Elgin Ontario Health Team

09/02/2026

Thank you to Bluewater Health’s Indigenous Navigation Services team for welcoming our Indigenous Health Lead, Heather Talbot, for a valuable day of learning, sharing and collaboration. 💜

Today, Bluewater Health’s Indigenous Navigation Services team welcomed leaders and Indigenous health representatives from the Elgin and Middlesex London Ontario Health Teams for a site visit focused on advancing care for Indigenous patients and families.

It was a valuable opportunity to share the work underway at Bluewater Health, exchange learnings and discuss how we can continue working across our regions to support culturally safer, more responsive care for Indigenous patients and families.

Thank you to our colleagues at Elgin Ontario Health Team and Middlesex London Ontario Health Team for visiting and sharing in the conversation.

09/01/2026

Yesterday, we recognized International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to acknowledge those who have been impacted and continue to be impacted by substance use, and to encourage important conversations about substance use and overdose.

Dan Bolton from The Homeless Coalition of St. Thomas (THCofST) shares his perspective as a person with lived experience of substance use and reflects on the critical elements needed to better support people in our community.

Lived experience matters. By listening to those who have been there, we can help build more compassionate, responsive, and person-centred supports.

Watch Dan’s message and hear his perspective. 💜

08/31/2026

Today, August 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day.

Today, we remember those who have lost their lives to overdose and recognize everyone whose lives have been impacted by overdose, including individuals, families, friends and communities.

Overdose can affect anyone. By reducing stigma, talking openly about substance use, carrying naloxone and knowing where to find support, we can help create a community where people feel safe seeking care and support.

💜 Carry a naloxone kit
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and can save a life. Free naloxone kits are available at participating pharmacies and other community locations across Ontario. You do not need a prescription.

Support is available in St. Thomas and Elgin:

💜 CMHA Thames Valley Withdrawal Management Services
A safe, supportive space for people withdrawing from substances, available 24/7.
18 Metcalfe St., St. Thomas | 519-668-0557

💜 Reach Out 24/7
Free, confidential mental health and addictions support, available 24/7.
519-433-2023 or 1-866-933-2023

💜 St. Thomas Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic – Clinic 217
Support for people experiencing challenges with alcohol or opioid use.
475 Talbot St., St. Thomas | 519-631-9040

💜 The Annex
No-cost addiction resources, counselling, support and connections to additional services.
321 Talbot St., St. Thomas | 226-896-0080

Find more mental health, substance use health and addiction services through the Elgin OHT Service Directory:
🔗 elginoht.ca/find-services

If you suspect an overdose or someone is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

This International Overdose Awareness Day, let's remember those we've lost, support those impacted by overdose, reduce stigma, and continue working toward a community where everyone can access compassionate care and support.

It can be difficult to find the health and care services available in your community. We are working together to make the system easier to use. Here, you will find a list of essential services to help get you started. ‍Disclaimer: While we strive to keep this service page current, it is not exhaus...

08/27/2026

🇫🇷 Looking for health and community services in French?

Here are a few French-language services available in London and St. Thomas:

🩺 New Francophone Primary Care Clinic
Clinique Franco-Santé London is accepting patient registrations now, with its official opening planned for mid-September 2026.

📍 Suite 201, 240 Wharncliffe Rd N, London
📞 519-260-9700

💬 French Conversation Groups in St. Thomas
The St. Thomas Public Library is offering free French conversation groups with four scheduled times. Groups are free and drop-in, providing an opportunity to practice speaking French and connect with others in the community.

💚 Children & Youth Mental Health Support
Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness offers support in French and English through Tandem, its 24/7 crisis, support and intake service.

📞 Tandem: 519-433-0334
🕐 Available 24/7

Please share with someone who may benefit from accessing services or connecting with others in French!

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

🌎 Welcoming Week is coming to St. Thomas-Elgin!

From September 10–19, Welcoming Week celebrates the people, stories, and connections that help make our communities places where everyone can feel welcome and belong.

This year’s theme, “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect,” encourages us to be curious, connect with one another, and celebrate the experiences that bring our community together. 💜

St. Thomas-Elgin Local Immigration Partnership and community partners are hosting a variety of activities throughout September, including flag raisings, a bilingual Punjabi storytime, a job search workshop, international food, and more!

Check out the post below for upcoming events and ways to take part. 👇

08/26/2026

💜 Community Partner Spotlight: Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin 💚

This month, we're honoured to shine a spotlight on Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin, a valued partner providing exceptional palliative and end-of-life care and support for individuals and families across Elgin.

Barrie Family Hospice is dedicated to ensuring every person and family is met with compassion, dignity, and respect throughout their end-of-life journey.

💚 Their Noble Purpose: Supporting exceptional care at end-of-life, ensuring every person and family is met with compassion, dignity, and respect.

👏 Their proudest accomplishment: "Our proudest accomplishment is the trust our community has placed in us. In just one year, we had the privilege of caring for more than 90 individuals at end-of-life and supporting over 240 community members through our grief and bereavement programs. To be invited into such deeply personal moments is an extraordinary responsibility, one we carry with gratitude, compassion, and humility every day."

🎯 Their current focus: "One of our most exciting priorities is broadening our reach beyond residential hospice care. We will be able to support individuals and their families at various points in their palliative journey, providing compassionate care, guidance, and connection every step of the way. We are expanding our grief and bereavement program so that individuals and families continue to receive meaningful support through and beyond loss. In addition, we are developing a short stay pilot program to extend a palliative approach to care for community members experiencing heightened or unmanageable symptoms who are not yet at end-of-life."

✨ One word that captures the spirit of Barrie Family Hospice? Compassion. It is at the heart of every conversation, every act of care, and every moment of support they offer.

🔎Learn more about Barrie Family Hospice of Elgin: https://elginhospice.com/

🔎Discover other health and community services available in Elgin by visiting: https://elginoht.ca/find-services

08/20/2026

The September 2026 Community Meal Calendar is here! Free meals are available throughout the month at various locations across St. Thomas. Meal times and formats vary, and meals are first come, first served. Please share to help make sure everyone who needs this information can access it 💙

08/20/2026

🍽️💜 Looking for a free community meal in Aylmer?

The Aylmer Community Meals schedule for September and October 2026 is here! Community meals are a great opportunity to enjoy a free meal, connect with others, and spend time in a welcoming environment.

Meals are available at various locations throughout Aylmer on select weekends during these months.

📍 Meals are free.
⏰ Served from 5:00–6:00 p.m. (Meal times may end early if meals run out. First come, first served.)

Please refer to the schedule below for dates and locations.

Sharing community resources like these helps make it easier for everyone to access nutritious food, build connections, and find support close to home. 💚

08/18/2026

📞 Tired of being put on hold when trying to book your next doctor's appointment?

Many family doctors and nurse practitioners offer Online Appointment Booking, allowing patients to schedule appointments through a secure online system provided by their clinic.

With online booking, you can:
✓ Book an appointment without calling the clinic
✓ View available appointment times
✓ Schedule appointments when it's convenient for you

❗️Not all clinics offer online booking. Check with your family doctor or nurse practitioner to see if it's available.

🩺 Don't have a family doctor or nurse practitioner?
Health Care Connect can help connect you with a local primary care provider: https://www.ontario.ca/healthcareconnect