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This webinar is presented by CASCADES Canada.

Pharmacies are accessible healthcare hubs, trusted by communities daily. Their teams don’t just dispense medication; they assess well-being, identify non-medical needs, and offer guidance. Yet, pharmacies remain overlooked in social prescribing pathways connecting patients to community services for holistic health.

Join CASCADES for a one-hour webinar to explore:

• How pharmacies can expand social prescribing’s reach, especially for underserved populations
• Insights from the Canadian Institute of Social Prescribing (CISP) and Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC)

Actionable strategies to leverage pharmacies as health equity engines

The North American Refugee Health Conferenece (NARHC) was founded by Dr. Anna Banerji in 2009 as the Canadian Refugee Health Conference;  in 2012, the name changed to NARHC. 

NAHRC is the longest standing and only Canadian-based refugee meeting with global perspectives to promote the best outcomes in refugee populations through research, education and advocacy. The conference includes a broad range of topics from pre-migration risk to flight, time in refugee camps, and settlement/resettlement, and covers many aspects of refugee health, including social determinants of health. 

Topics range from mental health, settlement issues, infectious and chronic disease, interpretation, racism, detention, climate change, women’s health, human rights, and more.  We anticipate about 500 or more attendees from Canada and Globally. 

Some of this year's keynote speakers:  

• Payam Akhavan, International Criminal Court, Human Rights
• Dr. Rageshri Dhaiyawan HIV specialist,  London, England, on racism in the healthcare
• Dr. Barri Phatafod, Doctors for Refugees, Sydney Australia, Detention
• Dr. Paul Caulford, Toronto, the health needs of the uninsured
• Umashanie Reddy and Fairiborz Birjandian, lessons from the Afghan resettlement program
• Gabriel Schriver on LGBTIQ+ policies from IOM
• Dr. Poonam Dhavan, Director, Migration Health Division IOM
• Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur in occupied Palestinian
• Dr. Rachel Kronick, Montreal, the mental health of children
• Dr. Micael Ryan, ED WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (TBC)
• Dr. Allan Maina, UNHCR, Chief of Public Health (TBC)

In addition to other speakers, NAHRC 2025 will include workshops and oral abstracts profiling the important refugee health issues in Canada and globally. There will also be ample time for for discussion and opportunities for those who work in the health and settlement sectors to network, learn from one another, discuss barriers and possible solutions, learn new skills and develop guidelines in refugee health. The preliminary program can be found here.

One-day early bird prices range from $260 for Residents, Fellows, and people working in the Settlement Sector, to $399.00 for the general public. Full-conference early bird prices range from $650 for Residents, Fellows, and people working in the Settlement Sector, to $935 for the general public. Prices go up starting August 1. See full rate details here. 

This online workshop is presented by the Center for Implementation.

# Let's take some time to reset

We’ll use the implementation science principles we know so well—and a supportive investigative lens—to help us make sense of the changes we’re facing. 

You’ll have the opportunity to vent, reflect, and connect with others navigating similar struggles in a safe space. 

While this won't be an instructional learning event (meaning we won’t be introducing you to a new tool or teaching new content), we'll connect through our common challenges, inspire one another, and exchange ideas for how we’re currently navigating uncertainty during this difficult time. 

Together, we’ll uncover what's within our control, explore how to respond with intention, and leave with small but meaningful steps forward to make showing up to our jobs a little easier.

# What we’ll explore

We'll look at how implementation science principles and approaches can help us:

• Understand changing contexts: We’ll acknowledge the shifts around us and how we’re feeling—and try to make sense of what it all means.​

• Identify barriers and select strategies to support action: We’ll unpack what’s getting in the way and explore how tangible tools (like StrategEase) can help us respond.​

• Reclaim our power within and connect with others: We’ll reflect on our Jewels of Power and discuss the importance of connection.

Plus, there will be lots of opportunities for engagement. (Just keep in mind that this is an opportunity to collectively recenter ourselves, not a learning event.)

# ​Notes on the recording 

The main content will be recorded but none of the interactive activities or participant contributions will be recorded to ensure a safe space for open, honest sharing.

The recording will be available for 2 months, and will only be provided to those who register in advance. 

This webinar is hosted by Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services.

# How can Ontario’s health care system be reimagined to be more accessible and equitable for immigrants and refugees?  

Join this webinar from Access Alliance on May 27, 10am - 11:30am for an engaging and solutions-focused conversation. Together we will re-imagine how Ontario’s health care system can be more accessible, equitable, and responsive for immigrants and refugees. We’ll explore how to ensure these communities are not only included in system improvements, but also meaningfully connected to primary care and vital social supports.

# What to expect

• Learn about new research findings on the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrants and refugees in Ontario - especially those living with cancer, mental health, and addiction disorders.
• Learn about the experiences of people at the intersection of social and clinical disadvantage during the pandemic.
• Identify gaps and opportunities for advocacy.
• Share your ideas and lived experiences.
• Explore how we can best co-create relevant health promotion materials for immigrant and refugee communities.

We will broaden the conversation to address key health equity challenges and opportunities for action. We will ask: What can we do differently? What steps do we need to take to ensure Ontario’s health care system better meets the needs of immigrants and refugees today? 

We will connect these insights to other research, lived experiences, and current policy initiatives, with a focus on building a health system that truly supports every community. Beyond long-term policy change, we will discuss how to create practical, culturally relevant health resources based on community recommendations and identified needs.

# Who should attend?

This session is open to everyone interested in health equity in Ontario—including health service users, researchers, health and settlement service providers, community leaders, and policy makers. If you want to learn about the latest research, share your perspective, and help shape next steps for a more inclusive health system, this event is for you. Together, we’ll consider questions like:

• How is the health care system serving you and your community you live in or serve?
• What community-driven strategies can improve health crisis responsiveness?
• What are your top health priorities?
• What changes - big or small - would make the system work better for you or the people you serve?

# Background

This community-based research project, led by Dr. Mandana Vahabi at Toronto Metropolitan University in partnership with Access Alliance, examined the unique challenges faced by immigrants and refugees with cancer, mental health, and addiction disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on understanding the impact of intersecting social and clinical disadvantages in times of crisis. 

The central question guiding the research was: What happens to those who are at the intersection of social and clinical disadvantage during a pandemic? The research identified significant systemic barriers to equitable health care access and offers actionable recommendations for supporting these communities in future public health emergencies. The findings provide a practical roadmap for building a more resilient, equitable health system—one that protects Canada’s most vulnerable by addressing both clinical needs and the social determinants of health.