Elgin Ontario Health Team

05/05/2026

May 5 is Red Dress Day – Canada's National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). Two-Spirit is a term used by many Indigenous cultures to describe people with a distinct gender identity that holds spiritual and cultural significance.

We invite you to take a simple but meaningful action: hang a red dress at your workplace, organization, or in your community. Then take a photo and share it with us at info@elginoht.ca by May 5 so we can collectively honour and amplify this important day across Elgin.

This day is rooted in both remembrance and resistance. The red dress has become a powerful symbol through the REDress Project, an art installation created by Métis artist Jaime Black. Each empty red dress represents a life cut short, someone who should still be here. It draws attention to the ongoing and disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people across Canada, a crisis shaped by generations of colonialism, systemic racism, and inequities in health and social systems.

Elgin OHT’s Indigenous Health Lead Heather invites local organizations, partners, and community members to stand in solidarity.

Your visible act of solidarity honours lives lost, supports grieving families and communities, and helps keep this national conversation alive locally.

Together, we remember. Together, we raise awareness. Together, we commit to change.

05/04/2026

It's Mental Health Week (May 4–10); here are some important mental health and addiction support services for community members without a primary care provider, no referral required. 💚
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

05/04/2026

The Elgin - St. Thomas Food Providers Network May 2026 Community Meal Calendar is here! Free meals are available throughout the month at various locations across St. Thomas. Meal times and formats vary, and meals are first come, first served. Please share to help make sure everyone who needs this information can access it 💚

05/01/2026

Big news for primary care in Elgin! With $4,055,300 in provincial funding, our partners across Elgin will work to connect ~8,000 people to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, helping more residents access care closer to home.

This builds on the momentum we’ve created together - such as through the Elgin Community Health Hub, mobile outreach expansion, and the development of our Neighbourhood Health Home model - to strengthen local access to team-based care.

We are grateful for the support of Rob Flack and the Government of Ontario's momentous investment. We are excited to get to work with primary care providers, Elgin Primary Care Network, community partners, and system leaders who have come together around this shared goal. This collaboration reflects what we can accomplish together for our communities.

You can read more here: https://robflackmpp.ca/ontario-connecting-over-33000-more-people-to-primary-care-in-elgin-middlesex-london/

If you or someone you know doesn’t have a primary care provider, now is a great time to register with Health Care Connect, Ontario’s program that helps people get connected as new spaces open up: ontario.ca/healthcareconnect

05/01/2026

Join us at the Wellness Clinic at The Hub on May 7th for accessible cancer screening and support.

This clinic is especially welcoming for individuals without a family doctor (unattached), but we’re here to help with other health needs too.

✔️ Onsite cervical cancer screening
✔️ Information & requisitions for breast and colorectal cancer screening
✔️ Support navigating your health care options

Taking a small step today can make a big difference for your future—and for the people who count on you.

📞 Call to book: 519-473-0530 ext. 2258
📍 St. Thomas

Let’s make your health a priority 💙

04/22/2026

Today is Earth Day 🌎 — a reminder that clean air, safe water, and strong local ecosystems play an essential role in supporting both physical and mental well-being.

Our Indigenous Health Lead, Heather, reminds us that in many Indigenous communities, the Earth is not just a resource—it is a relative. Land, water, and all living things are part of an interconnected system. We are stewards of the land, here to care for Mother Earth, not simply to benefit from her. This perspective reminds us that stewardship is not a one-day event, but a way of life that supports the health of future generations.

Spending time in nature, supporting local green spaces, choosing sustainable food options, and reducing pollution are simple actions that can lower stress, strengthen communities, and improve long-term population health across Elgin County.

Through collective action, partners across the Elgin Ontario Health Team are working together to support population health where people live, work, and connect—because healthier environments help create healthier communities.

🌱 Small Earth Day challenge:
Take a few minutes today to do one intentional act of care for the land.

04/13/2026

Please join us in welcoming Briar McCaw, a Master of Public Health student from Brock University, to the Elgin Ontario Health Team!

Briar completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) at Queen’s University and brings a strong background in community-based public health, health promotion, and injury prevention. Having grown up in Elgin County, she is passionate about supporting the health and well-being of local residents and strengthening access to coordinated, community-centered care in rural communities.

She is the co-founder and Chair of the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition, where she leads multi-sector initiatives focused on water safety education, advocacy, lifesaving infrastructure, and community engagement across the region. She also serves in provincial, national and global leadership roles supporting public education and drowning prevention initiatives.

During her placement with the Elgin OHT, Briar will be supporting primary care transformation and system integration initiatives that strengthen coordinated, person-centred care across the region. We are excited to welcome her to the team and look forward to her contributions.

04/09/2026

On March 30th, community members and service providers came together to share knowledge and information about opioids with the intention to help reduce opioid-related harms in Elgin. There were curious questions, personal stories, and connections shared. Participants spoke about their own experiences, challenges supporting friends and loved ones, and helpful information to better support each other and find services in the community.

Speakers from Southwestern Public Health and CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services shared helpful, practical information, like what opioids are, how to recognize signs of overdose, how naloxone works, and treatment options locally.

A very warm thank you to CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, Southwestern Public Health, The Elgin Community Health Hub, The INN, The Nameless, and St. Thomas Addicts Sharing Hope (STASH) for making this event possible, and the St. Thomas Public Library for hosting.

Stay tuned for future sessions in Elgin!

04/09/2026

Local Event: Navigating a Life Changing Diagnosis

Join Drs. Sammy Winemaker & Hsien Seow for a FREE EVENT to learn the 7 Keys to take charge so you can be hopeful and prepared every step of the way. Attendees from Ontario West region will receive a FREE copy of the book and workbook!

📅 April 30th, 5:30 - 7pm
📍 John Kenneth Galbraith Library, 236 Shackleton St, Dutton, ON
💻 FREE event - register at https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/event-details/elgin-county-navigating-a-life-changing-diagnosis

04/08/2026

This week we say goodbye and THANK YOU to our wonderful practicum students, Alicia, Emily, Charlotte, and Amirali. We’re so grateful for the time, energy, and fresh perspectives you brought to our work. Your contributions truly make a difference.

Students are an important part of our health system. As an Ontario Health Team, we value our partnerships with academic institutions and the opportunity to support the next generation of health system leaders. Having students on our team benefits all of us - our organization, the students themselves, and the community we serve.

Please join us in wishing them all the best in their future endeavours!

04/07/2026

Volunteers are the heartbeat of strong communities. ❤️🌟

We are excited to invite our community to the Volunteer Fair happening April 20–25 across Elgin County. It’s a great opportunity to connect with local organizations, learn about volunteer opportunities, and see how you can make a difference. 🤝😊

Visit us at:
📍 East Elgin Community Complex
📍 Dutton Library
📍 St. Thomas Public Library

Come say hello to the team from Volunteer Elgin, meet with other organizations, explore opportunities, and enjoy a few sweet treats while you’re there. 👋🧁

04/07/2026

Today is Caregiver Day 💙

If you help support a family member, friend, or neighbour, you are a caregiver. Caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Having the right support can make a big difference.

Here are a couple of resources available to caregivers in our community:

➡️ Ontario Caregiver Organization offers a 24/7 helpline, resources, and guidance for caregivers across Ontario: https://ontariocaregiver.ca/

➡️ Southwest Self-Management Program provides free virtual workshops to help caregivers build skills, confidence, and connection: https://www.swselfmanagement.ca/

Caregivers are an essential part of our health system and valued members of care teams. You don’t have to navigate caregiving alone - it's okay to seek support.

Join our free workshops for chronic conditions. Gain skills to manage your health effectively. No referral needed!