Message from the Archipel OHT Executive Committee : It is with great emotion that we announce the departure of our Director, Elizabeth Tanguay, effective April 4, 2025.

In February, Canada celebrates Black History Month. And in early March, Black Mental Health Week is celebrated in Ottawa. Both events are opportunities to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black communities in Canada. They are also opportunities to raise awareness and equip healthcare personnel to better understand and respond to the needs of people from Black communities. In Canada and in Eastern Ontario, it is impossible to talk about mental health without addressing the systemic barriers that Black communities still face. The need for mental health services has exploded in recent years, and organizations need to offer culturally appropriate and anti-racist care and services. That’s why the Archipel Ontario Health Team (OHT) and its partners are taking steps to dismantle the foundations of systemic racism through an anti-racism training project offered in collaboration with the Research Laboratory V-TRaC.

The Archipel COPD Working Group is launching a survey for individuals affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), either as a patient or a caregiver.

November is COPD Awareness Month, a critical time for healthcare providers and organizations to raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the challenges faced by those living with it.

On October 7th, Archipel hosted its 2024 All Partner Assembly, bringing together 70 participants from Ottawa East and Prescott-Russell. The event was an important step in advancing the conversation on creating a more inclusive and equitable health system.

A program that can save lives

Who do you call when someone is going through a mental health or substance-related crisis? Starting August 15, 2024 at 7:00 a.m., you can call 2-1-1 to reach the ANCHOR program if you are in Ottawa Centretown or West Centertown. About ANCHOR The Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) is a new mobile crisis response initiative available 24/7 in Ottawa. The program provides free, compassionate and confidential in-person support for people aged 16 and older. The mobile crisis team workers will get to the person where they are at in the service area—whether on the sidewalk, at home, in a shelter, a park or elsewhere—and either on foot or with a vehicle.

On June 20th, members of the Archipel Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) attended the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Annual General Meeting in Toronto to receive the long-awaited official designation. Thanks to their dedication, Archipel is now an Ontario Health Team that holds Best Practice Spotlight Organization designation! Achieving the RNAO's BPSO designation is the result of the Archipel BPSO Task Force member organizations' quest for excellence and demonstrates their commitment to continuous improvement. Proud of our partners We are beyond proud of our partners - Hôpital Montfort, Montfort Renaissance (MRI), Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa (CMHA-O), and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) - for meeting the requirements of BPSO OHT designation by implementing and evaluating BPSO’s best practice guidelines.

Since last fall, people in Eastern Ontario have access to a new free virtual care clinic offered by Nurse Practitioners (NP) in both official languages. The clinic is intended for individuals with a health problem that requires immediate medical attention but is not life-threatening. The clinic accepts people living in Eastern Ontario, with or without a health card, and whether they have a family doctor or not. In Ontario, Nurse Practitioners can provide comprehensive care, including making diagnoses, prescribing medication and ordering diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests. They can also advise patients on the management of chronic diseases and refer to medical specialists.