Wellesley Institute

How can we make dental care more equitable? The new Canadian Dental Care Plan is a great first step, but ongoing analysis of the program will be needed. Read our latest blog written by Rishika Wadehra and Abi Bala. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/children-youth/canadian-dental-care-plan-will-help-more-people-thrive/

Missed our recent newsletter? Make sure to sign up now to receive future updates. Go to our website and click "subscribe." https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/

The past 50 years have seen major declines in taxes on the rich across countries including Canada, and this has resulted in a rising concentration of income and wealth. Wealth inequality is bad for health and health equity. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/economic-inequality/capital-gains-tax-increases-a-reminder-of-economic-inequality-in-canada/

Pride Month is not only a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ communities, but a call for more equitable policies. Almost one-quarter of youth in City of Toronto-administered shelters identified as 2SLGBTQ+ in 2021. This blog by Mauriene Tolentino and Rishika Wadehra advocates for advancing health equity by ensuring q***r and trans people have dignified access to housing and other critical health and social supports. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/housing/pride-month-highlights-need-to-address-2slgbtq-homelessness/

Wellesley Institute is grateful to operate in Toronto, at the corner of Gerrard Street and Oskenonton Lane. National
is a fitting time to recognize and honour the achievements of Chief Oskenonton (1888-1955). A singer and actor fluent in English, French and Mohawk, he introduced Indigenous culture to people all over the world, spending the better part of his adult life in Toronto. His work as a performer, healer and spokesperson has left a lasting influence on Indigenous arts, spirituality and culture.

As many as 21% of Canadians over 65 are receiving some form of long-term care. This closure is a worrying trend. Ontario needs to set and meet public targets to deliver an equitable long-term care system that meets everyone's needs.

Fifth Toronto nursing home announces closure, bringing total of long-term-care beds lost to more than 500 in less than three years Chartwell, owner of White Eagle Long-Term Care Residence located in Parkdale, says it plans to sell the property and is aiming to close by Sept. 30, leaving its more than

We’re pleased to release, along with Black Health Alliance, our City of Toronto Black Community Data Governance Framework report. The report was commissioned by the City in response to engagement with and advocacy by Black communities. At its core, the framework is driven by the imperative to establish trust with Black communities through genuine engagement.

City of Toronto Black Community Data Governance Framework Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Wellesley Institute and Dr. Kwame McKenzie are looking forward to hosting Powering Equity, Canada’s first summit on the collection, use and governance of race-based data for health on Wednesday. With 140 attendees, the event is fully booked!

Powering Equity will shine a spotlight on efforts across the country aimed at understanding and addressing differences in health among racialized groups. It will harness the growing energy to elevate new ways of thinking and doing. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/race-based-data-first-ever-summit-aims-to-accelerate-health-equity-for-racialized-communities/

Register for our upcoming free webinar! Join Emily Mooney, Alka Kumar and Joelleann Forbes for an insightful conversation about building and sustaining research partnerships. The session will be hosted Friday, March 22 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Register now! ➡️ 781dc37a-6706-489b-ac12-58d0c0d10787@13eedfb4-5b24-46ca-b78d-98ad0c33990f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/781dc37a-6706-489b-ac12-58d0c0d10787@13eedfb4-5b24-46ca-b78d-98ad0c33990f

Single in the city? You’re not wrong in thinking costs have skyrocketed. Our latest research report by Abi Bala shows the cost of thriving has gone up 33% since 2017. Read our latest report. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/thriving-in-the-city-single-working-age-adults/

The City of Toronto nearly doubled its funding for the Toronto Community Crisis Service. While this is a positive step forward, it's vital that we also address the root of the mental health crisis. This means providing sufficient support for TCCS and the services clients access before and after a crisis. Read our latest blog. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/health/crisis-team-expansion-a-welcome-step/

“If we can’t increase wages, we need to decrease the cost of essentials for people to thrive in the GTA... If we don’t do it now, we’ll pay for it in the future.” - Dr. Kwame McKenzie

Read the latest addition to our ongoing “Thriving in the City” series written by Abi Bala to see how much it costs to live a healthy life in the GTA. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/thriving-in-the-city-single-working-age-adults/

Collecting race-based data is considered standard practice in other countries. Why not in Canada? Wellesley researcher Jemal Demeke's latest blog explains why we need a national approach to collecting race-based data to advance health equity.
https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/healthy-communities/needed-a-national-approach-to-race-based-data-for-health-equity/

Are you a researcher who is knowledgeable about the social determinants of health? Wellesley Institute is looking for a researcher to conduct literature reviews on diabetes within South Asian and Black populations in Ontario. Apply before March 15. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/careers/

Wellesley Institute is looking for people to join our team! If you have expertise in health equity and experience conducting qualitative research, we want to hear from you. Read the full job description on our website. Make sure to apply before March 15.
https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/careers/

We need a new approach that ensures healthy food is affordable to everyone in Canada. Thank you The Toronto Star editorial board for highlighting the issue.

Star Editorial Board: 'Too broke to afford food.' The crisis of people going hungry In a recent annual report, Second Harvest said that more than one-third of food charities turned away people last year because of a lack of supplies.

Canadians deserve to live in a country where everyone can afford to eat a proper meal. Read the latest op-ed in the Toronto Star written by Jesse Rosenberg, Wellesley Institute's Director of Policy and Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Wellesley Institute's CEO.

It is time to regulate prices of healthy food just like any other utility The government should require grocers to make the nutritious food basket available at prices that are affordable to families across the country.

Wonderful to see Wellesley Institute's work highlighted in blogTO!

Here's how much it really costs a person to live in Toronto and it's way more than you think Toronto's cost of living has grown to absolutely outrageous proportions in recent years, and people of all demographics are feeling the pressure — ...

It costs $61,654 a year for single, working-age adults between the ages of 25 and 40 to thrive in Toronto. If you live in Mississauga, it costs $83,680 a year.

Wellesley researcher Abinaya Balasubramaniam's latest report explores the skyrocketing cost of living in the GTA and what needs to be done about it. Read the full paper on our website. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/thriving-in-the-city-single-working-age-adults/

Join us in congratulating Wellesley Institute CEO Dr. Kwame McKenzie for being selected as one of 100 Most Influential for 2023-2034!

Want to thrive in the GTA? If you’re a single, working adult, it will cost far more than what you earn on a living wage. Wellesley researcher Abinaya Balasubramaniam has identified the resources it takes to be physically, socially and psychologically healthy in the GTA.

For the full details, read “Thriving in the City: Single, Working-Age Adults.” https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/thriving-in-the-city-single-working-age-adults/

Many Canadians are worried about the collection and use of their health data. Wellesley researcher Jemal Demeke says community data governance could be the solution that helps build trust. Read our latest blog to learn more.

https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/race-based-data/communities-must-own-their-health-data/

There's one week left to register for our free webinar! Join us for an engaging discussion about the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ newcomers face when settling in Toronto.

Register here: 6ca14699-fe25-4f95-a6f5-e2392657f9fb@13eedfb4-5b24-46ca-b78d-98ad0c33990f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6ca14699-fe25-4f95-a6f5-e2392657f9fb@13eedfb4-5b24-46ca-b78d-98ad0c33990f

“Many people were undocumented and afraid to register at the health centre. They thought they’d be reported to immigration.”

Spanish-speaking Latin Americans were one of the hardest hit communities in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building off the work from a community task force, Sarah Sanford and Irma Molina's (CMHA Toronto) latest research project highlights the unique barriers Latin Americans faced.
https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/understanding-the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-torontos-spanish-speaking-latin-american-population/

The City of Toronto's 2024 budget takes bold steps toward advancing health equity for the city. Our team Kwame McKenzie, Rishika Wadehra and Jesse Rosenberg believe there's room for improvement, however.

The 2024 includes funding to expand shelter services, for example, but it doesn't have long-term solutions for . The City of Toronto needs to commit to ending chronic homelessness within 10 years.

Funding the Scarborough busway will help advance equity for those who rely on the . But we need the City of Toronto to build a truly equitable transit system that can benefit everyone regardless of where live in the city.

Mayor Olivia Chow's 2024 budget includes critical funding for services such as drop-in centres, youth programs and community recreation. But it's still not enough to combat the cost-of-living crisis. reduction must be a central focus for future city budgets.

With regard to mental health and well-being, the City of Toronto can become a leader and develop a fully funded strategy that improves the mental health of Torontonians. Wellesley is looking forward to continuing our work with our partners.

What do you think about the 2024 city budget? https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/city-of-toronto-budget-2024-our-input/

Wellesley is calling on the Ontario government to outline its strategy for ending chronic in the 2024 budget. Members of our policy team, Jesse Rosenberg and Rishika Wadehra, explain how the province can take action. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/ontario-budget-2024-urgent-need-to-address-homelessness/

Spanish speaking Latin Americans were one of the hardest hit communities by the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto, with higher rates of infection, low vaccination rates and poorer self-rated mental health compared to other groups.

To learn more, read our latest blog written by Wellesley researcher Sarah Sanford and CMHA Toronto researcher Irma Molina. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/covid-19/learning-from-the-pandemic-experiences-of-latin-americans-in-toronto/

? In Ontario, 25% of people live with a disability. While physical disabilities are the most common, mental health-related disabilities are on the rise. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/healthy-communities/from-surviving-to-thriving-for-persons-with-a-

To improve the mental health of older adults in Canada, a research study is being conducted to take the pulse on older adult mental health needs across the country.

Share your thoughts by accessing the survey here: https://queensu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tKKO7bRHJSLe6y

Nearly one million Canadians with a disability live below the poverty line. The Ontario government needs to do more to ensure people are not only surviving, but thriving. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/healthy-communities/from-surviving-to-thriving-for-persons-with-a-disability/