Workplace Mental Health: Leadership in Action Conference

Local voices. Local insights. Local solutions.

December 1 and 2, 2026 from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

RFDA Gathering Hall in Thunder Bay (570 Syndicate Ave. S.)

Registration opens October 20, 2026

About the Conference

The Workplace Mental Health: Leadership in Action conference is presented by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and the Superior Mental Wellness @ Work Advisory Group. Working together, we hope to:

Equip workplace leaders with the knowledge and skills to foster mentally healthy and resilient workplaces
Strengthen leaders' ability to recognize and respond to workplace mental health challenges
Build leaders' confidence to take meaningful action for mental health within their sphere of influence at work
Share practical strategies and evidence-informed information
Provide a forum for the safe and open exchange of ideas
Foster opportunities for networking

Overall, the conference promises to offer local insights, strategies and solutions for promoting and protecting employee mental health. Participants will leave with feeling empowered to lead positive change and equipped with valuable resources to make it happen. All of this is for FREE! Don't miss this amazing opportunity. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! (Note the registration deadline is November 22, 2026.)

Who is the Conference for?

Formal and informal workplace leaders from Thunder Bay and across the District are invited to attend this conference. This could include:

Team leaders
Supervisors or Managers
Senior executives
Business owners
Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee members
Wellness Committee members/champions
Psychological Heath & Safety Committee members
Informal front-line leaders
Workplace champions for mental health

Conference Agenda

Day 1: Tuesday, December 1

Registration begins at 8:30 am with the formal conference agenda beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch is scheduled from noon to 1:00 pm. The final session of the day will wrap up at 3:00 pm. Participants are invited to network and browse tradeshow booths until 4:00 pm.

The focus of this day is to build an understanding of the local context, establish the foundations of a mentally healthy workplace, and clarify the role of leaders for creating respectful, inclusive and psychologically safer workplaces.

Sessions for Day 1 include:

Our Workplace, Our Community: A Local Perspective on Mental Health in the Workplace (presenter: Dr. Vicki Kristman from the EPID@Work Research Insititute)
Explore the local workplace context and why mental health matters for employees, leaders, organizations, and communities in this region.
Everyday Leadership: Communication, Conflict & Workplace Respect (presenter: Ashley Jellema from Koru Training and Consulting)
Develop practical approaches to communication and conflict resolution while addressing harassment, microaggressions and behaviours that can undermine workplace psychological safety and wellbeing.
Leadership in Action: Understanding Our Role in Supporting Employee Mental Health (presenter: Krystina Hunter from K. Hunter Workplace Consulting)
Explore the roles and responsibilities of leaders including recognizing signs of workplace mental health challenges, responding appropriately, understanding boundaries, and connecting employees with appropriate supports.
Culture Matters: Building Supportive, Respectful & Inclusive Workplaces (presenter: Kate Darling from Darling Organizational Psychology)
Explore the foundations of a mentally healthy workplace including respect, inclusion, psychological safety, workplace culture and the conditions that support employee wellbeing.
Mental Health at Work: Let’s Talk About It (presented by local workplace champions for mental health at work)
Hear from local business leaders on their perspectives and practical advice for workplace mental health in this region

Day 2: Wednesday, December 2

The focus of this day will be on moving from awareness to action by strengthening workplace connections, building resilience, recognizing chronic stress and burnout, learning from real workplace challenges, and identifying concrete leadership actions.

Connection Matters: Lateral Kindness and How to Strengthen Workplace Connections (presenter: Summer Wawia from Muk Kee Queh Training and Consulting)
Explore how everyday interactions, kindness, belonging, and peer relationships can contribute to healthier, more connected workplaces.
Recognizing the Warning Signs: Understanding Chronic Stress & Burnout (presenter: Crystal Dunning from Thunder Bay Counselling)
Examine chronic workplace stress and burnout, including contributing factors, warning signs, prevention, and how leaders can recognize and respond early. Explore the unique impact of leader burnout and practical strategies for supporting personal wellbeing while fostering a healthier, more sustainable workplace.
Building Capacity: Supporting Employee Resiliency (presenter: Kate Darling from Darling Organizational Psychology)
Explore resilience, protective factors and practical ways leaders can help individuals and teams build capacity to navigate workplace pressures and change.
Workplace Mental Health Solutions Exchange: Idea Generation on Challenges, Solutions & Lessons Learned (facilitated by Krystina Hunter from K. Hunter Workplace Consulting and Kate Darling from Organizational Psychology)
Your priorities shape the conversation. This interactive session will focus on the workplace mental health challenges most relevant to participants, offering opportunities to exchange ideas, explore practical approaches, and get answers to specific questions about the issues you’re navigating in your workplace.

Download the full conference program (PDF) Coming soon!

Register starting October 20, 2026!

Conference Fee

Attendance at this 2-day event is free! There is no registration fee thanks to the generous contributions of our conference sponsors and partners. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For Further Information

Please email workplacewellness@tbdhu.com for any questions about the conference.