The 2023 conference will feature a great lineup of keynote speakers (more info below) and workshops specific to workplace safety and health committee co-chairs.
Hotel Accommodations:
A block of guestrooms is available at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre at a Group Rate of $144 plus applicable taxes. To make arrangements, please contact the hotel directly at 204-786-4801 and reference SAFE Work Manitoba Conference or Group # 269636. All guests are responsible for their own room charges.
Register today!
2023 CLC Agenda.pdf (subject to change)
Session Descriptions.pdf (subject to change)
Keynote Speakers:
Michael "Pinball" Clemons
The Importance of Teamwork
Toronto Argonauts former coach and player Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons is a man of unquestionable character and spirit. Not only is he renowned for his achievements on the football field, but Pinball’s aptitude for motivational speaking is also undeniable. His presentations are at once captivating and empowering. He exemplifies the capabilities of teamwork and leadership while demonstrating what it means to beat the odds. Michael’s tireless community involvement and participation in countless charitable causes exemplify the qualities he possesses, which are so rarely found in today’s professional athletes. His presentations are at once captivating and empowering, and clearly demonstrate the capabilities of teamwork. Clemons will share his past experiences to illustrate how people can overcome obstacles and achieve success. Being just 5 feet, 6 inches tall and becoming a football superstar is quite exceptional. In his deeply moving and inspirational talk, he will speak about personal perseverance and the importance of teamwork, which is relevant to any industry.
To Canadians, the name “Pinball” stands for remarkable athletic talent, outstanding sportsmanship and a commitment to the community.
Michael "Pinball" Clemons
Born and raised in Florida, the William and Mary economics graduate began his career in the CFL in 1989 after a brief stint in the National Football League with Kansas City and Tampa Bay. As a player, Clemons compiled a brilliant CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts; a three-time Grey Cup Champion with 12 all-time team records to his credit, he also made pro-football record for most career combined yards of 25,396. On September 15, 2000, Pinball hung up his Argo’s jersey after 12 seasons to take the reigns as Head Coach where he then won another Grey Cups in 2004, making him the first Black head coach to reach & win a Grey Cup championship. He subsequently won two more Grey Cups in 2012 and 2017 as Vice Chairman.
Known for a personality that is as electric as his style of play on the field was, Michael redefines the meaning of community involvement and has been recognized by many organizations for his tireless work with charities, schools and other community groups.
After retiring from the football field, Michael founded The Pinball Clemons Foundation, providing marginalized youth with educational resources and options to integrate into the mainstream of society. In 2021, Michael along with his wife, Diane Lee, was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments and remarkable contributions they made through the Foundation.
Michael’s presentations are at once captivating and empowering. He inspires audiences by demonstrating what it means to beat the odds and encourages listeners to use teamwork to achieve their goals. Mike Clemons’ football career was characterized by incredible perseverance and great skill. At only 5 feet 6 inches and 170 pounds, he won against all odds. He succeeded while others predicted failure and gave more when less would have been satisfactory. “All Heart” is the story of a young man guided by fierce determination.
Michael is an athlete with true character, an incredibly generous spirit and a quiet dignity that shines on and off the field. He tells how his upbringing has shaped him, how his steadfast faith has always guided him and how his commitment to his team and his community is much more than just a professional veneer – but a deeply held feeling of true spirit and belonging.
Shannon Gander, Life Work Wellness
Thriving at Work: Key Factors for Resilient, Engaged & Connected Teams
Around the globe, employees and leaders are trying to figure out how to revive and thrive while still adjusting after a time of uncertainty. Staff continue to feel wired and tired while trying to fully show up, do great work and get along. More than ever, psychological health and safety is foundational to workplace well-being and to flourishing into the future. Together, let’s dive into key psychosocial factors for attention, especially now, and how to integrate these into our daily interactions in support of employee well-being, engagement and overall team resilience. Let’s make sense of what’s happening in our bodies, in our organizations and the shared responsibility of what we can do next!
Shannon Gander, BPE, CAC, CM
Shannon Gander is nationally recognized as a leading expert in mental health and resiliency. She has worked with hundreds of companies over the past 25 years where workplace culture and unhealthy stress has contributed to high rates of disability and staff turnover. Shannon founded Life Work Wellness to share leading best practice information on how to strategically invest in mental health practices that have the biggest impact on employee well-being.
Leveraging her dynamic background in mental health, conflict mediation and corporate wellness, Shannon inspires her audience to engage in daily behaviours that have immediate positive results on themselves, their workplace teams and the people they go home to at the end of the day.
When Shannon is not presenting or consulting in organizations, she works in her private counselling practice, here is Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Cindy Klassen, Olympian Speed Skater
Perseverance – Striving for Excellence
In this keynote, Cindy will share what it means to bring perseverance into the workplace. Starting with purpose, she will uncover its significance in our health/well-being, contentment, motivation/commitment and confidence. She will speak to the courage it takes to work with purpose and how that purpose can change throughout our careers. She will share on the importance of using our time wisely and how our attitudes can keep us grounded with a healthy perspective on what matters most.
Cindy Klassen
Cindy Klassen is a Canadian Olympic star. At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Cindy, a Winnipeg native who lives in Calgary, became the first Canadian to win five medals at a single Winter Olympics. She won Gold in the 1500m, Silver in the 1000m, Silver in the Team Pursuit, Bronze in the 5000m and Bronze in the 3000m.
Cindy also captured an Olympic Bronze medal in 2002 making her one of the most decorated Canadian Olympic athletes in history, with a total of six Olympic medals.
Building on the momentum of her 2002 Olympic success, Cindy put together one of the finest seasons ever by a Canadian athlete on the World Cup speed skating circuit. She became the first Canadian in 27 years to win the overall title at the 2003 World Allround Speed Skating Championships. A month earlier, she finished second overall at the World Sprint Championships – despite not being considered a speed skating “sprinter”. It was the first time in 15 years a skater had won overall medals at both events in the same year. Cindy capped off a remarkable year by clinching the 1500m World Cup Title.
In 2005 after a come back from a serious injury, Cindy was again on top of the podium. For a second time she won the 1500m World Cup Title and became a double Gold medallist at the World Championships winning both the 1500m and 3000m events.
In 2006 after a sensational Olympics, Cindy went on to capture the Overall World Cup Title in the 3000m distance and won the World Allround Championships with a golden sweep of all four distances. Cindy’s accomplishments earned her the 2006 Lou Marsh Award as Canadian Athlete of the Year.
Before Cindy was hooked by speed skating, she showed promise in a number of sports. She competed for Canada in In-line Skating at the 1999 PanAm Games and before that was a member of Canada’s National Junior Women’s Hockey Team in 1996. As a 15-year-old, Cindy competed for Canada at the 1994 Commonwealth Games as a member of the women’s Field Lacrosse Team. Cindy was a Member of Team Manitoba at three Canada Games (1995 women’s hockey, 1999 speed skating, 2001 cycling).
As a six-time Olympic medallist and four-time World Champion, the Canadian Mint featured Cindy on a quarter as part of their 2010 Olympic memories edition. She held the world record in the 3000m for 13 years. Cindy is a 2017 inductee into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
