Community Health and Wellbeing Week 2022 - Centre de santé communautaire de l'Estrie

Community Health and Wellbeing Week celebrates CSCE’s work to confront inequity in support of health and wellbeing

Cornwall, October 17, 2022 – From October 17 to 23, the Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie (CSCE) is celebrating its continued work along with partners in Eastern Ontario to confront inequity in support of equitable health for everyone living here. We have some activities planned for the week, and you can learn about them here: www.facebook.com/cscestrie.

Confronting Inequity and Celebrating Community is the dual focus of Community Health and Wellbeing Week this year all across Ontario

This week, we pause to celebrate innovative and relentless work in Eastern Ontario, alongside other community-based organizations, grassroots teams, local leaders and community health champions across the province. Health inequities made apparent to many and worsened by the pandemic, particularly for people already marginalized in society, demand strong, locally-driven and led responses. When we confront inequity locally together, that’s what makes it possible to celebrate community.

“It’s only by confronting inequity, in our everyday work, at our organization and in its policies, and in advocating for system change, that we can truly meet the needs of everyone in our community,” says Marc Bisson, Executive Director. “Real change for marginalized people and communities takes shape when we start to examine, shift and replace policies, procedures, and other forms of the status quo of oppression that perpetuate and reproduce vulnerable conditions, instead of blaming the people who endure inequities. Here at the CSCE, we celebrate our community’s efforts to achieve real change.”

In Eastern Ontario, confronting inequity is shown in changing needs of Francophone and vulnerable communities, including seniors and youth. We’re also always focused on increasing access to the highest quality comprehensive primary health care available. To do that, we’re turning to local leaders to ensure that we get the support required to meet the health needs of everyone in our community who is looking for support.

“We need all local leaders’ support to meet the increasing needs here in Eastern Ontario,” says Bisson. “We need leaders and governments who demonstrate that they will invest in local innovations and leverage the strengths of community voices and leadership needed to support equitable health for everyone.”

Background

Community Health and Wellbeing Week is coordinated by the Alliance for Healthier Communities of which Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie is a member. The Alliance represents more than 100 Community Health Centres, Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Centres and Teams, Community Family Health teams and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics across Ontario.