Annual Gatherings
1st Annual Gathering
Building the Network: Stronger Together
On November 9 & 10, 2020 the Northern Ontario Home and Community Care Network hosted their first ever conference. The conference was originally scheduled as an in-person event in March 2020. Due to COVID 19, the in-person event was postponed, and a virtual conference was held instead. Stan Wesley was Master of Ceremonies and full of positive energy for all to enjoy. In total, 128 participants registered to attend this event, which included 52 different First Nation Communities and organizations were represented at the conference.
Over the course of the 2 days of training, the session breakdown was as follows:
• 3 plenary sessions
• 2 networking sessions
• 12 workshops
Participants were given the opportunity to participate in 4 of the 12 workshops and sessions, which included: Concurrent Workshops:
• Palliative Bedside Care
• Cancer Screening • Maintaining Elders Skin Health: What Caregivers Need to Know
• Buoyant Resiliency: Staying Afloat During Turbulent Times
• Foot Care-Competencies and Updates Human Resources Considerations
• First Nations and Inuit Health Home and Community Care 101
• Mobility and Accessibility Equipment Training with Motions
• Using Traditional Medicines to Treat Chronic Disease
• Understanding Arthritis and Self-Management Strategies
• SE Health First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program – Education Opportunities
• Palliative Care Case Management
• Inspiring Hope in Diabetes Self-Management: Building a Bridge to a New Future.
Throughout the conference there were various opportunities for delegates to connect and get to know each other. There were 2 networking sessions where delegates were split into a group of their peers.
The gathering was intended to build capacity and provide participants with knowledge, understanding and takeaway tools to better meet the Home and Community Care needs in communities. Another goal was to network and build relationships among HCC workers. Despite the challenges of the virtual world, the event provided a great educational connection.
2nd Annual Gathering
"Compassion, Connection, Caring, Restoration, and Transformation"
The 2nd Annual Conference Gathering remained a virtual event and was hosted on November 9 & 10, 2021. The agenda was jam packed with special guest speakers who focused on inspiring messages that supported the gathering theme. While this event was intended to build capacity and provide participants with knowledge, understanding and takeaway tools to better meet the Home and Community Care needs in the communities they work in, another goal was to network and build relationships among HCC workers.
Ron Kanutski, the Master of Ceremonies, was full of energy and humour and participants appeared to appreciate what he brought to this year’s virtual conference. Elder Ken Nash opened the conference with a prayer on the first day and Elder Dora Beardy provided opening prayer on the second day. Opening remarks were offered by Philina Sky, NOHCCN President, as well as from the Regional Coordinator FNIHCC. In total, 109 people registered to attend the training, some First Nations and agencies had multiple attendees viewing and participating from one conference link. 33 different First Nation Communities and organizations were represented at the conference.
Over the course of the 2 days of training, the session breakdown was as follows:
•5 plenary sessions
•2 networking sessions
•7 workshops
•1 Energizer
Keynote Address was given by facilitator and guest speaker Sandi Boucher. Participants were given the opportunity to participate in 2 of the 7 workshops and sessions, which included: Concurrent Workshops:
•Virtual Care for Home Care
•Enhancing Nursing Collaboration in Northern Communities
•Stroke:risk factors, treatment and caring for client’s post-stroke
•New DCI Reporting Requirements
•Advanced Care Planning
•Grief debriefing-stages of grief-compounded grief and Elder teachings
•Living with Diabetes in a Traditional lifestyle & Diabetes Health
Throughout the conference there were various opportunities for delegates to connect and get to know each other. There were 2 networking sessions where delegates had the opportunity to listen and share. They participated in introducing themselves to the audience of viewers,”Nish” yoga and sharing what they are grateful for, to name a few.
3rd Annual Gathering
"Body Mind and Spirit"
Finally in 2023 the NOHCCN was able to host an IN PERSON Annual Gathering in Thunder Bay Ontario on January 24-26 2023! The theme of was based on the “Body Mind and Spirit” looking at wellness and self-care for the 118 participants who attended this gathering. The importance of self-care for the home care worker especially during the recovery from the pandemic, served the members with a line uo of opportunities to listen to guest speakers who focused on holistic health – spiritual – physical – emotional health.
In addition to this event, our Master of Ceremonies Stan Wesley, provided an engaging and entertainment that the participants enjoyed, as evident by all the laughter! We also took the time to honour home care staff at this event.
The agenda included plenary, keynote addresses and concurrent sessions through out the 3 day event. Some of the presentations included:
•Traditional medicines
•Language
•Good medicine stories
•Mental health by lived experiences and CAMH
•Cultural Sensitivity
•Wound care
•NIHB order supplies
•Time & Stress Management
•Debriefing
We also ensured we had activities that supported mindfulness which was fun and energizing!
•Yoga
•Zumba
The participants at this gathering provided excellent feedback so that the planning committee would have direction and recommendations to follow for the planning of the next event.
4th Annual Gathering
"Our Home Care Successes"
On February 13 to 15, 2024, the Northern Ontario Home and Community Care Network (NOHCCN) held their Fourth Annual Gathering – Our Home Care Successes in Thunder Bay, Ontario at the Valhalla Inn.
In total 160 participants were registered for the Gathering. This number included delegates, Elders, a dignitary, most presenters and informational booth vendors. Daily attendance check-in for the Gathering was as follows:
- 125 on Tuesday, February 13
- 125 on Wednesday, February 14
- 120 on Thursday, February 15
Each morning was opened in a good way with a prayer and a smudge by Elder Teri Fiddler and Elder Dorothy Indian. Due to the potential triggering content an Elder’s Lounge/Mental Health Space was available for anyone who would like to speak with an Elder in a quiet area. Smudging and adult colouring activities were available in this space.
Brent Edwards “Moose Legs” provided MC services, wit his energy, humour, interactive activities, and ability to engage the audience greatly enhanced the Gathering. Brent’s natural fun energy enabled a great learning environment for all.
The Gathering offered a variety of learning opportunities and training sessions that focused on building capacity for Home Care workers and featured Home Care success stories.
The agenda for the 3-day Gathering consisted of plenary sessions and three concurrent workshop sessions. A snapshot of the plenary sessions included the following:
- Addressing Anti-Indigenous Racism with Dr. Alexa Lesperance, Rocky Bay and Whitefish First Nation
- Open Mic – Sharing our Stories, Our Medicine
- Indigenous Ways of Healing with Dennis Windego
- Supporting Successful Conversations When There is a Change in a Health Condition with Jill Marcella and Sherri Henderson, North West Regional Palliative Care Program, St. Joseph’s Care Group
Three concurrent workshop sessions were offered on days 1 and 2 of the Gathering. The workshops on Day 1 were designed to host three streams made of Home Care Workers, Health Care Providers and for Managers, Coordinators and Health Directors. These sessions were tailored specifically to those roles to broaden the skillset and capacity of those delegates.
On Day 2 concurrent workshops were placed in rotating groups to ensure a more focused learning environment throughout the day. Some of the concurrent workshops included:
- Senior Friendly Care at Home: Tips for Supporting Elders with Common Age-Related Changes and Dementia with Kirsten Pavelich, NOSM University
- Older Adults with Dementia – Mitigating Risks of Abuse with Marta Hajek, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
- Service Delivery Plan Workshops with Priscilla Sky, Indigenous Services Canada
- Traditional Medicine Teaching with Carla Bird, Peguis First Nation.
To wrap-up the Gathering, the NOHCCN Board provided an update on NOHCCN news and next steps, which was followed by the day 3 evaluations and door prizes. Sharing of Our Home Care Successes Gathering was well-attended, and feedback collected will be used as direction for the next gathering.
5th Annual Gathering
”Resiliency and the Path Forward”
The Northern Ontario Home and Community Care Network (NOHCCN) held its Fifth Annual Gathering – Resiliency and the Path Forward – on January 21 to 23, 2025 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Daily attendance for the Gathering was as follows:
Day 1 – Tues. Jan. 21 135
Day 2 – Wed. Jan. 22 124
Day 3 – Thurs. Jan. 23 117
*Does not include information booth, volunteers or artisans
The Gathering opened with prayers from Elders Teri Redsky-Fiddler and Sam Achneepineskum, followed by remarks from the NOHCCN Board and a welcome from a representative from Indigenous Services Canada. The NOHCCN Board introduced a video that was made for the Gathering of Elders in their Community sharing their experiences with Home Care and the impact it has made in their lives.
Ron Kanutski provided his talent of Master of Ceremonies on Day 1 and Day 2, and Janine Desmoulin kept the gathering on task for final day.
The three-day event featured: concurrent workshops on Days 1 and 2, plenary sessions on Days 2 and 3, and a wellness activity each day.
In addition to the Gathering’s main sessions, evening engagement sessions were held by First Nations Digital Health Ontario (FNDHO) hosted Frantic Faxes and Information Gaps – Gathering Stories from Home and Community Care and the Community Based Stroke Rehab Outreach Team hosted Enhancing Access to Stroke Rehabilitation in Communities through the Community Based Stroke Outreach Program.
On Wednesday evening FUN social event was hosted by Ron Kanutski, included comedy and facilitated games and exercise!
The agenda for the 3-day Gathering consisted workshop sessions tailored specifically to HCC roles to broaden the skillset and capacity of those delegates. . A snapshot of the plenary sessions included the following:
- For Home Care Workers: Chronic Disease Management: Diabetes and Kidney Disease – Building Competencies for Home Care Workers with SE Health First Nations,Inuitand Metis Program
- For Health Care Providers: Walking the Foot Path: Prevention and Management of Foot Wounds with St. Joseph’s Care Group and 7 Generations; and
- For Managers, Coordinators & Health Directors: How to Access Provincial Clinical Viewers and What to Do with FNIHCC Digital Health Funding to Support Client Care with First Nations Digital Health Ontario
On Day 2 workshops included:
- Traditional Medicines Teachings with Tom Chisel
- Safeguarding Client Information: Privacy & Security in Action with FNDHO and
- Foot Health at Home with St. Joseph’s Care Group
The Southwest Home and Community Care Network Association provided an update and Six Nations of the Grand River Hospice presentation, followed by Caring for Our Elders – New Knowledge Keepers Elder Complex in Pikangikum by the Pikangikum Health Authority. The rest of the day focused on Caregiver Self-Care – Creating Your Personal Wellness First Aid Kit with CMHA and Beedaubin Counselling and Indigenous Perspectives on Palliative Care, by a facilitated panel discussion with Anishinaabe Knowledge Keepers.
This gathering understands the importance of Caregiver Wellness and Indigenous Knowledge and offered safe space for Drop-in Painting with Joshua LeClair, Cedar Foot Baths with Laura Horton, and Meditation and Chair Yoga with Michelle Desrosier.
For a full listing of presenter bios and presentation descriptions, please see the full summary report.
