Prevention Link’s Summer and Fall courses are open for registration! Don’t miss your opportunity to enroll in our popular introductory workshops, and other one-day workshops including Return to Work 101, Principles of Accommodation Law, and Hearings in Writing.

Upcoming courses open for registration:

• Level 1: Rights & Obligations | July 5 – 19, 2022 | September 7 – 21, 2022
• Level 2: Benefits & Services | August 3 – 17, 2022
• Return To Work 101 | July 26, 2022 | September 27, 2022
• Principles of Accommodation Law | July 27, 2022 | September 28, 2022
• Hearings in Writing | August 18, 2022 | October 4, 2022

You will also have an option to enroll in our in-person Workers’ Comp Fundamentals Mini School, taking place at Bayview Wildwood Resort September 25 – 30, 2022.

Participants in this mini school will have the option of taking either our popular introductory courses of Level 1 & Level 2, or taking our Level 4 course, Return to Work, available for the first time from Prevention Link in two years!

For more details and to register, visit our website.

Follow Prevention Link on social media to learn more about what we offer, things we care about, and workers’ compensation: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.

COPE recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.  We firmly believe that every child matters and Truth and Reconciliation must happen.

For ways on how to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, check out this article from CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/break-bread-laugh-and-learn-how-to-celebrate-national-indigenous-peoples-day-1.6489681. For information on more events taking place all across the country, check out this helpful list on the Government's website at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/list-events.html

Hello Region 2 COPE/SEPB Locals,

Please share the information in regard to the Canadian Equity Council call-out to your membership. 

We would like to introduce and re-introduce ourselves to you. At the National COPE/SEPB Convention that took place June 2-4, 2022 Lorrie Vandersluis and I, Tanya La Rush, were elected as your two (2) Vice Presidents at the Region 2 Caucus. This election for two (2) was a result of a resolution that passed which would see the removal of the Seat Reserved for Women replaced with the addition of (1) seat reserved for an equity-seeking member in each region. We want to thank the outgoing Region 2 Vice President Casey Oraa for all of his work, dedication and tremendous communications with us for the past three years. His continued assistance, as well as his predecessor Valerie Roberts, with the transition has been welcomed. 

In addition to our introduction, we are writing to ask those who are interested in sitting on the Canadian Equity Council (CEC). The CEC comprises of four representative from each of our four regions who self-identify from one of the following equity-seeking communities: First Nations, Métis, Inuit, racialized people, Two Spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, people living with a disability, or young workers (aged 35 and under). This Council is in place to ensure that we, collectively, ensure that matters of our union are seen with an equity lense and to provide feedback to the National Executive Board. From time to time the CEC will sponsor or provide educational, cultural, and cultural art programs.

Approval from the local president or designate needs to be provided  by means of email indicating that responsibility of all costs associated for lost wages, travel and per diems will be paid for locally.  The deadline to submit both your interest as well as the approval from the local must be delivered to us no later than by Friday, June 24 to this email address. 

If more than four members are interested in this council we will select by random draw. 

Attached we have provided the Article that outlines the work, obligations and structure. 

If you have questions or concerns please contact either myself or Lorrie Vandersluis at:

Tanya La Rush [email protected]

Lorrie Vandersluis [email protected]

In Solidarity,

Tanya and Lorrie

Happy 2SLGBTQI+ Pride Month!

Pride is a time to take a moment to reflect on the past, the successes, the challenges ahead and the many, diverse Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and other (2SLGBTQI+) folks and communities that make up our inclusive communities. It’s also an opportunity to reflect individually and collectively on our own values and beliefs and how we can continue challenging oppression and empowering 2SLGBTQI+ folks to live their fullest, authentic lives.

While there were previously pockets of resistance to the prevalent homophobia of its time, the most well-known pushback, which is believed by many to be the beginnings of modern day Pride, occurred at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 when in the face of continued police discrimination and oppression, folks rose up to fight back in what is known as the Stonewall Riots. As 2SLBGTQI+ communities continued to grow, diversify and thrive over time, so did the Pride movement. While there are Pride events held year-round, June has become known as Pride month globally.

Canada had its own reckoning similar to Stonewall when in 1981, Toronto Police raided multiple bathhouses in Toronto as a part of “Operation Soap”, harassing, beating and arresting 306 people https://xtramagazine.com/power/toronto-bathhouse-raids-40-years-194590. Until the G20 summit in 2010, the Toronto bathhouse raids remained the largest mass detention in Canadian history for decades. In response to this, 2SLGBTQI+ communities organized which helped fuel the modern Pride movement in Canada.

Tracing back from today to its grassroots beginnings, Pride has always been and will always be political.

One of its oldest allies, the Labour movement and 2SLGBTQI+ communities have a long history of mutual support around the world. Pride, a 2014 film, exemplifies the mutual solidarity when gays and lesbians showed up in support of striking mine workers who later returned the favour and showed up to support folks at Pride and beyond https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30728604 . In Canada, the Labour movement has been a regular supporter of Prides across the country but has also been involved in key moments – like supporting the fight for same sex marriage, advocating for the explicit inclusion of Trans rights in law and society, and fighting against the blood ban against men who have sex with men, the latter which was just struck down at the end of April this year https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-blood-ban-1.6434078.

At COPE Ontario, we hold equity and inclusion as fundamental pillars upon which to build an inclusive movement of workers that fights for each other. COPE Ontario continues to denounce homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, sexism, racism and all the other oppressive -ism’s that still plague our wider cultures and communities. We acknowledge that our union and culture is not outside of this and we work to continually improve our approach to integrating equity and fighting for 2SLGBTQI+ workers. COPE Ontario also firmly believes in supporting grassroots activism and give thanks to the many, many grassroots efforts that are led by 2SLGBTQI+ folks as they fight to improve the world not just for themselves but for us all.

Prevention Link’s Summer and Fall courses are open for registration! Don’t miss your opportunity to enroll in our popular introductory workshops, and other one-day workshops including Return to Work 101, Principles of Accommodation Law, and Hearings in Writing.

Upcoming courses open for registration:

• Level 1: Rights & Obligations | July 5 – 19, 2022 | September 7 – 21, 2022
• Level 2: Benefits & Services | August 3 – 17, 2022
• Return To Work 101 | July 26, 2022 | September 27, 2022
• Principles of Accommodation Law | July 27, 2022 | September 28, 2022
• Hearings in Writing | August 18, 2022 | October 4, 2022

You will also have an option to enroll in our in-person Workers’ Comp Fundamentals Mini School, taking place at Bayview Wildwood Resort September 25 – 30, 2022.

Participants in this mini school will have the option of taking either our popular introductory courses of Level 1 & Level 2, or taking our Level 4 course, Return to Work, available for the first time from Prevention Link in two years!

For more details and to register, visit our website.

Follow Prevention Link on social media to learn more about what we offer, things we care about, and workers’ compensation: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.

COPE recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.  We firmly believe that every child matters and Truth and Reconciliation must happen.

For ways on how to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, check out this article from CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/break-bread-laugh-and-learn-how-to-celebrate-national-indigenous-peoples-day-1.6489681. For information on more events taking place all across the country, check out this helpful list on the Government's website at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/list-events.html

Hello Region 2 COPE/SEPB Locals,

Please share the information in regard to the Canadian Equity Council call-out to your membership. 

We would like to introduce and re-introduce ourselves to you. At the National COPE/SEPB Convention that took place June 2-4, 2022 Lorrie Vandersluis and I, Tanya La Rush, were elected as your two (2) Vice Presidents at the Region 2 Caucus. This election for two (2) was a result of a resolution that passed which would see the removal of the Seat Reserved for Women replaced with the addition of (1) seat reserved for an equity-seeking member in each region. We want to thank the outgoing Region 2 Vice President Casey Oraa for all of his work, dedication and tremendous communications with us for the past three years. His continued assistance, as well as his predecessor Valerie Roberts, with the transition has been welcomed. 

In addition to our introduction, we are writing to ask those who are interested in sitting on the Canadian Equity Council (CEC). The CEC comprises of four representative from each of our four regions who self-identify from one of the following equity-seeking communities: First Nations, Métis, Inuit, racialized people, Two Spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, people living with a disability, or young workers (aged 35 and under). This Council is in place to ensure that we, collectively, ensure that matters of our union are seen with an equity lense and to provide feedback to the National Executive Board. From time to time the CEC will sponsor or provide educational, cultural, and cultural art programs.

Approval from the local president or designate needs to be provided  by means of email indicating that responsibility of all costs associated for lost wages, travel and per diems will be paid for locally.  The deadline to submit both your interest as well as the approval from the local must be delivered to us no later than by Friday, June 24 to this email address. 

If more than four members are interested in this council we will select by random draw. 

Attached we have provided the Article that outlines the work, obligations and structure. 

If you have questions or concerns please contact either myself or Lorrie Vandersluis at:

Tanya La Rush [email protected]

Lorrie Vandersluis [email protected]

In Solidarity,

Tanya and Lorrie

Happy 2SLGBTQI+ Pride Month!

Pride is a time to take a moment to reflect on the past, the successes, the challenges ahead and the many, diverse Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and other (2SLGBTQI+) folks and communities that make up our inclusive communities. It’s also an opportunity to reflect individually and collectively on our own values and beliefs and how we can continue challenging oppression and empowering 2SLGBTQI+ folks to live their fullest, authentic lives.

While there were previously pockets of resistance to the prevalent homophobia of its time, the most well-known pushback, which is believed by many to be the beginnings of modern day Pride, occurred at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 when in the face of continued police discrimination and oppression, folks rose up to fight back in what is known as the Stonewall Riots. As 2SLBGTQI+ communities continued to grow, diversify and thrive over time, so did the Pride movement. While there are Pride events held year-round, June has become known as Pride month globally.

Canada had its own reckoning similar to Stonewall when in 1981, Toronto Police raided multiple bathhouses in Toronto as a part of “Operation Soap”, harassing, beating and arresting 306 people https://xtramagazine.com/power/toronto-bathhouse-raids-40-years-194590. Until the G20 summit in 2010, the Toronto bathhouse raids remained the largest mass detention in Canadian history for decades. In response to this, 2SLGBTQI+ communities organized which helped fuel the modern Pride movement in Canada.

Tracing back from today to its grassroots beginnings, Pride has always been and will always be political.

One of its oldest allies, the Labour movement and 2SLGBTQI+ communities have a long history of mutual support around the world. Pride, a 2014 film, exemplifies the mutual solidarity when gays and lesbians showed up in support of striking mine workers who later returned the favour and showed up to support folks at Pride and beyond https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30728604 . In Canada, the Labour movement has been a regular supporter of Prides across the country but has also been involved in key moments – like supporting the fight for same sex marriage, advocating for the explicit inclusion of Trans rights in law and society, and fighting against the blood ban against men who have sex with men, the latter which was just struck down at the end of April this year https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-blood-ban-1.6434078.

At COPE Ontario, we hold equity and inclusion as fundamental pillars upon which to build an inclusive movement of workers that fights for each other. COPE Ontario continues to denounce homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, sexism, racism and all the other oppressive -ism’s that still plague our wider cultures and communities. We acknowledge that our union and culture is not outside of this and we work to continually improve our approach to integrating equity and fighting for 2SLGBTQI+ workers. COPE Ontario also firmly believes in supporting grassroots activism and give thanks to the many, many grassroots efforts that are led by 2SLGBTQI+ folks as they fight to improve the world not just for themselves but for us all.