2013: The Canadian Association of Community Health Centres builds on a very successful first year of operations, hosting in its second year a national conference in September 2013. The event, Medicare@50: Our Healthy Future and the Role of Community Health Centres brings together over 200 health leaders from across Canada to discuss and plan efforts to improve access for Canadians to people-centred, community-oriented primary health care. At the association’s Annual General Meeting, in Saskatoon, CACHC’s membership also passes a strengthened set of ByLaws, endorses the association’s strategic vision and priorities, and acclaims an expanded and diversified Board of Directors. Other key achievements take shape during this productive year, including:
- In partnership with three other national Community Health Centre associations, CACHC officially launches the new International Federation of Community Health Centres;
- The association conducts its first-ever national research project with CHCs, releasing in September 2013 results from the 2013 Canadian CHCs Organizational Survey;
- The association reports to its membership on organizational development via its 2012-2013 Annual Report: Moving Forward;
- CACHC engages CHCs, partners and the Canadian public in an ongoing conversation about innovations to improve health and health care in Canada via the continuing Medicare@50 blog series;
- The association collaborates with Community Health Centres across Canada in convening 2013 Community Health and Wellbeing Week to “shift the conversation” about health and health care across Canada.