#Opening Ceremonies and Plenary One: Truth and Reconciliation

To start our conference, we presented Senator Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with AOHC’s Community Health Champion Award. The awards ceremony followed a keynote address delivered by Dr. Marcia Anderson, Head, Section of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Health at the University of Manitoba, who challenged delegates to consider how they can support reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Senator Murray Sinclair - Community Health Champion 2017 from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

 

Plenary One: Truth and Reconciliation from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

#Plenary Two: Political Priorities for Health System Transformation

With just one year to go before the provincial election, Toronto Star journalist Laurie Monsebraaten moderated a panel discussion between Minister Eric Hoskins and opposition health critics France Gélinas (NDP) and Jeff Yurek (PC).

Plenary Two: Political Priorities for Health System Transformation from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

#Plenary Three: Confronting Inequities, Advancing Social Justice

AOHC is committed to advance health equity and social justice. In this plenary, we reflected on how we can work together more effectively achieving this goal. The keynote address was delivered by renowned author Lawrence Hill who has written extensively on themes of racism, diversity and identity. At the end of the plenary, journalist and activist Desmond Cole was presented with AOHC's Media Award and delivered an impassioned call to action to confront anti-Black racism.

Desmond Cole - Media Award from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

#Plenary Four: Building Belonging

In our closing plenary, we explored the importance of building connected, caring communities where people feel they belong.

Participants from the South Riverdale Community Health Centre seniors program shared their music and their stories of building belonging.

Susan Pinker, best-selling author of The Village Effect presented the science that shows social isolation harms peoples' health and shortens lifespans. Shealso made the case for creating more inclusive communities where people know, and talk to each other, face to face.

AOHC CEO Adrianna Tetley explained why, now more than ever, AOHC members need to demonstrate their positive impact increasing people's sense of belonging.

2017 Conference - South Riverdale Pearls - You are my sunshine from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

2017 Conference - South Riverdale Pearls - Share stories from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

2017 Conference - Adrianna Tetley closing remarks from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.

2017 Conference - South Riverdale Pearls - What a Wonderful World from AOHC ACSO on Vimeo.