Our Story
The Beginning
The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness, and Performance (CISWP) was founded in 2019, where it began as a small but ambitious research institute with a bold vision: to transform how Canada understands work by studying it where it truly happens, on actual worksites, with actual workers, in actual conditions, resulting in Better Data. Safer Work.
Incubated by Conestoga College, CISWP built its foundation on ecologically valid, field‑applied research, supported by a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving worker safety, wellness, and performance. CISWP began with a simple but powerful idea: to understand work, you must go where work actually happens.
Infrastructure Development
As CISWP’s work gained momentum, so did its growth. In 2023, CISWP launched two state‑of‑the‑art research laboratories—the Skilled Trades Applied Research and Training (START) Lab and the Skilled Trades Research in Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) Lab. These labs established CISWP as a national leader in biomechanics, anthropometry, exposure science, and applied occupational research.
In 2025, CISWP expanded further with the launch of its Mobile Research Labs, funded by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). These mobile labs enabled researchers to collect high‑quality, real‑world data across Ontario, from construction sites to paramedic services and beyond, strengthening CISWP’s signature field‑to‑lab‑to‑field methodology.
Over the years, CISWP secured competitive funding from Canada Foundation for Innovation, Tri‑Council agencies, WSIB, and multiple federal and provincial funders, reflecting national recognition of the Institute’s scientific excellence, innovation, and public value. These investments fueled major research programs that continue to transform the future of workplace health and safety in Canada.
The Present
A landmark milestone occurred in early 2026, when CISWP officially became an independent, not‑for‑profit research institute, transitioning out of the College while maintaining a strong collaborative relationship. On March 2, 2026, CISWP fully completed its operational transition, moving all research activities, infrastructure, and staff under the governance of its own independent entity.
Today, CISWP stands as a trusted leader in evidence‑informed research, advancing safer, healthier, and more inclusive workplaces. What began as an incubated initiative has grown into a nationally recognized institute, one committed to scientific integrity, real‑world impact, and a future where every worker in Canada can work safely and thrive.
