
Knowledge Exchange Blog

Embracing Compassionate Care: The County of Renfrew Mesa Initiative
OMSSA is featuring several 2024 Local Municipal Champion award recipients and their work in the Knowledge Exchange Blog. Please read this entry from the County of Renfrew.
In early 2024, the County of Renfrew launched a groundbreaking initiative centered around a collaborative approach to providing compassionate care in the community. This phased approach, named Mesa (pronounced “mey-suh”), embodies bold and compassionate work to address the root causes of homelessness, substance use, addictions, and mental health issues while fostering a resilient and healthier community for all residents of the County of Renfrew. This blog post explores the essence of Mesa, highlighting its innovative strategies and the profound impact it has on the community.

OMSSA Report on the Ontario Speech from the Throne
On October 4, the Ontario Government delivered their Speech from the Throne. With a provincial election expected in June 2022, there was an expectation that this speech would set the stage for the upcoming election campaign, 2022 provincial budget and plans ahead for the fall session.

OMSSA Report on the 2021 Federal Election
On September 20th, Canadians voted in the 2021 Federal Election and the outcome did not produce much change from the 2019 Election. From an OMSSA perspective, we were paying the most attention to early years and child care, housing, expiring pandemic benefits, long-term care and healthcare.

True Reconciliation Means Action
Canada must realize that Reconciliation is not about saying sorry. Reconciliation is not about ticking off the easy boxes of the TRC Calls to Action – erecting monuments to survivors; adding curriculum in schools; and inserting land recognitions before meetings.