CIRLM:
The National Research Hub on Official Language Minority Communities

Science Colloquium on the Health of Canada’s Official Language Minority Communities February 27-28, 2017

International Development Research Centre – Ottawa

Sante Canada logo

Health Canada has accepted over 80 presentations, posters and kiosks, and is expecting almost 250 participants for its Second Science Colloquium on the Health of Canada’s Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) to be held in Ottawa on February 27-28, 2017.

Presenters include the Ontario French Language Services Commissioner, researchers from 15 universities and colleges across Canada, Montfort Hospital, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Department of Canadian Heritage, Société Santé en français and several of its networks across Canada, Community Health and Social Services Network, Consortium national de formation en santé, and Accreditation Canada.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Colloquium is to engage the health research community in English and French linguistic minority communities, to develop tools, practices and information for improving the health of these communities, and to improve health services in both official languages across Canada. The Colloquium will also inform the Federal Government on its forthcoming Official Languages Plan and on the renewal of Health Canada’s Official Languages Health Contribution Program.

To access the Agenda, please click here.

To access the Detailed Program, please click here.

To access Posters and presentations, please click here.


BACKGROUND

This Colloquium follows from the first Health Canada Science Colloquium on the Health of Canada’s OLMCs which was held in November 2009.

For the 2009 Colloquium, Health Canada in consultation with its planning committee prepared an agenda and contacted specific presenters for each agenda item. The result was a two-day event with 16 presentations, 21 posters, and 115 participants.

In 2017, a list of researchers and stakeholders interested in official language minorities and their health was contacted and provided with an outline of the Colloquium agenda and its objectives. The result is more presenters and presentations, the use of simultaneous sessions (two presentation halls) and more participants.

Participants at the first Colloquium identified the importance of organizing another colloquium in the future and of continuing to improve networking opportunities and partnerships for research between the French and English-speaking minority communities.

“L’état de santé des communautés de langue officielle en situation minoritaire est très important pour moi. Il est d’autant plus important qu’on adopte des meilleures pratiques dans ce domaine. Pour le faire, on doit se réunir, on doit pouvoir organiser de la recherche, mesurer les effets de nos interventions et optimiser ces meilleures pratiques pour que l’état de santé des francophones et des anglophones en situation minoritaire soit le mieux qu’il puisse être.”
Dr. Brian Conway ((RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique), 2009 Colloquium Presenter

"Recognizing and supporting research on these minority-language communities fits in with Part VII of the Official Languages Act, which aims to enhance the vitality and support the development of these communities.”
Graham Fraser (Commissioner of Official Languages), 2009 keynote speech

NEXT STEPS

Participants and presenters will be invited to complete an assessment of the Colloquium and to provide directions for future health research activities in support of Canada’s English and French linguistic minority communities.

Health Canada will produce and disseminate a summary report of the Colloquium in 2017 and will report annually on its research activities in support of official language minority communities.

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