DGHF and RBC Foundation were pleased to gather on October 7, 2020 in front of the Dartmouth General to celebrate our partnership and launch the Transforming Access to Care initiative.

DGHF President & CEO Stephen Harding pulled double duty as Emcee and podium sanitizer! He reminded the crowd that masks were mandatory, and properly social distance or stay in your bubbles.

While the Dartmouth General is growing, projects like the ones presented today are crucial to keeping our community focus. The support of the RBC Foundation has been instrumental in funding these five programs.

We were lucky to be joined by the “bubbled” Iron Tide Singers today, as well as Tehya Milliea who wowed the crowd with their song and dance performances.

Elder Eileen Brooks of Sipkne’katik was also in attendance today to provide our opening blessing. Thank you so much Eileen!

Our first speakers were Trevor Sanipass and Levi Marshall, representing @jiklaicovid19. Trevor and Levi are heading the program to prepare and educate Indigenous communities about COVID-19 ahead of a second wave.

Cynamon Downey, a spoken word artist from North Preston, performed a powerful original piece entitled “Arise”, which she wrote to inspire a new generation of African Nova Scotian healthcare workers

Sharon Davis Murdoch, DGHF Board Secretary and the Co-President of the Health Association of African Canadians, represented the PLANS initiative at DGH. PLANS, in partnership with DGH and Dalhousie University’s Global Health Office, will provide health career preparation and support to youth from African Nova Scotian/Canadian communities

Dr. Nancy Ross, joined by Social Work Student Divine Gbeve, is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work and lead researcher for the “Culturally Responsive Healthcare to Reduce Gender Based Violence” research initiative, under the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition. DGHF is so proud to be a member of the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition – and thanks to RBC’s support the “Culturally Responsive Healthcare to Reduce Gender Based Violence” research initiative is one of the projects that are now underway.

Heather Peddle-Bolivar, a Clinical Nurse Educator at DGH Emergency Department, was on hand to discuss the new ER Mental Health Initiative. The ER team and their patients will benefit from this new training supporting mental health and addictions

Next to the stage was Chris Ronald, Regional President of RBC. RBC’s support has made a transformational impact and we can’t thank them enough for their involvement in the program.

Thank you to our speakers and performers today, we appreciate you being able to join us for this event. Also, thank everyone for coming out today, we appreciate everyone following all of our COVID-19 restrictions and wearing your masks.

Finally, thank you to those who tuned in virtually! It is great to be able to include those who were unable to join us in person! A full recording will be posted here soon!

Watch Global News coverage of the event (starts at 11:11)

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