BY PAUL JUNOR
There is much to look forward to on Saturday, March 1st,2025 when Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC) hosts the first-ever Black Health and Wellness in Durham Region at the Ajax Convention Centre. It will be an event dedicated to addressing health and wellness inequities impacting Black communities, while celebrating the tireless efforts of organizations and leaders driving change. DCHC is hosting the event in collaboration with the Provider Group, which is made up of community health and wellness partners dedicated to serving Black communities in Durham Region through collaboration, education, and advocacy.
DCHC is a registered charitable organization that provides: integrated, accessible and community-based primary care, wellness services and health education for Durham community members who face multiple barriers to their health and well-being. The Durham region comprises the following municipalities: Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock.
“DCHC in collaboration with the Provider Group aims to increase awareness, engage in prevention workshops to ensure that healthcare inequities are addressed through education.”
The Community Lens Report published in February 2021 mentioned that as of 2016 there were 51,380 Black people in the Durham region. For every twenty-five residents, there were two Black residents. They make up eight percent of the total population and 30 percent of the visible minorities. According to data released from Statistics Canada on October 26th, 2022, 9.6 percent of the population were Black.
Dr. Kirk Stewart, Executive Lead for DCHC’s Black Health and Wellness Team and Family Medicine & Obstetrics Physician plays an important role in this upcoming historic event. He states, “This event is an important step in building trust between Durham’s healthcare partners and Black people in our community.”
Francis Garwe, CEO of DCHC and Chair of the Black Health Committee (BHC) under the Alliance for Healthier Communities notes that, “This historic event will be a pivotal milestone in the journey towards achieving true health equity in Durham region.”
Some of the names of the partner organizations include: Durham Children’s Health Centre, Durham Children’s Aid Society, Durham ONE, Black Queens of Durham, IFARADA, Genesis Counseling, Holistic Vibrancy, Ontario Black Nurses Network, Emergent Resilient Counselling and Psychotherapy, Community Justice Alternatives, Angel Youth Services and Snooze Room, From Invisible to Visible Counseling, Durham Family Court Clinic, Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, BRI Counseling Services, Charlemagne Counseling and Consulting Services, Synergy Link, African Canadian Youth Services, e-CAMP Mentoring, True Roots
Anyone interested in learning about the Black Health and Wellness Day can check the website: www.durhamchc.ca/blackhealthday
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