Olivia Seguin-Coles – Pacific Coast University

Season’s Greetings from PCU-WHS

Scholarship Opportunities for BC Residents

Application Deadline: TBA early 2026

FINAL INTAKE: Fall 2026, for maximum 1 year of scholarship towards part-time or full-time study

Scholarship towards either full- or part-time study in the
2+2 Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program
at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS).
Made possible by funding to the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR),
provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement (WDA).
$6,500 annually for the first year only of two years of full-time study, or $3,250 for the
first year only of four years of part-time study, applied towards tuition fees.
The scholarship grant expires in 2027.
Scholarship funds will cover most (but NOT all) of the course tuition for the
2026-27 academic year, and can only be applied to tuition for the specialized courses required to complete
the 2+2 BDM program.^[1]

This is a critical gateway to a highly desirable and rewarding professional career opportunity in the rapidly
expanding field of Return to Work and Disability Management not only in BC, but across Canada and internationally.

Candidates must:

Have permanent resident (landed immigrant) or Canadian citizenship status and be permanent residents of
British Columbia;

Meet the admission criteria of PCU-WHS, and
must qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program
(i.e., the 2+2 program). To qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3, applicants must:
- Have graduated with an associate degree, 2-year diploma, or other relevant educational prerequisite
  which provides 57-60 transferable academic credits (or equivalent) in a range of disciplines;^[2]
OR
- Be eligible for Admission Directly into Year 3 (i.e., the 2+2 BDM program) on the basis of Prior Learning
  Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). A combination of professional experience and career education will
  be assessed under Flexible Admission policy on a case-by-case basis. Applicants under Flexible Admission
  should have a minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience in a related field.
OR
- Hold a verifiable Red Seal Certification (Trades To Academic (TTA) admission into Year 3). Students holding
  a verifiable Red Seal Certification may be granted 57-60 transfer credits towards admission into the
  2+2 BDM. Pre-entry assessment of English command/Writing skills typically needed for success in BDM
  coursework will be required. Applicants are asked to apply under Admission Directly into Year 3.
Be in a position to register for full-time (10 courses per year) or part-time (5 courses per year) study in the
2+2 BDM program beginning in September 2026 and to complete the degree
within a 2-year period for full-time study or 4-year period for part-time study.^[3]
The Scholarship will apply to the first year only of the 2+2 program for either full- or part-time study.^[4]^[5

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.

WDA Scholarship Information Booklet- Link available early 2026

WDA Scholarship Application Form- Link available early 2026

This Scholarship is designed to significantly increase the availability of disability management professionals and practitioners for British Columbia employers across all public and private sector organizations and be a major long-term strategic and sustainable workplace approach to “Building a Culture of Accommodation”. This strategy mirrors the successful outcomes seen in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world where greater professionalization in the Return to Work and Disability Management field is significantly improving socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers, and society at large. Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC) once they have completed relevant work experience to meet the eligibility requirements. Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC) once they have completed relevant work experience to meet the eligibility requirements.

[1] All students who do not have suitable research coursework or experience will be required to take an additional 300-level research course prior to entering their final year of the program.

[2] Preferred domains of previous study include human resources, occupational health and safety, healthcare, business, and social work.

[3] All students who do not have suitable research coursework or experience will be required to take an additional 300-level research course prior to entering their final year of the program.

[4] The scholarship grant expires in 2027.

[5] Please note that, although PCU-WHS is a statutory, degree granting, post-secondary teaching and research institution, and the Bachelor of Disability Management program is offered under the written consent of the Minister, academic programs at PCU-WHS are not eligible for Canadian or Provincial Student Loans because they are offered exclusively online.

PCU-WHS Sessional Faculty member awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Global Development of Occupational Health 2025

Dr. Nayab Sultan, sessional faculty member at PCU-WHS, was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Global Development of Occupational Health 2025 by the Society of Occupational Medicine in London for his pioneering work in southern Sub‑Saharan Africa addressing silicosis, silicotuberculosis, and tuberculosis (TB) among former mineworkers. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sultan on this prestigious achievement.

Canadian expert Dr. Nayab Sultan honoured in London for life-saving work on silicosis and lung disease

PCU-WHS 2025 Convocation Ceremony Photos

Images taken by Trevor Jansen.

Third Offering DMCS 600 – Understanding Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations

Understanding the journey toward reconciliation is essential for building respectful, inclusive workplaces. There have been considerable shifts in the relationship between the Canadian Government and First Nations peoples that have had an impact on the way that all citizens participate in our society. This one week course is intended to enhance the understanding of those working alongside First Nations colleagues, including those involved in workplace health programs. This new one week course will be available online: February 9-15, 2026. For more details, please review the Course Description and Learning Objectives set out in the newsletter – link provided below.
DMCS-600-Understanding-Reconciliation-and-Indigenous-Relations

Valedictorian’s inspiring speech at the 2025 Convocation ceremony

View the inspiring Valedictorian’s speech made by Jacqueline Ann Ferris, who was elected as class Valedictorian, for the 2025 Convocation ceremony for the new graduates of the Bachelor of Disability Management, the Advanced Certificate in Return to Work, and all Continuing Education Graduates of PCU-WHS.

Please view the short video here. https://youtu.be/onieBz2U2t8

Third Offering Leveraging AI in Disability Management: Practical Applications for Enhanced Efficiency

Disability management practice involves handling a large volume of notes, documents, calls, meetings, workflows, follow-up, and more. This new course is designed to equip DM professionals with foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency. This new 36-hour, 3-module course will be available online: January 19–February 8, 2026. For more details, please review the Course Description and Learning Objectives set out in the newsletter – link provided below.

Jan 19-Feb 8 2026 DMCS-740-Leveraging-AI-in-Disability-Management

December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly. The observance of this day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

The theme for 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is: “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”

Appointment of Prof. Dr. Stacie Chappell as Chair of the International Research Advisory Council (IRAC)

With the expansion of the International Research Advisory Council (IRAC) of PCU-WHS, and the current development of a new 5-year IRAC strategic plan extending out to 2030, we are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Stacie Chappell as Chair of IRAC for PCU-WHS. Stacie assumes the role following Prof. Dr. Kara Arnold, who will continue to play a key role within PCU-WHS for both degree renewal and new degree applications.

With regard to the appointment, Stacie commented as follows. “I am excited by the opportunity to serve PCU-WHS in this role. My background in facilitating expert teams and research projects positions me well to support IRAC’s mandate to advise on research priorities and foster international cooperation. Given the recent funding extension announcement for the Reducing Poverty Initiative, IRAC will also assume an important oversight role for the TransAtlantic Implementation Research on Early Intervention for Occupational Rehabilitation (TAIR) that is associated with this project. The constant conversation and iteration between practice and research is essential for advancing occupational health and safety, disability management, rehabilitation, and related fields.”

Stacie Chappell is the inaugural Dean of the School of Business and Management at University Canada West. A leadership scholar and organizational development practitioner, she brings a rich academic perspective shaped by experiences at the University of British Columbia, the University of Western Australia, Western New England University, and Vancouver Island University. Her research, often conducted through international collaboration, spans leadership practice, ethics, experiential learning, and organizational change.

Beyond academia, Stacie has partnered with leaders and organizations around the world to strengthen capabilities at the individual, team, and system levels. A master facilitator, certified professional coach, and published author, she is a lifelong learner who approaches leadership and education with curiosity, reflection, and authenticity. She also contributes her expertise through community service, including her role on the Board of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

At a time when “Employment as a Key Social Determinant of Health” is increasingly being recognized as a societal priority, and the fact that many individuals, following onset of a mental/physical health impairment lose their workforce attachment and consequently get pushed to the margins of society, effective early intervention, driven through innovation and thought-leadership, informed by evidence-based research, can be a premier catalyst in identifying solutions designed to reduce the socio-economic costs of disabling impairments on workers, employers and society at large.

Changes to the Continuing Education Disability Management Practitioner Program!

We are very pleased to introduce four new certificate programs, launching September 1, 2025.

The landscape for continuing education has evolved and we are responding with a reorganization of the existing Disability Management Practitioner Certificate (DMPC) program into shorter, more focused certificates.

We now have the:

Certificate in Return-to-Work Coordination and Rehabilitation
Certificate in Working with Stakeholders in the RTW Process
Certificate in Disability Management Law, Policy, and Ethics
Certificate in Disability Management Program Administration and Evaluation

Each certificate centres on a core theme essential to effective disability management, giving you targeted expertise that you can apply right away. Students can now learn and get recognition for growth and development in more specific aspects of the broader field, be more selective and structured in how they progress through their learning, and more quickly gain potential transfer credits for specific BDM courses.

These certificates continue to support those interested in becoming a Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) or Certified Return-to-Work Coordinator (CRTWC), and for existing CDMP/CRTWC and other professionals to further their competencies in the DM and RTW fields. They draw from the modules in the current DMPC (which we are discontinuing) and a learner completing all four certificates is taking the same module set as in the DMPC.

We are excited about this change to our offerings, along with our recent launch of new CE courses in “Understanding Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations” and “Leveraging AI in Disability Management’. We expect to have more news about advances in our support for the professional education of the DM and RTW community in the months to come.

See our program page here for more information, including details about the content in each certificate. The FAQ for Continuing Education can be found here.

Second Offering Leveraging AI in Disability Management: Practical Applications for Enhanced Efficiency

Disability management practice involves handling a large volume of notes, documents, calls, meetings, workflows, follow-up, and more. This new course is designed to equip DM professionals with foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency. This new 36-hour, 3-module course will be available online: November 24 – December 14, 2025. For more details, please review the Course Description and Learning Objectives set out in the newsletter – link provided below.
DMCS-740-Leveraging-AI-in-Disability-Management

NEW COURSE Understanding Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations

Understanding the journey toward reconciliation is essential for building respectful, inclusive workplaces. There have been considerable shifts in the relationship between the Canadian Government and First Nations peoples that have had an impact on the way that all citizens participate in our society. This one week course is intended to enhance the understanding of those working alongside First Nations colleagues, including those involved in workplace health programs. This new one week course will be available online: September 8 – 14, 2025. For more details, please review the Course Description and Learning Objectives set out in the newsletter – link provided below.
DMCS 600 Understanding Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations

NEW COURSE Leveraging AI in Disability Management: Practical Applications for Enhanced Efficiency

Disability management practice involves handling a large volume of notes, documents, calls, meetings, workflows, follow-up, and more. This new course is designed to equip DM professionals with foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to leverage AI tools to enhance efficiency. This new 36-hour, 3-module course will be available online: October 20 – November 9, 2025. For more details, please review the Course Description and Learning Objectives set out in the newsletter – link provided below.

DMCS 740 Leveraging AI in Disability Management

Appointments to the Board of Governors

The Board of Directors of NIDMAR recently announced the following appointments to the Board of Governors of PCU-WHS.

With the announcement of the retirement of long-time Board Member and former Co-Chair, Ken Neumann, the Board was pleased that he has agreed to stay engaged as a non-voting Executive Advisor providing a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Former Canadian National Director for the United Steelworkers.

Sari Sairanen, Executive Assistant to the National Secretary-Treasurer of Unifor and Board member for the last 10 years, has been appointed the new Co-Chair.

Scott Lunny, Director, District 3 for the United Steelworkers, has been appointed as a Board Member.

Bert Blundon, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees has been appointed as a Board Member.

To view the Newsletter, please click on the following link: PCU-WHS Appointments to the Board of Governors

Appointment of Prof. Dr. Herbert (Bert) Biggs as Chief Academic Officer

We are extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Herbert (Bert) Biggs as Chief Academic Officer for PCU-WHS. With the expected expansion of educational programming at PCU-WHS, and after having served in the role of Director of Academic Operations for the past two years, Bert takes over in the CAO role from Prof. Dr. Kara Arnold, who will continue to play a key role within PCU-WHS for both degree renewal and new degree applications.

With his vast background and experience in all aspects of educational development and delivery, Bert will provide invaluable support and guidance to all team members involved in the continued evolution and successful delivery of all educational programming.

Bert is currently an Adjunct Professor and former Full Professor in the School of Psychology and Counselling at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. He has been an educator and researcher at Massey University, New Zealand (where he took his PhD); Southern Cross University, NSW; Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA; and Griffith University, Qld.

Whilst working for the Australian Government, Bert was selected for Australia’s first formal training course in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1974 where he graduated with a Certificate of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselling and later an Associate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling (1984). He has maintained a continuing interest in rehabilitation counselling and disability management throughout his professional career and has a strong interest in optimising workplace health and safety in industrial settings.

Bert will continue his role as PLAR Coordinator, as well as serving on the Board of Governors and Academic Council for PCU-WHS.

“I am very pleased indeed to be involved with PCU-WHS in this new role. The Mission of the University is vital in effective and comprehensive training and education in disability management and return to work both nationally and internationally. Its emerging profile in applied research augurs well for institutional collaborations and positive outcomes for existing challenges at individual and societal levels. I have been delighted with my involvement to date and I’m looking forward to extending this involvement with the support of my skilled and highly dedicated colleagues.”

April 28 National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning, observed every year on April 28, is a time to remember and honour those who have lost their lives or been injured due to workplace tragedies. It is also a moment to renew our shared commitment to creating safer, healthier workplaces and to preventing future injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

To learn more please visit: CCOHS: National Day of Mourning

Visitors from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) meet with PCU-WHS and NIDMAR

Janine Dyck, Chief Employer Services Officer; Rod Cook, Vice President Workplace Health and Safety Services; and Tyler Beauchamp, Manager Workplace Health and Safety Services of the WSIB (Ontario WCB) spent the day at the PCU-WHS campus facility on January 16th meeting with staff learning about the various educational programs available through the University including the proposed new masters degree and reviewing details of workplace program assessments available through NIDMAR as well as the new Reducing Poverty Initiative that NIDMAR has undertaken.

Gord Johns, MP, Visits PCU-WHS and NIDMAR

Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay–Alberni for the last 10 years and who has been a major champion of the efforts of PCU-WHS and NIDMAR, stopped by on January 14, 2025 for a first-hand update on latest developments.

To view the short interview video, please click on the following link: Watch Here

PCU-WHS 2024 Convocation Ceremony Photos

Convocation 2024 took place November 27

Deputy Minister Champion to PCU-WHS Eric Costen presented the Keynote Address to the graduating class of the Bachelor of Disability Management program at the 2024 Convocation Ceremony. This year the graduates of the Disability Management Practitioner Certificate Program were also recognized during the ceremony.

The 2024 Convocation Ceremony was live streamed across 22 countries.

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Author: Olivia Seguin-Coles