Informed and confident workers play a key role in the pursuit of safer, healthier work. Though without employers acting on their significant obligations, lives remain at risk.

This was the message delivered by many who submitted applications for the 23rd edition of the Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) Student Scholarship Contest.

Applicants were asked to produce a video, design a poster or write an essay exploring why employers and supervisors have the most significant responsibilities to protect workers. Equally important they were to explain why it’s important for workers to understand and insist on their legal health and safety rights. They were also asked to provide insight about how these responsibilities and rights are interconnected.

“Our role in the occupational health and safety prevention system is to enlighten and empower workers, their representatives, supervisors and other workplace parties to act on their obligations and rights,” explains Andrew Mudge, WHSC executive director. “This scholarship initiative is a natural and critical extension for us considering most students are in the workforce or soon will be. The hope is that knowledge gained through the development of their submissions will help prompt the next generation of advocates and efforts to ensure workplaces are safer and healthier for all.”

Applicants were also required to provide details of their volunteer activities aimed at improving the lived experiences of fellow students and/or members of their community, both in their own words and in a letter of recommendation from a teacher, other educator or representative of a community organization.

“I am inspired by the leadership exhibited by all applicants to support and uplift their fellow students, members of their community, and in some cases broader efforts for those in need in other nations,” explains Mudge. “I am also confident their core values will see many continue advocating for social justice or related causes.”

The combination of the two application elements (scores weighted ¾ for the video/essay/poster and ¼ for volunteer activities) determined seven $2,000 awards along with a top award of $6,000 and a second-place winner receiving $4,000. WHSC established the top award in honour of Clifford Pilkey, WHSC’s founder, long-time board member, and former president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. The second place scholarship honours the memory of Fred Upshaw, a former president of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, social justice leader, and long-time WHSC board member.

Applicants recognize preventable suffering is achievable

The Clifford Pilkey Scholarship was awarded to Silvana Garcia-Otero, a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Oakville. Silvana produced a video presenting a clear, and all too familiar scenario, where many are asked to start work without ever being informed of hazards or provided adequate safety training or protective equipment. The result, as she explained, is worker injury. More importantly, her video went on to show how an injury could have been prevented had the employer met their legal obligation to protect the health and well-being of the worker including provision of training, competent supervision and safer working conditions.

The essay submitted by Fred Upshaw Scholarship recipient Azka Hassan Siddiqui, a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, also offered important insight into how best to pursue safer, healthier work. Perhaps most impressive is Azka’s understanding who truly controls the aspects of work critical to safeguarding workers. Specifically, she explained, “Employers decide what training to provide, which protective equipment to purchase, how work processes are organized, and whether safety concerns are addressed or ignored.”

She went on to explain, “In my future career, I hope to be part of the solution by designing safety into systems from the ground up, advocating for comprehensive workplace education, and creating environments where asking questions is celebrated, not discouraged.”

Seven additional worthy candidates were also awarded scholarships including:

• Alia Azzouzi, graduate of Merivale High School, Ottawa
• Anisha Edwardes, Castlebrooke Secondary School, Brampton
• Briana Sofia Esteves, St. Joseph’s College, Toronto
• Olivia Faigenboym, Stephen Lewis Secondary School, Concord
• Prabvir Grewal, Chinguacousy Secondary School, Brampton
• Raihan Mansuri, Maple High School, Vaughan
• Sarah Chen, John Fraser Secondary School, Mississauga.

Meet all the 2025 WHSC Student Scholarship Competition winners.

This annual scholarship contest is open to Ontario high school students entering full-time or part-time studies at a publicly funded Ontario post-secondary institution. Please keep an eye out for details of the 2026 scholarship contest to be posted online and promoted through various WHSC media channels in spring 2026.

Please note: No portion of government grants from employer WSIB assessments or WHSC revenue generation support this important awareness initiative. All student scholarships are financed solely through funds raised at the Clifford Pilkey Memorial Golf Fundraiser. WHSC facilitates this fundraising event.

WHSC role in support of safer, healthier work

As Ontario’s only official government-designated training centre, WHSC delivers hundreds of prevention-focused occupational health and safety training programs to workplaces in all sectors of the economy. In some cases, this training is mandatory ranging from Certification training for joint health & safety committee members and GHS WHMIS to supervisor awareness and competency and working at heights.

WHSC also offers a wide range First Aid training courses. To help workplaces meet requirements for this life-saving training, scheduled and in-house First Aid training is available at a 30 per cent discount when booked before December 19.

Further, WHSC offers an extensive collection of information resources including a number aimed at students and other new and young workers.

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC Training Services Representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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