Candace Carnahan

Culture Change Consultant and Empowerment Advocate

Candace Carnahan is a force of energy who has been inspiring and motivating audiences all over the world, since the day one step in the wrong direction set her on an unexpected path. Candace is an injury prevention champion who lives her life with the knowledge that "tomorrow isn't a guarantee for anyone". Sharing her triumph-over-tragedy story, her presentations awaken audiences, encouraging them to embrace their inner strengths and power. Candace is a tireless ambassador who acts as a 'culture change consultant' on an international scale.

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Lauded as one of the 'Faces of the Future' by MacLeans magazine, Candace Carnahan uses her unique life lessons to inspire us to dismantle the roadblocks that hinder efficiency, and celebrate the attitudes and behaviours that promote success - whether personal or professional.

Candace is a force of energy who has been inspiring and motivating audiences all over the world, since the day one step in the wrong direction set her on an unexpected path. Candace is an injury prevention champion who lives her life with the knowledge that "tomorrow isn't a guarantee for anyone". This fact of life motivates her to live each day to the fullest, and she encourages others to do the same.

The impetus behind Candace's contagious enthusiasm was a devastating workplace accident, which resulted in the loss of her lower left leg. At 21 years of age, Candace was in her third year of studies at the University of Fredericton, working as a summer student at a local paper mill. It was an incident that could have taken her life, and also could have been prevented. Candace quickly grew aware that 'tomorrow' is not guaranteed for anyone, so she adapted quickly - mentally and physically - to mobilize herself from a potentially paralyzing situation.

Ten months after learning to walk with an artificial leg, Candace set out on a journey of new experiences, and she chronicled her life's lessons as she travelled to many parts of the world. She began her motivational speaking career by sharing her story of triumph-over-tragedy, ostensibly to prevent needless workplace injuries and increase occupational health and safety concerns. Candace has compiled some of life's most simple but meaningful lessons for happiness and unlimited success.

Candace has shared her message with more than 50,000 people worldwide as a spokesperson at youth awareness campaigns in the United States, Australia, Europe, and Canada. Her message is not limited to youth; CEO's, company presidents, government organizations and leaders, parents and volunteer groups are also impressed by her presentations. Candace is a tireless ambassador who also works as a 'culture change consultant' on and international scale.

Candace's presentations awaken audiences, encouraging them to embrace their inner strengths and power. Her personal story lends a wide range of philosophies, ideas, incentives and humour to audiences who are inspired to achieve what they want out of life - all the while, gaining a better appreciation of the many gifts they already have.

3. The Yellow Chair

The Yellow Chair is a message that centers on the importance of hope. Candace recalls a pivotal moment in her recovery from a workplace incident that most certainly set the tone for the path she has been travelling since losing a limb.

Candace demonstrates the roles that hope and positivity have played in her life, and celebrates the little things in life that can lead to big changes. The Yellow Chair is a story that Candace shares with honesty and humour that will offer inspiration to all. She encourages her audience to never underestimate the power we have to speak or act in small ways which can be life changing, to themselves and others.

Candace has incorporated this inspirational aspect of her experience with loss into every presentation, and has recently begun speaking solely from an inspirational platform at various events across the country.
2. The First Step

Candace has learned what she believes to be an important life lesson the hard way; 'the first step in not getting hurt is knowing that you could be'.

Needless injuries can be avoided by simply being aware and realizing that the potential for injury exists. In her one hour presentation, Candace speaks about her typical life as a university student, working summers to pay for school in the fall, and how one step in the wrong direction changed the course of her life... forever.

Candace's presentation explores the details surrounding the loss of her left leg below the knee, while at the same time offers education and awareness in preventing needless workplace injuries and fatalities to her audience.

Candace's energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and through her many stories, she sends a message far beyond that of workplace health and safety. Candace encourages her audience to use their education, knowledge, experience, and awareness to expand and focus on the importance of workplace health and safety within their own workplaces, homes and public places.
1. It Could Happen to You

Candace uses her personal story of the loss of her left leg below the knee to address the details surrounding what went wrong in her situation...with the hope of making it right in yours.

With her ever-present sense of humour and passion for her message, she discusses how roles played by the education system, the company she worked for, it's employees and management team, resulted in her injury. She discusses the importance in recognizing the opportunities that are constantly presented to us, in our day-to-day lives, to make a choice; safe... or sorry.

Candace recalls the details of her incident, as well as the many contributing factors, i.e. poor leadership, lack of training, and unsafe work environment - an unguarded conveyor belt system in her case. However, Candace places great emphasis on her own role and responsibility in what happened in an effort to encourage people to "own" their right to a safe workplace. The absence of Candace's left foot is an ever-present reminder to her and her audiences that pointing fingers and placing blame will not make your limbs grow back. This truth causes Candace to place great emphasis on the importance in landing the leading role in ensuring your own health and safety.

Holding strong in the belief that "no man is an island", Candace explores how we as individuals can begin fostering positive attitudes and changing cultures within the realm of health and safety that can collectively contribute to injury reduction within our workplaces.

There is simply nothing as effective as personal story to engage and motivate young people. Candace Carnahan shares a riveting account of personal tragedy and triumph that leaves her audience forever transformed. Her message of finding her wings after the loss of a limb is unforgettable.

Katy Hutchison, Author of Walking After Midnight: One Woman's Journey Through Murder, Justice and Forgiveness
Candace has a compelling safety message that has resonated very well with many of our summer students. OPG has worked with Candace through "Passport to Safety" for the past 4 years. OPG requires all students to complete the Passport to Safety quiz, and we offer this training to friends and family members of OPG employees. This is an important vehicle to teach basic safety awareness to as many young people as possible, whether they work for OPG or not.

Ontario Power Generation
Candace delivers a message with such positive passion and enthusiasm that we could not help but be both affected and motivated. Candace was a definite factor in the success of the conference, and for that we are grateful.

Hydro One

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