Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health

03/09/2026

Reminder: The application deadline is almost here!

Your lived experience can help shape more respectful, equitable perinatal care in Ontario. PCMCH is seeking individuals with lived or living experience of pregnancy, birthing or postpartum care in larger bodies to join the Perinatal Care for Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) Working Group. Members will share their perspectives to help develop resources that support better care across the province.

Apply by March 16, 2026:
https://pcmch.on.ca/pcmch-perinatal-care-for-higher-body-mass-index-bmi-working-group/

03/03/2026

ICYMI: PCMCH’s Winter Milestones newsletter is now available.

This issue highlights the importance of leadership and advancing care through shared purpose across Ontario’s perinatal, newborn, child and youth health system. Inside, you’ll find a message from Executive Director Sanober Diaz, a profile of Governing Council member Ru Taggar, insights from the 2025 Regional Networks Operational Forum Retreat, and more stories that reflect the collective work shaping high‑quality care across the province.

Read the Winter 2026 issue: https://pcmch.on.ca/milestones-newsletter-winter-2026/

02/26/2026

Your experience can help improve perinatal care in Ontario.

PCMCH is inviting individuals with lived or living experience of pregnancy, birthing or postpartum care in larger bodies to join its Perinatal Care for Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) Working Group. Members will share their perspectives to help develop resources that promote respectful and equitable care across the province.

Learn more and apply by March 16, 2026:

Call for Expressions of Interest: PCMCH Perinatal Care for Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) Working Group The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) invites individuals to help shape perinatal care for people with higher body mass index (BMI) in Ontario. Rising pre-pregnancy BMI — pa...

02/17/2026

PCMCH recently launched "Intentions," a dedicated space for reflection on Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous culture and the need for greater health equity. For this edition of Intentions, we acknowledge Makwa Giizis, kindly shared with us from an Anishinaabe Elder:

“Makwa Giizis is Anishinaabemowin for Bear Moon, also known as February to most Canadians. During this time, Anishinaabe communities acknowledge the Northern Direction of the medicine wheel, where the spirit bear sits. In the time of Makwa Giizis, an opportunity to heal is presented. There are ceremonies that take place, with some lasting all month, as community members draw strength and teachings from the Northern Direction.”

At PCMCH, we want to take this time to acknowledge that we are working to address historical and contemporary colonial harms within the healthcare sector. As we continue to work with Indigenous partners to put Indigenous Health in Indigenous Hands, our hope is to assist in the healing that is being done.

02/09/2026

We are pleased to shine the spotlight on PCMCH Governing Council member Ru Taggar in our Winter 2026 issue of Milestones.

A dedicated healthcare leader, Ru brings deep clinical insight, strategic thinking and a strong commitment to collaboration across the system. Her journey – from frontline nursing to academic roles to executive leadership at Sunnybrook – reflects the power of curiosity, compassion and continuous learning.

Read her story: https://pcmch.on.ca/pcmch-spotlight-ru-taggar/

02/05/2026

Effective leadership is not simply about direction. It is about bringing people together around a shared mission. For PCMCH, that mission is clear: improving health outcomes and experiences for pregnant people, infants, children, youth and families across Ontario.

Read PCMCH Executive Director Sanober Diaz’s message, which illustrates the importance of collective leadership in advancing perinatal, newborn and child healthcare in Ontario, in our latest Milestones newsletter: https://pcmch.on.ca/ed-message-advancing-care-through-shared-purpose/

02/02/2026

As begins, PCMCH honours the profound impact of Black leaders whose expertise, advocacy and commitment have shaped healthcare in Canada and Ontario. We are grateful for the ongoing contributions of Black healthcare professionals and leaders and remain committed to advancing a more equitable healthcare system for all.

We pay special tribute to Dr. Miriam Rossi — a pioneering paediatrician, medical educator and equity advocate. Dr. Rossi co‑founded the Association of Black Physicians of Ontario, championed diversity in medical education, and supported Black youth in pursuing careers in health, among many other accomplishments. We invite you to learn more about Dr. Rossi and other Black trailblazers by visiting the Museum of Health Care:

Dr. Miriam Rossi completed both her undergraduate degree and master’s degree at the University of Iowa, specializing in dietetics, nutrition, and biochemistry.  She later attended the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, where she was the only Black student in the school’s f

01/22/2026

Join the PCMCH Child and Youth Committee!

Are you a young person (16–22) or a parent/caregiver who has used paediatric healthcare services in Ontario in the last five years? Your voice and experiences matter and can help improve care for children and youth across the province!

The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) is looking for individuals with lived or living experience to join our Child and Youth Committee starting April 2026. As a member of the Committee, you’ll share your perspective to help shape how child and youth healthcare is planned and delivered in Ontario.

Interested in making a difference? Apply Now:

Call for Expressions of Interest: Individuals with Lived/Living Experience for Child and Youth Committee Are you a youth aged 16-22, or a parent or caregiver of a child or youth, who has received healthcare in Ontario within the last five years? Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge to inf...

01/21/2026

Join the PCMCH Child and Youth Committee!

Are you a young person (16–22) or a parent/caregiver who has used paediatric healthcare services in Ontario in the last five years? Your voice and experiences matter and can help improve care for children and youth across the province!

The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) is looking for individuals with lived or living experience to join our Child and Youth Committee starting April 2026. As a member of the Committee, you’ll share your perspective to help shape how child and youth healthcare is planned and delivered in Ontario.

Interested in making a difference? Apply Now: Call for Expressions of Interest: https://pcmch.on.ca/call-for-expressions-of-interest-individuals-with-lived-living-experience-for-child-and-youth-committee/

01/20/2026

Ontario’s regional maternal‑child health networks are playing a pivotal role in strengthening the province’s RSV response. From public awareness campaigns to clinical toolkits and equitable access initiatives across remote communities, these networks are helping families and providers stay prepared for RSV season.

Read more about how the regional networks are driving better care across the province: https://pcmch.on.ca/how-regional-networks-are-strengthening-ontarios-rsv-response/

01/09/2026

How are you keeping yourself and your family protected as we move into a new year? We’re still in the thick of cold and flu season, but there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting sick and help keep your community healthy.

Explore the PCMCH website for trusted, easy‑to‑use resources on RSV, measles, the flu and COVID‑19: https://pcmch.on.ca/respiratory-viruses-and-immunizations/

01/06/2026

The PCMCH Paediatric Diabetes Network (PDN) brings important conversations to the forefront through its library of webinar recordings. These recordings are designed for individuals who support children and youth living with diabetes.

We encourage you to check out the most recent recording, “My Journey from Patient Partner to CanScreenT1D Indigenous Research Coordinator,” featuring Sasha Delorme. In this recording, Sasha shares her lived experience, her path into patient‑partnered research, and the importance of Indigenous leadership and representation in diabetes care and research. Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/peeUynjnnKw?si=Vg6w-z7gQYlgIfS7

Explore the full collection of PDN recordings and stay connected with evidence‑informed insights that strengthen diabetes care across Ontario: https://pcmch.on.ca/pdn-opbn-webinars/

Presented on November 18, 2025, this webinar features Sasha Delorme, an Indigenous patient advocate and researcher. During her presentation, Sasha shares her...