One of the many wonderful things about the passage of time is being able to look back on the years and reflect upon how events and people have influenced our lives. For Maureen Shaw, who has worked passionately her whole life to improve occupational health and safety, it’s easy to look back at her life journey and connect the dots.
Growing up in Chemainus, Maureen’s childhood memories are filled with experiences of strikes for unsafe working conditions and fair pay by the IWA Forest Industry workers at the mill.
“It seemed to my young self this was a constant in our lives,” says Maureen. “The feelings of being exploited and not heard caused social unrest, violence on the streets, and at home. Critical injuries in the mill were just a part of our lives. When there was a critical injury, the screeching siren at the mill would sound and everyone sat still wondering who it was. I recall feeling sick, hated the violence and was determined to leave it behind.”
When Maureen became an adult with children of her own, she began to advocate for the rights of learning-disabled children and for students who were labelled for the future by the policy of vocational streaming.
“Research showed that kids were streamed into ‘shop’ and then to the workplace, where they could be at higher risk of injury,” she says.
At that time, Maureen was appointed to the Tripartite Occupational Health & Safety Council of Alberta (the first woman on the board and the first woman Chair), where she spent six years advising the Minister responsible for Occupational Health & Safety and Workers’ Compensation.
Subsequently, she was appointed by the federal government as the first woman to Chair the Council of Governors of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, before moving on to become CEO of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) in Toronto.
Maureen continues to passionately believe in the framework she helped develop during her time with the IAPA, which acknowledged that a siloed approach to safety was not making the difference in deaths, injuries and the wellbeing of people, and an integrated approach was needed.
“My definition and belief is simple: Change and success are only going to happen when we have positive relationships in our workplaces,” says Maureen. “The workplace is about people. We hire the whole person, not just their skills.”
She also helped to form Threads of Life, a support organization for people who had lost a loved one in workplace incidents. She didn’t just approach this work with her professional hat on – she also had the personal experience of her son being critically injured in a workplace injury, resulting in the loss of his leg.
“I more than understand and share the emotional pain of the thousands of injury survivors and families every year. We need to stop the pain and the incredible losses to our communities and our economy,” says Maureen.
Through her extensive career, Maureen has received national and international recognition and was the recipient of several esteemed awards, including the Canada 125 Medal and the Inaugural Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
“I am grateful for all the opportunities life has given me,” she says. “A few years ago, I was lecturing at Vatican University in Vatican City. I got a cold chill as I looked around at the audience, in this amazing holy place. What was a little girl from Chemainus doing in a place like this? I was there because of all the people who helped me, who inspired me, who believed in me, who loved me.”
Now living back in Victoria, Maureen sees her current role as an adviser, mentor and supporter to the new generation of leaders and professionals and is a member and advisor on several boards for health and safety organizations.
“I enjoy mentoring others and watching them grow,” she says. “I feel very fulfilled when I see ideas I have helped nurture come to life through others. If sharing my stories and engaging people in conversation is inspiring others, I am very happy to do that and thankful if it makes a difference.”
Maureen is also passionate about the arts – a lover of music, especially jazz, Broadway musicals and the classics. She loves books, especially local and Canadian history, and political intrigue, both fiction and non-fiction.
“I very much enjoy Turner Classic Movies, the Victoria Symphony, the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and local theatre. Most of my art is from places that bring memories; I can walk around my home and remember places and people,” she says.
So it would follow that Maureen is also a member of the board for the Canadian Heritage Arts Society (which owns CCPA).
“I love and am passionate about the college and its students who inspire me constantly with their work ethic, creativity and sensitivity to each other and commitment to excellence. It gives me joy each day,” she says.
During these extraordinary times, with coronavirus, political unrest and economic uncertainty, for Maureen, the best way through is to have a purpose for the day – even if it’s making sourdough bread.
“I stay positive, as I see this as a time of opportunity for change and transformation in our society,” she says. “Throughout history, following every major global event – 1918-20 Spanish flu, world wars – profound changes occur in society. I am hopeful we will use this opportunity to be kinder and to support each other. And we see this happening each day.”
“I see this as an opportunity to have a recovery that has meaningful focus on the environment, building on our strengths as a country, a province and a city,” Maureen continues. “I can recall, in my life, times of protest and noise. These were periods of profound change. Some of the things we hold dear, such as our medical health system, with all its warts, is one example. I have hope that the generation we are mentoring will be the ones who ensure this change is positive. I have hope for the future. We need to listen intently and mentor and support them all the way.”
Maureen also believes that workplace health and safety, including mental health and wellbeing, has never been higher on the public agenda and hopes we will not backslide as businesses slowly reopen through the next year.
“This is one change that must be maintained for us to reduce and hopefully eliminate the death, disease and life-altering injuries in our workplaces and communities,” she says.
With Maureen’s continuing mentorship, it’s likely it will.
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