May 29, 2026
St. John’s, NL – WorkplaceNL is proud to recognize five outstanding students as the 2026 winners of its Student Safety Video/Radio Ad Contest.
Lucas Miles of Bayview Academy, St. George’s is the winner of the 2026 radio ad category. The winning entry, The Safety Rap, highlights the importance of reporting workplace hazards and wearing personal protective equipment when necessary. The ad will be aired on radio stations throughout the province.
The winners of the 2026 video category are Mia Kelly, Leah Kelly, Mylie Cassell and Meredith Lush, students at Elwood Regional High School, Deer Lake. Their winning entry, The Importance of Speaking Up, showcases workers’ rights, while highlighting employers’ responsibility to provide appropriate occupational health and safety training to new workers. Their video was submitted as Newfoundland and Labrador’s entry in the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s (CCOHS) national Focus on Safety Youth Video Contest.
Open to grade 7-12 junior and senior high students, our annual Student Safety Video/Radio Ad Contest encourages students to share their thoughts on workplace safety and inspire others to prevent injury. Winners receive a $1,000 cash prize and plaque for their school.
“Congratulations to Lucas, Mia, Leah, Mylie, and Meredith on their outstanding work. Their creativity sends a strong message about the importance of speaking up, knowing your rights, and making safety a priority from day one on the job,” said the Honourable Mike Goosney, Minister of Government Services, Minister of Labour, Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL and MHA for Humber-Gros Morne. “I’m truly impressed to see young people from communities across our province, including from my district of Humber-Gros Morne, leading the way in building a strong culture of workplace safety. Initiatives like WorkplaceNL’s annual Student Safety Video and Radio Ad Contest empower young people with the knowledge and confidence they need to help build safer workplaces across Newfoundland and Labrador.”
“Congratulations to Lucas, Mia, Leah, Mylie and Meredith for their award-winning ads, and to all entrants for their creative work showcasing the importance of workplace safety” said Elizabeth Lane, CEO, Workplace NL. “Their creativity and passion inspire us to continue engaging with young leaders like them. They are the future of workplace safety culture, and their ideas remind us how important it is to build safer workplaces for generations to come.”
Young workers, aged 15-24 years, are typically at higher risk of injury on the job. WorkplaceNL continues to invest in programs that engage youth to become more aware of workplace safety and injury prevention, including the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) 3203 high school course available throughout the province and the free Online Young Worker OHS Course. Young people interested in learning more about safety are encouraged to apply for the Youth Safety Training Bursary.
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Learn more
The Importance of Speaking Up (video contest winner)
The Safety Rap (radio contest winner)
Online Young Worker OHS Course
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About WorkplaceNL
Serving approximately 230,000 workers and 17,000 employers, WorkplaceNL administers an employer-funded, no-fault workers’ compensation system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and offers compensation to injured workers and their dependents.
Media contact:
Carla Riggs, Director of Communications and Engagement, WorkplaceNL
709.778.1590 or [email protected]
Nicolle Iovanov, Government Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709.725.2191 or [email protected]