Janie McNish Of Brandon Manitoba Named As Safe Communities Canada Passport To Safety Leader For Tomorrow Award Recipient
Toronto, Ontario - Safe Communities Canada announced recently that Janie McNish of Brandon Manitoba, was named as the inaugural recipient of its Passport to Safety Leader for Tomorrow Award. The Award recognizes an individual citizen within the network of Canadian designated safe communities that has made a significant contribution to promoting a culture of safety and reducing the risk of injury at the workplace - primarily with younger workers.
Workplace safety is a high priority for Safe Communities Canada. Each year over 325,000 Canadians are injured at the workplace - over 50,000 of them are between 15 and 24. Even sadder, over 1,000 people are killed, 50 of them young people.
"The fact is that many young workers only work at part-time jobs while attending high school or at the post-secondary level. But even though they work less hours they are generally at a higher risk and have more injuries" Safe Communities Canada founder and president Paul Kells said in announcing the award. "As a result of the leadership provided by Janie, there has been almost a 50% completion rate of the Passport to Safety tests in the Brandon area" Kells added.
Ms McNish has been the driving force and an integral member of the Young Worker Injury subcommittee of the Brandon and Area Safe Communities Coalition. Through her role as a Work Education Coordinator with the Brandon School Division she integrated the Safe Workers of Tomorrow education module into the grade 9 Take Your Kids to Work Program.
"This is a great honour for all of the volunteers, community and business partners associated with Brandon and Area Safe Communities." Ms McNish said when she learned of the award. "To my volunteer colleagues and fellow educators across the country involved with injury reduction and making our communities and workplace safer places, especially for our youth, we at Brandon and Area Safe Communities applaud you and are proud to be among your company. Our commitment to increased safety in our community will not waver. We have much more to do and we look forward to expanding our network and continuing to make a difference in the future" Ms McNish added.
"Janie is truly one of Canada's leaders for tomorrow and a champion among champions. She has been instrumental in Passport to Safety becoming the core program for Career Development students in the Brandon School Division and for youth seeking employment through Career Employment Youth Services, which serves youth not attending school." Kells stated. "Janie would agree that if you are in school, inquire about how you can participate in Passport to Safety. If you are a teacher, include the initiative in your lesson plans. If you are a parent, inquire with your child's school to make sure your kids know their rights and responsibilities and if you are an employer of young people, show your commitment to workplace safety by asking younger employees and applicants if they have their Passport to Safety certificate" Kells continued."
Earlier this year Safe Communities Canada officially launched a new web site (www.passporttosafety.com) to increase awareness of workplace safety for young workers 15 to 24 years old. Passport to Safety was originally conceived and piloted by Peterborough Safe Communities, then developed on-line and launched as a signature program by Safe Communities Canada in 2004 and now is applicable to workers of any age.
The award will be presented during the 11th Annual Safe Communities Awards dinner being held on Monday, November 3, 2008 at The Fort Garry hotel in Winnipeg Manitoba as part of Safe Communities Canada Annual conference November 2 - 4.
Safe Communities Canada is the country's foremost community-driven injury prevention charity whose mission is to make our nation the safest place in the world to live, learn, work and play.
SOURCE: Safe Communities Foundation