Latest news with #WHCC
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Women's Health Collective Canada and Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ Deepen Partnership with $1 Million Commitment to Health Research and Care
TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ is building on its commitment to advancing health equity for women with a $1 million investment in health research and care, over the next two years, through Women's Health Collective Canada (WHCC), the largest non-government funder of women's health research in Canada. This investment will support research on, and improved care for menopause, a long-overlooked area of women's health. This latest investment builds on three years of sustained partnership, with total contributions to WHCC of over $3 million. As WHCC's Founding Partner, Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ has played a leading role in bringing attention to the gaps in women's health and helping to close them through bold, strategic investment. Their early and ongoing support helped catalyze momentum that's now being recognized and echoed by other leading companies. 'This is more than generosity, it's leadership,' said Amy Flood, Executive Director, WHCC. 'Shoppers has believed in our work from the beginning, and they've helped shape a movement. With this renewed commitment, we're taking meaningful steps toward a new standard of care for menopause in Canada — something long overdue. Together, we're reaching more women, funding more research, and making the case for system-wide change.' "We are proud to continue our partnership with WHCC to help close the women's health gap in Canada," says Paulette Minard, Director, Community Investment, Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health. "This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting women in our communities at every life stage—through better research, better care, and better outcomes.' This investment will support the development of an enhanced, evidence-based standard of care for menopause in Canada. Through the WHCC national network, funding will help accelerate local and regional initiatives — ensuring that women, no matter where they live, benefit from improved access to high-quality menopause care. About Women's Health Collective Canada (WHCC) Women's Health Collective Canada (WHCC) is a strategic alliance of Canada's leading women's health and hospital foundations working together to advance equity in women's health research and care. WHCC brings together resources, fundraising, education and advocacy, working alongside partners who share the vision to improve outcomes and drive lasting change in women's health. WHCC consists of the BC Women's Health Foundation, Alberta Women's Health Foundation, Women's College Hospital Foundation, the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, and the IWK Foundation. To learn more about WHCC, its members and their work, or to donate, please visit Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health™ – the charitable arm of Shoppers Drug Mart ® – is committed to helping Canadian women lead healthier lives, by making care more equitable and accessible. The Foundation will invest $50M by 2026 to address some of the most pressing health inequities facing women, including lack of representation in health research, barriers to accessing mental healthcare, and the urgent consequences women disproportionately face due to poverty and domestic violence. Learn more at
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Empowering Women, Strengthening Canada: Three Policy Priorities for Advancing Women's Health in Canada
TORONTO, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At Women's Health Collective Canada (WHCC), we envision a future where every woman in Canada receives the high-quality care she deserves. Rooted in our mission to be Canada's foremost authority on women's health research and education, our work is dedicated to curating, translating, and advocating for evidence-based knowledge and information that empowers women and ensures they have access to the high-quality health care they deserve. We are committed to working with partners and policy makers to support policies that ensure women's health research receives the attention and resources it needs so women can get the care and support they deserve. Current Challenge: Today, women's health research accounts for 6.8% of total national research funding, despite women making up 50% of the population (Stranges, 2023). Historically excluded from clinical trials, women remain at greater risk for misdiagnosis, ineffective treatments, and adverse drug reactions – up to 75% of which occur in women (Rademaker, 2001). Heart disease, the leading cause of death for women, is both under-researched and underdiagnosed, while menopause-related health challenges push many women out of the workforce. The cost to the Canadian economy of unmanaged menopause symptoms alone is estimated to be $3.5 billion per year (Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2023). Opportunity: By prioritizing a comprehensive national strategy, targeted funding, and rigorous research accountability, we can create the conditions for transformational change that not only improves women's health but also builds a more equitable and prosperous Canada. These policy actions ensure equity, reduce disproportionate care, eliminate preventable illness, thus empowering women to fully live, work, and contribute to society and the economy. Policy Recommendations: WHCC calls on all federal parties to commit to concrete action that will drive meaningful change for women's health. In doing so, Canada can become a global leader in women's health. The following policy priorities outline key areas where federal and provincial leadership are essential. 1. A National Strategy for Women's Health Canada lacks a coordinated approach to addressing women's health inequities. A National Women's Health Strategy should set measurable goals for research, healthcare delivery, and policy reform, to ensure increased funding is strategic, focused and effective. 2. Increased Federal Funding for Women's Health Research Women's health remains underfunded, leading to gaps in knowledge, treatment, and care. We urge the federal government to establish a dedicated funding stream and increase investment in research on conditions that disproportionately or uniquely affect women. 3. Enforcement of Sex and Gender-Based Research Standards in CIHR-Funded Studies Compliance with sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA+) in federally funded health research is inconsistent. Stronger enforcement and mandatory reporting on sex and gender differences will improve research quality and ensure findings translate into better care for women. For more information or to support WHCC visit Contact: Daniel St. Germaine, Director, Marketing, Communications & Brand | WHCC Sources Menopause Foundation of Canada. (2023). Menopause and Work. Retrieved from Rademaker, M. (2001). Do women have more adverse drug reactions? American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2(6), 349-51. Stranges, T. N. (2023). Are we moving the dial? Canadian health research funding trends for women's health, 2S/LGBTQ + health, sex, or gender considerations. Biology of Sex Differences, 14(40). Retrieved from Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women's Health Collective Canada Expands to Quebec with New Member, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation
TORONTO, March 4, 2025 /CNW/ - Women's Health Collective Canada (WHCC) is proud to welcome the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation as its newest member, expanding the Collective's reach to Quebec and marking another significant milestone as WHCC becomes a bilingual, national alliance. With the addition of MUHC Foundation, WHCC grows to five members, further strengthening its ability to support research that has real-world impact. This expansion reinforces WHCC's commitment to addressing critical gaps in research and healthcare, ensuring women in all regions have access to the care and knowledge they deserve. "Women's health research has long been underfunded, and our mission is to change that by uniting the power of leading health foundations across the country," says Amy Flood, Executive Director, WHCC. "With the MUHC Foundation joining our alliance, we are now better positioned than ever to engage communities, researchers, and corporate partners in both English and French, ensuring that women's health remains a national priority." The MUHC Foundation is dedicated to supporting life-changing medical research and care, with a strong focus on women's health, at one of Canada's top academic health institutions and Quebec's largest research hospital. By joining WHCC, the MUHC Foundation will contribute its expertise and resources to advocate for greater equity in women's health research and funding. "We are thrilled to join WHCC and to bring the voice of Quebec into this vital national conversation," says Marie-Hélène Laramée, President & CEO, MUHC Foundation. "Women's health issues know no borders, and by working together, we can ensure that every woman, no matter where she lives, benefits from the latest advancements in research and care." About WHCC WHCC is an alliance of Canada's leading women's health and hospital foundations created to break the barriers holding women back from receiving the knowledge and care they deserve. Through intentional collaboration, WHCC brings resources, fundraising, and some of the brightest minds in science and healthcare together. WHCC's unique model —where each member is directly connected to a leading research institute and hospital —ensures that research moves beyond the lab and leads to tangible improvements in care for women across Canada. WHCC is comprised of BC Women's Health Foundation (BC), Alberta Women's Health Foundation (AB), Women's College Hospital Foundation (ON), McGill University Health Centre Foundation (QC) and IWK Foundation (NS). For more information, visit SOURCE Women's Health Collective Canada View original content to download multimedia:
