National Women’s Health Research Initiative: Ideas Fair and Learning Circle
Thank you to everyone who attended the virtual Ideas Fair and Learning Circle on October 25- 26 2022, hosted by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR’s Institute of Gender and Health, and Women and Gender Equality Canada. The event hosted over 160 community experts from across Canada and enabled participants to develop their ideas to identify and address community, regional and/or national challenges in women’s health and wellness. Participants were able to network through highly interactive breakout sessions on a variety of topics related to women and gender-diverse peoples' health.
Contents
The goals of the Ideas Fair and Learning Circle were to:
- Create an accessible, culturally safe, trauma-informed and non-stigmatizing space for diverse groups of people to meet and share their stories related to navigating women’s health and wellness;
- Provide an opportunity for potential applicants to network, develop their ideas to address challenges navigating women’s health and wellness, and form teams to co-produce the goals and composition of their hub application; and,
- Solicit input from participants on the responsibilities of the coordinating centre and further define its role as the overarching organizing body of the Coalition.
Following the successful completion of the Ideas Fair and Learning Circle, attendees and interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Linkage Tool to connect with individuals and organizations interested in collaborating/networking as a next step in forming a team to apply to the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition funding opportunities.
Event Overview
The first day focused on humility and compassion as we engaged with participants to share their stories and vision for a more robust and responsive women's healthcare system across Canada. Throughout the day, we discussed priority themes, shared more information about the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition and ensured that attendees have a chance to meet and connect with like-minded individuals.
The second day was more operational, focusing on brainstorming solutions to transform women's health in Canada, as well as helpful sessions on submitting a hub application and imagining what the role of the coordinating centre for the Coalition might look like.
Guiding Values
The following guiding values were identified for the Ideas Fair and Learning Circle:
- Safety: In this space, people can feel comfortable sharing their stories, in the language of their choice.
- Confidentiality: We only take the themes and issues that are shared, and not the identities of folks who share.
- Respectful attention: We give people the space and attention they need to tell their stories.
- Equality: I am not better than anyone and no one is better than I am.
- Belonging: Each of us holds an important piece of the puzzle.
- Collaborative: We come with open minds and an intention to learn from and work with each other towards a larger cause.
- Inclusivity: We value differences in people and ideas and will ensure that the voices of underrepresented groups, including Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit and urban Indigenous communities), Black, and other women who experience racism, women with disabilities, women experiencing prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities, are heard.
- Respect for Indigenous knowledge: We respect that Indigenous knowledge and practice is complex and diverse, and teachings from this event should not be inappropriately spread or appropriated.
Co-development of Guiding Values
During the event, community experts were asked to make suggestions to collaboratively develop these guiding values for the Ideas Fair. Three values were added:
- Inclusivity and using inclusive language (inclusive to trans, non-binary and gender-fluid folks)
- Resist binary thinking
- Think outside of the box and ask bold questions
Event in Review
High level details from the event are captured in the infographic below.
Long Description
NWHRI Ideas Fair Infographic
First Page
A pink and purple infographic with cartoon images of women and gender diverse people. The infographic says: National Women’s Health Research Initiative (NWHRI) Ideas Fair and Learning Circle – Event in Review.
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Who Attended
242 people registered to attend the NWHRI Ideas Fair and Learning Circle to identify and address challenges in women and gender-diverse peoples' health and wellness. On Day 1, 160 people attended representing a 67% engagement rate. On Day 2, 120 people attended representing a 49% engagement rate.
Participant Self-ID
- Racialized populations*: 20%
- First generation immigrant: 20%
- Person living with a chronic health condition: 14%
- Person with a disability: 10%
- Black: 10%
- French speaker: 7%
- Rural, remote or Northern: 6%
- Youth (15-24): 3%
- First Nations: 3%
- Older adult (65+): 2%
- Métis: 2%
- Inuit: 0.4%
- None of the above: 28%
*all people and communities impacted by racism (e.g. Latino, East/Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, South Asian populations)
Gender Diversity
- Cis and trans women: 85%
- Cis and trans men: 7%
- Non-binary: 2%
- Two-Spirit: 0.4%
- Remainder selected 'other' or 'prefer not to say'
Pronouns
- She/her/elle: 88%
- He/him/il: 7%
- They/them/iel: 2%
- Multiple pronouns: 3%
Note: All percentages throughout reflect the rate of registrants
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Geographic Representation (n=242)
- Yukon: 0%
- Northwest Territories: 1%
- Nunavut: 0%
- BC: 20%
- Alberta: 9%
- Saskatchewan: 2%
- Manitoba: 4%
- Ontario: 38%
- Quebec: 14%
- New Brunswick: 0.4%
- Nova Scotia: 5%
- PEI: 0.8%
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 2%
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Organizational Representation
- Academic: 59%
- Charity, NGO, community organization: 31%
- Hospital/ clinic: 14%
- Government: 8%
- Individual, consultant, private sector: 8%
- Other: 5%
Second Page
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Event Program
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Day 1 | Oct. 25, 2022
Day 1 focused on sharing participant stories and visions for a more robust and responsive healthcare system for women and gender diverse people.
Welcome and setting the stage
Cara Tannenbaum, Elder Valerie, Lisa Smylie, Hazelle Palmer, Isabella Chan, Angela Kaida- Why are we gathering here today?
Cara Tannenbaum Small group discussions
Creating a Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition
Michelle Peel, Katarina DedovicPlanning for future generations
Cindy KalengaSmall group discussions
Debrief and wrap-up
Elder Valerie, Cara Tannenbaum
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Day 2 | Oct. 26, 2022
Day 2 focused on brainstorming solutions to transform women and gender-diverse peoples' health in Canada through the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health funding opportunity.
Welcome back
Elder Valerie, Cara TannenbaumTips and tricks for writing a successful grant
Sharon Straus, Mohini Datta-Ray, Jessica CattaneoSmall group discussions
Vision for the Coordinating Center of the Coalition
Cara Tannenbaum, Elder Valerie- Reflections and next steps
Elder Valerie, Cara Tannenbaum
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Small group health priority discussions
In their registration forms, participants were asked to identify priorities related to women’s, girls’ and gender-diverse peoples’ health. Their responses informed small group discussion topics and identified priority areas for future health research.
- 2SLGBTQI+ health
- Accessibility and the health of people with disabilities
- Aging women’s health
- Black women’s health
- Cardiovascular health
- Chronic diseases and pain
- Environment and women’s health
- Gender-based violence
- Healthcare access and trauma-informed care
- Hormones, menstruation & menopause
- Immigrant women’s health
- Intersectionality in women’s health
- Indigenous and Two-Spirit peoples’ health
- Mental health
- Pelvic health
- Pregnancy and postpartum health
- Racialized women’s health
- Rural and remote women’s health
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Social determinants of women’s health
- Substance use
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Quick Facts
- 23% of registrants completed the post-event survey (55 people)
- 78% of survey respondents said the Ideas Fair met or exceeded their expectations
- 58% of survey respondents said they made valuable new connections with other people at the event
- 27% of registrants added their names to the NWHRI Partner Linkage Tool (65 people)
- 34% of registrants then attended a post-event webinar on the Pan Canadian Women’s Health Coalition Hubs funding opportunity (83 people)
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More Information
- For more information on the NWHRI, visit: National Women's Health Research Initiative
- If you have questions or would like to request event materials, contact: NWHRI-INRSF@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Event Outcomes
Key themes and takeaways were captured through graphic recording, featuring a summary of the plenary sessions held over the two days, as well as a co-developed vision for the Coordinating Centre and Hubs under the Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition.
Long Description
Women's Health Research Initiative, Ideas Fair and Learning Circle, Building the Future of Health, Women's Health Coalition, We are coming together for women, girls, non-binary, trans, gender fluid, two-spirit peoples, Asking the tough questions, Calling out bias, racisim, and all forms of oppression, Calling for equity, Holding providers accountable, Health care must be whole person, We are more than a diagnosis, Recruit more women and diverse populations into research trials, We need data and research on women, 2SLGBTQI+, Skin tone scales that are inclusive, Hubs will amplify community voices to set priorities, Sharing and scaling up best practices, Implementing inclusive models of care across Canada, Lived experiences, Community knowledge, Traditional knowledge, Details on how to apply, webinars, CIHR website, Eligibility and team make up, Evaluation, Funding and timing, Think outside the box, Let's ensure there is no box!, Hubs for better women's, non-binary, gender fluid, trans health, Diverse-led, Holistic, Inclusive, Two-spirit, Intersectionality, Immigrants and refugees, Black and racialized folks, Indigenous people, Diverse abilities, All ages, A hub for chronic pain, Public education is essential, "Hysteria", "Bikini medicine", Outdated beliefs impact how women are cared for, Remember: Words matter, You are change warriors!, Build capacity for the next generation of women's health leaders, More funding for mental health, Sex and gender-based health and reproduction, Engage us in research!, Sexual & reproductive rights, Trauma informed, Working together, empower, Compassion & empathy, Training and education, Health care students must prioritize, Culturally diverse education, Engagement with community, anti racism, Policy and process change, Advocacy and knowledge share, Connect research to community needs, dedicated funds for racialized resources, Preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care, Traditional healing and wisdom, Relational ways of being, Cultural safety and responsiveness, "Listen to lived experiences in all our service design", cardiovascular health, hormones, Let's have more opportunities to connect!, Fem tech. Research, Conferences, Menstruation and menopause, Pelvic health, Gender-based violence, This work requires courage like the bear.
Long Description
Vision for the Coalition Coordinating Centre, How can we ensure connections across hubs?, Connection requires action, Keep in mind this work takes time!, Meaningful communication plan, Hubs, Have a dedicated coordinator at each Hub to attend the exchange, Goals of the coordinating centre, Build synergies among Hubs, Maximize impact of Hubs, Accelerate knowledge mobilization, Coordinating centre connects across Hubs, breaks silos, Intersect with other health networks, An online platform!, Showcase different funding sources, Knowledge Exchange, Governance committee overseeing all work, Local community non-profits, Keep the theory of change in mind!, Mentorship and Elders involvement, Incorporate all types of knowledge, Lived experiences, Traditional knowledge, Patient voices, Community knowledge, How do we measure change? Success?, Performance measurement and evaluation, Support sustainable funding, Policy makers and leaders at the circle, All levels of government, Sythesizing information and sharing out!, Data, Host events & gatherings, Our learnings!, Challenges, Best practices, Successes, Activities, Full life cycle perspective!
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