Creating culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, evidence-based tools for Bill C-65

Information on Bill C-65

St. Mary’s University is leading a project that will use evidence-based knowledge and a co-creation approach to develop sector-specific tools and resources related to harassment and violence prevention for diverse employees in federally regulated sectors, including women, Indigenous, visible minorities, minority language speakers and people with disabilities.

The project will incorporate culturally sensitivity, diversity and inclusivity principles, trauma-informed practices, restorative justice and the science of behaviour change to help First Nations Communities and other federally regulated sectors such as air transportation, banks, and port service develop sector-specific tools and resources related to harassment and violence prevention and restoration.
This information sheet will provide an overview of the project objectives and phases, how groups can participate and be engaged and information about the project team.

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the project are to:

• Improve access to sector-specific tools and resources, including best practices, related to harassment and violence prevention;
• Ensure co-created tools are culturally sensitive and incorporate diversity and inclusivity, trauma-informed as well as restorative justice
• principles and the science of behaviour change;
• Support employers in implementing healthy management practices in the sectors; and,
• Increase awareness of health and safety regulations in the sectors.
  
  
  

PROJECT PHASES OR ACTIVITIES

The project will occur over three years and include the following phases or activities:

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Throughout the project, two key community engagement and participation opportunities will help ensure the materials are trauma-informed and culturally relevant. We seek community engagement from diverse employees, including women, Indigenous, visible minorities, disabilities, and English or French-language minority communities. These community engagement opportunities include:

• Participating in a facilitated co-creation model which empowers participants to develop culturally meaningful tools and resources to prevent violence and harassment. (Phase 2)
• Engage in pilot testing of the online platform, which will deliver various types of learning, including live sessions, self-serve and sector-specific tools and resources. (Phase 5)

RESEARCH PROJECT TEAM

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley is a Registered Psychologist in BC, AB, ON and NS in Clinical and Organizational Psychology. She specializes in facilitating change for individuals, teams, leaders and organizations. She is a senior facilitator providing healthy workplace interventions. She has extensive applied experience and research knowledge on behaviour change, team functioning, conflict resolution, workplace restoration, diversity, equity, inclusion, trauma-informed workplaces, restorative justice, and organizational change. She also leads all research projects. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine with cross-appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Surgery at Dalhousie University in Family Medicine. She is an Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary’s University in the Department of Psychology and the Chief of Research for the Howatt HR Applied Workplace Research Institute. She has the lived experience of being a bi-racial daughter of an Asian immigrant. She strives to make training meaningful and safe using evidence-based methods and processes.

Ron Pizzo

Mr. Ron Pizzo is a labour and employment lawyer. He is also a certified facilitator, mediator, and coach. Not solely confined to the traditional role of a lawyer, he expands his horizons as a facilitator, mediator, and coach. His investment in the ACT Prosocial Communication process underscores a commitment to methodical, evidence-driven solutions to rectify the pervasive issues of toxic workplace conflict. When avenues seem exhausted and discord persists, many find solace in seeking Ron’s judicious counsel to recalibrate and harmonize the workplace, to move beyond the conflict. His strategic advice and coaching, rooted in evidence and reason, has been the cornerstone in guiding leaders through intricate, often tumultuous situations. Since 2015 he has been recognized by his peers as being among the best labour and employment lawyers in Canada.

Dr. Debra Gilin

Dr. Gilin is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist as well as a member of the CN Centre for Occupational Health and Safety at Saint Mary’s University. She is an expert in what fosters productive and healthy versus unproductive and unhealthy conflict in the workplace. She has decades of applied research focused on incivility in the workplace, organizational conflict, negotiation, and mediation, the  implications of conflict for work stress and well-being, how personality and thinking styles influence conflict handling, inter- and intra- group conflict dynamics, and organizational change interventions.

Dr. Bill Howatt

Dr. Howatt is the founder and CEO of Howatt HR, Sc, BA., MEd, MSc, PhD, EdD, Post Doctorate Behavioral Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. He has 30 years of experience in workplace mental health and understanding how employees and employers can work together to reduce mental harm and promote mental health in the workplace. He is known internationally and is one of Canada’s top experts in workplace psychological health and safety. Dr. Bill is on the CSA OHS Standards Steering Committee and Chair of the CSA Standard Z1008: Management of Substance Related Impairment in the Workplace. He is the co-creator of the Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards. Dr. Bill has published over 50 books, such as The Globe and Mail bestseller, The Cure for Loneliness, and Stop Hiding and Start Living. He is a regular contributor to Talent Canada, OHS Magazine, and The Chronicle Herald and has published over 350 articles with The Globe and Mail.

Troy Winters

Troy Winters is a Senior Officer, Health and Safety for CUPE. As a Certified Registered Safety Professional, Troy works out of the National office in Ottawa, assisting local unions and their staff with health and safety related issues and concerns, as well as providing guidance on broader health and safety policies for the union. Troy represents labour as he chairs or participates on numerous international, national and provincial committees and working groups, including being the Chair of Canadian Standards Association Strategic Steering Committee for Health and Safety and the Convener of the technical committee reviewing the global OHS management standard ISO 45001. He has also completed the certified investigator training from HRPA.

The work for Bill C-65 is proudly funded by the Government of Canada.