The Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group is holding a virtual meeting on March 24, 2026, to help residents in Thunder Bay, Ontario, understand how the quality of a job impacts someone returning to work after an injury.
Guest speaker Dr. Faraz Vahid Shahidi from the Institute for Work & Health will discuss research showing that workers in insecure jobs face nearly three times the risk of injury. These jobs are often defined by low wages, temporary contracts, and irregular hours that can make it harder for a worker to report safety issues or recover fully.
People living in Northwestern Ontario deal with unique hurdles when they try to get back to work, including limited local job options and high travel costs for medical assessments. The session aims to address how these regional challenges and poor job quality can slow down a person’s recovery and long-term health.
The volunteer-run non-profit hosts these sessions every Tuesday to provide peer support and education for families affected by workplace illnesses or deaths. This work follows the group’s February 2025 proposal for the Meredith Act, which suggests a new system for better income and retraining benefits for workers across the province.
