We're asking everyone to join our call to the Ontario government and public health leaders: Community models work to control outbreaks. Invest in community now to slow COVID-19.
Towards the Best Possible Health and Wellbeing for Everyone
![Centretown CHC: Jennifer and Vanessa loading up supplies to bring to families living in a shelter](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Centretown1.jpg)
Throughout Community Health and Wellbeing Week 2020, we will bring your stories of #PowerInCommunity from across the province. Today, Vanessa Graham and Emily Doolan from the Centretown CHC Early Years team in Ottawa on the supports they've adapted to serve children and families during the pandemic.
![](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/CCHL_award_graphic.jpg)
On Wednesday, September 16, in a virtual awards ceremony, the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) presented the Alliance for Healthier Communities with its Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award. Alliance CEO Adrianna Tetley, who will retire next month, accepted the award via pre-recorded speech. You can watch the ceremony on this video (Alliance award presentation begins at 30:30).
![Alliance members in the news text graphic with picture of newspapers.](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/members-news_0.jpg)
Members' work continues to be noticed by local media, and as we head into this year's Community Health and Wellbeing Week (just three weeks away!), we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the stories we've seen over the last few weeks
![Staff at a community mobile testing site in northwest Toronto in mid-July 2020, after months of advocacy for a more community-focused approach to COVID-19. Staff at a community mobile testing site in northwest Toronto in mid-July 2020, after months of advocacy for a more community-focused approach to COVID-19.](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/testing1.jpg)
This week, we celebrate the work of Black Creek Community Health Centre and its staff and partners, as mobile testing officially began in the northwest of Toronto on Saturday July 18
![](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/members-news.jpg)
From advocacy people facing systemic barriers and racism during COVID-19 responses, to urging the government to act quickly on housing for people experiencing homelessness, to addressing the intersection of the overdose crisis with COVID-19, Alliance members were raising their voices across Ontario for marginalized communities
![](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/pride-feature.jpg)
Pride 2020 has, not surprisingly, been unfolding unlike any other Pride celebration in history. Events have moved to online platforms; celebrations and gatherings have gone virtual; and the roots of Pride in resistance to racism and oppression have been reinforced. We spoke to Quest CHC's Stephanie Vail, and Cliff Ledwos, chair of the Alliance's Rainbow Communities Advisory Committee, about what it means for community health & wellbeing
![Text graphic that reads: Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2020](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/National%20Indigenous%20Peoples%20Dayv2.png)
Indigenous Peoples Day generally involves plenty of live events, celebrations, talks and gatherings. Here, we’ve collected some events, reads, films, resources, and more to help you celebrate virtually during COVID-19
![](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Community%20Health%20Hub%20-%20May%202020.jpg)
A decade in the making, the Midland Communuity Health Hub is a result of deep partnerships and a drive to collaborate better across organizations to better serve clients
![Staff at Guelph CHC pose with cellphones donated by Telus. Staff at Guelph CHC pose with cellphones donated by Telus to help support outreach efforts and marginalized populations.](https://www.allianceon.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Guelph_phonesB.jpg)
“I couldn’t imagine what I would do if I didn’t have a connection to my supports right now,” said Chris Morton, an outreach worker with the primary care outreach team at Kitchener Downtown CHC. It’s a sentiment that most of us can relate to. Now imagine, for a moment, not having access to a phone, or the internet, during the pandemic