Background
Community hubs are increasingly seen in Ontario and internationally as a means of overcoming health care fragmentation, spanning the gaps between health and social care, and moving the policy agenda forward from health care to health. Although hubs come in many different shapes and sizes, the logic is that by gathering together diverse services and providers at a single location, you can promote integration, leverage community resources, and build local solutions to local problems. In her 2014 mandate letters to the Ministers of Health and Long-Term Care, Education, Housing, and Municipal Affairs, the Premier of Ontario directed the development of a policy on community hubs to “reflect the perspective of health and wellness” and to promote collaboration on “shared responsibilities” within government.
Key symposium themes include the following:
- What are the best practices, promises and challenges of community hubs?
- Where did they start and what have they achieved?
- What needs to be done to ensure sustainable gains?
The morning symposium -- including breakfast, lunch and book signing with award winning Canadian author Nick Saul -- highlights the practice and promise of community hubs in Ontario and beyond. In addition to highlighting the “state of the art” internationally, speakers will talk about their first-hand experience building community hubs, where they started, what they have achieved, and what needs to be done to ensure sustainable gains.
A special afternoon workshop features a more in-depth and interactive look at how two community hubs – Langs Community (Cambridge, Ontario) and Unison Health & Community Services (Toronto) – were built “from the ground up.” Lots of time will be set aside for questions.
Event Details
Date & Time
Tuesday, March 24th, 2015
Morning Symposium: 8:30 – 12:15
Networking Lunch and Book Signing: 12:15 – 1:30 PM
Special Afternoon Workshop “Building Hubs from the Ground Up”: 1:30-3:30 PM
Event Agenda
The event agenda is available here.
Location
Tecumseh Auditorium, Oakham House/Ryerson Student Centre, Ryerson University, 55 Gould Street., Toronto (Ontario) [Map]
Speakers
Featured Canadian Author
- Nick Saul, President & CEO, Community Food Centres Canada and Jane Jacobs Prize Winning Author of The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement (Toronto, Ontario).
International Speaker
- Mike Saks, Visiting Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Research Professor of Health Policy, University Campus Suffolk (UCS) and Visiting Professor in Health and Community Studies, University of Lincoln (UK).
[presentation]
Panel Speakers (in order of appearance)
- Lorraine Duff, Director of Programs, United Way Toronto (Toronto, Ontario).
[presentation]
Julie Callaghan, Senior Director, Integrated Performance and Strategic Projects, Unison Health & Community Services (Toronto, Ontario).
[presentation]
Bill Davidson, Executive Director, LANGS Community, Health, Wellness (Cambridge, Ontario).
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Workshop Speakers (in order of appearance)
- Julie Callaghan, Senior Director, Integrated Performance and Strategic Projects, Unison Health & Community Services (Toronto, Ontario).
Simon Cheng, Hub and Satellite Manager, Bathurst-Finch Site, Unison Health & Community Services (Toronto, Ontario).
Mandana Attarzadeh, Community Engagement Worker, Bathurst-Finch Action for Neighbourhood Change in Unison Health & Community Services (Toronto, Ontario).
[presentation]
Bill Davidson, Executive Director, LANGS Community, Health, Wellness (Cambridge, Ontario).
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Related Reports
CRNCC In-Focus Backgrounder - Community Hubs: Right Care, Right Place, Right Time (November 2014)
Toronto Central LHIN - Community Hubs Briefing Note (February 2015)
Follow our event on Twitter: @Hubs2015
The CRNCC is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Ryerson University
The HSPRN is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC)
