CanWaCH

Uncovering the Truth: Ground Searches
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual, Canada
English with French and ASL interpretation.

This session will look into the technicalities of what a ground search constitutes and many of the questions around why and how they should be done. The conversation will combine the lived experience of Residential School Survivors Francis Dickie Yuzicapi and Jacquie Bouvier with the technical expertise of moderator Bryton Bigelow.
Attend here!

The Ongoing Legacy of the Residential School System through Child Welfare
2025-09-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual, Canada
English with French and ASL interpretation.

This session will look at the direct throughline from the residential school system to the Sixties Scoop through to the overwhelming number of Indigenous children in child welfare today, including the directly related aspect of forced and coerced sterilizations of Indigenous women. CFS worker Roxanne Balan will moderate a discussion between Residential School Survivor Vivian Ketchum and reproductive justice support worker Shelby Ponace.
Attend here!

Webinar Wednesdays: From Tension to Transition- Central Alberta’s Journey to Regional Victim Services
2025-09-24 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Wednesday, September 24th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents From Tension to Transition: Central Alberta’s Journey to Regional Victim Services, featuring Lauren Reid from Central Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (CARVSS).
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
12 – 1:30pm MST
What does it take to dismantle and rebuild a province-wide victim services system? In this frank and informative session, CARVSS CEO Lauren Reid explores the driving forces, community tensions, and operational realities behind Alberta’s transition to regional victim services. She offers firsthand insights from CARVSS’s first year — navigating grief, resistance, innovation, and resilience — and invites conversation about what meaningful systems change looks like in victim support.
About the Speaker
Lauren Reid is a passionate leader with over 15 years in Victim Services, from Edmonton’s inner city to rural RCMP detachments. She’s held roles from frontline Advocate to Program Manager, Executive Director, and Board Director, with experience overseeing both Victim Services and Restorative Justice programs. With a background in social services, library systems, and Municipal leadership, Lauren brings a unique blend of strategy, empathy, and humour to her work. Now CEO of CARVSS, she’s focused on building meaningful programs, fostering strong teams, and ensuring every person impacted by crime or tragedy is met with dignity and compassion.
Attend here!

Join us for the #LeadOnTB advocacy day on Parliament Hill!
2025-09-25 | Parliament Hill, (West Block lawn), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
While Canada has been a champion for tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts through sustained investments in The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Stop TB Partnership’s TB REACH initiative, we are falling short on both global and national commitments.
Canada has failed to meet its fair share contribution to research and development for TB every year since the UN targets were set in 2018, and domestic investments are insufficient to end TB within our borders, which disproportionately affects Indigenous and newcomer populations. However, there are many opportunities this year for Canada to be a leader in the quest to eliminate TB – the world’s deadliest infectious disease – at home and abroad! We just need the political will to make it happen. And we need YOU!
TB advocacy day
Partners In Health, Results Canada, Stop TB Canada, Médecins Sans Frontières, TBPeople Canada, and TBFighters are organizing a TB advocacy day on Parliament Hill on September 25 to call on Canada to #LeadOnTB! Essentially it’s a day where passionate advocates descend on Ottawa to raise awareness of TB among our decision-makers and call on them to take action to help end this treatable and preventable disease. To get a sense of the experience, watch TBFighters’ video on the TB Hill Day that happened this April in Washington, DC.
There’s no prior experience required to participate – we will provide all the training! Please note that we will try to match you with your own Member of Parliament (MP) where possible, but cannot guarantee that you will meet with any particular parliamentarian.
Attend here!

Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual, Canada
English with French and ASL interpretation.

This session will reflect on the decade which has passed since the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action were published, including how many of the Calls have been fulfilled and what is still holding back progress.
Attend here!

Confronting Residential School Denialism
2025-09-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual, Canada
English with French and ASL interpretation.

This session will actively confront one of the largest identified barriers to reconciliation: residential school denialism. Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair and Residential School Survivor Eugene Arcand will dismantle the most frequent and inaccurate denialist arguments in a conversation moderated by Dr. Savage Bear.
Attend here!

Health Together - Youth access to contraception in Canada: What happens when cost is removed?
2025-09-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual, Canada
This is a free webinar for the love of learning. No CEU/CPD/PDA

Please join Health Together… for a webinar by Dr. Sarah Munro. The webinar is open to all and free of charge. We host webinars every two months. All welcome!

Please join our mailing list by emailing: mihcancares@gmail.com (link sends e-mail)

Learning Objectives from Webinar:

Discuss the barriers facing youth in Canada who seek or consider contraception care.
Summarize the impacts of a provincial policy in British Columbia to provide free prescription contraception.
Reflect on the role of creative tools in addressing health and social issues.

Dr. Sarah Munro
Sarah Munro, PhD, MA, BA Hon, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health School of Public Health University of Washington and the Director of the Reproductive Choices Lab (www.reprochoiceslab.org). Dr. Munro conducts health services research with a focus on knowledge mobilization and implementation science to understand, What are the factors that influence equitable access to high-quality, culturally-safe, sexual and reproductive health care for equity-deserving populations? She leads several large national and international studies in close partnership with patients, including a community-based investigation to understand youth contraception access in Canada, The Ask Us Project.
Victoria Paller – Co-Presenter

Victoria recently completed her MSc in the Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences Program at UBC, where her thesis focused on youth access to contraception in BC under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Munro and Dr. Laura Schummers. She also holds a BHSc from the University of Ottawa and is passionate about advancing access to sexual and reproductive health through community-engaged research.

Kaiya Jacob – Co-Presenter

Kaiya BBJacob (she/her) is a MSW student at York University, a published scholar, trained doula, community worker, and researcher. Born and raised on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories as settler of mixed Swedish, Irish, German, and Afro-Trinidadian descent, anti-oppression is central to her values and her work. In her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Gender, Sexuality, Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University, she focused on the role of communications in community building and advocacy for Black, racialized, and queer communities.

Attend here!

Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy After Eight Years: What Have We Learned So Far?
2025-09-29 15:30 - 17:00 | University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Presented by CIPS, the Gender, Peace, and Development Research Network (GPD-RN), the Research Network on Women, Peace and Security and the Group of 78
Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) was announced in 2017, followed by several other commitments in support of Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy. For example, “the women, peace and security agenda is at the heart of Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy, which includes the Feminist International Assistance Policy and Defence Policy” (Government of Canada, 2024). After eight years of programming, debates, and multisectoral discussions, it is an important moment for reflection on what we have learned so far from Canada’s FIAP.
This event adds to a rich and detailed analysis of policy rhetoric by focussing on some of the practical experiences of organizations tasked with implementation of programming under the FIAP, as well as critical and analytical insights from scholars and practitioners.
The panel builds on earlier events organized by the Gender, Peace and Development Research Network and the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) including the April 30, 2025 event by emerging scholars titled “What Can We Learn From How Canada’s FIAP is Landing in Latin America and the Caribbean?”. One of the major themes that emerged from this previous event was the importance of a feminist approach to development as described by the partner organizations in Haiti, Jamaica/CARICOM and Colombia, particularly when combined with a commitment to connecting to local feminist priorities from partner countries. See, also, the June 6, 2025 blog by these presenters.
Other important insights on feminist foreign policy enrich our discussion on Canada’s FIAP including the September 11, 2025 event on Strengthening the Representation of Women in Diplomacy: Challenges and Policy Solutions; the August, 2025 Policy Brief by Lilly Nicholls titled How FIAP Broke Glass Ceilings in Canadian Diplomacy – And Should Go Further; and Beth Woroniuk’s August 21, 2025 analysis: Canada, Financing for Development and Gender Equality: Looking for Leadership.
The Gender, Peace and Development Research Network (as part of the Centre for Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa) and the Group of 78 invite you to join us for this important new conversation where we will reflect on some of the successes of programs funded under FIAP, lessons learned, and priorities for future initiatives.
Attend here!

Webinar Wednesdays: Implementing Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Youth in Specialized Settings
2025-10-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Wednesday, October 1st, as the AVA Webinar Series presents Implementing Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Youth in Specialized Settings, featuring Dr. David Lindenbach from the University of Calgary & Hull Services.
Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
2 – 3:30pm EDT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence base among psychotherapy programs and is a first-line treatment for many mental health conditions across the lifespan. Accordingly, CBT is commonly used with youth in the child welfare system even though there is little research conducted on CBT in the child welfare system. This talk will highlight the adaptation, implementation and evaluation of transdiagnostic CBT for youth at Hull Services, a non-profit youth mental health provider in Calgary that works with many families in the child welfare system. We discuss modifications made for CBT delivery at Hull Services in: therapeutic campus-based care (aka, residential treatment), a school for students with exceptional needs, and a family-based program for Indigenous peoples.
About the Speaker
David Lindenbach is the Director of Research at Hull Services and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary. He leads a community-based research program that uses transdiagnostic approaches to investigate the prevention and treatment of developmental trauma. The research is problem-focused, so it is designed to improve care locally at Hull Services while providing generalizable research knowledge that moves the whole youth mental health field forward. In less than two years as a new investigator, he has raised over $500,000 in grants as lead applicant, and has developed new lines of research into: implementing CBT and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, co-designing therapeutic recreation programs and supports for the transition to adulthood, and using reflective practice to support staff wellness.
Attend here!

19th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH)
2025-10-02 07:00 - 2025-10-06 17:00 | Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP) at The Hospital for Sick Children is thrilled to welcome you to the vibrant and diverse city of Toronto for the 19th WAIMH World Congress in 2026. The event’s theme, “Harmony in Diversity: Nurturing the Youngest Minds Around the World,” invites infant and early mental health professionals from across the globe to come together and exchange lived experiences, cutting-edge research, clinical and practice insights, and cultural perspectives, fostering collaboration and advancing the field on an international stage.

Join Us at the 19th Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH)
October 2–6, 2026 | Toronto, Canada
Theme: Harmony in Diversity: Nurturing the Youngest Minds Around the World

We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the 19th biennial WAIMH Congress in Toronto, hosted by Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP) at The Hospital for Sick Children. This prestigious global gathering brings together nearly 2,000 delegates — researchers, policymakers, clinicians, and practitioners — committed to the mental health and well-being of infants and their families.
The world’s youngest citizens are growing up amid global adversity — social unrest, natural disasters, persistent inequality, and fractured systems of care. Yet, our work in infant mental health is guided by the belief that connection and diversity are sources of strength. This Congress will serve as a platform to celebrate and explore this belief through rich cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue.
Toronto, Canada, provides an inspiring setting for this gathering — a place where global and local perspectives meet. From showcasing pioneering approaches and Indigenous leadership to sharing Canada’s experiences in advancing equity in early life, the Congress will offer insights that resonate far beyond national borders — enriching our shared global movement for infant and family well-being.
Attend here!

Empowering Women and Girls to Build Stronger Communities Through Food Security
2025-10-02 15:00 - 17:00 | 101 Lyon St. N, Ottawa Ontario, Canada
According to the Global Report on Food Crisis, more than 295 million people faced acute hunger in 2024, which is the sixth consecutive annual increase. In food-insecure regions like Thailand, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Haiti, women are often the last to eat and the first to sacrifice their own nutrition for their families especially during crises.
Complex and interlinked set of drivers including conflict, extreme climate conditions, and economic shocks are mutually aggravated, which disproportionately exacerbates population-specific vulnerabilities such as unequal access to livelihood resources needed to improve quality of life and standards of living.
Consequently, contextually relevant solutions for resilience building and recovery are critical pillars needed to support food security, income, and overall community well-being. Compassion Canada, World Renew and Thrive for Good will be discussing our programming to combat this issue globally.
This event will:

Highlight the intersection of food security and gender equality as a critical dimension of Canada’s triple nexus global strategy.
Present evidence-based approaches of Canadian NGOs that empower women and girls through agriculture, climate adaptation, and community development.
Engage policymakers and practitioners in dialogue on strengthening collaboration between NGOs and government actors in implementing the Feminist International Assistance Policy.

RSVP through: Sacha Bunting, sbunting@compassion.ca or Andrew Defor, adefor@beaconnorthstrategies.com

Applying GIPA and MEWA in HIV work
2025-10-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual, Canada
The Frameworks, Values & Rights / Activating Equity in Health Research (on AEHR) talk series offers an opportunity for experts to teach about the core frameworks and values of the Women-Centred HIV Care Hub, including their application to women’s health and the realms of research, academia, medicine, and community. On AEHR talks present a podcast-style session where one to two guest experts share their perspectives, applications, and future steps in advancing equity in health research.
The Mentoring Future Leaders: Insights and Dialogue sessions feature established leaders in women’s health who share mentorship insights, their career journeys, and pearls of wisdom, followed by audience discussion and Q&A.​
​The Clinical Talks series provides a space for candid conversation around clinical topics related to the field of women, HIV, and health. The discussions are led by clinical researchers and health care providers, beginning with an informative presentation on the topic and closing with an open Q&A to spotlight community concerns.
Learn more here!

Webinar Wednesdays: The Atlas Institute’s Co-Designed Resources on Intimate Partner Violence for Veterans and Veteran Family Members
2025-10-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Wednesday, October 8th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents The Atlas Institute’s Co-Designed Resources on Intimate Partner Violence for Veterans and Veteran Family Members, featuring Petra Babic, Victoria Carmichael, Robin Dziekan, Kaitlyn LaRiviere, and Ashlee Mulligan from the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families.
Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
2-3:30 p.m. EDT
This presentation will introduce the work of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families (atlasveterans.ca), a national non-profit that collaborates with Veterans, Families, service providers, and researchers to improve mental health care and supports for Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans and their Families. It will provide an overview of the Institute’s mission and key activities, then focus on its intimate partner violence (IPV) resources, highlighting the co-design process involving Veterans, Family members, and service providers; summarizing the content and use of each resource with insights from contributors; and briefly outlining other related resources. The session will close with ways to stay informed about ongoing work and a short Q&A.
About the Speakers
Petra Babic is a certified life coach, peer support facilitator, and advocate with over 15 years of experience helping women through life transitions. As an ex-Veteran wife, she understands the unique challenges of military families. She has served as an advisory member for the Atlas Institute’s IPV resources project and supports research to improve IPV services. Her advocacy also addresses single parenting, the long-term effects on children, OSI/PTSI, codependency, social support, and the need for greater recognition of ex-spouses in the Veteran family system. Petra fosters compassionate, empowering spaces that promote healing, connection, and community.
Victoria Carmichael is a Senior Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at the Atlas Institute. In this role, she collaborates closely with Veterans, Family members, service providers and researchers to share knowledge in meaningful and accessible ways. Victoria’s background encompasses research, community engagement and project management, with a focus on stigma, violence prevention and suicide prevention. She also holds a Master of Science in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation from the University of Oxford.
Robin Dziekan is a stakeholder engagement professional working for the Atlas Institute. She has a BA in psychology from the University of Ottawa. She is the daughter of two Canadian Armed Forces Veterans – as such, working for a not-for-profit focused on improving the mental health and well-being and Veterans and their Families is of great personal importance to her. Robin has been working in the field of stakeholder engagement for the past seven years. During this time, she has ensured a variety of stakeholder perspectives have been included in projects ranging from health care standards to knowledge mobilization resources
Kaitlyn LaRiviere is a Registered Social Worker and counsellor with over nine years of experience supporting military and Veteran families through the Military Family Resource Centre. She offers compassionate, trauma-informed support for navigating transitions, trauma, and family challenges, with specialized training from the When Love Hurts program and the Battered Women’s Support Services. With a deep understanding of military community stressors, Kaitlyn is committed to fostering resilience, safety, and healing.
Ashlee Mulligan is the Director of Partnerships of Stakeholder Engagement at the Atlas Institute, where she works to promote engagement, collaboration and knowledge exchange, in view of foundationally embedding the lived experience and expertise of Veterans and Veteran Families in the networks we are building and the work we do. Ashlee has a Master of Science (specialization in neuroscience) and a background in women’s studies and psychology.
Attend here!

Operation Eyesight: World Sight Day
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual, Canada
Join the Movement for Equitable Eye Care!
Operation Eyesight Universal, Seva Canada and Orbis Canada invite you to a powerful virtual webinar on the rising global and national demand for eye care. Explore emerging trends in global eye health, access across the life cycle and the role of policy in advancing equity. Learn how you can take action to protect vision and help eliminate avoidable vision loss worldwide.

Thursday, October 9th from 12-1pm EST / 10-11am MT
Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rCKowrONQyaMFgXk91pCTw

Resilience Scale Masterclass
2025-10-14 13:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Tuesday, October 14th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents the Resilience Scale Masterclass, featuring Claire Neihaus from the Palix Foundation.
Tuesday, October 14th, 2025
1pm – 3:30pm EDT
The Resilience Scale Masterclass explores how adversities, positive supports, and acquired skills and abilities interact to influence resilience and impact lifelong health and mental health outcomes. It provides foundational knowledge and a common language that are accessible across populations and disciplines, including policy makers, educators, practitioners, and the public. The Resilience Scale itself acts as a metaphor to communicate key concepts around resilience, and an effective visual tool to facilitate communication about life experiences, identify areas of support for children and families, and build connections to promote capacity for resilience.
About the Speaker
Claire Niehaus is a Scientific Associate with the Palix Foundation. She is a graduate from the University of Lethbridge having received her MSc in Behavioral Neuroscience under the supervision of Dr. Robbin Gibb. An active member of her community, she volunteers with Let’s Talk Science and Building Brains Together, and serves as a Director on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District. Claire joined the Palix Foundation in the summer of 2022 and is passionate about applying her skills and knowledge to build resilience within her community.
Attend here!

Coffee Hour session, Orbis International's FEH visit to Ghana!
2025-10-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual, Canada
“Thriving Together: Supporting Women’s Growth in Eye Health Careers Through Mentorship”
‍
Join us for a dynamic live virtual session spotlighting the vital role of female mentorship in shaping careers in ophthalmology. Through an engaging discussion, we will explore how mentorship uplifts women to excel in education and lead in teaching and institutional advancement. This session will highlight real-world experiences, and strategies for thriving at every stage of the eye care journey.

Location: Cybersight Platform.
‍
Date: Wednesday, October 15th
‍Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm local time, Ghana.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
‍
See you online!
Attend here!

Webinar Wednesdays: Queer Epistemologies of Violence: Ecological and Liberatory Perspectives
2025-10-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Wednesday, October 15th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents Queer Epistemologies of Violence: Ecological and Liberatory Perspectives, featuring Dr. Jason C. Garvey from the University of Vermont and principal investigator of QTPiE: Queer and Trans People in Education.
Wednesday, October 15th, 2025
2 – 3:30pm EDT
In this session, Dr. Garvey will reframe violence prevention through the lens of queer epistemologies and ecological perspectives, highlighting how violence operates across individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal levels. Drawing on stories, research insights, and community-driven strategies Jay will explore liberatory approaches that dismantle silos, center minoritized voices, and foster systemic change. Designed for educators, researchers, advocates, and community members, the session offers intersectional perspectives and practical tools to strengthen gender-based and interpersonal violence prevention.
About the Speaker
Dr. Jason C. Garvey is the Executive Director for the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment and the Friedman-Hipps Green and Gold Professor of Education at the University of Vermont. As an interdisciplinary researcher, he uses his expertise in student success, teaching and learning, education policy, and statistics to merge data-informed decision making with social change and impact in higher education. Jay is the Principal Investigator for QTPiE: Queer and Trans People in Education, a multi-institutional research team with a mission to educate, advocate, and build coalitions that advance equitable policies and practices for queer and trans people in education. He received his PhD in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Maryland with a certificate in Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation.
Attend here!

Book Launch – Collaborative Methods: Participatory Data Analysis in Feminist Research
2025-10-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual, Canada
Are you interested in feminist methodologies, participatory research, and collaborative inquiry?
Join authors Kaylan Schwarz, Claudia Mitchell, Mitchell McLarnon, Sarah Flicker, and Geetanjali Gill for a dynamic introduction to their chapters, followed by an open Q&A – a chance to connect with contributors and explore the practical and theoretical aspects of participatory data analysis.
We’re also happy to welcome Pengfei Zhao (McGill University) as a special guest and discussant.
Whether you’re conducting advanced research or just beginning to explore new methodologies, all are welcome!
Register here: https://mcgill.zoom.us/meeting/register/stoijlmHTG-lATMmYz3wuA

Claiming Space, Shifting Power: Campaigns for LGBTQ+ Rights
2025-10-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual, Canada
Register for Dignity in Dialogue’s upcoming session on October 16th from 1:00 PM – 2:30PM EDT.
This session spotlights the strategists, organizers, and everyday people taking part in impactful LGBTQ+ rights campaigns that have changed hearts, minds, and policies. Together, we’ll explore how movements have built power, navigated backlash, sustained momentum, and shifted narratives to achieve lasting impact.
Featured speakers:

Fae Johnstone, Canada – Society of Queer Momentum, Canada
Star Rugori, Burundi – Executive Director, MOLI
Mariano Ruiz, Argentina – President, Derechos Humanos y Diversidad Asociación Civil

Open to all, this conversation offers vital lessons for building inclusive, resilient movements in today’s urgent climate. Please share within your networks. There will be simultaneous EN-FR and FR-EN interpretation.
Register here!

Research Mentorship in LMICs
2025-10-17 07:00 - 08:30 | Virtual, Canada
Are you interested in improving research mentorship in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)?

We will go over successful mentoring programs in Ethiopia and Rwanda, case studies compiled by TDR, ways to enhance equity in mentorship, and share open access resources.

The webinar is organized by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the University of Rwanda (UR-CMHS), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI). If you have any questions, contact Dr. Eneyi Kpokiri at Eneyi.kpokiri@lshtm.ac.uk.

October 17, 2025 | 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM EST | Virtual

Attend here!

Leadership Forum 2025
2025-10-17 09:30 - 18:00 | Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 2G8, Canada
On October 17th, 2025, young change-makers, sectoral leaders, and passionate mentors will come together in Toronto for our biggest event of the year.
The Leadership Forum is one of Fora: Network for Change’s signature events — and one of the most impactful and empowering events of the year for feminist leaders looking to expand their reach for change. Hosted in Toronto in October 2025, the Leadership Forum brings together an intergenerational community of sectoral leaders to drive intersectional change across nonprofits, corporate spaces, and their communities.
This one-day experience features conversation-driven panels, interactive workshops, and intentional networking designed to spark momentum that lasts well beyond the day’s events.
Participants will leave with tools to navigate their careers with clarity, challenge outdated systems, and approach leadership in a way that’s collaborative, equity-driven, and future-focused. Whether you’re building your board presence, finding your next career pathway, or interested in connecting with the next generation of feminist leaders, our Leadership Forum is the launchpad to building a feminist future.

Toronto Reference Library | 789 Yonge St, Toronto ON
Attend here!

Wellbeing Society Webinar Series Launch
2025-10-17 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual, Canada
Welcome to the Wellbeing Society Webinar Series Launch!
Join us Friday, October 17, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (PST) for the launch of PHABC’s Wellbeing Society Webinar Series, building on #PHSI25: Building Wellbeing Societies and Communities. This online kickoff introduces a new platform focused on the real-world challenges and opportunities of creating a Wellbeing society—and the actions needed to get us there. Our opening session will feature reflections on the profound transformations required to put the wellbeing of people and the planet at the heart of governance.
Registration is now open and it is free!
Attend here!

Canada FASD Conference 2025 Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network (CanFASD)
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-23 | Hilton Downtown Toronto, 145 Richmond St W, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2L2, Canada
The Canada FASD Conference is coming to Toronto, Ontario October 21-23, 2025. This national conference on FASD brings together a different people from across the country and internationally who hold valuable perspectives on FASD and prevention of FASD. With over 500 attendees expected, this three-day event brings together healthcare professionals, social workers, justice and legal professionals, educators, counsellors, researchers, policy makers, and those with direct or indirect lived or living experience to connect and collaborate. This conference provides a secure and open environment to share diverse perspectives, valuable experiences, new research, and best and promising practices. We encourage you to be part of it!
Conference Theme
The theme for Canada FASD Conference 2025 conference is Shaping the Future of FASD: From Evidence to Action
Attend here!

CanWaCH gender equality training: October 2025 French offering
2025-10-21 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-22 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Virtual, Canada
CanWaCH is thrilled to announce the next French offering of our virtual gender equality training sessions! This training is designed to build the confidence and capacity of the CanWaCH membership in delivering gender transformative health programming. Through a series of three modules, delivered across five sessions, participants will learn how to integrate gender transformative approaches into their work.
Sessions will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT on October 21, 22, 24, 28 and 31. Please only register if you can commit to all dates and times.
Learn more and register for the training here
Share with your Francophone colleagues!
*Please note that this is the French offering of our gender equality training. Space is limited to 25 participants. At this time, only two people per organization can register.

Doing Hard Things With Friends: October Virtual Session
2025-10-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual, Canada
Join Partners In Health Canada for the very first session of our new Reading Club: Doing Hard Things With Friends.
Together, we’ll gather around a short reading (shared in advance) to reflect on global health, solidarity, and what care really means. No prep required beyond the reading.
We’re beginning in October — Paul Farmer’s birthday month — with a story that captures his life and work, setting the tone for what this club is all about.

Everyone is welcome!

Attend here!

Webinar Wednesdays- Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence: What You Need to Know
2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Canada
Join us on Wednesday, October 22nd, as the AVA Webinar Series presents Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence: What You Need to Know, featuring Kaitlynn Mendes from DIY: Digital Safety.
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025
2 – 3:30pm EDT
This webinar will introduce the topic of technology facilitated sexual violence (TFSV), explain why we are moving to this language and away from older terms like cyberbullying when it comes to practices like non-consensual intimate image sharing, creating deepfake nudes, and cyberflashing. The webinar will also cover some key laws (civil and criminal) that relate to TFSV, go over some key technological supports, and share some do’s and don’ts when talking to and supporting youth experiencing TFSV.
About the Speaker
Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes is a Sociology Professor at Western University. She also holds the Canada Research Chair in Inequality and Gender and leads the study DIY: Digital Safety. She is an expert on digital technologies and the benefits and drawbacks they play in young people’s lives.
Attend here!

2025 Canadian Conference on Global Health
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-28 | Halifax Convention Centre
This year’s theme is titled “Navigating the Path Forward: Advancing Global Health in a Changing World”. As the world faces urgent, unprecedented challenges, global health is at a crossroads. Geopolitical changes and instability, climate change, funding inequities, and the persistent effects of health disparities in Canada and internationally, demand bold and innovative action.
The conference program will be built on the following sub-themes:

Navigating Global Health Governance, Financing, Collaboration and Trust.
Youth, Gender, and Inclusive Leadership in Global Health.
Global Health Security: Threats, Climate, Outbreaks and Preparedness.
Harnessing Innovation, Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Global Health.

Learn more here!

The Women-Centred HIV Care Update
2025-10-24 12:30 - 20:00 | Simon Fraser University Harbour Center – Segal Room, 500 Granville St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1W6, Canada
The UBC Faculty of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases is pleased to invite you to the Women-Centred HIV Care Update on Friday October 24, 2025. This program was co-developed between UBC Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Ribbon Community, Women-Centred HIV Care Hub and was planned to achieve scientific integrity, objectivity and balance.

To learn more about our sponsors, please visit this link.

This in-person symposium aims to build clinician skills to better support the unique health needs of women living with HIV in BC and western Canada. The event will introduce the women-centred HIV care model and cover priority topics across the lifespan identified by women living with HIV in BC, as well as the clinicians and social service providers that support them. ​
Friday, October 24, 2025┃12:30 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
Simon Fraser University Harbour Center – Segal Room
Vancouver, British Columbia
Attend here!
