IWC news

IWC is hosting their monthly meeting for injured & ill workers on Wednesday, Sep. 24 from 1pm – 3pm. The topic: New research presentation: how psychological injuries are treated at the WSIB and return to work

Presenter: Nikolai McLeod, Osgoode Hall law student

Following that, we will all discuss WSIB’s new billion dollar rebates to employers, and our ongoing “Age 65” WSIB age discrimination campaign. You are welcome to join for just one section, or to attend both!

We will return to in-person meetings soon, but this month is online or by phone only.

You will need to register at tinyurl.com/IWSept24th, after which an email will be sent to you with the details.

The Women of Inspiration is a group of women who have been affected by work injury and gather together for support, knowledge sharing, and company.

The Women of Inspiration Injured Workers’ Group is meeting on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, at 10:30am, and we hope you are able to join us! Light refreshments and TTC tokens to be provided.

Feel free to share this invite to other women who you think might be interested. If you would like to get in touch about the meeting, feel free to call IWC and ask for Kathrin or Audrey: (416) 461-2411.

You can attend the meeting either in person at IWC’s office at 815 Danforth Ave, Suite 411 (4th floor, there is an elevator) or online via zoom. If you plan to join us in person, please let us know so we can plan snacks.

Register to Attend the meeting via zoom: https://tinyurl.com/SeptWOI

Who Killed Sir William?

In the latest episode of IWC’s podcast (formerly InjuredWorkerCast)  Tebasum Durrani holds a discussion with  Steve Mantis, co-author with Marion Endicott of  Who Killed Sir William?  – “a reflective and analytical look at what happened to the original vision behind Ontario’s workers’ compensation system as envisioned by its founder Sir William Meredith over 100 years ago and why that matters more than ever today….

The book unpacks a bold research project called the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury which brought injured worker community activists and university researchers together to document the long-term impacts of work injuries economically, socially and mentally – and trained injured workers to be public speakers for self-advocacy…

So in some sense this episode isn’t just about a book.  It’s also a blueprint for activism because in a time when benefits are being clawed back for injured workers,  when older workers are being cut off benefits just because they hit age 65 and when the system seems stacked against the very people it was built to protect,  this story reminds us that research can be radical and community-led activism is essential.”

Tune in to listen here: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube

Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic is hosting their monthly injured & ill worker meeting on Wednesday, July 30th, 1pm – 3pm.

This will be a special meeting for those wanting to speak up against WSIB’s discriminatory practice of cutting off benefits for injured workers when they turn 65. This policy affects countless injured workers across the province as they are driven further into poverty all because of their age. Learn more about this campaign at End the Age Cutoff.

You can attend online or in person at the IWC office (815 Danforth Ave. Suite 411, Toronto). Click here to register if you want to attend online or by phone, after which an email will be sent to you with the details. If you are attending in person, you can reply to this email or call the office (416) 461-2411 to let them know that you’re attending!

Learn more about workers’ compensation Age 65 issues – and let’s talk about challenging WSIB’s unfair retirement benefits system (relevant to workers of all ages). As usual the meeting will start with Know Your Rights educational presentation, followed by group discussion.

Join us Wednesday June 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person at the Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic office (815 Danforth, 4th Floor, Toronto), or by Zoom/telephone. Register  here ( www.tinyurl.com/IWJune25th ) to get the link.

The first hour will be an educational presentation on workers’ compensation age 65 issues and the challenges of the WSIB ‘s retirement benefits system:

• What does the Act say about older injured workers?
• How does the Act impact older injured workers?
• In what ways does the Act need to be changed for older injured workers?
• What laws exist in other provinces for older injured workers?

Then at 2 pm – Drop-In Organizing Meeting – What’s next?

For additional background on age 65 issues, see also:

• IWC Fact sheet: Age discrimination and the WSIB  (June. 19, 2025) – pdf | Word
• Interview with IWC lawyer John McKinnon in episode #10 of the podcast Injured Workers Legal Side with Richard & Paul)

Executive Director John McKinnon was recently guest speaker on episode #10 of Injured Workers Legal Side with Richard & Paul. This episode of the podcast series hosted by Richard Fink and Paul Taylor addressed issues faced by older injured workers.

A lawyer with a long history of advocating against age discrimination in the workers’ compensation system, John discusses here the reasons behind a new joint legal challenge to Ontario’s current legislation which limits workers’ compensation to injured workers at age 65, and the development of law and policy behind the WSIB’s inadequate retirement benefit which forces many into poverty.

• Listen or view Episode 10 here on Youtube.