Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.
We are in the midst of a 7th wave of COVID-19. We are seeing infections, hospitalizations and deaths rise. Our communities, services and economy are strained because of burnout and the number of people off sick. But these early impacts are not the final story. We now know that a portion of people who […]
Continue ReadingThe delayed response to long COVID: Prioritizing equity
Wellesley Institute research has long demonstrated significant health disparities for low-income and racialized people. Like past crises, the COVID-19 pandemic intensified these disparities. Our pandemic response did not focus on equity – on helping the Ontarians who needed help the most. We must not make continue to make the same mistake. We need to ensure […]
Continue ReadingOntario budget 2022: A more equitable future, an equitable now
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant inequities in terms of health and social outcomes, and magnified stressors such as increased risk of exposure to and illness from COVID-19, job loss, and housing and food insecurity. These stressors have been particularly felt by already marginalized groups, including those from racialized communities, and there is evidence […]
Continue ReadingCOVID-19 and racialized communities: Impacts on mental health Download PublicationThe Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Well-being A Focus on Racialized Communities in the GTA
Ontario may be turning the corner with the COVID-19 Omicron variant, but we have seen this virus mutate and we could face another challenge. As we approach a potential lull this spring and summer, we must focus on actions government can take to build our resilience as a society that will save lives, decrease the toll […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Ontario in 2020, it was an emergency. It was a poorly understood and potentially catastrophic threat and we accepted that governments needed the latitude to use all of their powers to help us survive. We generally went along with what was needed from us. We understood that in such a […]
This paper examines long-term population-level housing affordability challenges and trends in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) from 1991 to 2016. This project’s goal is to analyze how housing affordability has changed for the general population and for different socio-demographic groups over this 25-year study period. Affordability is measured using shelter cost to income ratio […]
Continue ReadingWidening inequities: Long-term housing affordability in the Toronto CMA Download PublicationWidening inequities Long-term housing affordability
Our current approach to medication, dental care, and extended health coverage is leaving low-income, working-age Canadians behind – in particular racialized, immigrant, and female workers who face significant barriers to good jobs with benefits. With government programs (of varying levels of adequacy) targeted primarily at seniors, children from low-income families, and adults receiving social assistance, […]
The past few years have been a time of great change in migration research and for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector in the GTA. This needs assessment was conducted in an attempt to understand the impact of the Joint Centre for Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement (CERIS), the effects of COVID-19 on research […]
Continue ReadingResearch and knowledge mobilization in the GTA’s immigrant and refugee-serving sector: A needs assessment Download PublicationNeeds-Assessment-CKP
Toronto’s streets are a valuable public space for building community connections, accessing resources, and staying active. But these benefits can only be realized if streets are safe spaces for all users. Safety is particularly important for pedestrians. Not only are they the group most vulnerable to traffic collisions, but they are also the most universal […]
Continue ReadingPedestrian safety and neighbourhood equity Download PublicationPedestrian safety and neighbourhood equity
COVID-19 vaccinations reduce our risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. It is heartening that 85 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and up (75 per cent of the population) have received their first dose. With rising case counts and the highly transmissible Delta variant gaining traction in Ontario, there is increased urgency to ensure as […]
Continue ReadingProof of vaccination in public settings: An equity lens
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.