Building Health Literacy in Saskatchewan

Global Gathering Place (GGP)

Since 2021, Saskatchewan Blue Cross has supported Global Gathering Place to achieve its vision of a society where newcomers are fully engaged and valued. Global Gathering Place has provided refugees and new Canadians settlement assistance and helped Newcomers navigate language, health care, case management, employment, housing and life skills. Learn more.

Regina Community Clinic

The Regina Clinic provide health, social and educational services to members and clients. Saskatchewan Blue Cross is proud to support their interpreter services, helping ensure that all individuals have access to the resources the clinics offer. Learn more about Regina.

Regina Open Door Society and Saskatoon Open Door Society

Saskatchewan Blue Cross partnered with the Regina and Saskatoon Open Door Societies (RODs and SODs) to help provide Health Literacy materials to Newcomers in Saskatchewan. Using the Saskatchewan Health Authority website, RODS and SODS helped create and share easy-to-understand information about local vaccination and immunization clinics and how to access them. This included accessing, updating and translating existing materials. Learn more about RODS. Learn more about SODS.

Safe Communities Humboldt & Area

Saskatchewan Blue Cross is proud to provide funding to Safe Communities Humboldt & Area for two clinics: The Senior Safety Symposium and the Newcomer Winter Preparedness Clinic.

“These events are vital to our communities and very well received. Providing these Health Literacy sessions allowed the seniors and Newcomers in our communities the opportunity to interact with and ask the presenting professionals any questions that they may have” – Amanda Hauber, Executive Director, Safe Communities Humboldt & Area

Learn more.

YWCA Prince Albert

The Prince Albert YWCA Interpreter services offer newly arrived immigrants and refugees short-term and long-term assistance based on their needs. Saskatchewan Blue Cross invests in this support, which starts at arrival and can extend up to five years, ensuring that the transition to Canadian life is as comfortable as possible. Learn more.

Age-Friendly Regina

Age-Friendly Regina provides resources for older adults with not only physical directory services but also an easy-to-use website that provides a Guide for Aging Well in Regina. Saskatchewan Blue Cross funds assisted in the development of the physical and online services. Learn more.

Regina Public Library

The Regina Public Library hosts Health and Wellness Fairs for older adults from various communities, providing sessions with local health organizations, exercise demonstrations and more. Saskatchewan Blue Cross funding helps make this intensive one-day program available for those 55 and older. Learn more.

Regina YMCA

Navigating the healthcare system can be difficult at the best of times, but it can be even more challenging for seniors who do not have computer skills. To address this issue, the Regina YMCA, with the support of Saskatchewan Blue Cross, developed an inclusive pilot program for older adults called Seniors Health Connect. Health Connect supports adults aged 55 years or older to access expanded Health Literacy information and educational supports, provide community connection, and engage in activities to lead their best healthy life. An InBody Analyzer, a non-invasive and convenient tool, was added to the program to assist in providing comprehensive results that can be used to further educate and engage clients about their health and risk for injury. Learn more.

Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA)

Saskatchewan Blue Cross supports Health Literacy advancement for actively aging populations through support to organizations such as the Saskatoon Council On Aging (SCOA). Saskatchewan Blue Cross provided support to SCOA’s initiative to enhance health literacy for older adults in Saskatchewan with the development of a provincial online resource database for caregivers. This online database is part of a larger initiative: “Developing a Provincial Caregiving Strategy for Saskatchewan” and this initiative aims to address the critical need to support caregivers, especially in rural areas where resources are limited. Learn more.

Saskatchewan Seniors Association

As a continuation of our support for SCOA, Saskatchewan Blue Cross provides funding for the Saskatchewan Seniors Association Inc. (SSAI) Convention. This two-day event brings together rural Saskatchewan seniors’ clubs, with funding helping ensure registration fees remain affordable for seniors and providing honourariums to presenters at the event. Learn more.

Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism – Gray Matters

Gray Matters is a quarterly magazine with a readership of more than 100,000 people, published by the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM), a non-profit, volunteer organization working toward quality of life for all older adults in the province. Saskatchewan Blue Cross provided support for a targeted series of Health Literacy education articles in 2023, tailored to the health and wellness needs of aging populations. Learn more.

INDspire Scholarship Program – Saskatchewan Blue Cross Indigenous Bursary

Indspire is a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Indspire aims to inspire achievement while educating, connecting and investing in students so they will achieve their highest potential. Saskatchewan Blue Cross is proud to partner with Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures to provide two scholarships for students pursuing a career in Social Work. Learn more.

Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS)

Saskatchewan Blue Cross is proud to support Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS) to provide culturally relevant mental health services in Friendship Centres across Saskatchewan. This province-wide initiative ensures that urban Indigenous people have the ability to access mental health services in a culturally safe and respectful manner barrier-free. Learn more.

Regina Community Clinic

Saskatchewan Blue Cross is pleased to support and be a part of the first and only Social Prescribing initiative in Saskatchewan that focuses on supporting Indigenous older adults.

The Community Connector for Indigenous Older Adults initiative through the Regina Community Clinic and other community partners provides social prescribing and the ability to provide culturally appropriate services to Indigenous older adults. This initiative was created to provide culturally appropriate services to support Indigenous older adults. The Community Connector highlights the value in creating programs and services where Indigenous people feel seen and heard, culturally appropriate approaches are used, trust is earned, and relationships are built.

TeensTalk YXE

in partnership with BGC Saskatoon (formerly the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon)

As a committed advocate for youth wellbeing and mental health, Saskatchewan Blue Cross supports TeensTalk YXE (in partnership with BGC Saskatoon). Peer support is a vital part of navigating mental health challenges. By providing this space, youth and caregivers have the opportunity to grow, learn, support and connect with others. Learn more.

Youth Matter Canada

In 2023, Saskatchewan Blue Cross announced support for the “Be Kind to Your Mind” Mental Health Symposium. This event offers a safe, inclusive environment for youth while inspiring positive action and meaningful change with open discussion, new learning strategies and methods for managing stress, anxiety and emotions. Learn more.