ARLA DAY

Dr. Arla Day is a former Canada Research Chair and Professor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Saint Mary's University. Passionate about community outreach and supporting healthy workplaces, Arla is also the Director of The CN Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, which hosted the Occupational Heath Psychology (OHP) Summer Institute in Halifax in 2023. 

WHY THEY DID IT

Arla believes that “every person deserves to work in a safe and healthy workplace.” The event brings together researchers, students, workers, and practitioners to network, advance best practices, and learn about advances in workplace health and safety. “We can’t make advances in the area without working together. It is valuable for all of us to learn about best practices from around the world.”

A key moment in agreeing to host the Summer Institute came while Arla was attending an industry event in Rome. “I was talking to my European colleagues about potentially hosting the event in Halifax. I wasn’t sure we could compete with these amazing European cities, but they were excited to have an excuse to come to Halifax.” Because of this encouragement, Halifax has hosted the event 6 times in the last 12 years.

Discover Halifax was brought in to help with these events. “Discover Halifax has been great. I’m a researcher. I’m not an event planner, so they suggested what I could do, helped reach out to hotels, and provided access to promotional materials.”

BIG OUTCOMES

In 2023, the Occupational Heath Psychology Summer Institute brought over 100 local and international experts, practitioners, and students in the occupational health psychology space to Halifax in 2023. Discover Halifax estimates that this event contributed more than $150,000 in economic impact for our city. 

The true impact of this event is much greater, especially when you consider this is a bi-annual event that has been taking place in Halifax since 2013. Arla sees it as creating advocates for our city as well. “They rave about Halifax, the people, the food, and the sights.” 

We look forward to welcoming the OHP Summer Institute back to Halifax in 2025 and hope to see the event and the legacy it’s leaving behind for our city, continue to grow.