Social Prescribing Research and Health Equity

This webinar is presented by the Alliance for Healthier Communities

Join the Alliance for Healthier Communities and a panel of healthcare researchers as they discuss their work and how it intersects with Social Prescribing and Health Equity.

Our panel will feature:

  • Dr. Kiffer G. Card – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
  • Dr. Rosanra Yoon – Assistant Professor, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Caitlin Muhl – Quality and Patient Safety Specialist, Niagara Health

 

Dr. Kiffer G. Card is an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and Blanche and Charlie Beckerman Scholar in Public Health Innovation. Dr. Card is a social health researcher studying how to help Canadian leaders build happier and healthier communities through community, public, and personal investment in social connection and related interventions.

Dr. Rosanra (Rosie) Yoon's (she/her) research area focuses on health services evaluation with a particular focus in integrated care for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities, substance use and mental health challenges. Dr. Yoon employs participatory and collaborative evaluation methods for system improvement through her Better Together Research Hub. As a nurse practitioner, her clinical area of expertise is in the areas of substance use, concurrent mental health conditions, trauma and gender-informed care. Bridging between community-based grassroots programs and larger systems – to collaboratively meet the needs of people and communities – is a core value that guides her clinical and research work. Her firm belief is that health is achieved through our communities where we all work, live, play and belong.

Dr. Caitlin Muhl is a recent graduate of Queen's University's PhD in Health Quality program. Her doctoral thesis focused on establishing an internationally accepted definition of social prescribing and exploring the impact on children and youth. Alongside her doctoral work, Caitlin worked as a consultant to support the implementation and evaluation of an equity-focused child and youth social prescribing program based in an underserved community in Ottawa. Caitlin works as a Quality and Patient Safety Specialist at Niagara Health.

Details
Thursday, November 27, 2025 - 12:00
12-1 pm
Cost: 
Free
Internal/External: 
Alliance Event
Event Type: 
Learning Events
Register here
Location
Webinar

Social Prescribing to Support Primary Care Attachment

This webinar is presented by the Alliance for Healthier Communities. 

Join the Alliance for Healthier Communities and a panel of people working in various healthcare settings as they discuss how they use social prescribing in their practice and how social prescribing can support primary care attachment.

Our panel will feature:

  • Dr. Jennifer Rayner – Director of Research and Policy, Alliance for Healthier Communities
  • Dr. Ritika Goel – Family Physician, St. Micheal’s Hospital
  • Allison Hewitt – Registered Nurse, specializing in Geriatrics at Centretown CHC
  • Margo Reilly – Executive Director, Windsor FHT

 

Jennifer Rayner is the Director of Research and Policy at the Alliance for Healthier Communities and supports 100+ community based primary care organizations in Ontario. She is an applied health services researcher with interests in primary healthcare, interprofessional teams, health equity and learning health systems. She is a research professor at Western University within the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine and an associate professor at University of Toronto in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation. Jennifer works in collaboration with researchers, evaluators and policy makers to improve care for people with barriers. Her community based primary care experience includes leadership roles in research, policy, planning, performance, accountability and quality improvement. She received her PhD of epidemiology and biostatistics at Western and completed post-doctoral training at Ryerson University.

Dr. Ritika Goel is a Toronto-based family physician, writer, activist, and professor dedicated to advancing equity in medicine and medical education. She currently practices at St. Michael’s Hospital in downtown Toronto. Throughout her career, Dr. Goel has served as a family physician with Sistering, a multi-service agency supporting at-risk, socially isolated women and gender-diverse people, and at the FCJ Refugee Centre, as well as being part of the Inner City Health Associates team for over a decade.

She earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from McMaster University and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Goel is deeply committed to social justice, using her writing, teaching, and social media presence to address issues such as poverty, racism, and health inequity. Her dual identity as a physician and activist allows her to bridge clinical practice with advocacy, ensuring her work remains both compassionate and transformative, driven by the belief that health care must be equitable for all.

Allison Hewitt is a geriatric certified RN who on the Senior’s Outreach team at Centretown Community Health Centre in inner city Ottawa. This program promotes the safety, independence and dignity of high risk seniors whose preference it is to age in place. She also works some weekends as a geriatric emergency nurse, in the emergency department at the Ottawa Hospital. She is part of a committee representing the needs of palliative, vulnerably housed clients and also has worked closely with the Alliance for healthier communities promoting the benefits of social prescribing.  Previous geriatric roles include working at the Pinecrest Queensway CHC, as the RN on their West End Integrated Falls Prevention Program. Throughout her nursing career of 16 years, she has been a solid organ transplant RN, a pediatric PACU RN, and a pediatric orthopedic RN, and a nurse in the emergency department. Outside of working hours, she has 2 wonderful, energetic kids; and 2 goofy dogs. For fun, she enjoys yoga and being outdoors 

Margo Reilly has spent more than 20 years working in and around community health and has over 10 years of experience in executive roles for team based primary care organizations. She is currently based in Windsor as an Executive Director of the Windsor Family Health Team and boasts a diverse portfolio including work in business, health education and research, and alternative medicine. She has published several works on primary care and social prescribing in Ontario, reflecting her breadth of knowledge and expertise. Reilly was also recently noted as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare for 2025 by Women We Admire. Outside of work, she enjoys empowering women through volunteering as an Advisory Council Member at the Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST), among other advocacy-based volunteering roles.

Details
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 12:00
12-1 pm
Cost: 
Free
Internal/External: 
Alliance Event
Event Type: 
Learning Events
Register here
Location
Webinar

Practical Guidance for IPCT Expansion EOI: Applying the Neighbourhood Health Home Model

This event is presented by the Alliance for Healthier Communities

The time has come to transform the way we deliver primary health care. In April, the Alliance for Healthier Communities shared our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Home model of Primary Health Care, which enables regions to attach people to primary health care while addressing health inequities and improving primary care provider experiences. The model offers a path toward connected, equitable, and integrated care for people and communities.

Now, as primary care teams, providers, OHTs and PCNs prepare their IPCT Expansion Expressions of Interest (EOIs), we are offering a follow up webinar focused on how organizations will put this vision to action. 

We will provide practical steps on how to include the Neighbourhood Health Home in your EOI applications. Through a panel discussion and using real-world examples, we will explore how one community has implemented this model and we will equip organizations with the tools needed to align their upcoming EOI submissions with the model. 

# Learning Objectives

In this webinar, you will:

  • Gain an understanding of the Neighborhood Health Home model, how it will help to reach attachment goals and address inequities
  • Hear from a team actively implementing the Neighbourhood Health Home
  • Learn tactical steps for incorporating the model into your EOI proposal

# Who should attend?

This webinar is open to everyone, but it will be of particular value to:

  • Primary Care Network Leads/Members
  • OHT Leads
  • Solo Practice, FHO, FHG, FHN Primary Care Physicians
  • IPCTs: FHTs, cFHTs, NPLCs, CHCs, IPHCOs
  • Anyone supporting IPCT expansion

# Panelists

  • Kimberley Floyd, Chief Executive Officer, Wellfort Community Health Services
  • Dr. Jennifer Rayner, Director, Research and Policy, Alliance for Healthier Communities
  • Sarah Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Healthier Communities
Details
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 08:00
8:00 - 9:00 am
Cost: 
Free
Internal/External: 
Alliance Event
Register here
Location
Online

Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation : Déclaration de l’Alliance pour des communautés en santé

Date: 
Tuesday, September 30, 2025

En cette Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation, nous rendons hommage aux survivantes et survivants des pensionnats indiens et de la rafle des années 60, à leurs familles et à tous les enfants qui ne sont jamais rentrés chez eux. Nous reconnaissons la vérité sur les traumatismes intergénérationnels que les peuples et les communautés autochtones ont subis et continuent de subir en raison de centaines d’années de racisme systémique et de violence coloniale. Nous reconnaissons que cette journée est dédiée non seulement à la commémoration, mais aussi à l’action et au changement, qui sont animés par la vérité, l’humilité et le respect.

Un élément essentiel de la réconciliation en matière de santé et de bien-être est l’appel à l’action lancé par les dirigeants autochtones : « La santé autochtone entre les mains des Autochtones ».

Que signifie et en quoi consiste « la santé autochtone entre les mains des Autochtones »?

Ce principe affirme le droit des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis de concevoir, fournir et évaluer leurs propres services de santé. Il incarne l’autodétermination, les savoirs et les modes de vie autochtones, ainsi que la responsabilité envers les communautés autochtones. Il privilégie les besoins, les voix et le leadership autochtones. Il représente une réponse systémique au colonialisme systémique auquel font face les peuples autochtones au Canada.

Sur l’île de la Tortue, les organisations de santé autochtones vivent cette réalité au quotidien. Le Conseil autochtone des soins de santé primaires (Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, IPHCC) regroupe des organisations gérées par des Autochtones. Il milite en faveur de l’équité en santé dans l’ensemble de la province. L’Alliance pour des communautés en santé et ses membres se tiennent aux côtés de l’IPHCC et de ses membres pour que la santé autochtone soit gérée par les Autochtones et pour un plaidoyer conjoint dans tous les domaines touchant la santé et le bien-être des Autochtones.

Les vérités immuables

Alors que nous militons pour confier la santé des Autochtones aux Autochtones, nous ne pouvons faire l’impasse sur l’histoire endurée par les peuples et communautés autochtones, marquée par des traumatismes et par la violence coloniale, ainsi que sur les inégalités et le racisme systémique qui persistent encore aujourd’hui :

 

  • Eau potable : Des communautés comme la Première Nation Pikangikum, une communauté ojibwée située à plus de 500 kilomètres au nord-ouest de Thunder Bay, et plus d’une vingtaine d’autres sur le territoire ontarien, ne bénéficient pas d’un accès à l’eau potable. Ce problème constitue un enjeu de santé fondamental; les gouvernements doivent travailler ensemble pour mettre fin aux avis relatifs à l’eau dans les communautés autochtones.
  • Racisme institutionnel : Des incidents récents, comme l’expérience de Justin Flett au Manitoba, où il a attendu pendant 30 heures pour obtenir un traitement pour une appendicite aiguë, démontrent que le racisme systémique envers les populations autochtones persiste dans le domaine des soins de santé, menaçant gravement la vie des Autochtones. Bien que le gouvernement canadien ait établi un plan pour lutter contre le racisme envers les Autochtones dans les soins de santé, et que l’Association médicale canadienne ait récemment révisé son code d’éthique pour sensibiliser les médecins à cette question, il reste encore beaucoup à accomplir.
  • Santé mentale : Les taux de suicide chez les jeunes Autochtones demeurent bien plus élevés que la moyenne nationale. Les communautés ont clairement exprimé que ce sont les mesures de soutien ancrées dans la culture et liées au territoire qui sont efficaces, de même que les services et les programmes adaptés à la culture autochtone et dirigés par les Autochtones, comme l’accès à des programmes linguistiques, qui améliorent manifestement les résultats en matière de santé, y compris la santé mentale, des Autochtones.
  • Coûts des changements climatiques : Ces impacts, qui évoluent rapidement, ont des répercussions disproportionnées sur la santé des Autochtones, que ce soit en raison notamment des vagues de chaleur et des feux de forêt. La Charte pour l’équité en santé de l’Alliance est en cours de mise à jour par ses membres pour qu’elle reflète la nécessité urgente d’agir contre les effets des changements climatiques sur la santé.

Telles sont les vérités que nous devons porter aujourd’hui, et chaque jour, pour motiver l’action.

Les appels à l’action

Les appels à l’action 18 à 24 de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation (CVR) clarifient les responsabilités : le Canada doit combler les écarts en matière de santé, s’attaquer aux obstacles et au racisme systémique, reconnaître les droits des peuples autochtones en matière de santé et renforcer le leadership autochtone dans les systèmes de santé. Des progrès ont été accomplis, mais il reste encore beaucoup à faire.

Notre rôle dans ces efforts

La volonté d’agir de l’Alliance et de ses membres est fondée sur l’écoute, l’action et l’imputabilité :

  1. Gouvernance et autodétermination des Autochtones : nous plaiderons en faveur d’un financement durable et équitable pour les organismes de santé autochtones, en respectant leur autonomie à définir la santé et le bien-être selon leurs propres termes.
  2. Sécurité culturelle : nous continuerons d’appuyer et d’apprendre des éducateurs et des gardiens du savoir autochtones, et nous poursuivrons notre propre formation en matière de sécurité culturelle et de lutte contre le racisme dans notre secteur, en gardant à l’esprit que ce travail n’est jamais terminé. Nous continuerons à inciter les autres dirigeants et partenaires non autochtones à participer à la formation sur la sécurité culturelle autochtone, dans le but de transformer leurs organisations.
  3. Appels à l’action de la CVR :  nous évaluerons nos efforts par rapport aux appels à l’action 18 à 24, et mettrons la réconciliation au cœur de notre travail.
  4. Déterminants de la santé :  nous nous joindrons à nos partenaires autochtones pour exiger des mesures concernant l’approvisionnement en eau potable, le logement, la sécurité alimentaire et les programmes et services de soutien en santé mentale, qui sont des déterminants clés de la santé dans les communautés.
  5. Imputabilité : nous écouterons, rendrons compte ouvertement et agirons avec humilité, en gardant à l’esprit que l’imputabilité doit revenir aux communautés et aux dirigeants autochtones.

 

Marcher ensemble

La réconciliation doit être une pratique quotidienne : refaçonner les relations, prendre et respecter des engagements, écouter et suivre les dirigeants autochtones.

En cette Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation, nous réfléchissons, nous écoutons et nous nous engageons à nouveau à faire preuve de solidarité par l’action. Nous sommes conscients que la réconciliation en matière de santé ne sera pas atteinte tant que la santé des Autochtones n’est pas véritablement entre leurs mains. Aujourd’hui, nous nous remémorons. Et demain, nous continuerons à travailler et à être solidaires.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Alliance statement

Graphic with multi-coloured border that reads: Standing in solidarity for Truth and Reconciliation
Date: 
Tuesday, September 30, 2025

As we mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour all survivors of residential schools and the sixties scoop, their families, and all the children who never came home. We hold and acknowledge the truths of the intergenerational trauma that Indigenous people and communities have endured and continue to live through because of hundreds of years of systemic racism and colonial violence. We recognize this day is not only about remembrance, but about action and change — guided by truth, humility, and respect.

A key enabler of reconciliation in health and wellbeing is the call to action from Indigenous leaders: “Indigenous health in Indigenous hands.”

What ‘Indigenous Health in Indigenous Hands’ Means and Looks Like

This principle affirms the right of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern, design, deliver, and evaluate their own health services. It reflects self-determination, Indigenous knowledge and ways to being, and accountability back to Indigenous communities. It prioritizes Indigenous needs, voices, and leadership. It reflects a systemic response to the systemic colonialism Indigenous people in Canada face.

Across Turtle Island, Indigenous health organizations live this reality every day. The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) brings together Indigenous-governed health organizations, advocating for health equity across the province. The Alliance for Healthier Communities and its members stand today and every day in solidarity with IPHCC and its members, for Indigenous health in Indigenous hands, and shared advocacy across all areas impacting Indigenous health and wellbeing.

The Ongoing Truths

As we advocate for Indigenous health in Indigenous hands, we cannot look away from the ongoing history of colonial trauma and violence against Indigenous people and communities, or from the inequities and systemic racism that continue today:

  • Clean water: Communities such as Pikangikum First Nation, an Ojibway community more than 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, and in more than two dozen others across Ontario, cannot access clean water. This is a fundamental issue of health, and governments must work together to end all water advisories in Indigenous communities.
  • Systemic racism: Recent incidents, such as that of Justin Flett in Manitoba, who spent 30 hours trying to get treatment for acute appendicitis, show that systemic anti-Indigenous racism continues in health care, putting Indigenous lives at risk. While the Government of Canada has a plan that it’s committed to for addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health care, and the Canadian Medical Association recently updated its code of ethics to focus attention on the issue for physicians, much more needs to be done.
  • Mental health: Suicide rates among Indigenous youth remain far higher than the national average. Communities have been clear that culturally grounded, land-based supports are what works, along with culturally-safe, Indigenous-led services and supports, including access to language programs, which are shown to improve health outcomes, including mental health outcomes, for Indigenous people.
  • Costs of climate change: These fast-changing impacts on health -- from heatwaves to wildfires and more -- are disproportionately impacting Indigenous health. The Alliance’s Health Equity Charter is currently being updated by members to highlight the urgent need for action to address impacts of climate change on health. 

These are the truths we must carry on this day, and every day, to motivate action.

The Calls to Action

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 18-24 make responsibilities clear: Canada must close health gaps, address barriers and systemic racism, recognize Indigenous health rights, and increase Indigenous leadership in health systems. Some progress has been made, but much remains to be done.

Our Place in This Work

At the Alliance, our commitments and our members’ commitments are grounded in listening, action, and accountability:

  1. Support Indigenous governance and self-determination: We will use our voice to advocate for sustained, equitable funding for Indigenous-governed health organizations, while respecting their autonomy to define health and wellness on their own terms.
  2. Cultural safety: We will continue to support and learn from Indigenous educators and knowledge-keepers, and continue our own cultural safety and anti-racism training across our sector -- knowing this work is never complete. We will continue to encourage other non-Indigenous leaders and partners to take part in Indigenous Cultural Safety Training to transform their organizations.
  3. Uphold the TRC Calls to Action: We will measure our efforts against Calls to Action 18 to 24, keeping reconciliation at the centre of how we work.
  4. Address determinants of health: We will stand alongside Indigenous partners in calling for action on clean water, housing, food security, and programs and services to support mental health — determinants that shape health in communities.
  5. Stay accountable: We will listen, report openly, and act with humility, knowing accountability must flow to Indigenous communities and leadership.

Walking Together

Reconciliation must be a daily practice: reshaping relationships, making and keeping commitments, and listening to and following Indigenous leadership.

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reflect, we listen, and we recommit ourselves to solidarity through action. We know that reconciliation in health is not possible until Indigenous health is truly in Indigenous hands. Today, we remember. And tomorrow, we keep working and standing together.

Enhancing Integrated Care

This webinar is presented by Healthcare Excellence Canada

Join our next Enhancing Integrated Care (EIC) webinar as we explore examples of organizations that are improving patient and provider experiences through team-based and integrated care models. Gain practical insights on how to advance your own integrated care models and learn how EIC (cohort 2) can support your teams with up to $10,000 in seed funding, expert coaching, tools and resources and a network of peers.

Details
Thursday, October 2, 2025 - 12:00
12-1 pm
Cost: 
Free
Internal/External: 
Community Event
Event Type: 
Learning Events
Register here
Location
Online event

Flu and Respiratory Vaccine Webinar

This event is presented by the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres (CACHC).

As we enter respiratory virus season, join CACHC for an engaging webinar focused on strengthening flu and respiratory virus vaccination in Canadian communities. In addition to key updates and guidance from our Public Health partners, Community Health Centres from across the country will share their strategies, challenges, and successes in promoting vaccine uptake for influenza and other respiratory illnesses to support effective and equitable vaccination efforts.

Details
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 12:30
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Cost: 
Free
Register here
Location
Online event

En ce Jour des Franco-Ontariens, Tous Solidaires pour la santé des francophones

Date: 
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Alors que les francophones de l'Ontario célèbrent le jour des Franco-Ontariens dans la province, l'Alliance pour des communautés en santé continue de défendre la santé des francophones et se joint à d'autres défenseurs et alliés dans la province.

L'Ontario compte plus de 652 000 francophones, ce qui représente 4,6 % de la population. Ce chiffre inclut 129 000 francophones qui sont membres d'une communauté ethnoculturelle.

Pendant de nombreuses années, les francophones ont été confrontés à des obstacles qui entravent l'accès équitable à des soins primaires adaptés à la langue et culturellement sûrs.

Avec la transformation des soins primaires en cours en Ontario, le moment est opportun pour s'assurer que la santé des francophones et les inégalités auxquelles ils sont confrontés au quotidien sont prises en compte.

« Nous sommes ravis de voir le nouveau Centre de planification des services de santé en français se lancer, y compris la nomination de sa directrice générale Dr. Natalie Aubin », déclare Sarah Hobbs, directrice générale de l'Alliance. « L'Alliance est prête à contribuer à son mandat de modernisation et d'amélioration des services et des résultats de soins de santé pour les francophones. »

Un domaine d'action immédiat est la transformation des soins primaires : l'Ontario a besoin d'un processus d’aiguillage aux soins primaires dédié aux francophones. Une approche ciblée et personnalisée qui répond aux besoins linguistiques et culturels des francophones est nécessaire pour assurer un aiguillage significatif et durable aux soins primaires, en s'attaquant aux obstacles que rencontrent à la fois les patients et les organisations.

« Pour y parvenir, l'Ontario doit lancer un appel distinct pour que les équipes interprofessionnelles pour augmenter l’aiguillage des francophones », déclare Estelle Duchon, coprésidente du Comité consultatif francophone de l'Alliance. « En lançant un volet distinct pour l'expansion des soins primaires en français, l'Ontario peut permettre une planification ciblée et une responsabilisation en matière de santé des francophones. »

Le Comité consultatif francophone de l'Alliance, en collaboration avec le Centre de planification des services de santé en français nouvellement créé, est prêt à se réunir et à collaborer avec TOUTES les organisations de soins primaires qui desservent les francophones de la province pour identifier les zones où l'expansion est la plus urgente et pour éliminer les listes d'attente pour les médecins de famille et les infirmières praticiennes le plus rapidement possible.

« Nous espérons que 100 % des Ontariens qui ont besoin de services de santé en français seront aiguillés », explique Marc Bisson, coprésident du Comité consultatif francophone. « Cela pourrait être réalisé grâce à l'expansion stratégique des équipes de soins primaires francophones existantes via des satellites et des points d'accès et, si nécessaire, à la création de nouvelles équipes désignées dans les régions où d'importantes lacunes existent. »

En établissant des centres régionaux à travers la province pour centraliser les processus d'admission et fournir des services de navigation afin de s'assurer que les patients francophones sont connectés à des services appropriés près de chez eux, l'Ontario peut s'assurer que les obstacles sont abordés avant qu'ils n'aient des impacts négatifs sur la santé des gens.

L'Ontario va dans la bonne direction en matière de santé des francophones, mais il reste encore beaucoup de travail à faire. Maintenant, passons ensemble aux prochaines étapes importantes pour s'assurer que chaque francophone puisse obtenir des soins adaptés à sa langue et à sa culture, peu importe où il vit en Ontario.

Standing Together on Franco-Ontarian Day for Francophone Health

Date: 
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

As Francophones across Ontario celebrate Franco-Ontarian Day in the province, the Alliance for Healthier Communities continues to advocate for Francophone health and stands with other advocates and allies across the province.

Ontario is home to over 652,000 Francophones, which makes up 4.6% of the population, including 129,000 Francophones who are members of an ethnocultural community. Francophones have for many years experienced barriers that hinder equitable access to language-concordant and culturally safe primary care. With primary care transformation now underway in Ontario, the time is right to ensure that Francophone health and the disparities people face every day are addressed.

“We are thrilled to see the new French Language Health Planning Centre getting started, including the appointment of its first CEO Dr. Natalie Aubin,” says Sarah Hobbs, CEO of the Alliance. “The Alliance is ready to contribute to its mandate to modernize and improve health-care services and outcomes for Francophones.”

One area for action right now is primary care transformation: Ontario needs a dedicated Francophone primary care attachment process. A targeted and tailored approach that meets the linguistic and cultural needs of Francophones is necessary to ensure meaningful and sustainable primary care attachment, by addressing the barriers that both patients and organizations face. 

“To make it happen, Ontario needs to make a separate call for interprofessional teams to increase Francophone attachment.” Says Estelle Duchon, Co-Chair of the Francophone Advisory Committee at the Alliance. “By launching a distinct stream for Francophone primary care expansion, Ontario can allow for focused planning and accountability for Francophone health.”

The Alliance’s Francophone Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the newly established French Language Health Planning Center, is ready to convene and collaborate with ALL primary care organizations serving Francophones across the province to identify where expansion is most urgently needed, and to clear waitlists for family physicians and nurse practitioners as soon as possible.

“We are hoping for 100% attachment for all Ontarians who require French language health services.” Explains Marc Bisson, Co-Chair of the Francophone Advisory Committee. “This could be achieved through the strategic expansion of existing Francophone primary care teams via satellites and access points, and where necessary, the creation of new designated teams in regions where significant gaps exist.”

By establishing regional hubs across the province to centralize intake processes and provide navigation services to ensure Francophone patients are connected to appropriate services close to home, Ontario can ensure barriers are addressed before they have negative impacts on people’s health.

Ontario is moving in the right direction on Francophone health, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Now, let’s take the next important steps together to ensure every Francophone can get linguistically and culturally appropriate care, no matter where they live in Ontario.

10th International Audit & Feedback in Healthcare Conference: Celebrating a Decade of Progress & Shaping the Future

This event is presented by the Audit & Feedback Metalab at Women's College Hospital

This fully virtual conference will bring together a thoughtful and engaged international community committed to advancing audit and feedback (A&F) in healthcare. It is a milestone event marking the 10th anniversary of the International Audit & Feedback in Healthcare Conference. We will reflect on a decade of progress and explore the path forward for audit and feedback in healthcare.

This year’s program features keynote addresses, oral presentations, poster sessions, interactive workshops, and discussions focused on the latest evidence, innovations, and practical applications of audit and feedback. Connect with the 190+ members of the A&F MetaLab network in shaping the next decade of audit and feedback. Presenters include researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and health system leaders from over 35 institutions in at least 8 countries. 

Register by October 31. 

Questions? Contact Natasha at AFMetaLab@wchospital.ca.

Details
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 07:00
Friday, November 7, 2025 - 00:00
November 6-7, 2025
Cost: 
Free
Internal/External: 
Community Event
Event Type: 
Learning Events
Register here by October 31
Location
Worldwide Online Event
Regional Events TBD