At CADHO, we believe that every stage of life deserves dignity, care, and community. We are honored to offer the Health and Wellness Circle Program, a monthly wellness initiative for seniors aged 65 and older within the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community.

This initiative is more than a gathering; it’s a holistic approach to senior wellness. The program includes a mix of physical activities, health education workshops, mental wellness discussions, nutritional guidance, and social connection opportunities, all curated to support the evolving needs of our elders. Each month, from gentle movement classes and blood pressure screenings to storytelling circles and cultural engagement sessions, offers a meaningful experience.

The Health and Wellness Circle is a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for ACB seniors to strengthen their well-being while building lasting bonds with peers. We recognize that aging in dignity also means aging in community, and this program supports that vision fully. This vital program is made possible through generous funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). We extend our deepest gratitude for their continued investment in the health, dignity, and inclusion of ACB seniors. Their support ensures we can provide participants with high-quality, culturally relevant programming at no cost.

Dr. Josephine Etowa is pictured with senior participants during our monthly wellness gathering, a testament to leadership rooted in compassion and inclusion.

We encourage all ACB seniors aged 65+ to attend and experience the positive impact of this monthly event. Whether you want to stay active, learn something new, make friends, or simply feel more connected, this circle is for you. Explore the highlights from our May 2025 event by visiting our photo gallery [Gallery]. You’ll see the joy, energy, and community spirit that define each gathering.                                         

Together with the support of our partners and community, CADHO is committed to building stronger, healthier, and more connected futures for our elders.

Every great organization needs time to pause, reflect, and chart the road ahead. For CADHO, that moment came in February 2025, when our team gathered for an intensive Strategic Planning and Capacity Building event, a defining moment in our journey to serve the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community more powerfully and sustainably.

                                                           

With support from the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC), we were able to step away from the everyday demands of programming to ask big, bold questions:
Where are we now? What does our community truly need? And how do we grow to meet those needs, effectively, equitably, and long-term?

Thanks to the generous funding from FFBC, this wasn’t just a meeting; it was a transformation in motion. Their investment gave us the tools and space to:

• Develop a refreshed, community-centered vision for the next 3–5 years

• Strengthen internal systems to better manage programs and partnerships

• Align our mission with the evolving realities facing the ACB population

• Build leadership capacity across the team, from frontline staff to executives

Throughout the event, Dr. Josephine Etowa brought unwavering energy, clarity, and purpose. Her facilitation kept us grounded in our values while pushing the conversation toward innovation and long-term resilience. Her belief in strategic growth as a form of community care resonated deeply across every session.

                                                         

The event didn’t just result in a new plan; it sparked new possibilities.

We left with a stronger sense of identity, a clearer direction, and a renewed commitment to our work. Most importantly, we gained the tools to not only sustain our impact but expand it, reaching more seniors, youth, and families in ways that are holistic, culturally rooted, and meaningful.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Foundation for Black Communities for making this process possible. Their commitment to empowering Black-led organizations is not only appreciated, but it is essential.

Stay connected as we put this new vision into action. The future at CADHO is bold, intentional, and community-led. Just the way it should be.

Dear Community Members,

The ACB Organ Health Channel & the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN are thrilled to welcome you to be a part of  the pioneering 1^st African Caribbean & Black (ACB) Organ Health Summit sponsored by Sprott Inc.!

Join us at the Radisson Toronto Airport West on October 20th from 12 to 4 p.m. for a day of informative sessions about diabetes, heart disease, and racism in healthcare, along with an interactive panel about organ donation.

Learn from top experts in the field and discover practical tips to improve your overall well-being. Take advantage of this opportunity to prioritize your health and connect with like-minded individuals within ACB communities.

Enjoy Caribbean catering from Edible Bliss and Steel Pan Drumming entertainment! Network with community organizations and speak with people going through similar life journeys.

Date: October 20, 2024

• Time: 12 pm to 4 pm EST
• Location: Radisson Toronto Airport West, 175 Derry Rd E, Mississauga, ON L5T 2Z7
• Registration: Link to FREE Registration

 

We are thrilled to invite you to The Capital Rainbow Refuge’s Freedom Soirée, inviting you to its most significant event of the year, which supports LGBTQI+ refugees in Eastern Ontario.

Join the group on November 16th, 2024, at the Canadian Museum of History for a night filled with live performances, a delicious three-course meal, and live performances by local queer and ally artists.

You can get your ticket directly to support the organization’s effort to help LGBTQI+ newcomers thrive.

Get your Early Bird tickets now: https://capitalrainbow.ca/fs

From the Capital Rainbow Refuge Team

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, Senator Megie Marie-Francoise, Senator Bernadette Clement, key researchers from the academia, and community advocates in the African Caribbean and Black community turned out masses in solidarity with the laudable initiative. Dr. Jude Mary Cenat, Associate professor at the School of Psychology and Director of the Vulnerability, Trauma, Resilience, and Culture (V-TRAC) Lab & Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health (ICBH) University of Ottawa, illustrated the essence of the initiative with emotional stories in the Back community to paint a clear picture of the current challenges faced by a critical mass of Black women in Canada.

A significant highlight of the ceremony was the special announcement of a series of discussions captioned SHESpeaks National Conversations (Sisterhood for Health Equity). Dr. Etowa will lead the conversation in collaboration with critical stakeholders Canada-wide.

The ACB people hope for a sustainable framework for race-based data to address the disparities in the healthcare sector regarding the health of Black women. Visit for a comprehensive report.  https://co-creath.com/black-womens-health-initiative/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

Despite the ACB people’s visible minority status, Dr. Etowa informed the meeting that they are the least visible population in health services and health research.

“Currently, 3.5% of Canada’s total population identifies as Black and represents 15.6% of visible minorities. Social determinants, structural inequalities, and discrimination are known to account for the disproportionate health risks and differential health outcomes experienced in Black Canadian populations,” added Etowa.

The professor of nursing also reminded the committee of the added burden of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality challenges, which led to severe health problems for the community and the government and subsequent loss of social capital, cultural equity, and a productive labor workforce.

Burden of Francophone Canadians

However, one of the critical issues requiring urgent attention from her observation was the multifaceted barriers to accessing suitable and responsive health services. She stressed that the findings from the AC Study and APCI 1.0 National study indicated that francophone Black Canadians face more challenges accessing health care as members of a linguistic minority, especially outside of the French-speaking province of Quebec.

“Francophone ACB people were disadvantaged in ways that may have compromised access to health and social services, especially during COVID-19,” Noted Etowa.

She called for structural and policy actions to address the language barrier and other structural factors affecting the Black Community.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH)

CADHO has built a network of partnerships with leading health organizations in Ottawa, such as the Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Through this partnership, CADHO and OPH have established trust in addressing the various health challenges faced by the African, Caribbean, and Black communities.

More recently, at the CADHO community engagement and multicultural festival event, the OPH connected Black families to a variety of resources and services at the OPH Neighbourhood and Wellness Hubs (OttawaPublicHealth.ca/NeighbourhoodHub). At these hubs, Ottawa residents can access vaccinations, parenting, dental screening, and social services.

CO-CREATH LAB:

The Collaborative Critical Research for Equity and Transformation in Health (CO-CREATH) Laboratory at the University of Ottawa is a partner with CADHO.

Amoy Jacques, the CO-CREATH program manager, stated that the lab is focused on inspiring the younger generation to have a positive impact on health outcomes and data collection. Speaking with community members at the end of the summer CADHO event, “We want to tell a different story in 10 years time to inspire change and progress.”

More recently, the CO-CREATH Lab introduced the concept of critical health and racial literacy, explaining its importance in understanding and accessing better healthcare, as the program aims to teach individuals how to interpret health information and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system.

The goal of the CO-CREATH partnership with CADHO is to provide the next generation with the knowledge they need to ask the right questions, navigate the healthcare system effectively, and interact with peers and community partners to transform health outcomes.

Visit the CO-CREATH Lab website to learn more about programs and other initiatives of importance.

AIDS COMMITTEE OTTAWA (ACO)

At the recent CADHO health sensitization event, ACO provided a mental health expert to discuss the link between financial management, mental health, and chronic diseases affecting the ACB community.

ACO has been instrumental in building and strengthening efforts to improve the ACB community’s health. Their collaboration with CADHO has covered a wide range of initiatives aimed at HIV/AIDS prevention and education. This longstanding partnership includes comprehensive care, outreach programs, workshops, training sessions, and numerous other activities.

ACO and CADHO, in partnership with CO-CREATH, have continued to collaborate on HIV/AIDS prevention and education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Canadians of African Descent Health Organization (CADHO) remain committed to its mission of improving health outcomes for the Black community. Through education, empowerment, and engagement, CADHO is reaching more individuals, making strides towards a healthier future for all African Caribbean and Black (ACB) community members.

CADHO aimed to raise awareness and recognize the unique health challenges faced by the Black community in Ottawa, Canada, through the “Cross-Cultural Health and Community Resilience” event. Despite the rain, which interrupted the event midway, Black resilience showed forth as the ACB community members remained under the provided tents, ready to participate in the event’s line-up.

The event, which took place at Vincent Massey Park, was in partnership with CO-CREATH Lab at the University of Ottawa, the Ottawa Public Health (OPH), and the AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO), and brought together Black individuals to foster community engagement and advocacy to address health disparities and promote culturally sensitive healthcare.

As a melting pot of cultures, with families, elders, and youth coming together to learn about health and wellness, CADHO’s president, Professor Josephine Etowa, offered information on a range of topics, from diabetes management to mental health support.

Etowa, a full professor of nursing at the University of Ottawa, said that “the event’s August date symbolizes the emancipation from slavery. It is an opportunity to celebrate our freedom as Black Canadians, particularly in relation to our health, as research during the COVID-19 showed the virus had a huge effect on the Black community.”  Prof. Etowa stated, “CADHO selected the event’s theme with the intention of celebrating our culture. We also want to link that to health and community resilience because we know its proportionate impact on health determinants such as education, food security, gender, access to healthcare, and how that can impact the health of Black people.”

She urged the community to constantly be on the alert and come together to find ways to create solutions to tackle these determinants that affect Black people’s health, with the goal of curbing disease conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, COVID, and HIV in Black communities.

To assess the research needs of the Black community in Ottawa, Dr. Chinedu Oraka, the chair of CADHO’s Research and Knowledge-to-Action Committee, conducted an online survey, gathering participants’ input to prioritize research topics that best address the Black community’s health needs and challenges. He encouraged non-online poll participants to do the same survey on paper.

“We want to tell a different story in 10 years time to inspire change and progress,” said a representative from CO-CREATH Lab, Amoy Jacques, during her presentation. “The focus is on inspiring the younger generation to have a positive impact on health outcomes and data collection. So, it is important to understand health information and advocate for better healthcare.”

Jacques said that at the CO-CREATH Lab, they have introduced the concept of critical health and racial literacy, explaining its importance in understanding and accessing better healthcare as the program aims to teach individuals how to interpret health information and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system.

She said part of the goal is to equip the next generation with the knowledge to ask the right questions and navigate the healthcare system effectively, adding that it is important to engage with community partners and peers to transform health outcomes.

Jacques highlighted the peer equity navigation program, saying its aim is to collect and share health information within the community, while introducing the Black Women’s Health Research Agenda program called “She Speaks,” which is more focused on addressing the health issues faced by Black women in Canada. She encouraged participants to visit the CO-CREATH Lab website to learn more about the program and other initiatives.

“There is a need to support adults with various challenges, including substance abuse, homelessness, mental health, and work-related problems,” said Dania Versailles, Director of Clinical Services in Community Mental Health at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), during her presentation on mental health.

Versailles emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues to reduce the need for frequent visits to the emergency departments or mental health units.

“The CADHO event has been informative, especially on health education and community belonging,” said Adam Nuraddeen, a community engagement lead for the Umoja Black community at Carleton University and a participant at the event.

Nuraddeen emphasizes how racism and anti-Blackness have exacerbated the significant issue of mental health and mental illness, particularly among Black youths. He said, “This has forced Black people into survival mode, making them feel psychologically inferior and more susceptible to hostility and violence.”

Despite these challenges, Nuraddeen sees an opportunity for inclusive education, awareness, and empowerment for the ACB community in addressing mental health and physical health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. Nuraddeen is pleased that CADHO’s event has mobilized the ACB community to work together to ensure better health outcomes for all ages.

A particularly impactful aspect of the event was the involvement of teens and kids in a game called “The Building Blocks of Health,” spearheaded by Kani Osiagwu and Sasha Nyanor, who are both volunteers of the CO-CREATH Lab at the University of Ottawa.

While explaining the significance of the game, the duo said, “The idea behind the activity is to identify and share go-to health resources within the community. We designed the game to enhance youths’ awareness and understanding of health issues.

They said the activity included questions about Black health and the disproportionality of Black people seeking healthcare due to discrimination, as the goal is to make learning about these issues fun and engaging for the youngsters as well as educate the community about available health resources.

Both Kani and Sasha agreed that Canada can use its multicultural potential to ensure that all people have access to healthcare and health resources.

 

 

We are excited to announce that CADHO in collaboration with CO-CREATH lab will be hosting a cross-cultural festival on August 31st at Vincent Massey Park.

In light of Emancipation day, join us as we celebrate our cultural differences while enjoying music, dancing, games, discussions, guest performances, delicious food and much more, all for free!

Be sure to invite a friend or family member as we build community resilience and discuss matters that impact our communities.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/yspP2J2HrP
————————————–
Nous sommes ravis d’annoncer que CADHO, en collaboration avec le laboratoire CO-CREATH, organisera un festival interculturel d’été le 31 août au parc Vincent Massey.

À l’occasion de la Journée de l’émancipation, rejoignez-nous pour célébrer nos différences culturelles en profitant de la musique, de la danse, des jeux, des discussions, des performances d’invités, de la nourriture délicieuse et bien plus encore, le tout gratuitement !

N’oubliez pas d’inviter un ami ou un membre de la famille alors que nous renforçons la résilience communautaire et discutons des questions qui impactent nos communautés.

Inscrivez-vous ici: https://forms.office.com/r/yspP2J2HrP

#blackhealth #blackselfcare #communityresilience #crossculturalfestival #festival #blackhealthmatters #antiracism #blackyouthmatters #blackyouth #613819 #ottawablackscene #summerevent #ottawa #gatineau