June 2026 — NOSM University is reaffirming its commitment to advancing health equity across Northern Ontario following approval by the University’s Senate Committee to renew the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity.
Since its establishment in 2021, the Centre has worked alongside communities, partners, and researchers to better understand and respond to the health challenges facing Northern Ontario. While meaningful progress has been made, the renewal recognizes that significant inequities persist and that the Centre is playing an important role—particularly for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities—and that sustained, collaborative effort is needed to address them.
“The Arcand Centre was created to help ensure that research remains grounded in the priorities of the communities we serve,” said Dr. Erin Cameron, Director of the Centre. “This renewal is both an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and a commitment to continue building the relationships, knowledge, and capacity needed to advance health equity over the long term.”
Dr. Michael Green, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO of NOSM University, emphasized the importance of ongoing commitment:
“The renewal of the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity speaks to NOSM University’s responsibility to the people and communities of Northern Ontario. While there has been important progress, we recognize that inequities in access to care and health outcomes remain. The Centre’s work reflects a continued commitment to listening, learning, and working in partnership to support meaningful and lasting change.”
Over the past several years, the Centre has focused on building a foundation for partnered research, including:
In 2023, the Centre was renamed the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity following a $3 million endowed gift from the Temerty Foundation, alongside the opening of a collaborative research space on NOSM University’s Sudbury campus. More recently, a $5 million gift established helped launch the Circle for Indigenous Health Research and Innovation within the Centre—supporting Indigenous-led research and reinforcing the importance of partnership, relationship-building, and community leadership in advancing health equity.
The renewal comes at a pivotal moment, as NOSM University and the Centre align their next strategic plans. Together, they aim to deepen community engagement, strengthen research capacity, and continue to support approaches that are responsive to the realities of Northern Ontario.
The Arcand Centre takes a networked, partnership-driven approach to its work—recognizing that advancing health equity requires collaboration across communities, health systems, and disciplines. This approach reflects an ongoing commitment not only to producing knowledge, but to ensuring it is meaningful, relevant, and grounded in community priorities.
As the Centre looks ahead, its focus remains on supporting collaborative, community-informed work that contributes to improved health and wellbeing across Northern Ontario, while acknowledging that this work is ongoing and requires sustained effort and accountability.
