Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation

08/12/2026

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Scott Roberts Laird was a gifted athlete who went on to play professional hockey in Germany. After retiring from hockey at age 28, Scott met his wife Line and started a family in Calgary.

Scott was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 59, decades after being exposed to asbestos during a summer job he had as a teenager. After a brief battle with the disease, Scott passed away from pleural mesothelioma on September 21, 2019.

Since 2020, Line Isabelle-Laird has honoured Scott’s memory and celebrated his life by raising money for the CMF. With donations totalling nearly $100,000, the success of those events has become a testament to Scott's enduring impact and the community he built over a lifetime.

For anyone wanting to honour their loved one’s memory, Line had this to share:

• The first is that you have to stay strong and keep moving ahead in their honor. This is hard on the heart.

• The second is to think about what they loved to do. What were their habits? What was their favourite way to spend time?

• The third is to identify who will be there to support you. Who was his support group? Who was – and is – your support group? Bring people together, ask questions, and come up with a plan together.

• The fourth is that no matter what you come up with, put your whole heart in it and always talk to CMF about it. They are your best resource.

The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation will celebrate Line's incredible fundraising work at the 2026 Mission for Meso Gala on September 24th. To join us in honouring Line, or to make a donation to help support mesothelioma research, patients and their families, go to https://CMF-Mission-for-Meso-Gala-2026.auctria.events.

If you would like to read more about Scott and Line, the full article is available at cmfonline.org/cmf-newsletter-archive

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07/30/2026

Save the date and get your tickets now!

Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of those affected by mesothelioma, a devastating asbestos-related cancer and the leading cause of work-related deaths in Canada.

What to expect:
✨ Live entertainment by the Canadian Opera Company
✨ Delectable canapés by McEwan Catering
✨ Open bar
✨ Silent auction

Honouring Line Isabelle-Laird
Since 2020, Line has raised close to $100,000 for the CMF in honour of her late husband, Scott R. Laird, who passed away from mesothelioma in 2019. We’re proud to celebrate her incredible contributions.

📅 September 24, 2026 | 6 PM – 9 PM
📍 Jackman Lounge, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West, Toronto

🎟️ Get your tickets today!
Visit https://CMF-Mission-for-Meso-Gala-2026.auctria.events to purchase tickets or make a donation.

Every ticket and donation supports mesothelioma patients, families, and research across Canada. Don’t wait – tickets are limited!

07/21/2026

Firefighters run toward danger so the rest of us can run to safety. But the risks don’t always end when the fire is out.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO(IARC) classifies firefighting as a Group 1 carcinogen. This is the highest classification, reserved for exposure circumstances where there is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that a substance or situation causes cancer in humans. One of the cancer sites with the strongest evidence was mesothelioma.

Six studies conducted in Canada, the US, Australia, and the Nordic countries have found an increased risk of mesothelioma among firefighters. In the Canadian study of approximately 13,600 Ontario firefighters, researchers from the Occupational Cancer Research Centre found that they face a 56% increased risk of mesothelioma.

The great majority of mesotheliomas are caused by asbestos exposure. When firefighters respond to fires, building collapses, or perform post-incident clean-up in older structures that contain asbestos, fibres are released into the air, where they can be inhaled.

Reducing the risk is possible. Proper use of personal protective equipment, thorough decontamination after incidents, and better education and training can help reduce exposure, preventing mesothelioma and other cancers. In 2023, the federal government of Canada passed legislation establishing a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting. Every Canadian jurisdiction has a presumption that certain prescribed cancer sites, such as mesothelioma, are related to the occupation of firefighting, provided that minimum employment duration requirements are met.

Learn more about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure at www.cmfonline.org

Learn more about firefighter cancer presumptions at awcbc.org/files/benchmark-tables/Firefighter_Presumptions.pdf

Source:
occupationalcancer.ca/resources/flames-and-risks-firefighting-causes-cancer/

07/02/2026

On July 8th at 6:30 pm Eastern (3:30 pm Pacific, 4:30 pm Mountain), the CMF will be hosting a virtual support group session for mesothelioma patients and their caregivers via Zoom. To register for the session, please click on the link below.

Information on how to join the session, along with the Zoom link, will be emailed to those who register.

CMF Virtual Support Group Registration - July 8, 2026

06/23/2026

In a recent seminar, Professor Mieke Koehoorn from the UBC School of Population and Public Health presented the findings of a new systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and occupational asbestos exposure.

For years, the evidence linking asbestos to GI cancers was considered "suggestive" or "limited". However, after reviewing nearly 200 original studies involving over 3,500 unique citations, the research team has reached a clearer conclusion.

Key Takeaways:

• A Causal Link: The study supports a causal relationship between occupational asbestos exposure and increased risks for esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancers.

• Higher Risks in Specific Jobs: Workers in high-exposure roles, particularly asbestos insulation workers, showed significantly stronger associations with these cancers.

• Strength in Consistency: While some individual risk estimates may seem small, their persistence and consistency across decades of data—regardless of study design or location—underscore the reality of the risk.

Why This Matters: This research provided the evidence base for the Ontario WSIB’s new policy on gastrointestinal cancers caused by workplace asbestos exposure. The policy recognizes asbestos-related GI cancer as an occupational disease and sets out guidelines to help speed up claims decisions and access to benefits for affected workers and their survivors.

For more information, including links to the open source publication and the WBIB policy, visit https://cmfonline.org/tags/in-the-news

04/27/2026

Each year on April 28th, we honour everyone who has lost their life, suffered injury or illness, or been affected by a work-related tragedy. At the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation, we join in remembering all workers, while reflecting on the devastating impact of asbestos exposure through mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

Although these cases are from past exposure, the danger isn't over. Right now, 235,000 Canadian workers (many in construction) are still at risk when working with old buildings containing asbestos.

We pause to remember the lives taken by this disease and renew our commitment to preventing future illnesses. We are grateful to stand with those building safer workplaces and to support the families who need us most.

If you would like to attend a National Day of Mourning Ceremony, visit canadianlabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-ceremonies-2026 for a list of locations.

Image: “Magic and Lethal: The Asbestos Memorial” in Vancouver, BC.
Photo by The Vancouver Convention Centre

04/23/2026

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is meant to protect Americans from the risks posed by dangerous materials like asbestos, which causes mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. This week, the nonprofit group the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D....

04/07/2026

A billion years ago, talc and asbestos formed from the same ancient rock in the Earth’s crust. Depending on the conditions, the result may have been pure talc, pure asbestos, or a mixture of both minerals in the same deposit.

Industrial-scale mining of talc and asbestos, as well as mixed talc-asbestos ores such as tremolite-talc, began in the late 1800s. Even though evidence of possible asbestosis-like lung disease in talc miners was published as early as 1933, asbestos would not be widely considered a dangerous contaminant of talc-based products until the 1970s.

When the FDA proposed regulations on talc, the cosmetics industry countered with the promise of self-regulation and adopted voluntary guidelines that required cosmetic talc to be free of detectable asbestos in 1976. Mandatory testing for the presence of asbestos in cosmetics containing talc was proposed again by the FDA in 2024 before being ultimately withdrawn in 2025.

In Canada, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act has prohibited “asbestos above trace levels in products available to consumers, including cosmetics” since 2018. Products containing talc must comply with Health Canada’s risk management guidelines, including mandatory labeling requirements for cosmetics, natural health products and non-prescription drugs that contain talc. Talc in powder-based products for infants and children has been listed as a restricted ingredient on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist since 2007, and in 2024 the entry was updated to address risks associated with both inhalation and perineal use in cosmetics.

To minimize your exposure:

1. Read product labels and follow all safety warnings and directions for use.

2. Avoid inhaling loose talc powder; apply carefully in a well-ventilated area.

3. Keep loose powder products away from children's faces to avoid inhalation.

4. Do not apply products that contain talc to the ge***al area to avoid risk of ovarian and cervical cancer.

5. Look for talc-free alternatives.

6. Do not use talc-containing products on broken skin.

7. If you may be exposed to talc at work, talk to your employer or OHS representative about safe handling and storage.

02/09/2026

Could your home’s plumbing contain asbestos? 🚰

If your home was built or renovated before the 1990s, asbestos may be present in various plumbing components such as:
👉 Cement pipes
👉 Appliance and pipe insulation
👉 Gaskets, seals and other fittings

🛑 Is asbestos in plumbing dangerous?
Asbestos used in residential plumbing is typically contained by a barrier (plastic-wrapped pipe insulation) or embedded in a compound (cement, gaskets) which generally prevents fibres from becoming airborne, unless the insulation is exposed or concrete/compound is crumbling. If plumbing that was installed before 1990 is damaged, inhaling asbestos fibres is a risk.

⚠️ How to proceed with caution

If your plumbing was installed before 1990:
1️⃣ Don't disturb it. Avoid sanding, cutting, or removing insulation, gaskets, or cement fittings.
2️⃣ Assume that asbestos is present. Treat pre-1990 plumbing components as potentially containing asbestos until proven otherwise.
3️⃣ Call a professional. Licensed or certified asbestos abatement professionals are trained to safely test for and remove asbestos without releasing fibres.

Stay informed, stay safe. If you suspect asbestos, consult your provincial regulations or a licensed professional.

💬 Did you know asbestos was once common in plumbing?
🔗 Learn more: cmfonline.org/asbestos-resources

01/02/2026

Occupational asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma in Canada and the risk of exposure is highest for workers in construction and the building trades.

👉 Why the Risk Is Higher in Construction

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used in a wide range of building products for decades, and many older homes, commercial buildings, and public facilities still contain them. When ACMs are disturbed during renovation, repair, or demolition work, asbestos fibres are released. Once airborne, these fibres can be inhaled, ingested or carried home on clothing.

👉 Why Exposure Still Happens

As we noted in our last post, Canada has no national standard for asbestos management. Asbestos regulations, definitions, permitting rules, training requirements, and safety practices vary widely across the country.

Because of these inconsistencies, asbestos may be untested, undocumented, mislabeled, or simply overlooked on construction sites. In some jurisdictions, testing or hazard assessments are required before work begins; in others, they aren’t. And even when assessments are required, they’re not always carried out or communicated to workers—leaving crews without the information they need to work safely.

👉 What Can Be Done to Protect Workers

Knowing why it happens doesn’t make asbestos exposure acceptable. System-level change is needed including clearer regulations, better enforcement, consistent testing requirements, and improved public awareness.

👉 Workers’ Right to Know

Being aware of potential asbestos hazards helps workers make informed decisions on the job. It allows them to recognize when materials may contain asbestos, assess whether testing or documentation is complete, and identify when controls or communication fall short. Knowledge gives workers the ability to speak up, ask the right questions, and ensure safe practices are being followed.

The CMF supports the need for a unified national standard for asbestos management and better protection for workers across Canada. To learn more or get involved, visit cmfonline.org