Conestoga news

November 19, 2020 4:37 PM

Supporting worker health and well-being during the global pandemic

The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP), an applied research centre hosted at Conestoga’s School of Business, has been awarded $50,000 in research infrastructure support to help organizations manage the impact of COVID-19 on workers’ health and well-being.

The funding is provided through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Exceptional Opportunities Fund (CFI-EOF), which covers equipment for ongoing research by universities, research hospitals, and colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps related to COVID-19. On November 6, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced close to $28 million in research infrastructure funding to support 79 projects at 52 institutions.

“Canadian researchers and scientists are helping to protect our health and safety and are key to finding our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Minister Bains in a news release. “With this funding through the Exceptional Opportunities Fund, the Government of Canada is ensuring these talented Canadians have the equipment and tools to support them in their very important work.”

Infrastructure support provided through EOF will support CISWP’s efforts to communicate evidence-informed practices to combat the impact of COVID-19 on workers and workplaces. The CFI-funded communication infrastructure will help foster a community of practice to conduct research and transfer knowledge through engagement and collaboration with an expansive network of researchers, policy makers, workplace partners and industry stakeholders across Canada.

Ongoing communication opportunities made possible through the utilization of the CFI funded infrastructure will allow CISWP researchers to continuously provide up-to-date and reliable information to Canadian workforce.

The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance works in collaboration with stakeholders to improve the safety, wellness and performance of the Canadian labour force by generating knowledge, transferring research to practice and strengthening workforce development.

Led by Dr. Amin Yazdani, the Institute was launched in 2019 with the goal of positioning Canada as a global leader in empowering businesses to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing competitive economy.