FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. John’s, NL – WorkplaceNL is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Health and Safety Educator of the Year and the Safe Student Awards. This year’s recipients are Mr. Tony Pretty and Megan Coles, a teacher and student from Holy Spirit High in Conception Bay South, NL.
Mr. Pretty was chosen as Health and Safety Educator of the Year for his efforts in fostering a strong safety culture among students, faculty and staff of Holy Spirit High. Mr. Pretty uses his expertise and enthusiasm to provide knowledge, hands on experience and fun to promote health and safety for youth. For the last 13 years, he has mentored students participating in the Skills Canada Workplace Safety competition at the intermediate, provincial and national level.
Megan Coles was chosen as Safe Student Award recipient for her influence in promoting positive occupational health and safety attitudes throughout her school and the community. Megan is an Advanced Medical First Responder with St. John Ambulance and volunteers at local events providing first aid treatment. She was also the winner of the 2017 WorkplaceNL Student Safety Radio Ad Contest and travelled to Edmonton earlier this month to participate in the Skills Canada Workplace Safety Competition.
“I would like to congratulate Mr. Pretty and Ms. Coles and applaud them for helping to create a positive safety culture at Holy Spirit High,” said Dennis Hogan, CEO, WorkplaceNL. “Both of these individuals are excellent health and safety ambassadors and their expertise and enthusiasm for promoting the importance of safe work practices will have a lasting effect on their fellow faculty and students for years to come.”
“I would like to express my congratulations to both Mr. Pretty and Ms. Coles, along with all of the nominated educators and students for this year’s awards,” said the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL. “Providing meaningful experiences early in a young person’s career is key to helping them develop positive attitudes towards health and safety, and this year’s award recipients are great examples of safety leaders in this province.”
Mr. Pretty will receive $500, a plaque and $500 worth of health and safety equipment and supplies for Holy Spirit High. Megan Coles will receive a plaque and a $1,000 prize.
WorkplaceNL would like to acknowledge all nominees for this year’s award and look forward to receiving 2018/2019 nominations.
About WorkplaceNL
Serving approximately 13,000 injured workers and 19,000 employers, WorkplaceNL administers an employer-funded, no-fault insurance system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and offers compensation to injured workers and their dependents.
– 30 –
For more information contact:
Carla Riggs, Director of Communications
709.778.1590
carla.riggs@workplacenl.ca