Health & Social Services

Committee Chair: Catherine Caule

The Social Services Committee entertains social services concerns from the Glebe community and draws issues to the attention of the GCA. The Social Services Committee also represents the GCA on social services issues with other organizations.

As a new chair took over in September 2009, the committee has been "getting up to speed". That being said, the committee got off to a running start.

This year the committee developed stronger ties with community partners. The committee activities included:

  • identifying potential health and social service concerns related to the proposed plan for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park;
  • reaching out to Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) regarding the need for social services counselling support for Glebe fire victims and communicating, to the victims, the services available;
  • working with Centretown Community Health Centre for a presentation of the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study results for Glebe-Dow's Lake in April at the Glebe Community Centre, with attendance by our politicians at the municipal, provincial and federal levels;
  • representing the GCA at a screening of "Poor No More" at a community networking event at the invitation of the Community Developer from the Ontario Alliance for Quality Care and Quality Jobs;
  • meeting with our community police officer to get feedback on community safety and social services issues for the Glebe;
  • sitting on the Advocacy action team of Centretown Community Health Centre to communicate health and social services concerns of the Glebe and advising on broader health and social services issues and policies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

Social services are a key social determinant of health. Thus, health and social services are linked. Therefore, in the upcoming year, the scope of the committee will include health issues and be renamed as the Health and Social Services Committee. The committee would like to meet formally to further engage the community in identifying and acting on health and social services issues. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email  health@glebeca.ca