Rainbow Health Ontario

07/10/2025

We recently facilitated a Pride Month Lunch and Learn at Humber River Hospital, where participants explored how to provide 2SLGBTQ+-competent care. Attendees shared that they valued how informed our clinical educators were—infusing the learning with their lived experiences, sharing new insights, and creating a safe learning environment for open discussion.

07/10/2025

Loving these photos from Strathroy Pride – especially spotting our Be Seen. Get Screened. paper fans in the wild! Thanks for helping share this important message.

07/08/2025

Happening THIS WEEK: Trans 101 – Adults and Older Adults
📅 July 11, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m

This 3-hour workshop helps health and service providers build skills to support trans and gender-diverse adults and seniors. Learn to recognize how cisnormativity influences health care, identify social determinants of health and transphobia’s impact, and how to service users exploring gender identity.

Fee: $20
Prerequisite: 2SLGBTQ+ Foundations Course

Register: https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/education-training/

07/07/2025

Join us in recognizing this July.

In Canada, 27 per cent of the population aged 15 and older (8 million people) lives with a disability (Source: Statistics Canada). This month, we honour their resilience, amplify their voices and reaffirm our commitment to accessibility and equity.

📢 New resource: Check out The Enchanté Network’s newly released report, “Back to Our Roots,” exploring the experiences of disabled Black 2SLGBTQ+ populations in Canada.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IU9zYAB6F6W76aaXUfxX5GjwwxZT_c5u/view

07/07/2025

Thanks to Outloud North Bay for helping to increase awareness about the importance of cancer screening within 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

For more information and resources, please visit: http://get-screened.ca

07/04/2025

Thanks PRIDE Temiskaming for helping to build awareness about the importance of cancer screening in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and sharing our campaign!

Cancer screening is an important part of 2SLGBTQ+ health. Regular screening can help find cancer in its early stages, when treatment can be easier and more successful.

Ask your healthcare provider which screenings you’re eligible for and take control of your health.

Free resources available! Posters, social media tools, educational materials and more to help spread the word. Visit get-screened.ca and share with your community.

🔗 More info and resources: get-screened.ca

Rainbow Health Ontario creates opportunities for the health care system to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

07/02/2025

Spotlighting leaders in 2SLGBTQ+-competent care: 2SLGBTQ+ Mental Health Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

"While the clinic at St. Joe’s remains a vital resource for those seeking gender-affirming psychiatric care, the ultimate aim is to work toward a future where this specialized clinic is no longer necessary. “There still is a need for a specialized clinic like this in certain situations,” states Dr. Veltman. “I see success for the clinic being that we don’t need this clinic. 2SLGBTQ+ folks want to—and should be able to—access healthcare wherever everyone else accesses it. All of us should be able to provide compassionate care to sexual and gender minority patients.”"

📖 Read more about their impactful work: https://www.stjoes.ca/our-stories/news/~2601-Inside-St-Joe-s-clinics-Providing-compassionate-care-to-gender-diverse-and-sexual-minority-patients

For gender-diverse and sexual minority individuals, finding compassionate, inclusive mental health care can be a challenge. Recently, the Community Psychiatry Clinic (CPC) at St. Joe’s became the permanent home of this critical service to members... | News Page

06/27/2025

At the end of May, our team had the privilege of joining Not Always Rainbows, a transformative three-day training hosted by 2Spirit Anishnabe Storytelling & Advocacy and Wiiminodoodaadizo Consulting in Sault Ste. Marie. A heartfelt thank you to Hanna Sewell and Teddy Syrette for hosting!

Our clinical educators led five sessions on trauma-informed care, trans-affirming practices, and building inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. The event blended professional development with community connection, leaving all 25 attendees with practical tools and a stronger understanding of the barriers 2SLGBTQ+ people face in accessing care.

As participant Alanna Rocchetta (Maamwesying mental wellness counsellor) shared:
“I’m walking away with more than knowledge – a responsibility to listen, speak up, and challenge harmful systems.”

While in Sault Ste. Marie, we were also grateful to visit Batchewana and Garden River First Nations, deepening our connections and learning.

06/26/2025

Thank you to Manulife for inviting us to be part of your Pride celebration as a community partner—and for your support in our 2SLGBTQ+ cancer screening awareness campaign. It was a joy to see Miss Moco fantastic drag performance and to connect with so many incredible Manulife team members. 🏳️‍🌈

06/25/2025

🔍 Why do 2SLGBTQ+ communities face higher cancer risks and poorer outcomes? Our new educational resource examines the evidence and provides actionable steps for improving prevention, screening and treatment.

Download now: get-screened.ca

06/24/2025

Our fall instructor-led public course dates are now live! 📢 Enhance your clinical skills and improve care for 2SLGBTQ+ patients with our upcoming training sessions:

📅 Sept. 12 | Vaginoplasty: Post-Operative Complications in Primary Health Care

📅 Oct. 9 | Removing the Barriers: Making Your Organization 2SLGBTQ+ Friendly

📅 Oct. 16 | 2SLGBTQ+ Emotional and Mental Health

📅 Oct. 22 | 2SLGBTQ+ Trauma-Informed Care

For details and registration, visit: rainbowhealthontario.ca/education-training

06/17/2025

📢 Spreading Awareness Across Ontario:

Cancer screening saves lives. That’s why we’re raising awareness about the importance of regular cancer screening within 2SLGBTQ+ communities through billboards, posters, and at Pride events in Ottawa, Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Windsor, and beyond.

Have you spotted our campaign in your community? Share a photo and tag to help amplify this important message.

Learn more: get-screened.ca