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ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Learn about campaigns and events of importance to the injured workers' movement.

         

October 17-19, 2008: Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups (ONIWG) Fall Conference - "Using Research to Make Change for the Injured Worker Community"

When: Friday - Sunday, Oct. 17-19
Where: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St, Toronto

[Registration form]
Contact: Judy Kondrat, Community Legal Worker
Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario (IAVGO) (416) 924-6477 x 26 or 1-877-230-6311

July 3, 2008: ARCH Disability Law Centre survey
The ARCH Disability Law Centre, a community legal aid clinic dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights of people with disabilities, is conducting an overview of the barriers for people with disabilities at Tribunals in Ontario. If you had or are waiting to have a Hearing and/or Mediation at the Social Benefits Tribunal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board and you have a disability, they need you to tell them about your experience at the above Tribunals by completing their confidential survey.
Your responses to questions in this survey will have a direct impact on making the justice system more accessible for people with disabilities.

To complete the survey, please go on-line to http://archdisabilityl.survey.sgizmo.com or phone Viktoria at ARCH Disability Law Centre Toll-free at 1-866-482-2724 or TTY at 1-866-482-2728.
The deadline to complete the survey is August 11, 2008.

June 5, 2008: Ron Ellis Award Dinner
The Workers' Compensation Section of the Ontario Bar Association will honour Steve Mantis of Kaministiquia, a longtime leader and grassroots organizer of Ontario's injured worker movement, with the Ron Ellis Award for excellence and outstanding contribution to workers' compensation. Read here the tribute prepared and delivered by Marion Endicott at the award.
Registration deadline: June 3 [Registration form]

When: Thursday, June 5, 2008
5.30 p.m. - Registration; 6.00 p.m. - Dinner, followed by Program "An evening with the adjudicators"
Where: OBA Centre, 200-20 Toronto St, Toronto

June 1, 2008: Injured Workers' Day Rally for Workers' Compensation Reform [flyer]

This Injured Workers' Day, will be the 25th’ anniversary of the day when over 3,000 workers gathered at the Legislative Assembly to participate in public hearings on workers' compensation and highlight the principle that injury should not mean poverty.

Join injured workers and their supporters and their families at a rally to make it clear to the Minister of Labour that having a disability should not equal poverty and to celebrate their work as a community. Injured workers will ask Minister Doug Duguid to:

  • Eliminate “deeming”
  • Provide full, permanent cost of living
  • Eliminate experience rating
  • WSIB coverage for all workers

When: Sunday, June 1st
Where: Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park
Time: 11:a.m.

Invited Speakers:
Brad Duguid, Minister of Labour
Warren Smokey Thomas, President OPSEU
Laurie Hardwick, OFL Organization Services Director
Keith McMillan, CEP Health and Safety National Representative
Sari Sairanen, CAW Director of Health and Safety
Nancy Hutchison, USWA National Representative
Karl Crevar & Peter Page, Ontario Network of Injured Workers
Neekey Dalier, 13 Year Old Daughter of Injured Worker
[other labour representatives to be confirmed]

For more information call: Injured Workers Consultants: (416) 461-2411, OFL: (416) 441-2731, IAVGO: (416) 924-6477 , TWHSLC: (416) 971-8832

May 14, 2008: Opposition Day debate in the House on experience rating

Let's be there in the gallery! The debate begins around 3.15 p.m. so plan to arrive around 2.45 p.m. at Queen's Park to pick up a badge and get through security on the 4th floor. Go to the basement door just west of the main doors at the front of the building to register. If you want to pre-register to speed up the process, please send your name to Laurie Hardwick. And just a reminder - no T-shirts with slogans are allowed in the gallery.

Location: Legislative Assembly, Queen's Park (just north of Queen's Park subway station, University & College St)
Time: Wednesday, May 14, 2.45 p.m.
Contact: Laurie Hardwick Director of Organization Services, Ontario Federation of Labour. (416) 443-7657

April 28, 2008: National Day of Mourning

Join workers, families and communities across the country to honour workers killed or harmed as a result of work.

  • Check the Workers' Health & Safety Centre website to find an event near you

  • The Hamilton Injured Workers Group is making ribbons for this year's Day of Mourning ceremonies, April 28th. They aren't charging for them but do appreciate donations. You can order some by email at: hamiltoninjured.workers@on.aibn.com or phone 905-543-9090.

  • Join injured workers and their supporters at 2 Toronto events organized by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council:

    Toronto (Woodbridge)
    Location: Woodbridge Memorial Arena, 5020 Highway #7 [agenda]
    Time: 11:00 a.m.
    Guests: Linda Jackson, Mayor City of Vaughn
    Marcelo Puente, Musician
    Contact: Enzo Mancuso (416) 441-1939 x 3010

    Toronto (Downtown)
    Location: Larry Sefton Park, Bay & Hagerman Streets, Toronto [agenda]
    (Immediately behind Toronto City Hall)
    Time: 12:00 noon
    Contact: Labour Council (416) 441-3663

  • Ottawa & District Injured Workers Group and Unionized Building & Construction Trades Council memorial ceremony
    Location: Celtic Cross, the east side of the Rideau Canal Locks at the entrance to the Ottawa River. Enter through service road from St Patrick Street behind Major Hill Park.
    Time: 7 p.m.

  • Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers' Support Group will "honour the living, remember the dead"
    Location: Lakehead Labour Centre, 929 Ft William Road
    Time: service at 5 p.m. (light lunch to follow)
    For more information please call (807) 622-8897 or visit http://www.tbayinjuredworkers.ca

April 7, 2008: Taking action on cancer - an evening with Dr Devra Davis [Flyer]

Join the head of the Centre for Environmental Oncology and author of "The Secret History of the War on Cancer" to examine how exposures in the workplace and broader environment are contributing to the cancer epidemic - and what we can do about it. The event is sponsored by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, the Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups, labour and environmental organizations.

Time: Monday, April 7 2008, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: OISE Auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West
(between St George St and Bedford Rd)
Cost: Free
To request tickets, please call 416.510.8713 Ext. 0, or email info@ohcow.on.ca

February 29, 2008: Toronto RSI Awareness Day Symposium [Agenda]
The number of workers suffering repetitive strain injuries (also known as "work-related musculoskeletal injuries") is high and growing. Does Ontario's workers' compensation system help the injured worker? What ergonomic solutions should be legislated? How best to handle musculoskeletal injuries?

Time: Friday, 9 a.m. (all-day)
Where: 25 Cecil St, Toronto

Registration required - for further information contact Audrey Parkes (416-461-2411) or Enzo Mancuso (416-441-1939 ext.3010)

December 11, 2007: 16th Annual injured worker Christmas demonstration [Flyer]
Join injured workers to make it clear to the new Minister, Brad Duguid, that we demand:

  • The elimination of "deeming" and "determining"
  • Full, permanent Cost-of-living
  • The elimination of Experience rating
  • Coverage for all workers

    • Time:Tuesday, 11 a.m.
    Where: 400 University Ave., Toronto (in front of Ministry of Labour building, just south of Dundas St)

    For more information contact the Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups (905-662-7128), Toronto Injured workers' Advocacy Group Members (416-461-2411), IAVGO (416-924-6477 or 416-971-8832)

    ELECTION DAY - OCTOBER 10

    Where does your candidate stand?
    Now is the time to speak out strongly about problems in Ontario's workers' compensation system and ask the question : "what will you and your party do to address injured workers' issues?"

    • Contact your local candidates (click here to find those in your riding)
    • Here are some questions (with background information) to put to the candidate - at the door or public meetings
    • Bright Lights Injured Workers' Group letters to the Party leaders [Dalton McGuinty | John Tory | Howard Hampton]

    October 2, 2007 : ONIWG Rally for deeming - Steve Peter's Office
    The Minister of Labour Steve Peters promised to do away with deeming. He promised but he didn't deliver. Under new Board policies deeming will not be eliminated, only given a new name, and in fact be worse for injured workers. Call the Minister to account... [download flyer]

    Time: Tuesday, 12.00 noon
    Where: 445 Talbot Street, St. Thomas

    A bus will leave from Injured Workers Consultants, 815 Danforth Avenue near Pape at 9:00 a.m. with a stop at the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario, 489 College Street at 9:30 a.m. and then in the Morriston carpool area at the junction of Highways 401 and 6 around 10:30 a.m. To reserve your seat call Laurie Hardwick 416.443.7657 or lhardwick@ofl.ca

    September 27, 2007 : Bright Lights meeting
    Agenda: Report from Labour Day Parade; Speaker School; Award Dinner; Election campaign; New deeming policies; Problems with indexed benefits; Old Age Security deductions

    Time: Thursday, 10 a.m.
    Where: IWC, 815 Danforth Ave, Suite 411

    June 1, 2007 : Injured Workers Day [Flyer | Press release]
    Join injured workers and their supporters for the 23rd anniversary of Injured Workers' Day on June 1, 2007 to highlight the principle that injury should not mean poverty and to celebrate their work together as a community. Key to this year's event will be presentations by Minister of Labour, Steve Peters and Chair of the WSIB, Steve Mahoney. The Minister of Labour, and the leaders of the Conservative and New Democratic Parties have been invited to tell injured workers their plans to restore the system to its important founding principles....Click here for full details.

    Time: Friday, 12.00 noon
    Where: Queen's Park, in front of the entrance to the Legislative Assembly Building (just north of College and University; Queen's Park subway)

    May 31, 2007 : Vigil for Injured Workers
    A 24-hour vigil leading up to Injured Workers Day will be held outside the Ontario Legislature.

    Time: Thursday, 12.00 noon - Friday 12.00 noon
    Where: Queen's Park, in front of entrance to the Legislative Assembly building

    May 15, 2007 : Injured Workers' Consultants annual general meeting
    IWC invites members to set aside this date for the annual review of the clinic's activities and plans.
    Special topic: Changes to the workers' compensation system introduced in the recent Ontario budget (Bill 187). Come to the meeting to discuss our response to these proposals on cost of living and on deeming. Tell us what you think.

    Time: Tuesday, 6.30 p.m. - 8.45 p.m.
    Where: IWC, 815 Danforth Ave, Suite 411

    May 5, 2007 : "Easy Money" - a groundbreaking play created by Injured Workers Project about the experience of workers facing long-term disabilities and long-term disbelief. Presented as part of Mayworks Festival, Easy Money is a play about the experience and impact of workplace injury on workers and their families, presented by professional actors with sets, lights, music and rhythm, based on true stories of injured workers. Once they play the Board game, it’s a lose-lose situation with doctors, experts, forests of paperwork, oceans of grief and a grim apocalyptic sense of humour, as they chase the elusive coin of compensation.
    For those in an organization in a position to buy a fundraising block of tickets--10 tickets for $300.00 please call Marion Endicott for details at 416-461-2411.
    Otherwise it is pay what you can at the door (injured workers free), but please reserve your seat at easymoneyreserve@gmail.com. A reception will follow the performance with a cash bar.

    Time: Saturday 8:00 p.m.
    Where: Cecil Community Centre
    58 Cecil Street ( 1 block south of College St, just east of Spadina)

    May 4-6, 2007 : "Telling our stories, building bridges", ONIWG Conference

    The Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) in partnership with the Injured Worker History Project joins with grassroots activists from injured worker groups, labour unions, legal clinics and community allies for two and a half days of skillbuilding, network building and strategy sharing.

    Where: United Steel Workers Hall
    25 Cecil Street, Toronto
    Further information: ONIWG conference details and registration

    April 27/28, 2007 : Day of mourning
    Join the annual nationwide remembrance of workers killed or injured on the job, or those who have contracted illness through workplace disease.Because April 28 falls on a Saturday, some communities are holding their commemoriation on the Friday

    Toronto: Friday April 27, 12:00 noon, at Larry Sefton Park [northwest corner of Bay and Hagermann, behind City Hall]

    York Region: Friday April 27, 11:00 a.m., at the monument to workers at the Woodbridge Memorial Arena [Highway 7 and Islington Ave.]

    Click here for a listing of Day of Mourning events in Ontario

    April 25-26, 2007 : Public hearings (Toronto) on Bill 187

    Injured Workers Consultants makes its presentation before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Thursday April 26, 10 a.m.

    Click here for details on the bill and responses of the injured worker community

    March 19, 2007 : Vigil at the Legislative Assembly, Queen's Park

    Time: Monday. 12 noon - 2 p.m.
    Where: Outside Queen's Park, north of the University-College corner, Toronto

    Click here for full details.

    February 28, 2007 : 8th Annual International RSI Awareness Day Conference, Toronto

    Time: Wednesday. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Where: United Steel Workers Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto (free parking) Spadina & College area

    Click here for full registration details and agenda.

    December 7, 2006 : Dignity - not poverty! 15th Annual X-mas Demonstration
    [Flyer] Photos and videofrom the demo - courtesy of John Bonner.

    Join us Thursday at 11:00 a.m. outside the Ministry of Labour, 400 University Ave, Toronto (just south of Dundas) for good cheer and other surprises. Minister Peters has been invited...Organized by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups and the Toronto Injured Workers' Advocacy Group.

    June 1, 2006 : Injured Workers' Day

    June 1st is a day of celebration for what injured workers can achieve if we work together, but it is also an opportunity to let the politicians know, that injured workers issues (including the repeal of Bill 99) are an election issue.  [Thunder Bay | St Catharines | Toronto | Letter to the Premier]