Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.
Wellesley Institute is publishing a series examining how mayoral candidates can show leadership and deliver Toronto the Bold—a city that takes wellness, health, and equity seriously to build a better future for every Torontonian. The first in the series examined housing. Now, we’re examining how candidates can improve health equity through Toronto’s public transit system. […]
Globally, as many as 200 million individuals have experienced long-term health consequences of COVID-19. A recent study estimated that 1.4 million Canadian adults (14.8 per cent of those infected with COVID) would satisfy criteria for long COVID. Long COVID has many symptoms—including fatigue, memory problems, shortness of breath and pain—and is linked to reduced quality […]
Continue ReadingHealthcare experiences of people with long COVID in the GTA Download PublicationThe Healthcare Experiences of People with Long COVID in the GTA
Wellesley Institute is publishing a series examining how mayoral candidates can show leadership and deliver Toronto the Bold—a city that takes wellness, health and equity seriously to build a better future for every Torontonian, and that takes the lead on doing so. First, we examine housing, an issue we expect candidates will spend a great […]
As Canada’s largest city, Toronto has enormous promise and possibility—and enormous challenges. Torontonians do not need “Toronto the Good” or “Toronto the Good Enough.” What we need from our leaders is a vision for Toronto the Bold: a city that builds a better future for every Torontonian. A city that leads rather than follows and […]
The hotel and accommodations sector is one of the hardest-hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels have continued to provide frontline, labour-intensive services to the public throughout the pandemic while also experiencing historically low occupancy levels resulting in mass layoffs. This raises occupational health and safety concerns for workers still on the job as well […]
Continue ReadingMapping the impacts of COVID-19 on hotel workers in the GTA Download PublicationMapping the Impacts of COVID-19 on Hotel Workers in the GTA
Canada has significant health inequities. Wellesley Institute research has shown that social factors such as housing, income, education, discrimination, and access to social supports are vital for individual health, community health, and Canada’s economic growth. To build back better, to establish a new normal, inequities in the social determinants of health are our most important […]
Continue ReadingCanada needs a health equity plan: 2023 federal budget submission
Evictions are a key source of housing instability for low-income older renters. This community is particularly vulnerable to evictions due to a complex interplay of financial, social, and health factors that place housing at-risk. While research suggests social housing may offer some protection against evictions, older adults may still be at risk, particularly for non-payment […]
Continue ReadingEnhancing eviction prevention supports for older adults in social housing Download PublicationEnhancing Eviction Prevention Supports for Older Adults in Social Housing
In advance of last year’s provincial budget, we called for important, necessary public strategies to build a New Normal in Ontario. Our focus was around poverty, homelessness, race, healthcare, mental health and well-being, while leading the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, we have not seen the progress we hoped to on those measures. […]
Toronto has significant, and worsening, health inequities. Wellesley Institute research shows that social factors such as housing, income, education, and access to social supports, are vital for individual and community health as well as Canada’s economic growth. Eliminating inequities in the social determinants of health must be our priority. We can build a future in […]
Continue ReadingToronto Housing Action Plan: Who will it be for?
Pathways to Care is a community-driven project committed to transforming the mental healthcare system for Black children, youth, and their families. Their latest report details perspectives from participants about barriers to accessing mental healthcare for Black youth and multiple levels of the system and centres the perspectives of Black youth and the people who care […]
Continue ReadingFactors that impact how Black youth access the mental healthcare system in Ontario Download PublicationFactors that Impact How Black Youth Access the Mental Healthcare System in Ontario
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.