2018

During the conclusion of IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, attended by 400 delegates from 30 countries, organized by the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), the handover took place to Brussels, site of the 10th International Biennial Congress on Disability Management and Return to Work – IFDM 2020 – to be hosted by the Belgium Federal Social Security Organization, INAMI. To view the bulletin with further details, please click on the following link: More information

Prior to the handover to Belgium, the Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor of PCU-WHS and Master of Ceremonies for IFDM 2018, read the IFDM 2018 Canada Declaration, which sets out a series of challenges and opportunities for relevant stakeholders on a range of key initiatives which could be undertaken and contribute towards achieving much improved and sustained social and economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers, and our society at large. The Canada Declaration is available for downloading and viewing on the IFDM 2018 website at: www.ifdm2018.com

Over 80 Presentations were delivered by experts from 20 countries during the conference. These have been uploaded to the IFDM 2018 website. Please click on the tab marked Program on the website and click on the links provided in the titles of the Plenary presentations as well as of the Concurrent Workshop presentation titles.

To view the Gallery of Photos taken at IFDM 2018, please visit the IFDM 2018 website and click on the tab marked Gallery of Photos.

To view the Welcome videos from Federal Ministers Carla Qualtrough and Patty Hajdu and BC Premier John Horgan, please click on the tab marked Video Library on the website.

We are extremely pleased to advise that an agreement has been reached, and will be signed during the Opening Session of IFDM 2018, between the International Social Security Organization (ISSA) a UN affiliated, Geneva based organization, with over 330 members in more than 150 countries, and Canada’s National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), effecting the legal transfer of IFDM associated intellectual property, currently held by NIDMAR to ISSA.
For further details, please see the attached Third Update

Keynote Address: Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada

We are pleased to confirm the participants for the IFDM Plenary Panel taking place Tuesday, October 16, at 8:45 am – 10:15 am in the Plenary entitled:

The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) was most pleased to host the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Federal Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence at its campus today. The Minister was very interested to learn more about the broader area of Return to Work / Disability Management, both in Canada and around the world. For further details, please see newsletter attached.

As a result of the visit, the Minister issued several tweets on his Twitter account, which can be viewed on the PCU-WHS Twitter account at: https://twitter.com/pcuwhs

PCU-WHS was fortunate to have been approved for the University to hire a summer student for 2018 under the Federal Government’s Canada Summer Jobs Program. We are most pleased to introduce Cassandra in this short release.

9th World Congress on Return to Work and Disability Management

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is pleased to host the International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 – taking place in Vancouver, Canada

We are excited to bring you personal welcome greetings from some of our distinguished leaders and supporters which can be found on the website at the following link and include the following:
https://www.ifdm2018.com/video-library/
– Hon. Kirsty Duncan, Federal Minister of Science, Sport and Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the Federal Government of Canada
– Hon. Scott Fraser, BC Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation on behalf of the Province of BC (Minster Fraser’s riding is home of the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences)
– Dr. Joachim Breuer, President, International Social Security Association, Geneva, Switzerland
– Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Founding Chancellor, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
– Mr. Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers and Labour Co-Chair, PCU-WHS
– Mr. Dean Winsor, Vice-President, HR, Teck Resources and Employer Co-Chair, PCU-WHS

IFDM 2018 will build on the history of innovation, leadership and best practice solutions through 78 stimulating workshop sessions and 3 plenary panel presentations with representatives from approx. 20 countries.

The three plenary panels on critical challenges include:
– The Disappearing Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers Compensation Systems, Chaired by Dr. Joachim Breuer, CEO, German Federal Workers Compensation System
– Disability and Proverty: Breaking the Cycle, Chaired by the Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor, PCU-WHS
– Meeting the Challenge of Mental Health in Today’s Workplace, Chaired by Ms. Jody Thomas, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence and PCU-WHS Deputy Minister Champion

An agreement signed between the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College and Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) allows students who have completed the diploma program in Human Resources to transfer their credits from Sheridan towards the Bachelor of Disability Management at PCU-WHS.

The Bachelor of Disability Management is the first – and only – degree of this nature and level internationally. It provides graduates with the underpinning of knowledge, skills and competencies to assist absent workers to return to work and employing organizations to promote and protect the health of workers.

“In my opinion a significant piece of the future of human resources will involve disability management and return to work,” says Shady Hana, a Professor and HR Program Coordinator at Sheridan College. “This is especially true with aspects of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) coming into play within the next three to five years here in Ontario. The partnership with PCU-WHS provides a priceless opportunity for our students to learn about this growing field.”

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Return to work legislation could help with the country’s poverty legislation, and a Port Alberni university is hoping to lead the way on the west coast. Continue reading PCU-WHS in the news…

The Honourable Wayne G. Wouters, PC OC, Founding Chancellor of Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), has provided an invitational and welcoming video to attend IFDM 2018 – and he identifies the challenges of different kinds of disabilities, the changing workplace, the importance of return to work, and the opportunity to learn from each other and to share best practices from around the world.

Come to Vancouver – October 14-17, 2018

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, announced funding for the International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 – through the Disability Component of the Social Development Partnerships Program, at a news event held April 12 in Victoria.

Also attending the event was BC’s Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, the Honourable Scott Fraser who is MLA, Mid Island-Pacific Rim, in the riding where the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) and NIDMAR are located.

The IFDM is designed to promote innovation, leadership and practical policy and program solutions, and will provide knowledge and tools on an integrated approach to disability management in the workplace. For further details on IFDM 2018, please visit the website: IFDM 2018

To view the news release, please click on the link below.
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Congratulations to long-time PCU-WHS and NIDMAR Board of Governors Labour Co-Chair, Ken Neumann, on his March 1 swearing in ceremony at USW International Offices in Pittsburgh.

Ken was acclaimed for a fourth consecutive term as Canadian National Director for the United Steelworkers, and we are very appreciative of the tremendous support for our collective goals of achieving better socio-economic outcomes for injured / disabled workers, employers and society at large that he has demonstrated during his 11 year tenure as Co-Chair.

The National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) and the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) are pleased to announce the appointment to their respective Boards of Daphne Taras, PhD.

Dr. Taras is Professor of Labour Relations, Edwards School of Business and Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, visiting Professor at the University of Toronto, and Chair of the Saskatchewan Educational Relations Board. She served as Dean of the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan from 2010-2016.

Reflecting on her new role with NIDMAR and PCU-WHS, Dr. Taras says that while law, policy, and chatter all matter, the need now is to focus on implementing change. “We need to ensure there are people in the workforce who have the training and skill set to meet every challenge. Every person with a disability is unique. This isn’t just about wheelchair ramps or accessible washrooms. This work is about removing all barriers so people with disabilities can work, contribute, and feel the dignity that comes from meaningful participation.”

More information

Planning is well underway. The website is updated.

Information re Call for Abstracts is posted detailing the conference streams and specific topic areas for presenters. Deadline for abstract submissions is February 28, 2018.

View the “Welcome to IFDM 2018” message from the Honourable Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor of PCU-WHS, host organization for the event, by clicking on the “More information” link provided below.

Hotel and venue information is available on the website, as well as information regarding discounted travel fares.

For further details, please visit the website: IFDM 2018

More Information

The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is pleased to announce that the 2018 International Forum on Disability Management (IFDM) conference will receive sponsorship through the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability.

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities said, “Canada is at its best and all of society benefits when everyone is included. By bringing together academics, professionals and disability stakeholders from all over the world to share their knowledge and generate valuable ideas, this conference will help ensure that Canadians with disabilities are able to fully participate in their workplaces and communities.”

“We are very grateful for the significant support that the Government of Canada has provided, especially when considering recent reports that indicate 23 percent of all people living in poverty across Canada are persons with mental or physical health impairments, and in excess of 80 percent of impairments are acquired during a person’s working life, and therefore effective and collaborative workplace efforts in job retention and return to work can have a significant impact on changing this narrative” said Wolfgang Zimmermann, President of PCU-WHS.

To view the full media release, please see attached.

As an additional update, please note that the deadline for the Call for Abstracts has been extended to April 2, 2018.

For further details on the Call for Abstracts, please visit the following webpage: https://www.ifdm2018.com/call-for-abstracts/

IFDM 2018 Secretariat
Email: info@ifdm2018.com
Web: www.ifdm2018.com

A ceremony took place in Belgium at the end of November to recognize the first group of participants to complete the Disability Management Practitioner training program and also to present the IDMSC certificates to those who successfully passed the professional certification examinations. Attached please find the IDMSC Communique which provides the background on the agreement between the Belgium Health Insurance Agency (RIZIV/INAMI) and NIDMAR as well as comments from participants in the training program.
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