A new coin will be unveiled this month to commemorate the passing of legislation that includes workplace stressors and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder under P.E.I.’s Workers Compensation Act.
The Paramedic Association of Prince Edward Island (PAPEI) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3324 will unveil the Commemorative Challenge Coin in celebration of Bill 102, which was proclaimed on May 31.
“This is very exciting and will be a token of appreciation for our members and all the time that both PAPEI and CUPE Local 3324 spent working on this legislation,” said Ryan O’Meara, president of PAPEI.
The official release of the coin will be held Sept. 8 at PAPEI’s Breaking Barriers: First Responder Mental Health Symposium in Charlottetown.
“Although the new legislation is not perfect and does have some ‘fail safes’ in it — i.e. only recognizes PTSD diagnostics from psychiatrists and psychologists — we are very relieved that we have some law to compensate all workers on Prince Edward Island for work-related stressors and PTSD,” said CUPE Local 3324 president Jason Woodbury. “I believe this commemorative coin will remind our members and all workers on P.E.I. that we need to continue lobbying efforts to seek improvements, like to recognize physicians’ capacity to make PTSD diagnoses and other mental health supports for workers across P.E.I.”
The coins will be revealed with PC MLA Jamie Fox, a former police officer, who brought forward the private member’s bill.
Everyone registered for the event will receive one of the limited edition coins. Registration is open to all first responders, family of first responders, allied health professionals and the general public.
Registration can be completed through the PAPEI website Paramedicassociationpei.com.
