Herzing Blog

Updated December 2025

Every year, thousands of Canadians suffer injuries or lose their lives at work. Unsafe work environments are a major problem, not just in construction but across many sectors of our economy. 

The Canadian government wants to lower those numbers, as do business owners and the workers themselves. Even a single death at work has terrible consequences. The family suffers, workers lose faith in management, overall productivity slows down, and the entire community feels the loss. 

Skilled occupational health and safety specialists play a crucial role in minimizing the risk of accidents in the workplace. They are experts in spotting workplace hazards, delivering safety training, and creating emergency response plans that save lives when disaster strikes. 

OHS professionals are also enforcers of government health and safety regulations. They can get a business shut down if management isn't following the law.

There are many different career paths in the field of OHS. There are both generalist and specialist roles, and varying educational requirements.  

Updated December 2023

Administrative assistant sounds like a fairly straightforward job. Don’t assistants just answer phones, get coffee, and do filing? 

Not exactly. Maybe this job used to be simpler—before the internet, complex office software, and growing demands on business administrators.

But today, administrative assistants play an absolutely vital role in every successful company and organization. Filing and phones are part of the job description, but there’s a lot more to it. 

So why is this role so important, and what does an admin assistant really do? Let’s break down the 10 most common tasks and responsibilities. 

Take a look at what the position involves and see if office administration is the right career for you.

Agnes Perez graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2019, and got her first full-time job in Canada working on the finance team at Venture Healthcare.

Agnes Perez's story is very similar to many other students at Herzing. She moved to Canada from the Philippines with a good education, but her credentials and work experience were not recognized by Canadian employers.

Back home, she was a successful optometrist with 12 years of professional experience. But Agnes quickly realized that if she wanted a successful career here in Winnipeg, she would have to go back to school and earn a Canadian diploma.

Michelle Riedner graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2018, and now works as a Financial Officer for Electra Sign Ltd. in Winnipeg

Michelle Riedner had never even used a computer when she enrolled in the Accounting and Payroll program at Herzing College. She could barely work a mouse or keyboard, and had zero experience with Microsoft Office applications.

Now she's a successful Financial Officer. She uses Excel and QuickBooks on a daily basis, manages files, enters data, and handles a range of computerized accounting and office tasks.

William Rapisarda teaches the online Supply Chain Management program at Herzing, and is an Associate Category Manager with Cabela's Canada

We started offering a Supply Chain Management program at Herzing a couple of years ago, when we saw big demand in the field across Manitoba.

But the truth is, not many people are aware of how fast this industry is growing...or what supply chain management even is!

We got so many questions about the training, career path, and job options that we decided to bring in an expert to answer them.

Who better to ask than William Rapisarda? He teaches the Supply Chain Management program at Herzing and has been working in the field for almost 25 years.

Photo: Cris Quejada at her new job at Oakpark Retirement Community, where she works in reception and assists with accounting

After Cris Quejada became a permanent resident of Canada, she knew she needed a Canadian diploma to start a successful career here in Ottawa.

She did her research, figured out which business jobs had strong demand, and decided accounting and payroll was the right choice.

6 months ago, she graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll course, and got hired immediately as a receptionist/accounting assistant.

Going back to school and starting a brand new career isn't easy. We interviewed Cris this week to find out what the process was like for her.

We asked her to review the Accounting and Payroll program, including her opinion of the instructors, courses, internship, and career support services.

Check out this interview to learn more about Cris and her experience at Herzing.

Updated December 2025

Accidents on job sites and work-related deaths are a major problem in Canada. The latest numbers from the Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada say over 1,000 people died on the job in 2023.  

Every year on April 28th, Canada observes a national day of mourning for workplace tragedies. This day serves to remind us of the pain and suffering caused by job site injuries and deaths—to families, loved ones, and entire communities. 

It’s also a stark reminder that many of these accidents are preventable.  

Can health and safety policies truly lower rates of accidents, and prevent deaths in the workplace? 

Yes. Here’s how skilled health and safety officers really do save lives. 

Updated December 2023

What’s it really like to work in accounting and payroll? Will you feel happy in this role? What about job opportunities where you live—how hard will it be to find your first job? 

All good questions for anyone considering a career in this field. If you’re thinking about investing in accounting and payroll training, you need answers to these questions before you get started. 

That’s what this post is all about. These are the first five steps you should take and the things you should know before you start training and commit to this career path. 

Maria Aquino (far right) poses with business students and faculty at the Herzing College Winnipeg campus

A lot of people choose business administration training because it opens up so many different career paths. Accounting, marketing, sales, management, client services...this program builds a strong foundation in several key areas of business.

And that's exactly what Maria Theresa Aquino was looking for when she started the Business Administration program at Herzing earlier this year.

Updated December 2025

A business diploma is one of the most versatile training programs you can pursue. The skills taught in this program open doors to a wide range of career options—and courses can be completed in two years or even less.

We meet with hundreds of students every year, many of them considering careers in business. Are you one of them? How do you know if this program is right for you?