- First Year, University of Toronto
• Daniel Liao – Dean, Applied Science, Technology, Trades, St. Lawrence College
• Ron Pelot – Assoc. Dean COOP, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, N.S.
• Sandro Perruzza – CEO, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
• Don Petkau – Professor, Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba
• Marcel Pouliot – IQ Trucking Consultant, Retired VP – Trimac Transportation Services LP, Alberta
• Marc Rosen – Professor and Founding Dean, University of Ontario Tech University
• Robert Schultz – Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Alberta
• Lynn Smith – Engineering Workplace Safety Leader, General Motors of Canada, Ontario
• Wendy Tobin – Senior EHS Consultant, Corteva Agriscience, Kingston, Ontario
• Melanie Tremblay – HSE Partner, Rio Tinto Alcan, Jonquiere, Quebec
• Alison Wall – Director Strategic Partners and Planning, Service Hospitality, Saskatoon
• Gregory Royal – Assoc. Dean Academic Quality, Sheridan College
• Michael Wilson – Specialized Services Lead, WSPS

Meet Minerva’s Working Group Members

• Syed Ahmed – Retired from Imperial Oil Limited
• Susan Baka – Bay Communications
• Shahzad Barghi – Western University
• Ariel Chan – University of Toronto
• Seyed Goosheh – Fanshawe College
• Brenda Henry – Fanshawe College
• Manny Marta – Retired from NOVA Chemicals
• Dave Meston – Retired Consultant
• Graeme Norval – University of Toronto
• Ed Secnik – York University
• Gord Winkel – University of Alberta
• Bruno Korst – University of Toronto
• Denise Stilling – University of Regina

We Applaud our Sponsors and Academic Partners

It is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge
all our current and past sponsors and close working partners.

University and College Supporters of Learning Forums – Financial and/or In-Kind Support

Minerva Canada Safety Management Education Inc.
6700 Century Avenue, Suite 100
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
L5N 6A4
Tel: 1 877 494 9777 ext 2138
Email: minerva@safetymanagementeducation.com
Website: www.safetymanagementeducation.com