Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition Newsletter: November 2025

Virtual Grand Rounds: Spotlight on the Healthy Pregnancy Hub

The next session of our Grand Rounds Series welcomes the Healthy Pregnancy Hub.

This hub brings together expert-reviewed, easy-to-understand content to help expectant parents make informed decisions about medication use. With a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and cultural relevance, the Hub supports healthier pregnancies by empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to confidently work with their healthcare providers.

Join us on November 26 at 12 p.m. EST to learn more, ask questions, and be part of an open conversation around pregnancy and informed care.

Watch the recordings from our first two Grand Rounds featuring the Alliance Against Violence and Adversity (AVA) and Sexual Health and Genito Pelvic Pain Knowledge Empowerment (SHAPE).

Save the Date: Vitally Important — Canada’s National Women’s Health Summit

📅 March 24–25, 2026 | Toronto

Women make up more than half of Canada’s population, yet remain underrepresented in health research and underserved in care. For too long, women’s health has been underfunded, under-researched, and misunderstood.

Women’s health is vital — the time for change is now.

Next March, leaders from across the country will gather in Toronto for Vitally Important: Canada’s National Women’s Health Summit — a first-of-its-kind event bringing together the people and ideas driving change to close the gender health gap for good.

Presented by Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™ and co-hosted by Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC), the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH), the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition (PCWHC), and the Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR).

Registration launching soon.

Join the GEM Hub Town Hall: Co-Creating Better Pregnancy Care

Get an inside look at how collaboration is transforming pregnancy and post-pregnancy care. This interactive Town Hall features GEM Hub members sharing updates on knowledge mobilization efforts, along with insights from their roles in the co-creation process.

Speakers: Brianna Ghali, Ruth-Lynn Fortuné, Dr. Patti Johnston, Dr. Annabelle Cumyn

Date: November 13, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST

Hear from the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA): Women Driving Change for Heart, Brain & Vascular Health

Join the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance for a supportive, online session created for women living with heart, brain or vascular conditions, and for the people who support them. This free webinar is a chance to learn simple, proactive steps to care for your heart, brain and blood vessels while connecting with other women who understand what you are going through.

Date: November 27, 2025 | Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST

Hub highlights

• Watch: HERHealth is AVA’s podcast that explores the health impacts of violence and adversity, sharing research, expert insights and lived experiences. Hosted by Dr. Nicole Letourneau, AVA’s Scientific Director, HERHealth empowers listeners to take charge of their health and well-being. In this episode, Stafford Perry presents “Lessons from WiseGuyz: Engaging Men and Boys across the Spectrum of Harm.” The episode offers strategies for engaging men and boys in conversations about harm in ways that promote both empathy and accountability. Watch the episode.
• Learn: The Sexual Health Education Resource portal, created by the Sexual Health and Genito-Pelvic Pain Knowledge Empowerment Hub (SHAPE) and the Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN), offers a wide range of sexual health materials. Educators can access Provincial and Territorial curriculum documents, as well as international resources in English or French, and browse content relevant to their region or area of interest.
• Read: The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA) is a network of 230+ experts and advocates has released a landmark review that highlights the state of research for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women and outlines key actions:
  • Read the article: State of the Science in Women’s Cardiovascular Disease: A Canadian Perspective on the Influence of Sex and Gender
• Share: The Justice and Equity in Perinatal Services (JEPS) Hub led by Dr. Saraswathi Vedam, works to expand access to models of care and health services that meet all service users. The Hub has released new tools to foster accountability and equity, empowering communities and health systems to strengthen rights-based, person-centered care:
  • Undisturbed Labor and Birth Index (ULabs Index): helps facilities across Canada assess current practices, celebrate strengths and identify areas for improvement. 
  • Quality Perinatal Services (QPS) Hub: allows service users to privately reflect on their care experiences, measuring respect, autonomy and treatment during perinatal care.
• Apply: The Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) is offering 26 travel awards to support trainees presenting research on sex, gender and health. This includes 15 domestic awards (up to $1,500), with five reserved for the 2026 CBRC Summit, and 11 international awards ($2,500), with five reserved for the 2026 OSSD Annual Meeting.
  • Master’s and PhD students, postdocs and post-health professional degree trainees will all be considered. Apply for a travel award by November 18, 2025.

Have news, events or stories to share? 

Submit your Hub updates or activities by the 15th of each month to be featured in our newsletter! Submissions can be made through our intake form or by contacting Deborah Dahan, Senior Knowledge Mobilization Officer. You can also add events to our calendar at any time.

Let us know what your Hub is up to — we would love to highlight your work!

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