Author: Samira Prasad

On June 5, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions announced the winners of the 2025 MAP Awards: Moizza Zia Ul Haq, Katherine Griffin, Hayley Thompson and Cassandra Bertucci. These annual awards recognize outstanding MAP staff, students or volunteers who have excelled in their roles and demonstrate a passion and commitment to applying MAP’s values in their work.

Moizza Zia Ul Haq (she/her), Research Coordinator on Dr. Nav Persaud’s team, is a winner of the MAP Values in Practice Award, an award to recognize an individual who exemplifies and advocates for MAP values in their work and interactions. From Moizza’s nomination: “Moizza’s compassion and excellent communication skills have been noted by many patients… participants routinely ask to speak to her by name.”

Katherine Griffin (she/her), Research Program Manager on Dr. Darrell Tan’s team, is also a winner of the MAP Values in Practice Award. From Katherine’s nomination: “Katie advocates ceaselessly for ensuring equity in the lab… she is an exemplary leader who promotes MAP principles every day that she is on the job.”

Hayley Thompson (she/her), Research Program Manager for Ontario’s Drug Checking Community, is the winner of the MAP Community Partnerships Award, an award to recognize an individual who consistently models exemplary community partnership practices and integration of the perspectives of community and people with lived expertise into their research. From Hayley’s nomination: “Hayley’s approach goes beyond mere consultation—it is about creating genuine spaces for people to be heard, valued, and supported.”

Cassandra Bertucci (she/her), Research Coordinator on Dr. Darrell Tan’s team, is the winner of the MAP Peer Mentor Award, an award to recognize an individual who works hard to help colleagues learn, feel valued and do well at work. From Cassandra’s nomination: “Cassandra fosters an environment where people are encouraged to ask questions, learn from their experiences and thrive in their roles.”

Congratulations to all of our 2025 MAP Awards winners and nominees!

Our Healthbox is rolling out their harm-reduction vending machines across the country. The latest machine has been installed in the former Bond Place Hotel in downtown Toronto, which is now a supportive housing building. It is the city’s first Our Healthbox unit – and its first such machine to be located in a supportive housing building.

“This is about more than just providing supplies – it’s about restoring dignity and trust in health care,” said project lead Dr. Sean Rourke.

Why, as the number of family doctors per capita in Canada grew, did it become more difficult to find one? A new publication by MAP’s Dr. Tara Kiran sheds light on where the nearly 40 per cent of the 6,310 family doctors who entered the physician work force since 1993 have ended up working within the health-care system.

Coverage of this study was recently featured on the front cover of The Globe and Mail. The story was also featured in the Toronto Star, CTV, CP24 and om CBC, Global News and CTV radio stations across the country.

Dr. Tara Kiran‘s most recent study looks at 30 years of data and found that while there are now more family doctors practicing in the province, fewer are providing full-service family medicine. She recently spoke with the Toronto Star about the findings.

Karen McDonald, lead for Ontario’s Drug Checking Service, spoke with Toronto Today about the implications of the provincial safe consumption site closures on the critical harm reduction program.

Dr. Stephen Hwang sat down with CTV’s Pauline Chan to discuss Navigator, MAP’s signature program that pairs hospital patients who are homeless with an outreach counsellor—a “Navigator.”

Navigators help these patients get the health and social support they need during their discharge from the hospital, from obtaining prescriptions to securing housing. “Our intervention is what I would call high-touch rather than high-tech,” shared Dr. Hwang.

Support from Staples Canada and Even the Odds have allowed this program to achieve a national reach. The program which started at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, has now been expanded to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, with plans to launch at CHUM (Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal) in Montréal later this year.

MAP’s signature Navigator Program pairs hospital patients who are homeless with an outreach counsellor—a “Navigator.” The Navigator gets to know the patient and connects them with the health and social support they need to break cycles of homelessness and poor health, and to move forward in securing housing that works for them.

With long-term commitment and support from Staples Canada and Even the Odds, MAP has expanded the Navigator program from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. To date, the innovative program has provided outreach support to more than a thousand people experiencing homelessness in Toronto and Vancouver, and will launch at CHUM (Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal) in Montréal later this year.

Watch as Dr. Stephen Hwang joins CTV Your Morning and Anne-Marie Mediwake to talk about this groundbreaking program. “We are working to establish this program in hospitals across Canada,” said Dr. Hwang. “There is a need in every city where there are people experiencing homelessness.”

Dr. Tara Kiran joined The Globe and Mail webcast panel – Election 2025: Steps to heal Canada’s health care system – to discuss the current landscape and possible solutions with other healthcare leaders. You can now read the highlights from their conversation.

Big things are coming! APPLE Schools and Ophea are all about fostering healthy, vibrant school communities where students can thrive. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration between our two organizations that will take our efforts to the next level!

This fall, APPLE Schools will work with six schools in the Durham District School Board to deliver health education centred on nutritious eating, physical activity, and mental wellness through a comprehensive health lens. Leveraging Ophea’s extensive network, strong relationships, and specialized expertise in the region for success, the Apple approach involves working closely with schools to create tailored action plans, providing mentorship, and equipping them with funds and resources to prioritize student and teacher well-being.

“By aligning APPLE Schools’ research-backed approach to school health with Ophea’s century-long legacy in the region, our partnership signifies a meaningful collaboration. We are excited to work with Ophea on innovative programming and create healthier futures for students in Ontario and across Canada.”

Jenn Flynn, Executive Director at APPLE Schools

APPLE Schools has been dedicated to promoting health and wellness in school communities since starting in 10 Alberta schools in 2007. Recognized internationally as a top 100 innovative global education project, it now actively supports over 33,000 students annually in over 100 schools in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and now, Ontario! APPLE Schools focuses on empowering students to make informed choices about their health, whether it’s through encouraging healthy eating, promoting physical activity, or supporting mental well-being.

Ophea has been a driving force for health and learning in Ontario schools since 1921. Through quality programs, advocacy, and partnerships, Ophea works tirelessly to enhance the health and well-being of children and youth across the province. From providing curriculum support to setting safety standards for physical activity, Ophea is at the forefront of creating and recognizing healthier school environments.

“Ophea and APPLE Schools are proud to partner in Durham District School Board, embodying the spirit of collaboration to champion healthier school communities. Together we’re able to amplify our impact and that will only benefit the students and staff!” 

Chris Markham, Executive Director and CEO at Ophea

When asked about what they were most looking forward to as a result of this opportunity to work in partnership with Apple Schools and Ophea, Tanya Urbancic-Venemore, K-12 Facilitator for the Arts and Health & Physical Education within the Student Achievement and Curriculum Department with Durham District School Board shared: 

“The chance to integrate comprehensive health and wellness programs across 6 of our schools is incredibly exciting. This partnership will allow us to implement evidence-based strategies that promote physical activity, healthy eating, and mental well-being. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about the professional development opportunities for our educators, which will empower them to create healthier, more supportive environments for our students.” 

APPLE Schools extends its gratitude to the St. Michael’s Foundation and Even the Odds, a philanthropic arm of Staples Canada, for providing the financial support to make this exciting new collaboration possible. 

Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as we embark on this exciting journey together this fall!

MAP’s latest Healthbox launch at Winnipeg’s St. Boniface Hospital is the first acute-care hospital in Canada to have a health supplies vending machine to help save lives.

“This is something that works. It’s going to help the community here,” shared Dr. Sean Rourke, project lead. “It’s going to reach people, it’s going to help people get what they need to take care of themselves and their health.