Thank you for attending the 2024 Fitness for Duty Summit (FFDS)!

2025 Dates and loctation announced!

We are excited to announce we will be hosting the 8th Annual Fitness for Duty Summit in Toronto on October 29-30, 2025!

FFDS is an invaluable source of knowledge and practical insights for leaders in safety sensitive workplaces who are responsible for ensuring their employees are healthy and their organizations are safe. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and transform your organization.

2024 Speakers and Topics

The Cannabis Conundrum & The “Now What” Dilemma

Presented by: Dr. Melissa Snider Adler, MD, CCFP(AM), MRO (AAMRO), DABAM, FASAM,
Chief Medical Review Officer, DriverCheck. Physician, Addiction Medicine

Join Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler for an insightful look into positive drug tests in the workplace and the ever daunting “now what” question. Dr. Snider-Adler will discuss the nuanced distinctions between impairment and being under the influence, shedding light on what drug tests truly reveal. The presentation will guide you through the complexities of managing positive results, reviewing differential testing approaches, and interpreting results. From understanding the significance of various cut-off levels to navigating post-positive-test employee management, Dr. Snider-Adler offers practical strategies to empower leaders and those in charge of employee safety. Learn how to engage in effective employee education, fostering awareness and accountability. Through real-world examples, gain actionable insights to navigate the intersection of cannabis use and fitness for duty with confidence and clarity.

Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler’s Bio

Cognitive Safety: IoT’s Role in Workplace Impairment Risk Measurement and Mitigation

Presented by: P-J Barclay, President & CEO, Impirica

Get ready to join in as we dive into using scalable IoT-enabled cognitive testing to measure impairment risk in workplaces. P-J will discuss the practical use, and importance of a performance-based approach to measuring impairment risk, underscoring its utility in pinpointing risks within teams. Additionally, PJ will present real-world use cases, providing tangible examples of how these methodologies are applied in various industries.

P-J Barclay’s Bio

Follow Me I’m Right Behind You!: How To Lead & Influence Others

Presented by: Jody Urquhart, Keynote Speaker, Stand-up Comedian, Author

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. With today’s rapidly evolving workplace, strong leaders must influence and engage others. Through humor, insight and inspiration Follow Me I’m Right Behind You provides a lively, interactive look at how to inspire a spirited and resilient workforce that stays inspired, focused and productive.

In this gut splitting hilarious motivational speech you will learn:

How great leaders inspire and influence others

To create a culture of respect and appreciation with 4 keys to a great recognition culture

To increase Purpose and Vision

To create a sense of involvement & belonging

Jody Urquhart’s Bio

Real Cases, Real Solutions: A Discussion of Common Occupational Health Challenges

Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Davids, MD, CCFP, FCFP, CCBOM, MRO, (AAMRO), Dip. SportMed, CD, Corporate Medical Director, DriverCheck

We are excited to bring back the "Real Cases, Real Solutions," presentation for our 2024 FFDS. This year, DriverCheck’s Corporate Medical Director, Dr. Jonathan Davids, tackles prevalent occupational health challenges faced by HR professionals and safety managers. With the help of the audience, Dr. Davids will explore real-world case studies, effective solutions, and best practices for addressing issues like workplace absenteeism, medical surveillance, and injury management. Gain practical insights from industry experts and participate in interactive discussions to enhance workplace safety and employee well-being. Please note, some details in the case studies have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Dr. Jonathan Davids’ Bio

Duty to Accommodate: Exploring Employer and Employee Obligations when Fitness For Duty is in Question

Presenter: Melissa Roth, Partner – GOWLING WLG

Navigating the employment relationship can be challenging at the best of times.  Add in accommodation issues, and it can seem impossible to reconcile the business needs with the employee’s needs (or wants). Melissa will discuss what the law requires, including the duty to provide reasonable, not perfect, accommodation. Using case studies, this talk will also discuss the risk of accommodating against company policies or without HR knowledge, and the challenge of managing expectations, employees and health care professionals.

Melissa Roth’s Bio

From Stress to Success: Building Resiliency

Presenter: Susan Sawatzky, MA Ind Org Psych, B. Ed, CRSP, HSA

Co-Presenter: Browyn Sawatzky, BA Comm.

While stress may seem beyond our control, there are numerous strategies we can use to better manage it at work and in our daily lives.

Proactively recognizing stress and ensuring the well-being of employees is not only benefits your workers, but it also leads to a more productive and engaged workforce. Research demonstrates that every dollar invested in stress prevention is worth $2 to $6 in future savings (CFEB).

This session provides insight into multifaceted approaches for building our mental resiliency and provides a toolbox of practical strategies we can use to better manage our stress.

Susan Sawatzky and Browyn Sawatzky’s Bio

Beyond Impairment: Safety and Wellness in the Workplace

Presenter: Paul Gardiner, MA, RP, SAP – Founder & Principal, Sparkwood Group

Registered Psychotherapist and Substance Abuse Professional Paul Gardiner navigates the complex intersection of impairment, mental health, and workplace safety. We’ll look at best practice solutions for responding to substance use in the workplace, and delve into the often misunderstood world of addiction, exploring the impact in safety-sensitive environments. More importantly, we’ll provide knowledge to help leaders foster a culture of support, compassion, and wellness. Looking at the latest trends in the field, Paul will share insights and lessons learned from his experience working with hundreds of safety-sensitive workers, as well as leaders from some of Canada’s largest organizations. We'll move beyond the basics, providing strategies to tackle tough conversations, create policy buy-in, and ultimately, build stronger, safer teams.

Paul Gardiner’s Bio

Fitness for Duty Software: The Future of Program Management Technology

Presenter: Osvaldo Ros, Director of Innovation, DriverCheck

Step into a world where your fitness for duty program management is transformed by innovation. We are excited to present a special session on DriverCheck’s latest software enhancements - eManda 3.0 - and its redesigned ordering and scheduling experience boasting a new level of personalized service. These improvements are designed to streamline your workflow, reduce administrative tasks, and enhance your operational efficiency. Additionally, we’ll also explore the next frontier of software experiences, where generative AI and system integrations will open up new possibilities for interaction and service. Join Osvaldo Ros at the Fitness for Duty Summit for a glimpse into a future where technology provides better service and empowers your decisions.

Osvaldo Ros’ Bio

Uncorking Workplace Safety: Risks, Testing, and Management of Alcohol Use

Presented by: Dr. Melissa Snider Adler, MD, CCFP(AM), MRO (AAMRO), DABAM, FASAM,
Chief Medical Review Officer, DriverCheck. Physician, Addiction Medicine

Discover essential strategies for managing alcohol use in the workplace with our session, "Uncorking Workplace Safety: Risks, Testing, and Management of Alcohol Use" featuring insights from our fitness for duty expert, Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler. This engaging presentation will cover the workplace risks associated with alcohol consumption, the latest options in testing methodologies, and effective approaches for handling alcohol use disorder among employees. Attendees will gain valuable insights into creating a safer and more supportive work environment, ensuring both employee well-being and organizational efficiency. Don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the latest knowledge and tools to address this important workplace concern.

Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler’s Bio

2024 Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors and partners. We are always excited to hear from organizations who wish to work with the Fitness For Duty Summit.

If your organization wishes to sponsor the Fitness For Duty Summit or partner with us, please send an email to Chynna Sterczewski at csterczewski@drivercheck.ca.

DYNACARE

A safe and healthy workplace is critical to the success of any organization, that’s why Dynacare Workplace offers a comprehensive menu of services designed to help companies monitor the well-being of their employees, minimize their health risks, and promote wellness in the workplace.

Canada’s leader in workplace drug testing, Dynacare offers testing at facilities nationally to ensure employees are fit for duty. We offer an extensive drug testing menu with a wide range of regulated (DOT) and non-regulated testing through our SAMHSA, IITF and ISO 17025 certified laboratories.  We also offer a wide range of point of care testing kits.

You can rely on Dynacare with confidence for workplace testing solutions from accurate sample analysis to results reporting.  We are committed to being your partner for workplace testing improving the health and wellbeing of Canadians. 

For more information about Dynacare Workplace toxicology testing, please contact us at drugtesting@dynacare.ca

To learn more, visit: https://www.dynacare.ca/

Gowling WLG

With more than 1,500 legal professionals in cities worldwide, we provide our clients with in-depth experience in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, sectors and service areas to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Learn more about gowlingwlg.com

Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association - OOHNA

The Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association (OOHNA) is the voice of Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) in Ontario. We are the nurses who “Keep Workers Safe and Well” in all types of businesses. Our members are nurses with a variety of different designations including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses. OHNs understand your business needs, and employees intuitively trust us given our nursing background. OHNs affect a company’s bottom line in several ways, including but not limited to:

Implementing cost-saving measures to keep workers healthy.

Supporting and managing an organization’s health and safety programs.

Creating, supporting, and managing infectious control programs, e.g., COVID-19, etc.

Assessing opportunities to maintain workers in the workplace thus minimizing

work disruptions.

Returning injured workers to work in a timely and safe manner.

Employers advertise with OOHNA to reach a target market. 80-85% of OH Nursing jobs in Ontario are advertised with OOHNA. Many OOHNA members hold the CRSP designation in addition to the COHN(C) designation (certified occupational health nurses). OOHNA supports its members with leading-edge education, publications, networking, and mentorship.

To learn more, visit: www.oohna.on.ca

PRIVATE MOTOR TRUCK COUNCIL OF CANADA - PMTC

PMTC is your best source of information on issues affecting fleet operations.  Without the PMTC,  fleet managers could spend a great deal of their own time searching for the information they need to keep up to date with rapidly changing regulations that affect fleet operations.

Membership gives you the equivalent of an extra office – one that is a resource for transportation and labour questions, information, and issues that fleet managers must deal with. The PMTC helps you keep your fleet running smoothly and without incident.

Because our members are seldom in competition with one another they are often willing to share information or advice, and as a PMTC member you have access to the experience of those fleet managers. Our office is adept at finding other fleets willing to share experience in areas in which you have questions.

PMTC ensures that its members have current information with respect to regulatory change and management practices. We do this through a communications program that includes a monthly newsletter, a magazine, an electronic bulletin service, our website, seminars dealing with current issues, and our annual conference.  

The PMTC is well known for effectively educating government about the issues affecting the transportation industry.

To learn more, visit: www.pmtc.ca

CANADIAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Canadian Occupational Safety is the premier publication of Occupational Health & Safety in Canada. Since 1963, COS has been the leading voice in safety; delivering industry leading editorial, news, events, and multi-media solutions for safety professionals in all industries. 

To learn more, visit: www.thesafetymag.com/ca

LEAD PEDAL MEDIA - LEAD PEDAL PODCAST

Media Solutions for the Transportation Industry

To learn more, visit: www.leadpedalmedia.com

Sparkwood Group

When substance abuse affects your employees, your entire workplace suffers. Lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and safety concerns can quickly escalate.

Sparkwood Group is your national partner in addressing workplace addiction and mental health concerns. Our team of experts specializes in the assessment and treatment of safety-sensitive workers, providing comprehensive solutions to guide your employees toward recovery. From regulated (DOT) and unregulated SAP/SAE assessments to our convenient Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for alcohol and drug addiction, we offer a full suite of programs designed to create a healthier, more productive work environment. If employees return to work, the Sparkwood Relapse Prevention Program offers an additional two years of support for the worker and demonstrated due diligence to safety by the employer. As experts in safety-sensitive worker assessment, treatment, and return-to-work, we understand the unique challenges you face.

To learn more, visit: www.sparkwood.group or contact us at info@sparkwoodgroup.com

The Alberta Society of Health and Safety Professionals (ASHSP)

The Alberta Society of Health and Safety Professionals is a professional association committed to advancing the field of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Alberta. ASHSP advocates for the legal recognition and regulation of OHS as a protected profession, ensuring that only qualified individuals practice under this title. By working towards establishing a Professional Regulatory Organization (PRO), ASHSP aims to enhance public safety and trust through regulated standards of competence, ethics, and practice.

To learn more, visit: www.ashsp.ca.

Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association (AOHNA)

Since 1995, the Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association (AOHNA) has been the authority for Alberta’s Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs). AOHNA is a professional Association providing current and future OHNs with evidence-based information, networking and mentoring opportunities. We provide our members with relevant supports to guide their organizations to a healthy workforce. Through focused programs and services, AOHNA supports OHNs to provide care and programming for excellence in Occupational Health and Safety.

To learn more, visit: www.aohna.org

IMPIRICA

At Impirica, we are driven by a mission to create safer communities by fusing science with cutting-edge technology. With over 30 years of experience in cognitive performance research, we have pioneered advancements in workplace safety through real-world impairment risk assessments. Our innovative products, including the recently launched Neurapulse, deliver objective, cause-agnostic measurements of cognitive fitness, helping organizations mitigate human error and enhance their fitness-for-duty programs.

By leveraging mobile technology, AI, and machine learning, Impirica is leading the charge in addressing modern workplace challenges like cannabis-related impairment and operational risks across industries. Our solutions empower businesses to protect their workforce and elevate safety standards, ensuring every employee returns home safely.

To learn more, visit: www.impirica.tech

Omega Laboratories

Omega Laboratories, headquartered in Mogadore, Ohio with an additional, SAMHSA certified, state-of-the-art facility in Ontario, Canada provides laboratory-based advanced testing solutions to over 6,000 clients worldwide. Omega Laboratories has over two decades of experience in pioneering innovative drug testing methodologies, specializing in the detection of drugs of abuse utilizing Hair, Oral Fluid and Urine. Omega continues to innovate with the launch of their Technical Solutions portfolio that incorporates a paperless Custody & Control Form system (oCCF) in eight languages, licensure of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) designed specifically for Toxicology and powers new laboratories in countries that have demand for local service providers.

Visit www.omegalaboratories.com for more details.

Promotional Elements (PE98)

Since 1998, Promotional Elements (AKA PE98) has specialized in assisting companies and organizations build and elevate their brands with merchandise and apparel. In addition to providing the branded products themselves, we offer e-store solutions, uniform programs, years of service recognition programs, premium incentive awards and corporate gifts. As a proud partner of DriverCheck since 2019, we want to explore the ways we can help your organization use branded merchandise and apparel to promote safe working environments across all sectors. We can provide creative ways to engage your clients and team members that get results!

To learn more, visit: www.PE98.ca

Threads of Life

Threads of Life brings hope and healing to Canadian families who have been affected by a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease. It is a national charity connecting thousands of family members through one-on-one peer support, links to community support services, and the opportunity to take action to help prevent similar tragedies to other families. It is currently working with more than 3,900 family members from across Canada who have been affected by a workplace tragedy.

To learn more, click here: threadsoflife.ca

Balance: Psychology and Brain Health

Balance: Psychology and Brain Health is a team of mental health clinicians who specialize in the assessment and treatment of factors that impact brain health and healthy aging. We believe in a holistic evidence-based approach to emotional healing and physical wellness following an injury, chronic condition, and/or challenging life circumstance. Notably, we have expertise in the areas of chronic pain, brain injury, sleep, and return to work rehabilitation. We are well versed in disability claim management and collaboratively work with multidisciplinary health care providers to promote the functional, psychological, and cognitive status of each employee.

To learn more, click here: balancebrainhealth.com

Corridor Interactive

As Canada’s policy compliance training experts, Corridor focuses on helping companies foster a culture of safety compliance throughout the entire organization. Corridor delivers online training solutions to help meet your Fitness for Duty requirements featuring premium content that is always current with the regulatory environment and workplace standards. These customizable courses cover key topic areas including Alcohol & Drugs in the Workplace, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Respect in the Workplace, and Privacy Awareness in Healthcare.

DriverCheck customers have relied on Corridor since 2003 to provide online Alcohol & Drug Supervisor Training. Corridor’s compliance training strategies include:

Training content authored by Subject Matter Experts to ensure accuracy of content, legislation, legal precedent, and up-to-date content
Customize the training to add your policies and procedures, company branding and unique completion certificates
Flexible delivery options, including SCORM packages to deliver training using your LMS
Interactive training courses with frequent knowledge checks, downloadable resources and engaging assignments to help your employees derive maximum value from their training experience

Corridor's Subject Matter Experts include Barbara Butler, Alcohol and Drug SME, Jennifer Mak, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion SME, Glenn French, Respect in the Workplace SME, and Jean L. Eaton, Privacy Awareness in Healthcare SME.

To learn more, visit www.corridorinteractive.com

View our Speakers’ Bios

If you have any questions, or are interested in being a sponsor, please contact Chynna Sterczewski at csterczewski@drivercheck.ca.