News & Events

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.”

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

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 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.

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.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our former Premier, John Horgan, earlier today. He was a great champion of the collective efforts at PCU-WHS and NIDMAR to achieve much-needed improvements for disabled workers.

Mr. Eric Costen, Associate Deputy Minister of Health Canada was appointed Deputy Minister Champion of PCU-WHS in May 2024. Following a recent visit to the PCU-WHS campus in Port Alberni and spending a full day meeting with staff of both PCU-WHS and NIDMAR, learning about the many initiatives that are taking place, he agreed to sit down for an interview. This newsletter provides his responses to our questions.

Please click on the following link to download the newsletter: PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 10 Issue 39 October 2024 An Interview with Eric Costen

“Great success” were the words being used by delegates who attended the IFDM 2024 that took place in Vancouver, Canada, September 16 and 17, 2024. With a maximum capacity of 320 delegates from 12 countries around the world, and with over 70 leading edge presentations, delegates were enthusiastic with the topics that were available for them to attend.

IFDM 2024 was opened through an inspiring presentation by Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s first National Accessibility Officer and former long-time BC Cabinet Minister, who was joined on the opening podium by John Mutch, Chair of the Board, Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management (CSPDM), and Co-MCs Sari Sairanen, Executive Assistant to the Secretary Treasurer of UNIFOR and Rod Cook, Vice-President of Workplace Health & Safety Services, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.

The Hon. Harry Bains, BC Minister of Labour, provided the official welcome to British Columbia and also highlighted some of the recent developments in the province designed to improve employment outcomes and accessibility challenges facing persons with disabilities.

We were very pleased that the closing keynote presentation, which chartered future opportunities and challenges in global Disability Management, was delivered by Prof. Dr. Joachim Breuer, former long time CEO of the German Federal Workers Compensation system, the world’s largest, and, between 2016-2022, he was President of the International Social Security Organization in Geneva.

The successful conference ended with the hand-over for IFDM 2026 to take place in Scotland.

Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island – Pacific Rim and Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, recently met with Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of PCU-WHS and Executive Director of NIDMAR, to get an update on the various developments and initiatives currently being undertaken by both PCU-WHS and NIDMAR.

A full Agenda was on schedule for the PCU-WHS Academic Team when it met recently at its Port Alberni campus facility. Attending were the following:

Back row L to R: Abifatah Abdi, Director of Professional and Continuing Education Studies; Professor Jane Harte, James Cook University, Australia; Dr. Bert Biggs, Acting Director of Academic Operations & Manager of Flexible Admissions; Dr. Susan Patrick, Senior Academic Lead; Dr. Kara Arnold, Chief Academic Officer; Swati Garg, Manager of Admissions and Student Services; Dr. Tyler Amell, Registrar.
Front row L to R: Dr. Lorne Sulsky, Senior Academic Advisor; Wolfgang Zimmermann, President; Heather Persons, Student Support; Olivia Seguin-Coles, Administrative Technology Specialist.
Inset: Dr. Donal McAnaney, fr. Chief Academic Officer & Member of the International Research Advisory Council.

The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is very pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Costen, Associate Deputy Minister of Health, has been appointed the Deputy Minister University Champion for PCU-WHS. Mr. Costen began his public service career in 2003 and has held senior roles across the federal government including at Health Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

To read the full article, please click on the link to the newsletter below:
PCU-WHS Newsletter Vol 10 Issue 38 May 2024 Appointment of Eric Costen Dep.Min.Univ.Champion

SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to significant interest and demand in IFDM 2024, the Early Bird Registration Rate has been extended to July 15, 2024. Register now.