OCSA Statement - National Indigenous Peoples Day 2023

Today, OCSA acknowledges National Indigenous Peoples Day and Indigenous History Month – an important time to recognize the extraordinary histories and cultures of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples who have called Canada home for many centuries.

June 21st was first named National Aboriginal Day in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc. This date was selected in part due to the significance of summer solstice in Indigenous culture, and was renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2018 to align with government’s commitment to advancing reconciliation.

As one of Ontario’s preeminent healthcare advocacy organizations, OCSA is greatly concerned with the inequitable health disparities experienced by Indigenous Canadians, due in part to increased rates of poverty and food insecurity, as well as a lack of employment opportunities and suitable housing1. More needs to be done to ensure that Indigenous Canadians have equitable access to quality healthcare services, and that those services are developed and delivered in consultation with Indigenous communities to ensure that they are in sync with cultural values.

“Today, we recognize the incredible work of our Indigenous health and community care members and partners, and thank them for providing such critical community health supports to some of Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens,” says Deborah Simon, OCSA CEO. “Delivering community healthcare is challenging in the best of times, never mind in a time when we have a rapidly aging population, profound staffing and funding challenges, and institutional racism to contend with. I hope that Indigenous health and community care organizations will consider OCSA an ally and invite them to reach out to us should we be able to support their advocacy efforts for improved HCC funding and services for their communities.”

To expand your knowledge about National Indigenous Peoples Day and about the history, heritage, and resilience of Indigenous cultures across Canada, please visit these links:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (PDF) - https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. (English only) https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Indigenous Perspectives Education Guide (Historica Canada) - http://education.historicacanada.ca/en/tools/493

About OCSA

Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario.

For more information, visit www.ocsa.on.ca and https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets.

For information requests please contact:
Rhiana Alfadili – Communications Manager
Ontario Community Support Association
416-256-3010 ext. 219
rhiana.alfadili@ocsa.on.ca

More Updates

OCSA Welcomes Ontario Budget Investment in Home and Community Care

By Karla Sealy • March 27, 2026

Ontario, March 27, 2026 — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) welcomes the Ontario government’s continued investment in home care and community support services as part of the 2026 provincial budget. Building on recent commitments, this investment signals a sustained shift toward strengthening care in the home and community as a central pillar of Ontario’s health system. As demand continues to grow—driven by an aging population, increasing caregiver strain, and sustained pressure across hospitals and long-term care—expanding access to care outside of institutions is critical to improving system flow and long term sustainability. “We are listening closely to what Ontarians are telling us—and so is the government,” said Lori Holloway, CEO of OCSA. “People want to receive care at home and in their communities, surrounded by the people and supports that matter most. This investment reflects that reality and moves us further toward a system designed around where people actually want and need care.” Home care and community support services each play distinct but complementary roles. Home care provides essential clinical and personal care in the home, while community support services focus on prevention, independence, and quality of life through programs such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day programs, and caregiver respite. Together, they form the foundation of a modern, community-based care system that helps people remain at home longer while reducing avoidable hospital use and delaying or preventing long-term care placement. This level of sustained investment has the potential to significantly expand access to care at home, strengthen community capacity, and improve outcomes for individuals and families across the province—while supporting a more balanced and sustainable health system overall. OCSA is committed to working with government and system partners to ensure these investments translate into real improvements in access, stronger community supports, and measurable impact for Ontarians. About OCSA The Ontario Community Support Association represents more than 200 not-for-profit organizations providing home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members deliver essential services that help people live independently, age at home, and reduce pressure on hospitals and long-term care. For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca

March for Meals 2026 Launches Across Ontario – Presented by apetito

By Karla Sealy • March 2, 2026

Province-wide campaign highlights Meals on Wheels as essential to community care

OCSA is part of the For Us For You campaign, a joint initiative lobbying to close the wage gap.

By Davina Yawson • February 13, 2026

Ontario relies on community health workers every day to treat illness, support mental health, provide care at home, help people live independently, and keep families well, and in many cases, they provide this care 24/7. They care for people of all ages and backgrounds, often with highly complex needs, and they are essential to achieving a sustainable and high performing healthcare system. Closing the wage gap is not simply about fairness; it is about protecting access to care, reducing system pressure, and ensuring Ontario ’ s healthcare investments deliver maximum impact. The ten provincial community health associations are committed to working collaboratively with the government to build a stable, sustainable community health workforce, which supports a stable and sustainable healthcare system, a goal we all share.