In 2017-2018, we reached out to our community, both in the Champlain and South East regions. In Kingston, the Salon Santé Kingston 2017 contributed positively to strengthening capacities in French language health services in the region. During the Bilingual Capacity Building Day on October 20, 2017, over 100 health care and social and community services professionals attended 10 workshops on French language services. Moreover, as part of the community component of the Salon Santé Kingston 2017, 100 Francophones took part in the Franco-Foire des affaires et services enfrançais, hosted by ACFO Mille-Îles at Providence Care Hospital.
In Champlain, our Informational Day on Access to French Language Services, presented jointly with the Council on Aging of Ottawa, was also a great success: nearly 150 participants attended this series of talks presented under the theme “Putting People at the Heart of the Health Care Transformation.” This event gave the public an opportunity to learn more about the impact of health care transformation on French language services in the region, and in particular on services for Francophone seniors, including care in home and community settings.
Moreover, these initiatives did not go unnoticed: on February 8, 2018, the Réseau won the Laurier organisme de l’année (organization of the year award) awarded by ACFO d’Ottawa at the 18th annual Prix Bernard Grandmaître. This award applauded the achievements highlighted in this report. We are very touched by this recognition, especially since it was given to us by the Francophone community for whom we work.
Finally, our connection with the Francophone community would be incomplete without the vital support of our members. At the end of the 2017-2018 year, our Réseau can now count on the support of 828 individual members – an increase of 15% over 2016-2017 – as well as 73 corporate members that are committed to providing French language health services. Moreover, we have welcomed two new corporate members in the past year: VON Canada, as well as the Alzheimer Society serving Ottawa and Renfrew County. Welcome to the Réseau!