Why this Tour?
In 2024, Entities 1 and 2 embarked on an ambitious journey across Southwestern Ontario to listen, understand, and act. On board a symbolic bus in Franco-Ontarian colours, the Regional Outreach Tour stopped in seven communities to strengthen the active offer, use, and demand of French-language health services.
Over 320 voices heard.
With 23 meetings held in Sarnia-Lambton, London, Cambridge, Windsor-Essex, Niagara, Chatham-Kent, and Hamilton, more than 300 Francophones, bilingual professionals, managers, and partners shared their realities, hopes, and ideas. The message was clear: equitable access to French-language care is a necessity, not a luxury.
A Report Grounded in Regional Realities
This report sheds light on the unique strengths of each region and the common challenges still hindering access to French-language services:
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Ongoing lack of awareness of linguistic rights and responsibilities among both users and providers;
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Insufficient resources to support service delivery;
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Fragmentation of efforts across regions and among partners.
But it also highlights innovative and inspiring solutions:
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Community health hubs like Accès Franco-Santé London;
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Local awareness campaigns supporting active demand, led by community organizations;
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New partnership opportunities between service providers and local organizations to better reach young families, newcomers, and Francophone seniors.
A Regional Plenary That Moved Things Forward
On October 29, 2024, the Regional Plenary in London was a pivotal moment of dialogue and mobilization. Through interactive skits, roundtable discussions, expert panels, and tangible commitments, participants were able to:
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Identify the real-life barriers experienced on the ground;
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Highlight practical, actionable steps;
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Cultivate a shared vision, both realistic and inspired.
A Report, But Above All — A Starting Point
🎯 This report is not an end point. It is a working tool, a lever for action, and a call for collaboration. It is addressed to all involved stakeholders: community members, service providers, decision-makers, funders, health students, and institutional partners.
📘 Download the full report:
👉 [French version]
👉 [English version]
What’s Next?
✅ Join the Communities of Practice to stay involved:
✅ Subscribe to the monthly French-language newsletters:
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Entity 1 (Windsor, London, Sarnia, Chatham):
📨 https://entite1.ca/infolettre/ -
Entity 2 (Waterloo, Wellington, Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Brant):
📨 https://www.entitesante2.ca/infolettre/
✅ Share the report with your teams, your partners, your networks.
✅ Use it to inform your action plans, training sessions, and advocacy efforts.
💬 Together, let’s make access to French-language health services a real and lasting reality.